Switzerland - itinerary and transportation questions
 

Here is my proposed itinerary for Switzerland - also let me know if you have any opinions on the hotels:

Fly to Zurich, leave to stay in Lucerne 2 nights. (Stay in Cascada Hotel).

Then, 3 nights in Wengen, Hotel Baren. (We stayed here before).

One night in Basel see Overhofen Castle on the way. (Stay in Best Western Hotel Bern)

Drive from Basel to Stein am Rhein, and then drive to Zurich Airport Hotel.

We were going to rent a car, but I know parking the car is going to be expensive. Now I'm wondering if we should only rent the car for the Basel-Zurich Airport part, or the Lauterbrunnen-Zurich Airport part?

In Lucerne, I want to take a lake cruise, and know that this would be covered with the Swiss Pass. Does the Swiss Pass also include the lifts in the Berner Oberland from Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, etc.?

Thanks for any insights.

While I understand your desire to see (or revisit) each of these places, I wonder whether you are giving yourselves enough time in any of them? I wanted a bit more, but of course, it depends on what you want to see and experience.

I trust you have considered taking public transportation rather than renting a car? FWIW, I found it a sheer delight to take trains (and buses) in Switzerland -- so convenient and comfortable, and I never had to forego even the tiniest bit of stunning scenery to watch the road!

When are you planning to go? Timing can make a huge difference to travel in Switzerland....

Hello. We are going in September and have been to Zurich and Wengen/BO before.

And yes, as I stated, I am now wondering car v train v combo. I don't think it's easy to get to Steinem Rhein via train?

(Our last time we got an Audi as a rental car. Best. Rental. Car. Ever!)

Basel - Stein am Rhein by train (luggage lockers at both train stations):
1 hr 40 min journey; trains every hr from 6.42 until 21.42. Change at Schaffhausen (train station with luggage lockers; medieval city with castle and Rhine Falls).
The leg Schaffhausen - Stein am Rhein is more scenic by Rhine river boat (summer only):
Basel Bad Bf dp 7.42 - train - Schaffhausen 8.42/9.10 - Rhine river boat - Stein am Rhein ar 11.10
Basel Bad Bf dp 9.42 - train - Schaffhausen 10.42/11.10 - Rhine river boat - Stein am Rhein ar 13.10
Basel Bad Bf dp 11.42 - train - Schaffhausen 12.42/13.18 - Rhine river boat - Stein am Rhein ar 15.18
Basel Bad Bf dp 13.42 - train - Schaffhausen 14.42/15.18 - Rhine river boat - Stein am Rhein ar 17.18

Stein am Rhein - Zurich airport: 1 hr journey; trains every 30 min

As neckervd has indicated, getting to and from Stein am Rhein by train is easy. You can check all the schedules on the swiss rail website:
http://www.sbb.ch/en/home.html

I would not rent a car at all -those portions are easy by trains, which will take you directly to Zurich Airport =especially if you have a railpass why rent a car?

Does the Swiss Pass also include the lifts in the Berner Oberland from Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, etc.?>

50% off most lifts -25%off trains Wengen to Jungfraujoch - 100% covered lifts Lauterbrunnen-Grutschalp and train from Grutschalp to Murren and 100% covered gondolas Murren to Gimmelwald and back to Lauterbrunnen via Stechelberg and postal bus - whole loop 100% covered.

Trains to Lauterbrunnen and Wengen covered 100%.

For lots of info on Swiss trains and passes check www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.seat61.com and www.ricksteves.com.

What kind of Swiss Pass are you thinking of? 8-consecutive-day one would cover from Zurich back to Zurich.

We did a lovely Rhine-side walk from Stein-am-Rhein to the falls -just a few miles and there is also a small train station right at the falls but no not think it communicates with Stein but some other town.

Yes you can take a train from Schlaffhausen right to the falls -in 12 minutes -Neuhausen Rheinfalls station which also has trains to Zurich.

boat sounds nice though but need not go both ways-Swiss Pass would cover the train I think.

There is a train stop at the Rhine Falls called "Schloss Laufen am Rheinfall". Trains from Schaffhausen (5 min journey) and Winterthur (30 min journey) every 30 min.

The Schaffhausen - Stein am Rhein - Reichenau Island - Konstanz - Kreuzlingen - Romanshorn - Rorschach boats are fully covered by Swiss Travel Pass.

"Schloss Laufen am Rheinfall">

I assume this is the same as Neuhausen Rheinfall station I saw on bahn.de?

I enjoyed the Rhine Falls but having seen dozens of more impressive cascades and falls in the U.S.- especially out west - I was rather underwhelmed but I did really enjoy Schlaffhausen as a town.

I did not take the Rhine boats neckevrd lists but always wanted to.

The Rhine Falls can be phantastic in spring, when all the snow in the Alps is melting and can get very poor in automn/winter.
But never forget that the Upper Rhine (Hochrhein) is not a big river like Sambesi or Rio Iguazu.

The Rhine Falls can be phantastic in spring, when all the snow in the Alps is melting and can get very poor in automn/winter.>

OK I was there in September - maybe why not so awesome. Still a neat area but in Switzerland on limited time I may look elsewhere, a personal take.

Thanks, all. I am back to planning, took a break to plan a different trip. :)

How far in advance should I purchase a Swiss Rail Pass?

How far in advance should I purchase a Swiss Rail Pass?>

Not much -you can always buy them upon arrival in Switzerland but do compare prices for passes bought in the U.S. or your home country -over the past several years passes bought in the U S have been often cheaper than those bought there - this is not always the case you do compare -check sites I mention in my first post.

And take any foreign exchange charges into account for buying in francs if your c c imposes them.

And another reason not to buy now is that for fall travel there are often specials that pop up -giving a free day or some other perks. I've bought lots of various passes from Byron at www.budgeteuropetravel.com and he will IME answer any questions you have even if not buying -in case you want to talk to an expert.