I've already bought the Fodor's guide to Switzerland, and am looking for a second book to compare and contrast. I've been reading some online reviews at Amazon. The Rick Steves book is criticized in this case for not having any listings at all for Geneva. The review of the Eyewitness book says it is pretty to look at but gives short shrift to practical/logistical information (and I have found that to be the case in other books of that series). The Lonely Planet book (I do like the series) is a couple of years old.
My visit will be short, a few days in Zermatt, and another 2-3 days in Montreux or Vevey or Geneva (still deciding). Which book have you found most helpful?

I'm not sure where you are Elaine but there was a Lonely Planet guide to Switzerland published in 2009, without checking I'm not sure which edition it is, there isn't another planed for two years, their website says it's due in 2012. I've used their guides for years and I like them and the Rough Guides.

I have both the Fodor's and Frommer's guide to Switzerland. I like them both, they seem to compliment each other well - I have found a lot of good suggestions in one, but not the other. My trip is in 2 weeks, so I guess can't say for sure how good they are until I get there!

I just went to Barnes and Nobles one afternoon and perused the different guides available, then picked 2. From what I can tell, different books cater to different travel styles.
For instance, Lonely Plant generally focuses more on inexpensive traveling, Rick Steves doesn't focus as much on the bigger cities (he just picks HIS favorite things, so his guides can be very specific I think..).

Good luck!

Well, I've liked others in the Insight series, may go with that one. thanks

The best IMO are the Michelin Green Guide for sights and Michelin Red for Hotels and Restaurants. Very comprehensive and detailed.

I really like the Rough Guide series - they updated them a few years ago (format) and I've taken them on a few trips now. Green Guides are also great resources.

I'm a more recent fan of Rick Steves, because his practical information is usually spot-on--how to get the train, where to exit the museum, how to walk to the cathedral. I don't care for some of his flippancy, but the books have come in handy from time to time. The Switzerland version seems to be falling short in a number of areas, according to online comments. Rough Guides is not always my cup of tea, but will look at it for Switz. Green guide absolutely, but my trip in this case is pretty light on art, churches, and cultural sites, so may not invest in it this time.

<i>Rick Steves, because his practical information is usually spot-on--how to get the train, where to exit the museum, how to walk to the cathedral. I don't care for some of his flippancy</i>

How dare you compliment the dork for his flippancy. His maps are pure rubbish. Any city tourist office map can show you how to find the train station, cathedral, etc. He scoffs at Geneva, a beautiful little city in a beautiful setting, with a really good night life but he knows not how to find it. Some of his supposedly yearly updated information is five years out of date.

Rick also gives short shrift to Zermatt, calling it a "one mountain town" and "too touristy". I heartily disagree.

If you are only spending a couple of days each in Zermatt and Montreux/Vevey, I'd say you don't need a guidebook. Use the websites (www.zermatt.ch has a LOT of information and suggestions for activities) and ask questions here about people's favorite things to see and do.

Although I haven't looked at the Mich. green guide, all the 3 guidebooks I've bought have been disappointing, and Fodors, sorry to say is one of the three. The Insight Guide was worse.
Of the three, Frommers is the best, but that's damning with faint praise. It is absolutely true that the most detailed and compelling information has been found online, and that's true so far, imo, for Zermatt, Vevey, Montreux, and Geneva.