travelphile

Help me decide! I can fly Continental into Geneva or Zurich for the same times/prices. I'd be spending two days in Switzerland (was thinking Luzern if I fly into ZRH) then headed to the Lake district on the Italian side. (Yes I know I could spend many more than 2 days!)

Which route has the best two day stop? Where's your favorite two day jet lag recovery station? The better train journey to Lake Como or Maggiore? Please and thanks!

kleeblatt

Personally, I'd fly into Zürich and head for Lucerne for a couple of days. The train journey to Lakes Como or Maggiore isn't so far and you'll get a real Swiss feeling in Lucerne.

swandav2000

Hi travelphile,

I agree with schuler; if this is your first visit to Switzerland, you really can't do better than Luzern. Its lakes, its mountains, its old town, its history -- it's a great introduction to the country. Plus, it's so convenient from the Zurich airport (about an hour by direct train) that you'll be there before you realize it.

While I love Lake Geneva, it really isn't the typical Swiss atmosphere newcomers normally look for.

s

travelphile

Thanks for your quick responses this morning! You both nailed my original plan, but I wanted to be sure I wasn't missing something great (or easier travel!) by hitting Geneva. After I posted I realized the big plus to Zurich was train leaving directly from the airport.

Since you both seem to know Luzern, any favorite place to stay with a view? Two or three stars is fine with us, nothing fancy.

suze

travelphile- the train leaves directly from the airport at Geneva as well (not a vote about your plans, just an FYI). Those Swiss are one organized bunch!

travelphile

Suze, you are right, they are one fantastically organized bunch - and I don't recall reading that about Geneva from my guidebook...

Tonight's step is to call Continental and see about the 48 minute connection in Newark... its apparently a 'legal' connection, and I don't really want to have a 4 hour layover in EWR, but I want to know they have an alternate plan for us...

bob_brown

Not all trains from the Zürich Airport train station are direct connections to Luzern. The ones which require no changes leave the airport station at 47 minutes past the hour.

I think the first one is at 8:47. This departure pattern continues until 20:47.
The trip takes 1 hour, 2 minutes.

In addition, there are numerous one change connections all day long from early morning until late at night.
The change usually comes at the Zürich main station, which is a large station as you might imagine.

Sometimes the hike from one train to the next is considerable and time is short.
I find it easier after an overnight flight to avoid the hassle of changing trains.

The Swiss rail website gives complete schedule info, but for the main station in Zürich it does not post the gleis number for the incoming train and the outgoing one, so you don't know before you get there just where the connection is. That information is posted on a big board that changes constantly. With luggage, the walk is sometimes non trivial.

But, the whole situation is doable if you have to change. I did two similar changes last month with luggage in both Zürich and Bern.

travelphile

I'm amazed at people like yourself who can give such useful information coherently - thank you Bob.

I'm set the book the flight, spoke with Continental and the 48 minute layover is not worth the risk However, I'm holding out till August 1st on the chance there is a Continental fair sale, I've seen them go up $100 and come back down, so I'm going to gamble just two more weeks... I'm feeling brave!

I'm sure I'll be asking more questions in the next two months - so bear with me! Thanks all -Trav