PalenQ

also check www.swisspasses.com - I think a Swiss Railways site - they are advertising some 2 for 1 passes in banner ads on Fodor's right now - look at top of screen there may be one there!

PalenQ

You ask about your itinerary - good except that it is missing what I and many consider to be the very highlight of Switzerland the Jungfrau Region up in the hills south of Interlaken - I'd suggest taying here 3-4 days and scrubbing basing in Lucerne - can do a day trip from say Grindlewald to Bern rather quickly and Lucerne on the way back to Zurich.

then leisurely do the plethora of great days out in this area - the Reichenbach Falls included - no area of Switzerland IMO can match the varied and totally awesome vistas of the Jungfru Region - sheer cliffs rising thousands f\of feet topped by glcier-girdled high peaks, all lovigly brooding over lush cow-dotted medows:

https://www.google.com/search?q=jung...=1600&bih=1075

Mt Rigi and Pilatus are nice but in no way compare to the Jungfrau - Engelberg does in its way but is rather tiny compared to the vast Alpine wonderland around Interlaken.

PalenQ

I was already able to book the Paris-Zurich-Vienna route on the 5th of April. I still have to book the Vienna-Salzburg and Salzburg-Zurich tickets, but I wonder if I should go ahead and do that or get a Eurail or an Austrian Pass?>

Can't see how that would ever be cost effective, especially since you've booked Paris to Vienna already so would not be covered.

ginnyfd

Thanks yet again, PalenQ, especially about the the Jungfrau. My aunt told me not to miss it, but I couldn't figure it into my itinerary. I only have 10 days, and the only place I can think of skipping is Montreux, as my hotel there is cancellable. Do you think I should exchange that for Jungfrau?

Again, here is my Swiss itinerary in brief:

Days 1-4 Montreux and environs
Days 5-6 Zermatt
Days 7-10 Lucerne (with side trip to Bern, Thun, Brienz in one day)

ginnyfd

The images of Jungfrau are rather enticing! Where is a good base there? Do you suggest Grindelwald?

PalenQ

I love Grindelwald because of its excellent transportation links and what to me is a super superb view but others prefer more remote anc car-less Wengen but you can't go wrong and yes it is to many the absolute highlight of Switzerland that IME should not be missed and first-time trips to Switzerland should revolve around it.

Lucerne is neat for a day or so or to take boat trips on the lovely lake but Interlaken has two nice lakes to explore as well.

PalenQ

I may suggest thinking about subtituting the Jungfrau Region for Zermatt - would cut down on travel time and give the same awesome Alpine experience minus the Matterhorn but so so much more of a varied nature - like a boat trip on Lake Brienz including stopping off at those places you mention above.

And you could take one of those iconic scneic Swiss trains there from Montreux - the Golden Pass with panoramic glass-domed observation cars - free with a Swiss Pass - to Interlaken-Ost and jump on a train to the hills from there - all covered in full to Wengen, Grindelwald, Murren with a Swiss Pass.

Then after three days there head for a few in lovely Lucerne - all on the way to Zurich. Just a thought.

ginnyfd

You've just convinced me, PalenQ! I will shorten my 4 nights in Montreux to 3 and spend another 3 nights in the Jungfrau region before heading off to Luzern Many many thanks for this wonderful advice!

PalenQ

Thank you! And I'm sure you will love it - report back on Fodor's and on this thread if possible!

and do take the Golden Pass between Montreux and Interlaken-Ost, where you change for trains to Grindelwald or Wengen or Lauterbrunnen.