From Rome to Switzerland (and back)
Sep 4th, 2016, 07:54 PM
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From Rome to Switzerland (and back)
Hi All,
I'm planning for a trip to Italy & Switzerland in mid October with a family (2 adults & 1 kid). Just posting here to get some feedback on itineraries & advice on rail & public transportations..
We're flying into Rome, and returning from Rome also. For now, getting an open jaw ticket is not really an option as it adds significantly to the travel cost.. we have around 8-9 days for the trip..
Some of the things we hope to see in the itinerary is Rome/Vatican itself, the lakes (Como? Interlaken?), a scenic train ride (Bernina Express?) and also to the snowy mountains (this will be the highlight for our 9-year old, a first snow experience).
I'm yet to draft an itinerary though, will post one when I hve the time & reserch more.. so any feedback are welcome for now!
I'm planning for a trip to Italy & Switzerland in mid October with a family (2 adults & 1 kid). Just posting here to get some feedback on itineraries & advice on rail & public transportations..
We're flying into Rome, and returning from Rome also. For now, getting an open jaw ticket is not really an option as it adds significantly to the travel cost.. we have around 8-9 days for the trip..
Some of the things we hope to see in the itinerary is Rome/Vatican itself, the lakes (Como? Interlaken?), a scenic train ride (Bernina Express?) and also to the snowy mountains (this will be the highlight for our 9-year old, a first snow experience).
I'm yet to draft an itinerary though, will post one when I hve the time & reserch more.. so any feedback are welcome for now!
Sep 4th, 2016, 11:03 PM
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The highest snowy mountains of Western Europe are in Italy.
Switzerland:
You may have a look at
http://www.myswitzerland.com/en/home.html
http://www.swisstravelsystem.ch/en/
Switzerland:
You may have a look at
http://www.myswitzerland.com/en/home.html
http://www.swisstravelsystem.ch/en/
Sep 4th, 2016, 11:12 PM
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Italian Railways www.trenitalia.com can book train tickets from anywhere in Italy to major Swiss cities where there's a direct train from Milan: Luzern, Zurich, Basel, Lugano, Geneva, Spiez (for Interlaken).
You take a high-speed train Rome Termini to Milan Centrale in 2h55 from €29 (or from €39 in business class = 1st class) then a direct Eurocity train through the Alps to Switzerland.
That's if you want the fast main lines, which you will at least on one direction.
To use the Bernina Express in one direction, book from Rome to Tirano at www.trenitalia.com looking for an early (roughly 06:30) Frecciarossa high-speed train from Rome to Milan connecting with the 10:20 regional train Milan-Tirano. Then add the Tirano-Chur Bernina Express at www.rhb.ch (or be clever, and look for a €29 upwards advance-purchas sparpreis fare from Tirano to Freiburg or Singen at German Railways www.bahn.de/en which is much cheaper, and simply don't use the Chur-Freiburg part, which is perfectly legitimate and your prerogative.
You take a high-speed train Rome Termini to Milan Centrale in 2h55 from €29 (or from €39 in business class = 1st class) then a direct Eurocity train through the Alps to Switzerland.
That's if you want the fast main lines, which you will at least on one direction.
To use the Bernina Express in one direction, book from Rome to Tirano at www.trenitalia.com looking for an early (roughly 06:30) Frecciarossa high-speed train from Rome to Milan connecting with the 10:20 regional train Milan-Tirano. Then add the Tirano-Chur Bernina Express at www.rhb.ch (or be clever, and look for a €29 upwards advance-purchas sparpreis fare from Tirano to Freiburg or Singen at German Railways www.bahn.de/en which is much cheaper, and simply don't use the Chur-Freiburg part, which is perfectly legitimate and your prerogative.
Sep 4th, 2016, 11:14 PM
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More info on how to book the €29 Bernina Express fare here, http://www.seat61.com/BerninaExpress...Express_for_29
Sep 5th, 2016, 04:23 AM
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To do Rome to Switz and back in so few days is too much travel. I would look again at open jaws (multi-destination flights, not 2 one-way tickets, should be only a few $ more) and will avoid wasting a day returning to Rome.
IMHO to really see much of Rome you need 4 nights (3 days) and it will take you a full day to get to Interlaken or the small towns in the foothills of the Jungfrau. And you need to be aware it can several days there before the top is clear (many days it is wreathed in clouds) and it makes sense to go up - not just to get to the snow at the top but also to see much of anyhting on the way up and from the top. (We were in Interlaken one June for 3 days before we got one clear at at the top). There are many things to do in the area - we visited Thun and Brienz, took a steamer on Lake Brienz to see the waterfalls, visited the Ballenburg museum of Swiss life and also several other charing nearby towns (but we were traveling by car and didn't have to cope with train schedules). Just be prepared this may take some time to do.
IMHO to really see much of Rome you need 4 nights (3 days) and it will take you a full day to get to Interlaken or the small towns in the foothills of the Jungfrau. And you need to be aware it can several days there before the top is clear (many days it is wreathed in clouds) and it makes sense to go up - not just to get to the snow at the top but also to see much of anyhting on the way up and from the top. (We were in Interlaken one June for 3 days before we got one clear at at the top). There are many things to do in the area - we visited Thun and Brienz, took a steamer on Lake Brienz to see the waterfalls, visited the Ballenburg museum of Swiss life and also several other charing nearby towns (but we were traveling by car and didn't have to cope with train schedules). Just be prepared this may take some time to do.
Sep 5th, 2016, 09:50 PM
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neckervd, Man_in_seat_61 , nytraveler
Thanks for all the feedback. Yeah, I realised coming back to where we flew from is not feasible now.. Still fine-tuning the itinerary, perhaps we might miss out on Italy altogether and just focus on Switzerland.
Now i'm looking at flying into Zurich and fly out of Geneva (a rather different itinerary, I know!). A few days in Lucern & Pilatus, a few days in Jungfrau & the surrounding, and then maybe Golden Pass scenic train.. I'm a bit overwhelmed with the tons of info out there, especially on public transport & where to stay though.
Thanks for all the feedback. Yeah, I realised coming back to where we flew from is not feasible now.. Still fine-tuning the itinerary, perhaps we might miss out on Italy altogether and just focus on Switzerland.
Now i'm looking at flying into Zurich and fly out of Geneva (a rather different itinerary, I know!). A few days in Lucern & Pilatus, a few days in Jungfrau & the surrounding, and then maybe Golden Pass scenic train.. I'm a bit overwhelmed with the tons of info out there, especially on public transport & where to stay though.
Sep 5th, 2016, 10:19 PM
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Hi muizon,
That's a good itinerary, and it's a much-used one because it works so well. It will give you a good mix: mountains & lakes, cities & mountains, German & French.
If I were you, I would spend the most time in the mountains, so I would look at Luzern 1-2 nights; Jungfrau region 3-4 nights; Lake Geneva 2-3 nights.
For the Jungfrau region, popular bases are Wengen, Lauterbrunnen, Mürren, Grindelwald & Interlaken. Wengen & Mürren sit up in the mountains, and they are car-free. Grindelwald sits up in the mountains, too, but it allows cars. Lauterbrunnen sits on the valley floor, and Interlaken sits between two lakes down in the valley. More information on these places at
www.myjungfrau.ch
Popular bases on Lake Geneva are Vevey & Montreux. Vevey has a more residential feel (and has fewer hotels) while Montreux has the atmosphere of a resort. I know Montreux well, as I visit every year or every other year for 1 or 2 weeks. I think you may be late finding hotels there for next month.
Once you narrow down your destinations, folks here can help a lot with recommending hotels.
For all the information on trains, use the Swiss rail site at
www.sbb.ch
Have fun as you plan!
s
That's a good itinerary, and it's a much-used one because it works so well. It will give you a good mix: mountains & lakes, cities & mountains, German & French.
If I were you, I would spend the most time in the mountains, so I would look at Luzern 1-2 nights; Jungfrau region 3-4 nights; Lake Geneva 2-3 nights.
For the Jungfrau region, popular bases are Wengen, Lauterbrunnen, Mürren, Grindelwald & Interlaken. Wengen & Mürren sit up in the mountains, and they are car-free. Grindelwald sits up in the mountains, too, but it allows cars. Lauterbrunnen sits on the valley floor, and Interlaken sits between two lakes down in the valley. More information on these places at
www.myjungfrau.ch
Popular bases on Lake Geneva are Vevey & Montreux. Vevey has a more residential feel (and has fewer hotels) while Montreux has the atmosphere of a resort. I know Montreux well, as I visit every year or every other year for 1 or 2 weeks. I think you may be late finding hotels there for next month.
Once you narrow down your destinations, folks here can help a lot with recommending hotels.
For all the information on trains, use the Swiss rail site at
www.sbb.ch
Have fun as you plan!
s
Sep 5th, 2016, 10:24 PM
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Is it for this October, like in one month?
Even though it is better than your first try, you seem to be looking at flights and ground parts separately. Unless you are coming from a country with numerous flight choices into both GVA and ZRH, some flight combinations integrate better with the ground part.
You have 4 choices, even though you have only looked at one.
Into ZRH, out of GVA
Into ZRH, out of ZRH
Into GVA, out of ZRH
Into GVA, out of GVA
For me, GVA is almost always out because it is more expensive with less flight choices than ZRH. It might be different in your case.
Also, unless you are arriving late in the afternoon, you can get to most places in just few hours whether you land in ZRH or GVA, in which case, you have more flight choices to choose desirable schedule and price points. If your arrival into Switzerland is early in the morning, it makes even more sense to start your trip from the furthest point to travel towards near the departing airport. If you arrive early, you cannot always check-in early, in which case, you can piggy back waiting time to check-in into time to travel to the furthest point - a two in one strategy.
Even though it is better than your first try, you seem to be looking at flights and ground parts separately. Unless you are coming from a country with numerous flight choices into both GVA and ZRH, some flight combinations integrate better with the ground part.
You have 4 choices, even though you have only looked at one.
Into ZRH, out of GVA
Into ZRH, out of ZRH
Into GVA, out of ZRH
Into GVA, out of GVA
For me, GVA is almost always out because it is more expensive with less flight choices than ZRH. It might be different in your case.
Also, unless you are arriving late in the afternoon, you can get to most places in just few hours whether you land in ZRH or GVA, in which case, you have more flight choices to choose desirable schedule and price points. If your arrival into Switzerland is early in the morning, it makes even more sense to start your trip from the furthest point to travel towards near the departing airport. If you arrive early, you cannot always check-in early, in which case, you can piggy back waiting time to check-in into time to travel to the furthest point - a two in one strategy.
Sep 6th, 2016, 12:13 AM
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<<For now, getting an open jaw ticket is not really an option as it adds significantly to the travel cost.. we have around 8-9 days for the trip.>>
Are you sure you are really looking at open-jaw (multi-city) tickets,and not two one-way fares? Open-jaw tickets do not normally add significantly to the cost.
That's a very short trip.I would fly into Zurich and out of Geneva and forget Italy. If this trip is really for next month, you are very late in reserving accommodations and ground transportation, so need to do that asap.
Are you sure you are really looking at open-jaw (multi-city) tickets,and not two one-way fares? Open-jaw tickets do not normally add significantly to the cost.
That's a very short trip.I would fly into Zurich and out of Geneva and forget Italy. If this trip is really for next month, you are very late in reserving accommodations and ground transportation, so need to do that asap.
Sep 6th, 2016, 02:32 AM
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Switzerland: there is no need to book ground tgransportation in advance. Most trains and buses run every 30 to 60 min and local people never book seats in advance.
As to Swiss hotels: the second half of October is low season and rooms can often be booked a few hrs in advance.
As to Swiss hotels: the second half of October is low season and rooms can often be booked a few hrs in advance.
Sep 6th, 2016, 03:49 AM
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swandav2000, greg, neckervd, StCirq - thanks a lot for your feedback.
We're flying from east Africa, not a lot of flights and the transit time is horrendous for most flights except for turkish air. So now flying into ZRH and exit out of GVA is most likely via IST.
Planned itinerary as per below, just need to fill in those days with activities and find hotels. Travel dates between 14-23 oct.
Day 1 - arrive ZRH at 1.40pm, take train to Lucerne
Day 2-3 - stay at Lucerne. Explore Mt Pilatus / Rigi / Mt Titlis?
- Take train from Lucerne to Lauterbrunnen
Day 4-7 - stay at Lauterbrunnen. Explore Interlaken / Jungraujoch / Grindelweld / Wengen
- Take train from Lauterbrunnen to Montreux (Golden Pass Panoramic)
Day 8-9 - stay at Montreux
Day 10 - depart from GVA 11.20AM
We're flying from east Africa, not a lot of flights and the transit time is horrendous for most flights except for turkish air. So now flying into ZRH and exit out of GVA is most likely via IST.
Planned itinerary as per below, just need to fill in those days with activities and find hotels. Travel dates between 14-23 oct.
Day 1 - arrive ZRH at 1.40pm, take train to Lucerne
Day 2-3 - stay at Lucerne. Explore Mt Pilatus / Rigi / Mt Titlis?
- Take train from Lucerne to Lauterbrunnen
Day 4-7 - stay at Lauterbrunnen. Explore Interlaken / Jungraujoch / Grindelweld / Wengen
- Take train from Lauterbrunnen to Montreux (Golden Pass Panoramic)
Day 8-9 - stay at Montreux
Day 10 - depart from GVA 11.20AM
Sep 6th, 2016, 06:05 AM
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Hi again,
What are your priorities for a hotel (location, service, price)?
What kinds of things do you think you'd like to do in Montreux? Do you hike or bike? Like wine tastings? Most folks will want to spend a few hours inside the castle of Chillon, outside of Montreux. Other than that, here is my list of "reviews" (w/photos) of my favorite activities in/based from Montreux:
Montreux old town
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...reux_Vaud.html
Lavaux
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...reux_Vaud.html
Walks through the Lavaux vineyards
http://www.montreuxriviera.com/en/Cu...rekking_Lavaux
Promenade Fleuri
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...reux_Vaud.html
Morges
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...rges_Vaud.html
Gruyeres
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR..._Fribourg.html
Saanen
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...wiss_Alps.html
Gstaad
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...wiss_Alps.html
Since you'll be passing through Saanen & Gstaad, and will be passing nearby Gruyeres, while on the Golden Pass, you could conceivably see them while enroute.
I haven't included a "review" of Vevey, but I very strongly recommend spending at least half a day there exploring the winding streets of its old town next to the lake. Very interesting and very scenic. You can easily combine half a day in Vevey with half a day in the Lavaux.
Have fun!
s
What are your priorities for a hotel (location, service, price)?
What kinds of things do you think you'd like to do in Montreux? Do you hike or bike? Like wine tastings? Most folks will want to spend a few hours inside the castle of Chillon, outside of Montreux. Other than that, here is my list of "reviews" (w/photos) of my favorite activities in/based from Montreux:
Montreux old town
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...reux_Vaud.html
Lavaux
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...reux_Vaud.html
Walks through the Lavaux vineyards
http://www.montreuxriviera.com/en/Cu...rekking_Lavaux
Promenade Fleuri
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...reux_Vaud.html
Morges
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...rges_Vaud.html
Gruyeres
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR..._Fribourg.html
Saanen
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...wiss_Alps.html
Gstaad
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...wiss_Alps.html
Since you'll be passing through Saanen & Gstaad, and will be passing nearby Gruyeres, while on the Golden Pass, you could conceivably see them while enroute.
I haven't included a "review" of Vevey, but I very strongly recommend spending at least half a day there exploring the winding streets of its old town next to the lake. Very interesting and very scenic. You can easily combine half a day in Vevey with half a day in the Lavaux.
Have fun!
s
