Trip to visit friends suddenly becomes solo trip
 

I am hoping to get some advice from all of you wise Fodorites. I purcahsed airline tickets several months ago for a trip to Europe to visit friends. One of the portions of this trip has me flying into Zurich. I was going to stay with my friend in Aarau, but unfortunately she's unable to take time off of work, so I'm on my own.

I've been reading guidebooks since February, and am on lesson 4 of a Beginning German language course, so I feel like I have a good headstart for an October trip. But, as I had planned to have a native speaker as my tour guide, I am now concerned that my plans may be a bit over enthusiatic. Here are my plans, and I'd appreciate any feed back.

Day 1--Fly into Zurich early morning. Shop and see city.
Day 2--Day trip to Luzern
Day 3--Day trip to Bern
Day 4--maybe a trip to Baden for a spa treatment
Day 5--fly out of Zurich for home

I want to stay in a B&B near Aarau as I want to be close enough to spend evenings with my friends, and all travel above will be done by train.

Any thoughts or suggestions on my itinerary or solo travel in Switzerland would be much appreciated! I've done solo travel here in the US before, but never in a foreign country. I will be solo earlier in my trip when I visit England, but that doesn't seem nearly as intimidating without the language barrier and all.

Thanks again!

IMO you don't HAVE to speak any German whatsoever to do what you are going to do and I suspect you will have no trouble at all doing it.

The rail system is easy to use and you don;t need a great working knowledge of German to use that, either.

A lot of people in Switzerland understand, and are willing to converse, in English in my own experience.

Continue with your plans (and yes, continue the German lessons, too..why not?) But your plans are NOT "over-enthusiastic" in my estimation.

Oh, I agree, you won't be in the places long enough to get the infamous (and I think sometimes overrated) "depth" but who cares? It's Switzerland and you can get all the depth you want when you go back the second time!

BTW..October can be a GREAT time to go to Switzerland..weather still nice, tourists are gone, etc....

Intrepid,

Thanks for the input. My friend felt bad about bailing on me, but honestly, I told her that it just gives me an excuse to go back!

Besides, I figured by staying in a B&B, I'll get a little more depth.

Thanks again!

You will have no trouble with this itinerary solo.

I do recommend the spa in Baden. It is not a typical tourist destination, and quite unlike anything in the states. Just as a heads up, you will stand at a *station* along the wall of the thermal bath. Every few minutes a light and bell signals that you move clockwise to the next station, where water jets massage your body. The average age seems to be well over 60, and the colorful bathing caps are worth seeing even if you don’t get in the water.

But you must take a bus from the train to get to the spa. Perhaps your friend can help you with the scheduling.

And don’t be discouraged if you do not understand the Swiss German. It is quite different than the language spoken in Germany. Swiss German is not written (for the most part), so your language tapes will be helpful for deciphering menus, train schedules etc. All children do learn English in school. You will have no problem using English.

Also, ask you friends when the Zurich Wine boats are in town, as well as the Zwiebelmarkt in Bern. Both are fun activities, and do take place sometime in October or November.

One advice, and you can thank me later: Ice-cream is the main food group in Zurich, and rightfully so!!

Because the stereotype of the Swiss being an extremely organized culture is not an exaggeration (and I mean that as a compliment)... I found it an easy country to travel solo in. While I was in the french-speaking part, I'm guessing this will hold true in the Zurich area. Have a great trip!

Thanks for all the input. There was a moment today that I felt a little overwhelmed, but you all are making it sound like a piece of cake! Thanks for the confidence boost.

And ice cream and a wine boat...yah, this will be good!

I'm one of those typical Americans who knows nothing but English. I was (sort of) in your position a few years ago when I had to suddenly go to Prague, Germany and France by myself. I had the time of my life! In Switzerland, I have only been to Luzern, but was able to get around. The fact that you've been learning German in advance will give you an edge that I didn't have. And yet, I enjoyed Luzern immensely. AND, you sound like a very flexible person so you should have no trouble. So as one solo traveler to another, I assure you, you'll have a great time. Can I add that I'm extremely jealous? ;)