MyHobbes

Any advice on a single 70 yr old woman driving from Interlaken to Merano in early July?
I seem to be having difficulty hiring a car for one way-should I take the train (3 changes involved- means lugging my bags)?

janisj

It shouldn't be hard to 'find' a one way rental - but since you want to drop it in a different country there will be very high drop off fee.

Are you just trying to get directly from Interlaken to Merano, or do you want to sightsee in between?

>>means lugging my bags<<

Hoe many bags and what size? If you plan any trips by train you need to pack light enough to handle your own luggage.

MyHobbes

Thanks janisj I will try to pack light but I will be holidaying for 3 months!

janisj

Don't pack for three months - no luggage is large enough for that anyway. Pack for 6-7-ish days and plan on doing laundry once in a while.

I take the same 21 inch rollaboard (or sometimes a 19 incher) whether I'm traveling 4 nights, 4 weeks, or four months.

I would never take larger than one 24 inch rollie bag but smaller is better/easier IMO.

asps

It looks to me a long trip by car on mountain roads and much longer by train. I suggest you find a way to break it somewhere.

michele_d

You will thank janisj over and over again if you listen to her and bring a smaller suitcase. Lugging a larger suitcase around for 3 months will get old the very first week. Trust me, I have been to Europe for a 13 week trip and a 6 week trip. I did not heed this advice for our first trip because we had a lease car for the majority of the time. I did bring a smaller suitcase for our second trip which we did by train. I can't imagine bringing a larger case and having to hop on and off trains. We are spending three weeks in Spain and Portugal this fall and I can't wait to whittle down my packing even more this time...it's sort of like a challenge now...just how little can I bring???

neckervd

You can never go by public transport from Interlaken to Meran with only 3 changes.
Along the most usual itinerary, you will have to change at Berne, Zurich, Landquart, Sagliains, Zernez and Mals.
If you travel via Austria, you have to change at Berne, Zurich, Innsbruck and Bolzano/Bozen.
Via Milan, you will have 4 changes too: Spiez, Brig or Milan, Verona, Bolzano/Bozen.
Whichever itinerary you may choose, the journey lasts between 8 and 9 hrs.
How will you arrive at Interlaken and to which place will you go after Meran? May be it's possible to change slightly your itinerary in order to drop off your car in the country you got it.
Or do you plan a day trip from Meran to St. Moritz? At this place (within Switzerland), it would be possible to drop off Hertz cars.

Pepper_von_snoot

WWW.SBB.CH


Thin

MyHobbes

Thank you all for your advice-I will take your advice re luggage.
Is driving a challenge-remember I drive on the left side of the road in Aus but have driven on the continent many times- but not on the mountainous roads of Switzerland.
Flights seem impossible too.
Thanks again

neckervd

Flights are not impossible but would take longer:
Bern airport (45 min by car from Interlaken, check in time 30 min) dp 6.30 - Bolzano/Bozen ar 14.30, change at Munich and Rome. Bolzano airport is 30 kms from Merano. OW flight fares start at 800 EUR.