Need help with itinerary for Switzerland, Germany or Austria
Jul 25th, 2011, 01:20 PM
#41
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Thank you, Ingo! We are good to go (Switzerland leg, I am still working on Germany details). That Half Price card is the way to go. Do you think the kids need half-price card? There are Junior card (20SF per child) for the Berner Oberland that lets kids travel free if with a paid parent. So the kids don't need the half price for BO, but may still pay off for the Mt Pilatus trip (Golden package is 90?SF/person), or maybe not.
Aug 7th, 2011, 08:44 PM
#43
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A couple of more final questions:
1. Local SIM cards for phone and iPad. I plan to buy one for each device (data SIM for my iPad, phone SIM card for my phone) - should be so much cheaper than paying my US rates. I would think they are available at Zurich airport where we are flying into. I have no clue as to which kind/which store is a good place to buy. I saw an online store "blauworld.com" - a German company that sells those (5 euro for 50 min, and 5 euro for 50 mb, all valid for 7 days - very reasonable, I think). But not sure if this store is available at Zurich airport. Any particular store I should avoid, or patronize? I understand when I purchase the cards, they need to be activated, which I am probably not capable of due to my limited German. Is that reasonable to ask the store clerk to help me activate it while I am there? Keep in mind I will be traveling two countries, SIM card bought in Swiss will be roaming in Germany (which is fine. I can just buy another if I need more)? I don't need lots of talk time or data, most of the places we stay will have free wi-fi. Just for emergencies.
2. We will pick up our rental car in Zurich airport. Arriving at 11am. We plan to go to downtown for rest of day, eat dinner, then drive down to BO. My question is which is easier: a) to pick it up right after we arrive, leave the luggage in the car, go downtown, and come back for the car or b) store luggage in locker, go downtown first, back to airport after dinner to pick up car. I don't mind the extra couple of hours car rental for more convenience.
1. Local SIM cards for phone and iPad. I plan to buy one for each device (data SIM for my iPad, phone SIM card for my phone) - should be so much cheaper than paying my US rates. I would think they are available at Zurich airport where we are flying into. I have no clue as to which kind/which store is a good place to buy. I saw an online store "blauworld.com" - a German company that sells those (5 euro for 50 min, and 5 euro for 50 mb, all valid for 7 days - very reasonable, I think). But not sure if this store is available at Zurich airport. Any particular store I should avoid, or patronize? I understand when I purchase the cards, they need to be activated, which I am probably not capable of due to my limited German. Is that reasonable to ask the store clerk to help me activate it while I am there? Keep in mind I will be traveling two countries, SIM card bought in Swiss will be roaming in Germany (which is fine. I can just buy another if I need more)? I don't need lots of talk time or data, most of the places we stay will have free wi-fi. Just for emergencies.
2. We will pick up our rental car in Zurich airport. Arriving at 11am. We plan to go to downtown for rest of day, eat dinner, then drive down to BO. My question is which is easier: a) to pick it up right after we arrive, leave the luggage in the car, go downtown, and come back for the car or b) store luggage in locker, go downtown first, back to airport after dinner to pick up car. I don't mind the extra couple of hours car rental for more convenience.
Aug 8th, 2011, 07:20 AM
#44
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Parking in downtown Zuerich might be difficult to find and will be expensive.
Easier to stow luggage, take a quick train into Hauptbahnhof and visit the city.
Trains to the airport (Flughafen) run every 10-15 minutes throughout much of the day.
Easier to stow luggage, take a quick train into Hauptbahnhof and visit the city.
Trains to the airport (Flughafen) run every 10-15 minutes throughout much of the day.
Aug 8th, 2011, 12:34 PM
#45
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About the Swiss Half-Fare Card vs the Swiss Card - I have examined both and at least for anyone from North America it may well be cheaper over all to buy a Swiss Card instead of a Half-Fare card - Swiss Card gives one journey by public transit from any border or airport in Switzerland to any place in Switzerland and then a trip out to any border or airport - need not be the same - thus someone who lands in Zurich, goes to say Berner Oberland and continues down to italy or over to France would do better in my calcuations with the Swiss Card since currently the Swiss Card costs just about 80 euros more than the Half-Fare Card (about $150 to start) and in between the inward and outward bound journeys you get, just like the Half-Fare Card 50% off everything that moves practically in Switzerland. So if you inward and outward bound journeys cost more than a total of 80 Swiss francs it seems the Swiss Card will be cheaper over all than the Half-Fare Card, if I have caluclated correctly. Will find the math and report back!
Sep 14th, 2011, 06:45 PM
#46
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We are back. Thanks to all of you, our trip went smoothly, everyone had a great time.
Instead of a trip report, I will just share a few key thoughts:
1. Both counties are beautiful, full of history and old architecture.
2. Switzerland is EXPENSIVE. It costs $3 to use the public restrooms; in tourist areas, restaurants charge 4 chf for tap water - we passed, of course. It hurt our pockets even more the week we were there, CHF vs $ was at its peak. Ouch! I keep wondering the reasons why Swiss artificially keeps everything so expensive. Compared to Switzerland, Germany is a lot more crowded in the tourist areas. I am convinced it is due to the affordability of visiting Germany.
3. We had a B&B in Lake Geneva area. I was very excited about this accommodation, thinking we would get to see how the locals live. We did see that, but I would not do the B&B again. Our family of 4 moved in with an old couple who owns a 3-bedroom apartment. I felt like invading their privacy. I had to constantly shush the boys to be quieter at night. I had B&B type of stay in the US which felt totally different - more space, sense of privacy.
4. No AC anywhere. The week we were in Germany, temp went up to mid 80s (30C). Hotels have no AC. The hotels in the old town are very charming, but it is tough to deal with the 30C without AC. We stayed at a brand new apartment in Munich, loved it except for its lack of AC. That was when we really missed our home in US - with AC. I really do admire the energy conscious Europeans. Compared to them, we American are very wasteful.
Instead of a trip report, I will just share a few key thoughts:
1. Both counties are beautiful, full of history and old architecture.
2. Switzerland is EXPENSIVE. It costs $3 to use the public restrooms; in tourist areas, restaurants charge 4 chf for tap water - we passed, of course. It hurt our pockets even more the week we were there, CHF vs $ was at its peak. Ouch! I keep wondering the reasons why Swiss artificially keeps everything so expensive. Compared to Switzerland, Germany is a lot more crowded in the tourist areas. I am convinced it is due to the affordability of visiting Germany.
3. We had a B&B in Lake Geneva area. I was very excited about this accommodation, thinking we would get to see how the locals live. We did see that, but I would not do the B&B again. Our family of 4 moved in with an old couple who owns a 3-bedroom apartment. I felt like invading their privacy. I had to constantly shush the boys to be quieter at night. I had B&B type of stay in the US which felt totally different - more space, sense of privacy.
4. No AC anywhere. The week we were in Germany, temp went up to mid 80s (30C). Hotels have no AC. The hotels in the old town are very charming, but it is tough to deal with the 30C without AC. We stayed at a brand new apartment in Munich, loved it except for its lack of AC. That was when we really missed our home in US - with AC. I really do admire the energy conscious Europeans. Compared to them, we American are very wasteful.
Sep 15th, 2011, 09:51 AM
#47
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Welcome back. Glad everyone had a great time - but I'm wondering how this can be if these are your key thoughts? Cannot refrain from commenting:
1. Agreed.
2. Yup, unfortunately. The topic of charging for tap water was discussed on Fodor's in great detail - seems to apply mostly for the very touristy Bernese Oberland, never ran into this in Graubünden. It's not that the Swiss keep everything "artificially" so expensive, while the country certainly has never been cheap (or average priced) they're sort of victims of their solid economy and low public debt - contrary to the Euro-zone and US. The Swiss fight the irrational exchange rate hard.
Switzerland has never been as crowded as Germany in the tourist areas (my experience).
3. BnB accommodation is hard to find in Switzerland and there's a reason for that. Yes, it's often like your experience - and you'll hardly see a recommendation for this on Fodor's or other forums.
4. LOL - agreed on the A/C. As you're used to it, you missed it. We Germans don't (and it would really be silly for the few days it is needed per year).
I.
1. Agreed.
2. Yup, unfortunately. The topic of charging for tap water was discussed on Fodor's in great detail - seems to apply mostly for the very touristy Bernese Oberland, never ran into this in Graubünden. It's not that the Swiss keep everything "artificially" so expensive, while the country certainly has never been cheap (or average priced) they're sort of victims of their solid economy and low public debt - contrary to the Euro-zone and US. The Swiss fight the irrational exchange rate hard.
Switzerland has never been as crowded as Germany in the tourist areas (my experience).
3. BnB accommodation is hard to find in Switzerland and there's a reason for that. Yes, it's often like your experience - and you'll hardly see a recommendation for this on Fodor's or other forums.
4. LOL - agreed on the A/C. As you're used to it, you missed it. We Germans don't (and it would really be silly for the few days it is needed per year).
I.
