Sue81

Hi Cheyness, Since you end in Basel as I did on a cruise, I'd head for Zurich for a night one hour by train, get fast one. If you have $ to burn try the Baur au Lac, for one night on Lake Zurich, then train to Zermatt 4 hrs or Wengen the next day. . I did Zermatt first for two nights (Omnia Hotel, again $ to burn, but really interesting place right in Zermatt, across from museum, and cemetary with the climber graves), train up to Gornergut/worth it in Zermatt/Swiss Pass might pay part?), then to Wengen another 4 hrs or so, several train changes but easy for another 2 nights, well worth a stop there with incredible mountains, get room facing Jungfrau, Monch, Eiger., go up to the Mannlichen for view/hiking/ incredible....then back to Zurich two nights to get bags, get fondue somewhere, fly out. It was a great trip in 7 days, but want to go back. Sue

cheyness

Hi Sue.... I think we seem to have the same travel style and your comments are very helpful. Zermatt was my "definite" stop until I started hearing about the weather concerns others had posted in this thread for December travel so, I think I might go to Bern. I will be getting a Swiss Pass so i have the ability to change things based on the weather. I did email the hotel you mentioned in Wengen regarding availability of rooms (with balconies) facing Jungfrau and they emailed me back this morning so i am all set with them. I will also be heading to Zurich to drop off the bags right after we arrive in Basel. Regarding Wengen, what is the actual town like for shopping and such? Any restaurant recommendations? I know the one at the hotel is supposed to be very nice. Thanks !!!

PalenQ

Wengen is small but has everything a tourist will need - and Lauterbrunnen just a 20-min train ride has lots more. Bigger food stores, more restaurants,etc. Sounds like a nice hotel - Wengen is at higher altitude so bundle up and prepare for lots of snow.

cheyness

Thanks for the tip on Lauterbrunnen. Also, regarding Swiss Rail Pass,... 1) do i really not need to make reservations for specific trains in December? and 2) will it cover all areas I have mentioned visiting?

Dukey1

Generally speaking for trains which operate wholly within Switzerland seat reservations aren't even available.

suze

I absolutely loved Vevey and Montreux. They work well in winter because at lake-level less likely to have snow get in your way.

A day trip to Gruyeres was fun (love the castle there).

Sue81

Hi Cheyeness, You will love Wengen, town is small, consider meals with room, we had BF and dinner at Schonegg Hotel, and food was excellent. There is a small pizza/bar type place on street just down from hotel in Wengen, toward lift on the right that is good for a inexpensive lunch, has a small wooden deck out front. Shopping is limited, but a nice Swiss made store on the left as you go down the small hill from the hotel to the lift. Son found more nice shopping in nearby villages. Also be sure to go up the lift and on the path to the big building out on the plateau area, I think there is a restaurant out there. Palen will know. Don't know about Winter hours, but suspect skiing keeps things open. Also I did enjoy Zermatt even with all the tourists, Check out the Omnia hotel there, modern, small, has a James Bond sort of entrance(all hotels there pick up with small vehicle from train if you arrange/no charge, call them when arriving) great views, gorgeous pool in basement, unique hotel, almost across from small Matterhorn museum that is very interesting for history of Zermatt and terrible climbing accident, see second floor of museum. Gorgernaut tram a must. Dress warmly. We did Zurich, Zermatt, Wengen, Zurich (1 day, 2, 2, 2) easily in the week we had after the cruise, Just check weather, ask others on this site about how often they get snowed in and I"ll bet it is very rare given Swiss technology, etc. Train ride is very nice too. Sue

Melnq8

We often visit Switzerland in December and my experience regarding trains is that you'll often have an entire carriage to yourself - definitely no need to make reservations.

PalenQ

You can make reservations on InterCity domestic Swiss trains I believe but as Melnq8 says don't bother -will be plenty of seats except perhaps during rush hours around large cities.

Sue81

Cheyness, I may have overstated the snow/weather/avalanche issue in Zermatt. I'll bet that is a rare occurence, so don't be scared off by this. Others can tell you how often this has occurred in the past. The recent avalanche did not harm anyone in the village or hotels. I did like Zermatt, just liked Wengen a lot more, but I was there in July and you need more info on December in Zermatt. I have faith in the Swiss ability to keep people safe and trains running. Sue

cheyness

Hi Sue.. I am not really concerned about the chance of avalanche. My weather concern was more of the fog and such mentioned by others in this thread. With only a week there, i wasn't sure if it is worth the risk of bad weather. I actually talked about it earlier this evening with my travel partner and we did decide we would go to Zermatt. I also did check out your Zurich and Zermatt hotels and I think they would be perfect of us.... they're gorgeous. It seems like I will be just about following your exact itinerary I really appreciate your input. As mentioned earlier, I have traveled most of Europe, as well as large parts of Asia, Middle East, South America... if there is anything I could help you with in your future travels, just let me know. Thanks !!

Sue81

OK one more thing, I am almost certain that as you get off the train in Wengen, there is a small grocery store, called COOP, I think. I didn't go in, but did see it. Also you get a discount for the lift if you stay at the hotel I mentioned earlier in Wengen,maybe 30 % off. In Zermatt, if you stay at the Omnia in Zermatt, they gave us the names of two very nice restaurants with a block of the hotel, one like a tiny mtn cabin where climbers used to meet/eat. Palen and others, do the lifts run in December in Wengen and the train up to the Gorgernat in Zermatt, I am pretty sure they do, as skiing is busy then. Sue

Sue81

also if you stay in Zurich at the Baur au Lac (bring lots and lots of $), there are the lake boats across the street. I think the Swiss Rail pass pays part of the ticket. Be CERTAIN to get on the correct boat, as we rode for 4 hrs on the wrong boat, and had to pay for it, after showing the ticket to the ticket person as we got on the boat. There are one hour rides and 4 plus hr rides, at least it was nice weather for a long ride while waiting to get in our room. Sue

cheyness

Palen.. thanks for the train reservation information

cheyness

HI Sue... thanks for all the additional information. It's been very helpful !

PalenQ

the only trains in Switzerland iself that must be reserved are special scenic trains like Glacier Express and Bernina Express but otherwise none TMK and short locals may not take reservations.

Swiss Passes cover most regular boats on Lake Zurich but not ones that offer dinner cruises, etc. Ask when boarding.

PalenQ

If taking several long-distance intercity trains first class may be nice - usually more empty seats and fewer seats per same-size train car so more room for luggage -often IME on an empty adjoining seat. Passes in first class if long ones are not that much more really in 1st class. But if most of travel is in Alpine areas though mountain trains may have a tiny first-class area many do not - and gondolas and buses do not. But otherwise folks here sauy they enjoyed first class on regular trains.

Sue81

Son and I did the first class Swiss Rail flex card, and it was very nice, and we could sit near our suitcases, which was good. Sue

Sue81

One more thing, it seems to me I recall a lot of locks on the Rhein/Mozelle river cruise. It is possible that they might have some issue with the locks at certain times, as I've heard this from others. Be sure to have the phone number of the hotels in Switzerland with you to let them know of any possible delay, and also to call them to meet the train when you get to whatever village in Switzerland, like Zermatt/Wengen, as they will meet the train to make life much easier. Sue

kja

I didn't feel the need for first class. YMMV.