Switzerland & Italy
 

Hi:

My family of 3 (husband, myself, and 1 boy of 9 years) will be visiting Switzerland and Italy this December 2010. We have an open itinerary but this is where we have decided to fly into-Zurich; and out of Milan/Venice.

So along the ways there are many many beautiful places that I'm sure I can't cover in 2 weeks time. So I would like suggestion of the KEY highlights (by train) from Zurich down to Milan. From Milan I can get a separate train to Venice.

We have only been to Zurich so I'll skip Zurich this time.

This is my rough sketch of my itinerary.

Day 1. Arrive at Zurich to Lucerne via Train.

Day 2. From Lucerne to Jungfrau there are 3 different suggest routes.

Route 1. Lucerne to Interlaken to Grindelwald to Jungfrau

Route 2. Lucerne to Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen to Kleine then take COG to Jungfrau

Route 3. Interlaken-Grindelwald-Wengen

Which is the least expensive city to stay overnight in once I get to this region?

The End from Jungfrau is to get to Milan.

Where should I incorporate the train trip from

Chur to St Moritz to Tirano then to Milan

If possible I would like to experience Bernina Express and maybe if I have time the Glacier Express.

Based on my itinerary, is it more sensible to buy the Swiss Half Fare Card or the Swiss Flexi Pass?

Thanks in advance for your help. Any input is appreciated.

Have a great day.

Skip Interlaken it was awful. We drove in and drove out. It was full of buses with Chinese tourists and Arabs escaping the heat.There are so many beautiful towns in the area and lakes with stunning views try Grindlewald or Wengen.

Based on my itinerary, is it more sensible to buy the Swiss Half Fare Card or the Swiss Flexi Pass?>

Well IMO the Swiss Pass because you are taking quite a few train rides - but it is all at www.sbb.ch - the Swiss Railways web site for fares in CHF - Swiss Francs - to compare with the pass (the best value pass is a consecutive-day pass - 4 or 8- and it seems you are on the move everyday) with the Half-Fare Card - CHF 99 p.p. (i think p.p.?)

If the totals are close chose the pass simply because then you never have to wait in lines at ticket windows but just jump on the train, boat, etc.

And IME when i have a pass i tend to use it more than i previewed - say you to Interlaken (the most inexpensive city to base in IME as it has a plethora of budget accommodations) and find a bad weather day then you could hop the train to nearby Bern - a city that can be enjoyed in any type of weather, etc.

For loads on Swiss trains and passes i always highlight these fine info-laden sites - www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.ricksteves.com (check these 2 sites for current Swiss Pass prices) and www.seat61.com. Also check www.swisstravelsystem.com - as it gives links to the sbb.ch or Swiss Federal Railways as well as specialty scenic trains like the Bernina Express and Glacier Express.

Which is the least expensive city to stay overnight in once I get to this region>

what do you mean by least expensive? hotels or hostels or something in between like the Nature Friends House and ski/hikers dorms?

Hi PalenQ:

Wow thanks for the tips, I will opt for the Swiss Pass then. You are right I might hop on and off a train more than what I estimated, and No Lines, it's a deal for me.

In regards to the hotel, I got a booking in Hotel Alpha in Lucern, and in Lauterbrunnen a Studio Apartment called Jungfrau Apartment..it's owned by Terese Staeger. I hope it's good because that's the only one available based on my dates.

I will for sure skip Interlaken, as you and other suggested.

On a separate question, is it possible to get an Internet Sim Card while in Switzerland? I want to be able to connect to my Blackberry and Laptop while I'm there, and I do have a Huawei E5830..a portable mobile wireless router and 3G dongle card, similar to an internet dongle from 3.

While I was in Asia I was able to use it very well, all I had to do was to buy a prepaid Data Internet Card, pop it in into the Huawei, and my husband and I were able to use our blackberries and ipod & laptop.

I am wondering if I can buy the same Prepaid Data Internet card while I'm in Switzerland.

If you know of any company that is doing it, please let me know...thank you very much.

I will for sure skip Interlaken, as you and other suggested>

Not me - i am a big booster of Interlaken and always stay there during my many sojourns to the Jungfrau Region and for cheaper digs nothing can top Interlaken. That said if i were going for the first time i would probably stay in Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen - but IMO Interlaken is unjustly maligned.

Re your Internet Sim Card Q - i would start another thread with that in the title - personally i am clueless about it.

cheers

Hi Hockeynutmom:

Yeah, after reading many not so pleasant reviews, I'm going to skip through Interlaken. Straight from Zurich to Lucerne...thanks for all the suggestions!

Hi Palenq:

After reading your suggestion and others' you are right I might have understated my train travel frequency, I am going to get me a Swiss Consecutive Pass 8 days, which is the best for me because I intend to travel back and fro just for the heck of it :)

Thank you for the suggestion, have a great day ok!