Is my itinerary the Best of Switzerland?
Apr 12th, 2015, 10:53 AM
#21
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We have 9:20 a.m. flight form Geneva airport (GVA) to New York.
If we stay in Montreux or Vevey is there a way to arrive to GVA around 7:20 a.m.? It may make sense to stay in Lausanne preferably close to the railway station or even spend the last night in Geneva.. What do you think?
If we stay in Montreux or Vevey is there a way to arrive to GVA around 7:20 a.m.? It may make sense to stay in Lausanne preferably close to the railway station or even spend the last night in Geneva.. What do you think?
Apr 12th, 2015, 02:53 PM
#23
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I agree with michele - always be in your departure city the day before and have gotten rid of your car - you never know what may pop up - minor accident or big accident on way to airport - roads blocked due to an accident - trains not running for some reason like an accident or blockage on tracks - those things always happen when you least want them to.
Stay in Geneva or even at an airport hotel and just roll out of bed and onto the plane.
Swiss Railways has a Fly-Train scheme where you can send your luggage right to your plane from anhy train station even if you do not take the train I believe (not positive about that).
Stay in Geneva or even at an airport hotel and just roll out of bed and onto the plane.
Swiss Railways has a Fly-Train scheme where you can send your luggage right to your plane from anhy train station even if you do not take the train I believe (not positive about that).
Apr 12th, 2015, 05:05 PM
#24
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There is a direct train from Lausanne to GVS: 50 minutes and a direct train from Montreux: 1 hour 10 minutes. But I agree it is little bit risky. I remember that we took a train from Florence to Rome and from Rome to Civitavecchia to board our cruise ship. We were kind of nervous while in Florence going to the train station every day asking folks there if they will be on strike at the day of our departure...
Since we are planning to spend a day in Geneva anyway, it may make sense to do it on the day before the flight and stay the last night near Geneva airport.
Since we are planning to spend a day in Geneva anyway, it may make sense to do it on the day before the flight and stay the last night near Geneva airport.
Apr 13th, 2015, 09:47 AM
#25
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Direct trains from Montreux to Geneva airport (about 75 min journey):
Montreux dp 5.12, 5.53, 6.18......
But I would sleep at Geneva nevertheless.
Liechtenstein: nothing to see, nothing to do, the perfect waste of time.
Montreux dp 5.12, 5.53, 6.18......
But I would sleep at Geneva nevertheless.
Liechtenstein: nothing to see, nothing to do, the perfect waste of time.
Apr 13th, 2015, 03:19 PM
#26
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Here is swandav2000 recommendation for Day 9: 'Ship luggage using Fast Baggage. Take Golden Pass from Interlaken to Gruyeres, see Gruyeres. Continue on to Montreux, see the town. Take a ferry to Lausanne.'
Question 1 regarding Fast Baggage: I will be staying in Lauterbrunnen. Can I give my luggage at the Lauterbrunnen train station and get it at Lausanne train station the same day some time in the evening? If we take a ferry from Montreux to Lausanne, we'll need to go to the train station and can't collect the luggage at the ferry terminal in Lausanne. Correct?
Question 2: It seems to me that Golden Pass train does not have a stop in Gruyeres and we'll have to change trains in Montbovon to get to Gruyeres then take a train back to Montbovon and switch to Golden Pass to Montreux after we explore Gruyeres. Is it correct? Would you recommend to visit Gruyeres as a part of commuting from Interlaken to Montreux? Is Gruyeres worth visiting?
Question 1 regarding Fast Baggage: I will be staying in Lauterbrunnen. Can I give my luggage at the Lauterbrunnen train station and get it at Lausanne train station the same day some time in the evening? If we take a ferry from Montreux to Lausanne, we'll need to go to the train station and can't collect the luggage at the ferry terminal in Lausanne. Correct?
Question 2: It seems to me that Golden Pass train does not have a stop in Gruyeres and we'll have to change trains in Montbovon to get to Gruyeres then take a train back to Montbovon and switch to Golden Pass to Montreux after we explore Gruyeres. Is it correct? Would you recommend to visit Gruyeres as a part of commuting from Interlaken to Montreux? Is Gruyeres worth visiting?
Apr 13th, 2015, 04:06 PM
#27
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Q1: You can get all of the baggage forwarding information yourself on the sbb website:
For fast (same day) baggage forwarding, as a rule, you need to check your luggage by 9:00 a.m. You can then pick it up after 6 p.m.
http://www.sbb.ch/en/station-service...t-baggage.html
It looks like the Lauterbrunnen baggage desks opens everyday at 7:00
http://www.sbb.ch/en/station-service...osid.7384.html
It looks like the main Lausanne station's baggage desk is open until 6:30 or 6:45 p.m., depending on the day:
http://www.sbb.ch/en/station-service...osid.1120.html
You can confirm the options for delivery on the specific day you plan to travel here:
http://www.sbb.ch/en/station-service...ebabfrage.html
I believe the train stop nearest the ferry terminal in Lausanne is Ouchy, but you should confirm that. Trains run regularly to the main train station.
http://fahrplan.sbb.ch/bin/query.exe/en
Q2: I routed through Montbovon. I enjoyed Gruyeres. YMMV.
For fast (same day) baggage forwarding, as a rule, you need to check your luggage by 9:00 a.m. You can then pick it up after 6 p.m.
http://www.sbb.ch/en/station-service...t-baggage.html
It looks like the Lauterbrunnen baggage desks opens everyday at 7:00
http://www.sbb.ch/en/station-service...osid.7384.html
It looks like the main Lausanne station's baggage desk is open until 6:30 or 6:45 p.m., depending on the day:
http://www.sbb.ch/en/station-service...osid.1120.html
You can confirm the options for delivery on the specific day you plan to travel here:
http://www.sbb.ch/en/station-service...ebabfrage.html
I believe the train stop nearest the ferry terminal in Lausanne is Ouchy, but you should confirm that. Trains run regularly to the main train station.
http://fahrplan.sbb.ch/bin/query.exe/en
Q2: I routed through Montbovon. I enjoyed Gruyeres. YMMV.
Apr 13th, 2015, 09:35 PM
#28
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Hi again,
kja has given you good answers for your specific questions, so you should be able to plan that day easily.
Yes, I do think Gruyeres is worth visiting -- even though it's horribly touristy. The medieval village is just beautiful (about a 10-minute walk up a hill from the train station), and it's a great place to eat! There are all kinds of incredible cheese dishes there (fondue) as well as a double-cream that will knock your socks off. You can have the double cream over berries or over a meringue.
And yes, I think it's a good plan to see Gruyere while enroute. It just makes sense to me to do it that way, since you'll be travelling nearby anyway.
Have fun!
s
kja has given you good answers for your specific questions, so you should be able to plan that day easily.
Yes, I do think Gruyeres is worth visiting -- even though it's horribly touristy. The medieval village is just beautiful (about a 10-minute walk up a hill from the train station), and it's a great place to eat! There are all kinds of incredible cheese dishes there (fondue) as well as a double-cream that will knock your socks off. You can have the double cream over berries or over a meringue.
And yes, I think it's a good plan to see Gruyere while enroute. It just makes sense to me to do it that way, since you'll be travelling nearby anyway.
Have fun!
s
Apr 13th, 2015, 10:38 PM
#29
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"We are thinking of skipping a few touristy areas that include Zermatt, Lugano and St.Moritz"
I don't know why you think Lugano is more touristy than a place like Luzern. The historic center of Luzern is packed with tourists year round. In mid-June, you will see one tour bus after another. OTOH, mid-June is not high season in Zermatt and as the village is car-free, it may feel less "touristy" than Luzern, especially once you get off the main street.
If you choose to leave those places off your list, that's fine, go where you like, but don't assume the places you have picked are less touristy.
Yes, Gruyeres is worth visiting. It will be busy in mid-June, but even so, it's still a beautiful sight/site.
I don't think Interlaken's is given an "unfair" short shrift. People simply have differing opinions. I've been all over Interlaken, have seen all those neighborhoods that Pal likes so much, and still wouldn't choose to make it my base. There's nothing "unfair" about not having the same opinion as someone else.
I don't know why you think Lugano is more touristy than a place like Luzern. The historic center of Luzern is packed with tourists year round. In mid-June, you will see one tour bus after another. OTOH, mid-June is not high season in Zermatt and as the village is car-free, it may feel less "touristy" than Luzern, especially once you get off the main street.
If you choose to leave those places off your list, that's fine, go where you like, but don't assume the places you have picked are less touristy.
Yes, Gruyeres is worth visiting. It will be busy in mid-June, but even so, it's still a beautiful sight/site.
I don't think Interlaken's is given an "unfair" short shrift. People simply have differing opinions. I've been all over Interlaken, have seen all those neighborhoods that Pal likes so much, and still wouldn't choose to make it my base. There's nothing "unfair" about not having the same opinion as someone else.
Apr 14th, 2015, 02:35 AM
#32
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Day 9: 'Ship luggage using Fast Baggage. Take Golden Pass from Interlaken to Gruyeres, see Gruyeres. Continue on to Montreux, see the town. Take a ferry to Lausanne".
If you leave Interlaken Ost by Golden Panoramic Express at 9.08 you will arrive at Gruyeres at 12.06.
When will you travel?
Last ferry departures from Montreux to Lausanne Ouchy:
until June 20th: 17.09, corresponds to a departure at Gruyeres at 14.51
June 21st until September 6th: dp 19.20, corresponds to a departure at Gruyeres at 16.51
If you leave Interlaken Ost by Golden Panoramic Express at 9.08 you will arrive at Gruyeres at 12.06.
When will you travel?
Last ferry departures from Montreux to Lausanne Ouchy:
until June 20th: 17.09, corresponds to a departure at Gruyeres at 14.51
June 21st until September 6th: dp 19.20, corresponds to a departure at Gruyeres at 16.51
Apr 14th, 2015, 06:53 AM
#34
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I will take Golden Pass on June 24. Though I can stay late at Gruyeres, I'll have to collect my luggage at Lausanne train station no later than 6:30 p.m.
It may make sense to take a train, not ferry to Lausanne from Montreux and collect our luggage on arrival at Lausanne train station.. What do you think?
Also would you recommend not to use the fast baggage service and leave the luggage at Montbovon or Gruyeres train station to be more flexible timewise?
It may make sense to take a train, not ferry to Lausanne from Montreux and collect our luggage on arrival at Lausanne train station.. What do you think?
Also would you recommend not to use the fast baggage service and leave the luggage at Montbovon or Gruyeres train station to be more flexible timewise?
Apr 14th, 2015, 09:10 AM
#36
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Hi again,
There are no luggage lockers at Montbovon or at Gruyeres, so there's really no choice. That's why I suggested Fast Baggage rather than bringing it along.
Hope it won't be too much trouble to get to Lausanne baggage office before 18.30 --
s
There are no luggage lockers at Montbovon or at Gruyeres, so there's really no choice. That's why I suggested Fast Baggage rather than bringing it along.
Hope it won't be too much trouble to get to Lausanne baggage office before 18.30 --
s
Apr 14th, 2015, 09:46 AM
#37
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No left luggage at Gruyeres, but at Bulle
http://www.sbb.ch/en/station-service...osid.4086.html
http://www.sbb.ch/en/station-service...osid.4086.html
Apr 14th, 2015, 09:46 PM
#38
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WeisserTee, by saying "We are thinking of skipping a few touristy areas that include Zermatt, Lugano and St.Moritz"
I didn't mean that Luzern and other places are less touristy. I simply did not want to jump from place to place and concentrate on 3 regions only. We have never been to the lake area in Northern Italy and I think that it can be easily combined with Lugano and St. Moritz in another trip. Zermatt?
Well... Maybe combined with another trip too..
Regarding going to Liechtenstein.. Maybe just to take a train and a bus there and immediately go back. Just to have a right to boast about visiting a small European country called Liechtenstein.
Just kidding!
Thank you Neckervd for advising us to skip Liechtenstein.
I don't know why you think Lugano is more touristy than a place like Luzern. The historic center of Luzern is packed with tourists year round. In mid-June, you will see one tour bus after another. OTOH, mid-June is not high season in Zermatt and as the village is car-free, it may feel less "touristy" than Luzern, especially once you get off the main street.
I didn't mean that Luzern and other places are less touristy. I simply did not want to jump from place to place and concentrate on 3 regions only. We have never been to the lake area in Northern Italy and I think that it can be easily combined with Lugano and St. Moritz in another trip. Zermatt?
Well... Maybe combined with another trip too..
Regarding going to Liechtenstein.. Maybe just to take a train and a bus there and immediately go back. Just to have a right to boast about visiting a small European country called Liechtenstein.
Just kidding!
Thank you Neckervd for advising us to skip Liechtenstein.
I don't know why you think Lugano is more touristy than a place like Luzern. The historic center of Luzern is packed with tourists year round. In mid-June, you will see one tour bus after another. OTOH, mid-June is not high season in Zermatt and as the village is car-free, it may feel less "touristy" than Luzern, especially once you get off the main street.
Apr 15th, 2015, 05:28 AM
#39
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Lugano overrun by tourists? NIME of being there several times. Lucerne yes in the tourist season and is also a small town I think. That said tourists flock to lovely places like Lucerne because they are so lovely. Places where tourists do not flock are often not as lovely.
Apr 15th, 2015, 06:29 AM
#40
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Are you going THIS June? Better get a move on then, for accommodations.
Interlaken - Sunnydays B&B. Also look at Hotel Beausite . www.beausite.ch
Interlaken isn't in the middle of the spectacular views of say, Wengen, but it is so central that it is easy to get to all the BO places you will want to go to. And there are Alpine views in Interlaken too. Once in Interlaken it is easy to get to Bern for a day trip. We love Bern.
Interlaken - Sunnydays B&B. Also look at Hotel Beausite . www.beausite.ch
Interlaken isn't in the middle of the spectacular views of say, Wengen, but it is so central that it is easy to get to all the BO places you will want to go to. And there are Alpine views in Interlaken too. Once in Interlaken it is easy to get to Bern for a day trip. We love Bern.
