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EllenDrew Jan 27th, 2015 12:16 PM

Switzerland Trip with Family
 
I am trying to plan a trip to Switzerland with my husband and two young adult children (21 and 19 years old). Please let me know what you think about our itinerary:

* Take the train from Venice, Italy to Brig or Visp (2 days there)
> Day trip to Zermatt
* Brig or Visp to Lake Geneva (2 or 3 days)
* Lake Geneva to Bern (3 days)
* Bern to Grindelwald (2 days)
* Grindelwald to Lucerne (3 days)
* Lucerne to Zurich (1 or 2 days)

We plan to to to Switzerland from Italy on May 27th or 28th.

I would appreciate any hotel and rail or car suggestions as well. Thanks for your input.

PalenQ Jan 27th, 2015 12:57 PM

Rail - you are talking enough trains so that the Swiss Pass is probably a great deal - covers not only trains but lake boats, postal buses, city trms and buses and gives 50% off on most lifts to mountain tops and free entry to 470 Swiss museums - valid on all the train destinations you mention - even to Grindelwald.

Take a boat ride on lovely Lake Lucerne - to me the nicest of many nice Swiss lakes.

For lots of great info on Swiss trains, passes (and half-fare cards, etc) I always spotlight these IMO superb sites: www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.swisstravelsystem.com. Look at Swiss Pass prices both for sales at home and the same pass once there - curently it seems, due to the rapid appreciation of the Swiss franc last week - significantly cheaper here than there.

greg Jan 27th, 2015 06:51 PM

It would help if you had listed by the number of nights.
For example, one way to interpret your days is as follows when translated into terms of where you are spending nights.


May 27 Brig (May 27 + May 28 = 2 days)
May 28 Lake Geneve (May 28 + May 29 = 2 days)
May 29 Bern
May 30 Bern (May 29 + May 30 + May 31 = 3 days)
Jun 1 Grindelwald (May 31 + June 1 = 2 days)
etc.

swandav2000 Jan 27th, 2015 09:29 PM

Hi EllenDrew,

Yes, it's a little confusing when you list the number of days. For instance, 2 days somewhere means 3 nights: arrival day + night, then day 1 + night, then day 2 + night, then departure day. So, do you mean you'll have 2 nights in Brig or 1 night (2 half days).

I would have fewer destinations and more time in each one; that way you'll be able to see and do more, and your memories will likely be stronger (you won't be one of those who confuses Lake Lucerne with Lake Geneva, for instance).

I like Brig as a base; I stayed there once for 4 days. In addition to being able to reach Zermatt easily, you can also see Bettmeralp and Riederalp and the wonderful high mountains there.

You can do Bern as a day-trip from Grindelwald; it's only 1h30 in each direction, so it will save you the wasted time of packing & checking out, then checking in & unpacking again. In addition, I would take the Golden Pass route from Montreux (on Lake Geneva) to Interlaken enroute to Grindelwald.

Have fun as you plan!

s

PalenQ Jan 28th, 2015 06:55 AM

Yes to the Golden Pass scenic train Montreux to Interlaken - may take an hour or so longer but muchmore scenic than the mainline route via Lausanne and Bern - check out the VIP seaats!

PalenQ Jan 28th, 2015 07:46 AM

VIP seats are up front next to the driver - in a seaparte compartment so you can think you're kind of driving the train - there are only a few obviously of these seats on each train so must be booked way way in advance and involve an upgrade to first class to use them.

PalenQ Jan 28th, 2015 11:23 AM

http://www.goldenpass.ch/en/?Language=EN

The official site - can book VIP seats on there - bookings are not required I believe for the train but ar advised if you want to sit in a domed observation car. Can make these online too.

neckervd Jan 29th, 2015 08:02 AM

Your plan sounds good.
Brig is much nicer than Visp, IF you stay in the medieval city center (pedestrian zone), a few steps from the railway station.
Possible day trips from Brig:
Riederalp - Aletsch Glacier
Belalp - Aletsch Glacier
Binn Valley
Loetschen Valley
Saas Valley and Mittelallalin revolving glacier restaurant
Leukerbad Thermal Spa and surrooundign mountains
Zermatt - Gornergrat, etc.
Val d'Anniviers
etc. etc.

Between Brig and Lake Geneva you may be interested in
Sion: small medieval city with small cathedral, castle, cantonal museum, underground lake nearby
Martigny: roman theatre and fine museums, starting point of the Mont Blanc Express to Chamonix


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