Hi again,

Like to clarify a bit what PalenQ wrote about the SBB luggage service.

There is same-day service that costs 20 chf; you hand over your bags before 09.00 and can pick them up after 18.00.

There is two-day service that costs 10 chf; you hand over your bags, and pick them up on the day after next.

Here's a link to the info:
http://mct.sbb.ch/mct/en/reisemarkt/...isegepaeck.htm

Hope this helps

s

here' so far

16th going from frankfurt airport to montreux ( need to still figure how to get swisspass validated in basel which is border crossing for us).
17th ---try to do goldenpass line head towards lucerne with luggage
18th -- staying at lucerne(till the 20th figure out how to go to lugano to do bernina experess if it is still working) and do lucerne sightseeing
20th---head towards lauterbrunnen be there uptil25th mid morning and do the OB area.
25th-- afternoon head to zurich and just relax
26th-- leave for washington dulles.

Need to figure out how to buy swisscom sim card at frankfurt airport for iphone or maybe get down at basel and do that?

I still want to try to do bungee jumping at vezcaya dam...so if you have any ideas as to how to do that...please let me know.

Thanks for the info about luggage.

16th going from frankfurt airport to montreux ( need to still figure how to get swisspass validated in basel which is border crossing for us).>

Well if the train continues on past Basel then according to conditions of use you can validate the railpass on the train - the conductor does this only on trains continuing into the country your pass is valid in.

But if the train terminates in Basel then you will have to take it to a ticket window counter in Basel before boarding the Swiss train to Montreux (or Lausanne where you may have to change for Montreux)

I would not expect much of a wait at ticket windows in Basel - go to any ticket window but if there is a Eurail Aid sign over one of them go there as this is for foreign tourists help using railpasses.

And if you really want to facilitate the validation process you can have your pass pre-activated by the agent who issues it - when you buy it - you give the dates you want it to be validated and then when you get the pass it is already validated so you need not do anything once in Switzerland.

You cannot buy Swiss SIM card in Germany. Of course you could buy a German SIM card but as soon as you cross into Switzerland high roaming fees would apply.

The question is, do you really need a SIM card right away? Can't you simply buy one at the first day's destination, once you settled into a hotel etc.?

borivlikar1, I remember assisting you in one of your previous trips (I forget which destination). Let me try and answer some of your questions.

1. You seem to be hung up on riding some attractive train journey portions. The fancy names on the trains like "Golden Pass Express" or "Glacier Express" etc are just marketing gimmicks. All train rides in Switzerland are very scenic, and please do not make a specific train journey as your "destination" in Switzerland. There are far more beautiful things to see outside the trains, i.e. walking around the mountains of Bernese Oberland, or doing other things in the immensely beautiful spots that the country has to offer.

2.I think you will waste a lot of money if you buy a 15-day first class pass, as your trip is of hardly 10 days. First of all, Swiss trains are excellent, and second class is a great way to travel. Never had any problems in finding a seat anywhere, and we were there in August. I guess September will be even less crowded. Besides, much of your travel will be in the B.O. area, where you plan to spend 4-5 days. There are no 1st class coaches on any of the trains that run in the mountains there, so your 1st class pass will be wasteful anyway.

3. If you wish to use your Swiss Pass on the first day of your journey, when you travel from Frankfurt to wherever (Lucerne or Geneva), go to the Frankfurt Rail Office at the station, and they will validate the Swiss Pass for you right there. You can then buy a train ticket for the German portion of the journey. We managed to get our Austrian Rail Pass validated at Lucerne train station, so you should have no problems getting your Swiss Pass validated at Frankfurt train station.

4. I would choose fewer destinations in Switzerland. 4 days in Lauterbrunnen is the bare minimum, you could extend it to 5 days. Would definitely recommend 2 days in Lucerne. If you are keen on staying in Zurich for 2 days (as suggested in your itinerary), you really have no time for anything else. If Zurich is not high priority (and I don't see why it should be high priority), choose atmost one other destination.

5. I would highly recommend that you buy the 8-day second class Swiss Pass. Since there are 3 of you travelling together, go for the Saverpass, which gives a discount. I know your journey is for 10 days. So on the first day, buy a full ticket from Frankfurt to your first destination, where you will spend 2 days anyway, and get your Swiss Pass activated after that, so that it lasts you the rest of your journey. Or else, for your last leg of the journey (when you return to Zurich to catch your flight), you can purchase point-to-point tickets, and utilize your Swiss Pass for the first 8 days. Which is preferable, would depend upon your final itinerary. If your first destination is Lucerne, the Swiss Pass will be useful there in doing trips to Pilatus, Rigi etc. However, Swiss Pass is not too useful in a city like Zurich. Buying an 8-day Swiss Saverpass would be extremely cost-effective, and you will not miss out on anything.

6. Vegetarian food is not a problem anywhere in Switzerland. We are also veggies, and had absolutely no problems. Let that be the least of your worries.

7. Click on my screen-name and scroll through my trip reports till you find one on Switzerland. You may find many ideas of interest to you there. Enjoy the lovely easy hiking trails in the Lauterbrunnen-Murren-Grindelwald area, and you will fall in love with Switzerland. Or the strolls aside the lovely Lake Lucerne, or the fantastic trip up Mt Pilatus. Don't waste your time inside train coaches, riding gimmicky trains.

Forgot to add. If I remember correctly, kids under 5 years travel free on Swiss trains. So you probably need to buy Swiss Passes for only 2 people. If you opt for a common pass (both names entered on the same pass), you get 15% discount.

Hi all
this is our final itinerary;

@indiancouple....thanks for the wonderful insight. will get in touch with you.

16th: arriving at fra...leave for lausanne
16th-- 18th: be in lausanne( do montreux, geneva and possibly a wine region...we dont drink alcohol but might be fun still.)

18th leave on golden pass line to lucerne.
18th to the 20th ---lucerne and local sightseeing...take in a couple of boat rides..and mt titlis i think( maybe pilatus)

20th--25th Lauterbrunnen. do the Bo area.

we will do some light cooking in lauterbrunnen. som q's

we would need
1.)small bottle of oil( about 120 ml, 4 oz). better to buy at Coop? or take from the US?
2.) dishwashing and laundry soap ( any small quantities available at coop? this would be the coop at lauterbrunnen specifically).

Or should we carry it from the US. do not want to carry liquids if possible...and hate to waste by buying them in big quantities @Coop.

Also many of you have recommended to buy food essentials or picnic basket items in Migros or Coop. Please specify so that we may have more definitive ideas.

Thanks to you all..our trip is slowly taking form and shape.

we would need
1.)small bottle of oil( about 120 ml, 4 oz). better to buy at Coop? or take from the US?
2.) dishwashing and laundry soap ( any small quantities available at coop? this would be the coop at lauterbrunnen specifically).

Or should we carry it from the US. do not want to carry liquids if possible...and hate to waste by buying them in big quantities @Coop.

Also many of you have recommended to buy food essentials or picnic basket items in Migros or Coop. Please specify so that we may have more definitive ideas>

OK - What kind of oil - cooking oil - not sure you would anymore find that small a bottle in Coop or Migros than at home - pretty much expect everything size-wise as you would at home - if you can carry it in checked luggage then you could save a lot over having to buy a big bottle there

ditto with diswashing and laundry soap -standard type sizes we have i would think - for small quantities bring your own in checked luggage if possible.

As for what to buy at Coop or Migros - anything you can from film to camera batteries to postcards to pop or bottled water- the huge Coop by Interlaken-Ost station has everything any superstore would have - in Lauterbrunnen the Coop is much smaller and has necessities if needed.

Point is i would not expect such small quantities available but not sure but can say you could save several bucks by bringing your own - but if that is a hassle be sure that you can buy practically anything you need at the Coop in Lauterbrunnen.