First and last day in Switzerland
Mar 7th, 2003, 04:59 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 980
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
First and last day in Switzerland
We plan to spend two weeks hiking in Switzerland this summer, arriving and departing from Zurich with a group of 10 adults.
Our first 4 nights will be in Engelberg, next 3 in Zermatt and 4 in Grindelwald.
Since our flight arrives about 8 am, our first thought was to spend some time in Zurich walking about before heading to Engelberg. Another possibility is to see Lucern, since we have to change trains there.
We're also deciding where to spend our last night before a 10 am flight home. Last trip we stayed in Lucerne and took an early train to the airport. Perhaps it'd be better to skip Zurich on our arrival, when we'll probably be tired and stay near the airport/city the night before our flight. Would Bern be another possibility or is it too far to the airport?
What does anyone think would work best and allow us to see one of the cities of Switzerland for just a short time? Our last day and night there would be a Sunday if that makes a difference. Are shops open on Sunday? Is it easy to store luggage at the train station? The luggage problem has me thinking that it'd probably be best to stay at a hotel and then just go into Lucerne, Bern or Zurich from there instead of trying to do it en route.
Any suggestions or thoughts please.
Our first 4 nights will be in Engelberg, next 3 in Zermatt and 4 in Grindelwald.
Since our flight arrives about 8 am, our first thought was to spend some time in Zurich walking about before heading to Engelberg. Another possibility is to see Lucern, since we have to change trains there.
We're also deciding where to spend our last night before a 10 am flight home. Last trip we stayed in Lucerne and took an early train to the airport. Perhaps it'd be better to skip Zurich on our arrival, when we'll probably be tired and stay near the airport/city the night before our flight. Would Bern be another possibility or is it too far to the airport?
What does anyone think would work best and allow us to see one of the cities of Switzerland for just a short time? Our last day and night there would be a Sunday if that makes a difference. Are shops open on Sunday? Is it easy to store luggage at the train station? The luggage problem has me thinking that it'd probably be best to stay at a hotel and then just go into Lucerne, Bern or Zurich from there instead of trying to do it en route.
Any suggestions or thoughts please.
Mar 7th, 2003, 05:57 PM
#2
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 119
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Clousie,
Oh how I envy you! The train ride from Luzern to Engelberg is one I throughly enjoy and the hiking there brings back some great memories.
As far as stop offs on the way to Engelberg, I think it's gonna' be tough as I understand baggage storage areas have been closed since 9/11.
Almost all shops are closed Sundays.
Bern is ~80 miles from Zurich; Luzern, ~50. As far as last day/night, I'd pick Zurich if for nothing more than the convenience factor and opportunities to enjoy a leisurely day/night before you go home. Zurich has a lot to offer even if you just roam around.
Enjoy your trip lucky ^$%$
wish I were going, ()(*^&)*&(^... I'm going to sleep now.
Oh how I envy you! The train ride from Luzern to Engelberg is one I throughly enjoy and the hiking there brings back some great memories.
As far as stop offs on the way to Engelberg, I think it's gonna' be tough as I understand baggage storage areas have been closed since 9/11.
Almost all shops are closed Sundays.
Bern is ~80 miles from Zurich; Luzern, ~50. As far as last day/night, I'd pick Zurich if for nothing more than the convenience factor and opportunities to enjoy a leisurely day/night before you go home. Zurich has a lot to offer even if you just roam around.
Enjoy your trip lucky ^$%$
wish I were going, ()(*^&)*&(^... I'm going to sleep now.
Mar 7th, 2003, 06:26 PM
#3
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,326
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hello Clousie,
Your trip sounds great! I think you'll have a wonderful time.
Because I'm usually very eager to take a shower and settle into my new "home" after a long flight, I would go directly to Engelberg on arrival. You may want to take a trip to Luzern on one of your Engelberg days, eh?
I think you may enjoy staying in Zurich for your last night. The more I read here about Zurich (especially from Ursula!), the more I think I need to spend more time there.
But I do have a suggestion. As you depart Grindelwald, consider sending most of your bags on to the Zurich airport by train. If everyone in your party takes only a small case/carryon into the city, your last day will be much easier. You can collect the bags at the train station in the airport's basement before you check in, or, if you're flying Swiss, you can check your bags through to the US from Grindelwald station.
Ah, yes, I don't think there's a bad time in Switzerland anywhere.
s
Your trip sounds great! I think you'll have a wonderful time.
Because I'm usually very eager to take a shower and settle into my new "home" after a long flight, I would go directly to Engelberg on arrival. You may want to take a trip to Luzern on one of your Engelberg days, eh?
I think you may enjoy staying in Zurich for your last night. The more I read here about Zurich (especially from Ursula!), the more I think I need to spend more time there.
But I do have a suggestion. As you depart Grindelwald, consider sending most of your bags on to the Zurich airport by train. If everyone in your party takes only a small case/carryon into the city, your last day will be much easier. You can collect the bags at the train station in the airport's basement before you check in, or, if you're flying Swiss, you can check your bags through to the US from Grindelwald station.
Ah, yes, I don't think there's a bad time in Switzerland anywhere.
s
Mar 8th, 2003, 04:46 AM
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
Hi Clousie (Hello S!!! Great to read you!) I can only add that the cafes and the little winding streets of Zurich between the Bahnhofstrasse and the river are a wonderful way to spend your last afternoon and evening in Switzerland. If you might be looking for last-minute gifts, may I suggest Schweizer Heimatwerk at Rudolf Brun-Brucke? There's also a little branch at the flughafen. Have a wonderful time. J.
Mar 8th, 2003, 03:56 PM
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 980
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for the suggestions. If we stay near the airport, drop our luggage at the hotel before going into Zurich, it sounds quite easy. Any suggestions for a hotel in the area. Since it's only a place to sleep before our flight, we're not looking for anything fancy or even quaint (hopefully we'll have the later in our other locations.)
Will places be open for dinner on a Sunday night? Again, not looking for anything too elaborate. What do you suggest?
Will places be open for dinner on a Sunday night? Again, not looking for anything too elaborate. What do you suggest?
Mar 8th, 2003, 04:46 PM
#6
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 119
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Clousie,
Use the country filter at the top of the forum page. Select Switzerland - there're two recent threads about Zurich hotels; one about airport, the other about in town hotels.
Restaruants - must have eaten 100 meals in Zurich. Can't remember any names (senior moment). I can tell you they all were good to excellent
Use the country filter at the top of the forum page. Select Switzerland - there're two recent threads about Zurich hotels; one about airport, the other about in town hotels.
Restaruants - must have eaten 100 meals in Zurich. Can't remember any names (senior moment). I can tell you they all were good to excellent
