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I am starting to question going to Scuol. Lots of train connections and a very long day from Wengen. SSB also does not do express baggage transport to Scuol. Starting to consider Golden Express to Montreux for a few nights then back to Zurich for a few nights. Can stay with points at Zurich Marriott or Neues Schloss or the Park Hyatt.
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Montreux would certainly make sense.
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If you have Marriott points, get right off the train in Montreux and cross the street to the Grande Hotel Swiss Majestic, so easy and very nice property, right on the lake, 5 minutes from the ferries, super central location.
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Trip is coming into focus.
1: Arrival ZRH 1010 July 25. Train to Lucerne Using Swiss 50% off pass. 2: Lucerne July 25/26/27 Radisson hotel 3: Train to Wengen on Berner Oberland 6 day pass on July 28 4: Wengen July 28/29/30/31 Hotel Alpenrose or Hotel Branbar 5: Golden Express to Montreux using BO pass. 6: Montreux August 1/2/3 Grande Hotel Swiss Majestic 7: Train to Zurich using 50% Swiss card 8: Zurich at Marriott using free night reward or Park Hyatt for 40 K Chase points or Widder hotel for 55K Chase points including free breakfast and $100 property credit or La Reserve Eden au Lac for 50K points with breakfast and $100 credit or Alex Lake Zurich for 42K points plus breakfast and $100 credit or The Dolder Grand for 50 K points including breakfast and $100 credit. 9: Fly home 1335. |
For your hotel in Wengen, I encourage to make sure you have a stunning view from your room. For me, the reason to stay in Wengen is for the views.
The named trains, like the Golden Express, generally run on the same tracks as unnamed trains. I found no reason to choose one of the more expensive named trains, and often, the times for the "regular" trains were more convenient for me. My trip was some time ago; things could have changed. I hope one of the experts weigh in. I trust you've done your calculations to determine that the 50% pass is worth it. |
No, things haven't changed - most of the so called 'express' trains charge supplements and require reservations, but they all use the same track and take the same route, so the scenery is the same. Regional trains are cheaper, run more frequently, and are usually much less crowded.
Second class is also perfectly fine, but I've not visited in the height of the summer season for many years, so that may have changed, meaning, they could be quite crowded. Some people choose first class for the extra luggage space, but in some two dozen trips, we never have. |
Originally Posted by wildiowa
(Post 17663272)
If you have Marriott points, get right off the train in Montreux and cross the street to the Grande Hotel Swiss Majestic, so easy and very nice property, right on the lake, 5 minutes from the ferries, super central location.
Lots to see on the Eastern end of Lake Geneva. |
twk....still looking for that stupid with a flare gun!
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GOLDEN PASS
Only the Golden Pass Express trains Interlaken dp 9.07, 11.07, 14.07 16.07 are direct. All other trains need a train change at Spiez and another one at Zweisimmen. https://www.gpx.swiss/en/ The fare is the same for all trains. But as the 4 mentioned Golden Pass Express trains get usually full very quickly during the season, seat reservation (20 CHF/pax) is highly recommended. |
Originally Posted by kja
(Post 17662484)
You're asking specifically about Zurich? There's a lot to do there; IMO, it's underrated. It holds some excellent museums and two of its churches have stunning stained glass windows -- the Chagall windows at Fraumunster and the Polke and Giacometti windows of Grossmunster. Any good guide book should give you some ideas.
If you're asking more generally, you might take a look at my old trip report: https://www.fodors.com/community/eur...thanks-983126/ https://www.kunsthaus.ch/en/ |
Originally Posted by neckervd
(Post 17663519)
Only the Golden Pass Express trains ... are direct.
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What surprised me most was how human-like it felt when helping me craft short replies to text messages from locals. Especially when tone and formality matter in French, it gave me confidence to respond properly.
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Deep Purple the band? They still exist?
They played at the jazz festival? |
Local lore! Frank Zappa was playing the casino....Purple were to record there but a stupid shot off a flare gun and caught the casino on fire and burned it all to the ground....hence, Smoke on the Water ...biggest hit. Read the lyrics, then walk 10 minutes from your hotel to the new casino and check out the Queen museum. Very cool. We're old and remember...
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Great! Now I have that song stuck in my head.
luckily not in my LP collection |
Taking Golden Express as it’s no changes as Neckervd notes. Any suggestions for day trips out of Montreux?
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Went last year, no expert but here's some stuff we did. A trip to the Charlie Chaplin home and museum, spend a full morning or afternoon. Book a lunch or dinner cruise on a steam powered paddlewheel ferry on the Lake. Take a trip on a ferry to Evian, France, get off and knock around town, eat lunch and head back. Take a train to Gruyeres and see the cheese factory, go in the morning if you want to see it made, and have a fondue there. The Queen/Freddie Mercury museum at the casino was better than I expected, go to the studio control room and mix a track. Eat food, walk along the lake. Castle there was ok, but just a castle. We had travel passes so used them to the max, short day trips by rail and lots of ferries. Very nice place to spend a few days.
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Lausanne. Vevey. Glion. Gruyeres. Rocher de Naye. The Lavaux vineyard terraces. Boat on the lake. Seems that I enjoyed the Chateau Chillon more than wildiowa.
Try the Michelin Green Guide. |
The castle is worth a visit but we are older and after awhile it was a bit much physically v.s. what we were seeing. It is for sure an attraction that draws a lot of people and is popular.
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Chocolate train worth it?
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