RailEurope:

Geneva to Zurich $68

sbb.ch 80 CHF - about $10 MORE than RailEurope for a standard 2nd class ticket.

If using RE for a price guideline vs buying tickets in Switzerland add about 10% to the RE $ prices it seems to approximate prices in Switzerland for the same ticket

Thanks everyone for your invaluable feedback! I begin my adventure on Saturday, spending my first week in Austria and Liechtenstein.

Then it's one day in Zurich, two days in Lauterbrunnen (when I hope to also spend time in Interlaken and Murren), and a day and a half in Lucerne (and doing Mt. Pilatus). After that, it's on to Oslo for four days. PHEW!

Any last minute tips or recommendations for things to do in these areas? Great affordable restaurant finds? Otherwise I'll report back when I return!

Thanks again!

for Mt Pilatus consider taking the city bus to Krens, to hop the thrilling aerial cableway to Pilatus Kulm (summit) then take the thrilling mountain narrow-gauge train down to Alpnachstad, on the shores of idyllic Lake Lucerne and hopping a steamer boat for the about hour return to the center of Lucerne. Or vice versa but i think the boat is a nice relaxing way to return to Lucerne after a thrill-packed day going up and down Pilatus. Or trains run frequent from Alpnachstad to Lucerne.

Great affordable restaurant finds?

<i>"Great affordable restaurant finds?"</i> #o In Switzerland :-? ((?))

The towns you'll be visiting will all have grocery stores. They're a great place for picking up snacks and picnic items.

((i)) In Lucerne, for a quick lunch and fairly affordable, try the deli counter at the grocery store. (I've been there a dozen times but with only one cup of coffee so far I can't remember if it's a Migros or Coop store brand). But the deli is quite large, from hot foods to salads to pastries. There's a small section to sit down. You'll find the store smack dab in the middle of the pedestrian shopping zone.

Underneath (by escalator) the train station there's a virtual shopping mall, with all sorts of clothing, etc. shops and some cafes have take-away food (not great but okay if you're on the run). At one time I remember eating at a cafeteria down there, but not sure if it's there any longer. At the far end, there's also very modern and clean bathroom facilities (have a 1 CHF coin handy).

Most of the mountaintop cafes should have pre-made sandwiches or a bowl of soup available, which doesn't bust the budget.

When are you leaving?

ditto to the Migros and Coop cafeterias for good down-home Swiss food at, for Switzerland, bargain prices. Migros however don't do booze so if you'd like a brew or vino with your food head to the Coop - practically every town pedestrian shop zones has a Migros and Coop supermarket with a cafeteria in it. The Migros in Interlaken by the West train station has a fine open-air patio with views of snow-capped peaks. (Migros' founder was a temperance guy i think so the store has never sold alcoholic drinks - Switzerland actually has a more sizable temperance group than most European countries, where a supermarket not selling booze would be unheard of.)

Migros now owns the Denner supermarket chain, which makes a huge profit on their alcoholic drinks.

I leave tomorrow! But won't make it to Switzerland until Friday the 12th. Thank you all so much for the suggestions. I'm printing out a little "cheat sheet" to take with me.

Thanks again!

MollyM - Bon Voyage

Schuler - i think you've told me before that Denner Diskount sells booze and was a Migros entity

makes me wonder why Migros itself don't sell booze - obviously does not any longer offend the owners and am wondering then why they do not - losing income it seems to keep a tradition that no one cares about?

any insights? thanks

"losing income it seems to keep a tradition that no one cares about?"

It's a philosophy that still works and is admired. And Migros is doing quite well.