Would it be ridiculously expensive to hire a driver to pick us up at Zurich airport and take us to St. Moritz? We're trying to avoid the long train trip which involves two changes, since we will have already spent most of an entire day with a transfer in Paris just to get to Zurich.

Thanks for your help!

This company

http://www.alpliner.ch/flug/frame.htm

will fly 5 passengers from Zurich to Samedan airport near St. Moritz (15 minutes by car) for a mere SFr 1,685...

And this company

http://www.ace-limo.ch/mercedes_e_e.html

will drive you to St. Moritz for a mere SFr 1,136.

I don't wish to seem nasty, but have you never used Google...?

Eloise,

Thanks for the info. I was looking for a personal recommendation, which is why I posted here.

Frankly, I rather doubt that there are many people in this forum who can give a personal recommendation for a three-hour drive that costs as much as or more than their transatlantic fare...

Eloise,

Go have some coffee and be nice. I've found several drivers from personal recommendations here for drives of 3 hours or more in Italy, although those rides were about half the price of the Zurich-Samedan transfer. Obviously we'll take the train.

Thank you, I'm already on my second caffe latte.

Nor am I conscious of not having been nice, unless pointing out obvious facts is not "nice."

The train trip takes about 3hrs 26 minutes from zuerich main train station. The car trip takes about 2hrs30 minutes according to 'viamichelin'.
I hope there is one of the happy few who can afford the flight or private car trip are on this board waiting to give some personal recommendation...

Weadles,

Have you tried Hertz and Avis for a car and driver? It might be doable. Good luck!

Thanks Baldrick and Underhill. I was hoping to avoid the long train ride after a 12-hour trip to Zurich, but unless Donald Trump offers his private jet, there's no way around it!

Perhaps Eloise will structure the Google search for you.

If Patrick got the gate for his remarks, as did Grasshopper and NYC Food Snob for comments unknown to me, I suggest that Mr. Kay be consistent with his enforcement efforts and his "higher standards."

Hi Weadles,

If it's any consolation, the train trip is very scenic. At Zürich airport, go to the shopping area (located in the same area as the train station) and buy some nice rolls, cheese, meat, a bottle of wine (or a cup of coffee) and enjoy your trip.

You may want to ride first class to guarantee a nice, cozy trip.

Hi Weadles,

If you are concerned about your luggage during the transfers, you can ship your luggage ahead on the train. You should know, though, that it won't arrive for about two days -- here's the link:

http://mct.sbb.ch/mct/en/reisemarkt/...ck-schweiz.htm

For double the price, you can send your cases via "Fast Luggage," and your cases will arrive the same day if you've sent it by 9 am. Here's that link:

http://mct.sbb.ch/mct/en/reisemarkt/...isegepaeck.htm

Good luck!

s

ps,

If you're flying from the US or Canada, you can send your baggage from your departure airport directly to St Moritz. Raileurope sells the tags, and here's the link:

http://www.raileurope.com/us/rail/pa...il_baggage.htm

(sorry, hit "post" by mistake --)

Anyway, I've done this twice. Raileurope sends you green clear plastic tags & the customs forms. You fill out the forms, put them in the tags, and attach the tags to your cases. At the Zurich airport, the ground crew processes the customs forms and routes the bags to the train station, and on they go. I think this is considered "fast baggage," and you should have your bags later the same day or early the next.

The cost is $15 per bag.

This way, you can breeze through the airport with only your carryon; it's a delightful way to travel.

Ok, now I really should be done posting on this thread (!).

s

Hi, S and Weadles. S, does your last green-tag, RailEurope transfer work if the final destination is an unmanned station? J.

Hi jw,

Probably not. The information at the RailEurope site has a list of 54 stations where this is possible. St. Moritz is on the list -- probably un-manned stations are not.

Are you thinking of Rivaz?

s

or Gerra-Gambarogno. Thinking, not planning, alas. BTW just yesterday I made one of those gorgeous images of St. Saphorin from above in the vineyards my background, or whatever techno folks call the screen behind the icons. Smile. J.

Thanks very much Schuler and Swandav2000. I've heard that the train ride is really gorgeous, but I don't know how much of it we'll be able to enjoy after such a long travel day! Also in researching tickets, it seems that the second portion of the trip fron Chur- St. Moritz is unreservable, which seems like a hassle if we have to take luggage aboard. I will check out the Rail Europe website, but since our flight from JFK doesn't leave NYC until 5 PM, not sure how it the "fast luggage" bit works. We are only in St. Moritz for three days of a business conference, so can't really wait two days to get the bags!

Again, many thanks for all your advice and help!

Swandav2000,

Any advice? We don't get into Zurich until 9:30 AM, so am I right in thinking we can't take advantage of fast track luggage? Thanks for your help!

Hi Weadles,

Yes, even the "Fast Baggage" sounds dangerous, considering you'll only be in St Moritz for three days. If you decide to go through RailEurope, of course, it won't matter what time you land because you don't have that 9am deadline -- they should get it to you later that day or the next day regardless. But of course, I'm not sure I would bank on "should." You'll *probably* be ok if you pack one or two changes of clothes in a carryon. I guess it depends on how much risk you want to take! Maybe call RailEurope and see what kind of timeframe they guarantee; they don't say anything at the site.

s