Switzerland Itinerary - please critique!
Aug 3rd, 2009, 10:36 PM
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Switzerland Itinerary - please critique!
OK I've got our plane tickets and hotel reservations in order so what do you guys think of this itinerary for mid September?
Day 1 - 4:
Buy Swiss Pass Savers and take the train from Zurich Airport to Lucerne. Hotel = Hotel des Balances.
Activities for Lucerne:
For the duration of our stay in Lucerne - take paddle steamer to Vitznau and or the other towns on the shore of the lake. Hike explore the area by cable car or walking and return by train back to Lucerne.City tour around the old town, lake cruise, shopping, Saturday flea market. Excursion to Mt Pilatus or Mt Titlis.
Days 4 - 7:
Train to Wengen. Hotel = Hotel Schoenegg.
Activities for Wengen:
Excursion by train, cable car or hike to Jungfraujoch, Schilthorn(Piz Gloria), Kleine Scheidegg, Mannlichen and Trummelbach Falls.
Days 7 – 10:
Train to Zermatt. Hotel = Coeur des Alpes.
Activities for Zermatt:
Pending the weather but the following looks interesting. Train to Gornergrat, Schwarzsee paradise(dirt scooter), summer skiing, glacier palace, helicopter sightseeing, town tour etc.
Day 10:
Train back to Zurich and fly home.
Appreciate any comments you guys might have and please let me know if I should add or forego anything.
Day 1 - 4:
Buy Swiss Pass Savers and take the train from Zurich Airport to Lucerne. Hotel = Hotel des Balances.
Activities for Lucerne:
For the duration of our stay in Lucerne - take paddle steamer to Vitznau and or the other towns on the shore of the lake. Hike explore the area by cable car or walking and return by train back to Lucerne.City tour around the old town, lake cruise, shopping, Saturday flea market. Excursion to Mt Pilatus or Mt Titlis.
Days 4 - 7:
Train to Wengen. Hotel = Hotel Schoenegg.
Activities for Wengen:
Excursion by train, cable car or hike to Jungfraujoch, Schilthorn(Piz Gloria), Kleine Scheidegg, Mannlichen and Trummelbach Falls.
Days 7 – 10:
Train to Zermatt. Hotel = Coeur des Alpes.
Activities for Zermatt:
Pending the weather but the following looks interesting. Train to Gornergrat, Schwarzsee paradise(dirt scooter), summer skiing, glacier palace, helicopter sightseeing, town tour etc.
Day 10:
Train back to Zurich and fly home.
Appreciate any comments you guys might have and please let me know if I should add or forego anything.
Aug 3rd, 2009, 11:52 PM
#3
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Thank you Swandav!
Just one question - is it worth it to buy the 1st class Swiss pass versus the 2nd class pass since we are going in mid September? I mean will 2nd class be crowded at that time of year?
Just one question - is it worth it to buy the 1st class Swiss pass versus the 2nd class pass since we are going in mid September? I mean will 2nd class be crowded at that time of year?
Aug 3rd, 2009, 11:56 PM
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Hi again,
There's really no saying how crowded or empty the train cars will be. Lots of locals use the trains for their daily commute, too, or for family holidays, weekend breaks, etc. The train from Kleine Scheidegg to the Jungfraujoch is always crowded, but there is no first class there anyway.
Generally I would avoid morning & evening rush hours around the cities (Zürich to Luzern).
Other than that, you'll just take your chances -- maybe meet some locals, too!
Have fun!
s
There's really no saying how crowded or empty the train cars will be. Lots of locals use the trains for their daily commute, too, or for family holidays, weekend breaks, etc. The train from Kleine Scheidegg to the Jungfraujoch is always crowded, but there is no first class there anyway.
Generally I would avoid morning & evening rush hours around the cities (Zürich to Luzern).
Other than that, you'll just take your chances -- maybe meet some locals, too!
Have fun!
s
Aug 4th, 2009, 12:28 AM
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We were there in early August last year, and never had problems getting seats in second-class coaches.The exception was the train to Jungfrau, where first class does not exist anyway. I would imagine that mid-Sept will be even less crowded. So I would not advise purchasing first class passes.
Your itinerary looks great. I would have liked another day at Wengen, as there is a lot to do out there. Since you reach Wengen on afternoon of Day 4, and probably leave on morning of Day 7, you really have only 2 full days there, which is not a lot. I really don't know where you would cut off that one day from, unless you can extend your trip. Otherwise, consider cutting off a day from Luzern to add here (although Luzern is probably worth the 3 days that you are spending there).
Any which way you go, you can't go wrong in the part of Switzerland that you are traveling to. Everything is gorgeous.
Your itinerary looks great. I would have liked another day at Wengen, as there is a lot to do out there. Since you reach Wengen on afternoon of Day 4, and probably leave on morning of Day 7, you really have only 2 full days there, which is not a lot. I really don't know where you would cut off that one day from, unless you can extend your trip. Otherwise, consider cutting off a day from Luzern to add here (although Luzern is probably worth the 3 days that you are spending there).
Any which way you go, you can't go wrong in the part of Switzerland that you are traveling to. Everything is gorgeous.
Aug 4th, 2009, 02:52 AM
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Hanuman, don't have much too offer as I too will be in Switzerland in the beginning part of September (which is fast approaching) and have opt to spend 7 days in Wengen and 2 in Luzern.
I gathered most of my information from the wonderful posters here at Fodor's and am really looking forward to my stay in Wengen from where I plan on doing some light hiking and just simply enjoying the beautiful scenery of the Swiss Alps.
Happy travels!
jdc
I gathered most of my information from the wonderful posters here at Fodor's and am really looking forward to my stay in Wengen from where I plan on doing some light hiking and just simply enjoying the beautiful scenery of the Swiss Alps.
Happy travels!
jdc
Aug 4th, 2009, 03:27 AM
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I think your itinerary looks great! Plenty of time to allow for changes in sightseeing plans. (do/don't see, weather etc.)
Can't help with train passes, because I always just by point to point.
We really enjoyed Mt Titlis more than we had planned for. We added in the ice flyer, so spent more time there than we thought we would.
We also really enjoyed Zermatt. We stayed at a beautiful spa hotel, that took up a lot of our time. Loved it.
You're going to have a wonderful time.
Can't help with train passes, because I always just by point to point.
We really enjoyed Mt Titlis more than we had planned for. We added in the ice flyer, so spent more time there than we thought we would.
We also really enjoyed Zermatt. We stayed at a beautiful spa hotel, that took up a lot of our time. Loved it.
You're going to have a wonderful time.
Aug 4th, 2009, 04:55 PM
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Thanks everybody! I guess I'll go with the second class Swiss Pass Savers especially since between the two of us we will save over CHF 400 for a 15 days pass.
indiancouple,
Thanks for your suggestion. We will see how much we like Lucerne and we might take off a day while we are there and go to Wengen early.
jdc26,
Like you we got our information here and from TA as well. Great source for holiday planning!
TravMimi,
Did you think Mt Titlis is better than Mt Pilatus? We are only planning on going to one and we are waiting to get there, to Lucerne first, before we decide.
Appreciate all your comments
indiancouple,
Thanks for your suggestion. We will see how much we like Lucerne and we might take off a day while we are there and go to Wengen early.
jdc26,
Like you we got our information here and from TA as well. Great source for holiday planning!
TravMimi,
Did you think Mt Titlis is better than Mt Pilatus? We are only planning on going to one and we are waiting to get there, to Lucerne first, before we decide.
Appreciate all your comments
Aug 4th, 2009, 05:15 PM
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Hanuman, Yes we like Titlis much better. We thought the views were better, and there was much more to do. The revolving cable car, ice flyer, glacier cave, snow park. We also enjoyed the town of Engelberg at the base. We spent a long, but fantastic day there.
Aug 5th, 2009, 09:30 PM
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Hanuman: Don't bother with a 1st class pass. Our first trip we popped for a first class train pass. Last fall we took our fourth trip there. After the first trio we only buy 2nd class. First class is not worth the extra money.
Aug 6th, 2009, 03:16 AM
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Just thought of something - if we noticed that the train is very full and seated ourselves in 1st, can we pay the difference to the conductor? If that's the case then will it be 1st class fare minus 2nd class fare divided by 2 (Swiss Pass)?
Aug 6th, 2009, 05:13 AM
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Hanuman, I am sure you cannot do what you have just suggested. However, the chances of finding the 2nd class coaches full in September is quite remote. There is enough seating available for everyone.
Please also note that on most mountain railway routes, there is no first class available. This will apply on all sections in the Bernese Oberland beyond Interlaken (i.e. to Lauterbrunnen, Murren, Wengen, Jungfraujoch etc). I do not know about Zermatt, as I have not been there, but I expect first class cabins to be missing at most places.
So please trust the advice of numerous posters here, and do not waste money on a 1st class pass for the regions that you are covering. And remember to post a report after your trip, and thank everyone for saving you the money !!
Please also note that on most mountain railway routes, there is no first class available. This will apply on all sections in the Bernese Oberland beyond Interlaken (i.e. to Lauterbrunnen, Murren, Wengen, Jungfraujoch etc). I do not know about Zermatt, as I have not been there, but I expect first class cabins to be missing at most places.
So please trust the advice of numerous posters here, and do not waste money on a 1st class pass for the regions that you are covering. And remember to post a report after your trip, and thank everyone for saving you the money !!
Aug 6th, 2009, 06:11 AM
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second class Swiss Pass Savers especially since between the two of us we will save over CHF 400 for a 15 days>
if you wait until Switzerland to buy your Swiss Pass you will pay significantly more than if you buy it in the U.S. (not sure you are in U.S.) - same pass much cheaper here for some weird reason. A recent thread of Where to Buy a Swiss Saver Pass showed that that couple would save about $80 total by buying the same pass ahead of time. You can compare pass prices in Swiss francs (CHF) at www.swiss-pass.ch and those in U.S. - http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/id3.html - some agents like RailEurope.com will charge an $18 mailing fee on Swiss Passes but many do not. (RailEurope has free mailing for orders over $399 but the typical Swiss Pass order would not be $400 so they charge $18 mailing fee, i believe. And agreed for your plans i'd go with a 2nd-class pass.
if you wait until Switzerland to buy your Swiss Pass you will pay significantly more than if you buy it in the U.S. (not sure you are in U.S.) - same pass much cheaper here for some weird reason. A recent thread of Where to Buy a Swiss Saver Pass showed that that couple would save about $80 total by buying the same pass ahead of time. You can compare pass prices in Swiss francs (CHF) at www.swiss-pass.ch and those in U.S. - http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/id3.html - some agents like RailEurope.com will charge an $18 mailing fee on Swiss Passes but many do not. (RailEurope has free mailing for orders over $399 but the typical Swiss Pass order would not be $400 so they charge $18 mailing fee, i believe. And agreed for your plans i'd go with a 2nd-class pass.
Aug 7th, 2009, 08:50 AM
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If going to Trummelbach Falls - the awesome sole drain, they say, of the Eiger glaciers and snows, that thunders down inside a cliff, and if you have a Swiss Pass then show it for free entry (but only on days of 100% coverage - zilch on others days) and in Lucerne the fantastic Swiss Transport Museum, showcasing not only trains but all kinds of cable cars, gondolas, trams, etc. and considered one of the world's preeminent such museums, also honors it - about a $15 value i believe. Actually i am not sure Trummelbach is included - think it is but my old computer cannot get the following link to open. If anyone can tell me if Trummelbach Fallsis included i'd be most appreciative.
And above Lake Brienz is the Wunderbar Ballenberg Open-Air Museum (http://www.ballenberg.ch/en/Welcome) that would also be free with a Swiss Pass on 100% covered travel days - and doing a boat ride from Interlaken-Ost train station (rear of) to Brienz via the famed Geissbach Falls and then taking a postal bus to the Open-Air museum, lovingly laid out in a verdant bucolic area overlooking Lake Brienz - anyway that is one ofmy favorite excursions in the Berner Oberland, whose joys include much more than just the high Alps IMO.
For a list of over 400 museums covered by the Swiss Pass:
http://hosting.triboni.com/triboni/e...page/main.html
Geissbach Falls, Switzerland. on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Click this icon to see all public photos and videos tagged with geissbach falls geissbach falls · Click this icon to see all public photos and videos tagged ...
www.flickr.com/photos/65548024@N00/2554000213/
And above Lake Brienz is the Wunderbar Ballenberg Open-Air Museum (http://www.ballenberg.ch/en/Welcome) that would also be free with a Swiss Pass on 100% covered travel days - and doing a boat ride from Interlaken-Ost train station (rear of) to Brienz via the famed Geissbach Falls and then taking a postal bus to the Open-Air museum, lovingly laid out in a verdant bucolic area overlooking Lake Brienz - anyway that is one ofmy favorite excursions in the Berner Oberland, whose joys include much more than just the high Alps IMO.
For a list of over 400 museums covered by the Swiss Pass:
http://hosting.triboni.com/triboni/e...page/main.html
Geissbach Falls, Switzerland. on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Click this icon to see all public photos and videos tagged with geissbach falls geissbach falls · Click this icon to see all public photos and videos tagged ...
www.flickr.com/photos/65548024@N00/2554000213/
