kja

"kja -- please note that the current plan isn't the best use of time/geography, and that there isn't really time to do the Chocolate Train and get to Paris on the same day" -- I agree! that's why I asked whether we could talk "Mom" out of it. I'm glad that you, with your clear expertise, also noted this difficultly.

kja

I'm really confused here ...

While I thoroughly agree that the OP doesn't have the time for either the Glacier Express or the Bernina Express, I don't think the OP ever expressed an interest in either of them ... or did I miss something?

And swandav refers to "extra" time in Montreux.... While I can't fault her suggestions for what one might do there, I didn't think the OP had any extra time there! That's part of why I suggested that we should discourage a trip to the chocolate factory....

I know I'm not an expert on Switzerland, and I don't mean to pretend to be one -- but what am I missing?

swandav2000

Hi kja,

Six posts above, the OP mentions this:

But , If at all Not expensive train rides like GExp. or BExp. do you see in my itinerary in any way I can manage a nice scenic train journey..

Pls suggest

* * *

Seven posts above, I suggest this:

You can see Gruyeres and Broc enroute from Mürren to Montreux, if you wish. Just send your luggage separately on the train using the "Fast Baggage" service, and then take the train to Broc Fabrique, see the factory, and then take the train to Gruyeres to see the cheese demonstration, then take the train onward to Montreux. These places are between Mürren and Montreux, so it can make sense to do it that way.

* * *

If the OP sees the Cailler factory and Gruyeres enroute, that would give extra time in Montreux.

s

kja

Ah, the comments are falling into place! Thanks for clarifying, swandav -- I was having such a difficult following this thread! So we agree that the OP doesn't have the time for either the Glacier Express or the Bernina Express. Instead, you identified an option for the OP to see the chocolate factory, while still leaving a bit of time for other parts of Montreux.... Brilliant!!!

You are awesome, swandav, and I appreciate that you took the time and effort to walk me through your recommendation. Thanks so much!

swandav2000

lol! Not exactly -- you are tooo kind!

I often recommend seeing Gruyeres while enroute when folks don't have time in Montreux.

s

PalenQ

You can see Gruyeres and Broc enroute from Mürren to Montreux, if you wish. Take the train to Broc Fabrique, see the factory, and then take the train to Gruyeres to see the cheese demonstration, then take the train onward to Montreux. These places are between Mürren and Montreux, so it can make sense to do it that way.>

a fine scenario but then you miss out on taking the Golden Pass scenic train from Interlaken via Zweisimmen and Gstaad to Montreux - and Gstadd, a favorite of swandav, would make a neat stop on that more scenic route than the mainline route I presume swandav is talking about to Broc Fabrique and Gruyeres.

I think Gruyeres and the Chocolate Factory would make a better whole day excursion from Montreux - simply because taking the Golden Pass is such a neat way to get to Montreux.

swandav2000

Hi PalQ,

Gruyeres and Broc-Fabrique are just detours off the Golden Pass route, so, no, the travellers would not miss out on the Golden Pass scenic train. They would ride it as far as Montbovon, then detour to Broc-Fabrique and Gruyeres, then return to Montbovon and continue to Montreux.

If the travellers went to Gruyeres and Broc-Fabrique from Montreux, I don't think they'd be able to go to Paris the same day. That's a full day's trip; they'd end up arriving in Paris around 23.00. However, making it a full day enroute from Mürren to Montreux won't really matter -- they could arrive in Montreux late in the day and still be fine.

s

PalenQ

I understand and a great tip!

Dipankar

Good Morning / Evening Friends..

Thanks to all for so much help.

I completed my first Big Step ..

I booked my flight tickets and spend ~ 3500 $ ..

Now its all about finalizing the detailed trips and hotels..

Shall come back with few Queries I listed..

Thanks again..!!

Dipankar

Hello Guys .. Am back with few more detailed Question while fine tuning my trip plans..

>> as per all your suggestions.. Now direct from Zurich am heading to Lucerne and got booked @ Villa Maria till 28 th Sept.

Day 1 @ Lucerne : spend time within Lucerne City and if possible some boat ride.

Day 2 @ Lucerne : Can I Do Mt.Rigi round Trip and Titlis the same day ?

Day 3 @ Lucerne : Bern day trip / Rheine falls - Zurich ? Which one is worth. ?

OR ==> Interlaken day trip boat cruise (lake brienz / Thun) head up to Harder Kulm,Ballenberg or the Beatus Caves ..?

(I kept this plan for a bad weather day option for Jungfr. from Wengen on Day 5)

Day 4 Transfer to Wengen ==>

Please suggest a appartment kind of place where we 4 can stay together. Am not looking for a hotel and would like to cook our self .. Chalet Mutzli is full during the time... Shud I think of Lauterbrunnen Instead.? Pls advise..

day 4 : local travel within Lauterbrunnen, falls etc. and afternoon to Gimmelwald / Murren if possible.

Day 5: jungfraujoch day trip. Where Shud I plan for the rest of the day as I understand it wont be a full day trip..

If weather is not good ==> Interlaken trip as mentioned above.

Day 6 : Shilthorn - Gimmelwald - Grindelwald ...??

Where Whud we plan for Lunch .. Any good options on our way >?

Day 7 : check out and head for Geneva / Lausanne ?

Golden pass line and as suggested get down @ broc & Gruyeres for spending some time @ cheese & choc factory ..

If we leave Early in the morning from Wengen then by what time shall we reach Lausanne / Geneva / Montreux.

As adviced in earlier threads . I must catch train for Paris from geneva ,( @ 7 PM roughly TGV)

So Which one is better for the last few hours in Switzerland after choc / cheeze Tour. Lausanne OR Montreux Castle OR Genava.

For the lowest prices , i wanted to have my tickets to Paris @ TGV , but the website is letting me do that. for 1 St October ticket , when shud i try to do that ?

Thanks guys for your expert suggestions and advice.

PalenQ

As adviced in earlier threads . I must catch train for Paris from geneva ,( @ 7 PM roughly TGV)>

A different TGV line also goes from nearby Lausanne so check that too for fares - Lausanne being quite close to Geneva or even check Basel - another TGV line - if you have a Swiss Pass, which your travel plans tells me is rather a no-brainer IMO - you could use it to get to Basel that day too.

Dipankar

Hello PalenQ,

I did one change in my trip Plan ..

I am now planning to stay in Kandersteg for last 3 days after Lucerne. My colleague been there and recommended this nice place to be.

Do you have any views on this .

Also I have added Air Zermatt sight seeing trip over Jungfaru region for 20 minutes,, review says its the best thing and worth the money..

Please Advise..

PalenQ

can't comment on the fly over of the Jungfrau Massif but should be awesome - as for Kandersteg and its lovely valley - yes that is so so pretty - especially nice if into hiking. A good choice IMO - both good choices.

PalenQ

You know Kandersteg and its valley are great but it in no way can compare to the awesome of the Jungfrau Region around Interlaken and it is a fairly long commute to say Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen - I'd stay in that area - much more awesome IME than the really nice but not wow-wowing Kandersteg Valley.

You will IMO be missing out on the highlight of Switzerland unless using Kandersteg as a base from which to go to the Interlaken area, also inconvenient so I say reconsider that change.

Dipankar

Hello Friends..

As per my final hotel bookings done.. I have few more questions..

My trip is as below.

1. 24 - 28 th => 4 nights @ Lucerne covering titlis / Brig / interlaken area / Bern / etc.

2. 28- 30 th Sept :=> 3 nights @ Wengen covering Junfraujoch, / schilthorn/ lauterbrunnen / Zermatt etc.

30 th as advised above.. We are going to Montreaux / Geneva Area via Broc and gruyeres and evening TGV to Paris.

Question 1 : Shall we need to go to Lucerne from Wengen to take the Golden pass train till Montreux via broc. etc/

Question 2 : I understand , TGV to Paris is best available from Geneva or Lausanne. Which place is better suggested to take the train to Paris.

Question 3 : We do not want to take a hotel @ Geneva / lausanne etc. for the half of the day as Evening 6 Pm we have to take the train to Paris. What is the best way to handle our luggage in such a case while leaving from Wengen on 1 st morning.

Question 4 : After spending time @ Chocolate and cheeze factory which one is the place is advised to be around looking at time line to take evening train. Is it Montreaux / Geneva / Lausanne or something else. Where we can have good lunch.

Thanks for your best suggestions and advices..

swandav2000

Hi again,

I don't think you have time to see Gruyeres and the Cailler factory and Montreux and also travel to Paris in one day. I was suggesting seeing Gruyeres and Cailler while enroute with the understanding that you would have one or two days to see Montreux.

Here's how your day would go:

Wengen to Gruyeres, 3h30. See Gruyere 2h. Travel to Broc-Fabrique, 30 minutes. See the Cailler factory, 2h (maybe; it could be more). Travel from Broc-Fabrique to Montreux, 1h30. So, that's 10 hours already, seeing nothing of Montreux. I don't think you'll be able to catch a train to Paris at 18.00.

You **may** have time to see EITHER Gruyeres plus Cailler OR Montreux, but that's really pushing it. But if you do want to push it, then you could take the Golden Pass straight to Montreux and stroll through town, then take the TGV to Paris. However, that's about 10 hours of train travel in one day, and that's quite a lot (about 4h from Wengen to Montreux and about 6h from Montreux to Paris). I would postpone seeing Montreux until a later trip -- I would go to Paris from Wengen (via Basel or Bern).

You don't need to go back to Luzern for the Golden Pass; you can catch it at Interlaken.

s

Dipankar

Hey, Swandav,,,Whats so special or interesting @ Gruyeres ? Can I just fulfill my Mom s wish to see a choc factory @ Broc and move on to Lausanne / Montreux / geneva ..have a late lunch .. move around a bit and take the TGV ?

swandav2000

Ah, well, I love it because it is a beautifully preserved medieval Swiss village nestled in beautiful rolling green hills. I love eating the gruyere cheese there as well as the double cream that they make there. I love the castle, too.

But since you're strapped for time, then sure you could skip it. The trip from Wengen to Broc-Fabrique takes 3h21 with 4 changes. Then maybe 2h to see the factory, so you could arrive in Montreux by 14.30 or so. You could wander around for an hour or two and then catch your train to Paris.

I gave you the website above for the Cailler factory so you can organize and plan your visit.

You can't use the luggage service, however, as you can only pick up your cases after 18.00, and you'll need to be on your train by then. You'll have to take your cases yourselves. I don't know if there is luggage facility at Cailler, so you may want to call them when you're in Wengen and ask about that -- the phone number is also on the site.

s

PalenQ

Gruyeres is a nice nice towns known for its ramparts but IME it is not a boom wow zoom type of place - really nice but not awesome - but certainly as swandav says - charming - if have time take a quick look - Gruyeres stations must have luggage lockers but if you are zizagging to 2 or 3 stops consider sending your baggage ahead via Swiss Railways port a bag ahead scheme or whatever it is called - about 15 CHF I think - station to station - send it from Wengen or wherever (or at least Interlaken-Ost if Wengen doe snot participate in the scheme) to Montreux or wherever your final destination is. Then just have luggage you can carry around or easily stow in a small luggage locker in stations.

swandav2000

No, Gruyeres station does not have luggage lockers; I've looked specifically, and people have been posting about that for years.

I don't think you can use the luggage service (22 chf now I think). As I said above, you cannot use the SBB Fast Baggage Service. According to the SBB site, you must check the bag before 09.00 (no problem there), but you can only pick it up AFTER 18.00. And the Montreux baggage office closes at 18.00, so you cannot pick it up until the next day.

You might be able to send your luggage to Lausanne, but again you cannot pick it up until AFTER 18.00. The baggage office closes at 18.45, so you'll have time to pick up the cases.

However, that will make you too late to take a train to Paris that day. There is a train that leaves Lausanne for Paris at 18.01, but I guarantee that you won't make it. The next train leaves at 19.48 but gets into Paris the next day.

So. As I said, you'll have to take your bags with you if you want to make this trip.

s