Friday, April 1, 2016

Planning a Trip to Switzerland PART 1: Basics, Common Mistakes to Avoid

Basics of Planning:


Switzerland is awesome with verdant green alpine slopes and snow topped peaks towering in the background.






RESOURCES FOR REFERENCE:

is a good source to understand your options for Switzerland.

In the 1st tab of Destinations/Holiday destinations/ click on the map that appears on the right and you get all regions.

Popular ones are Bernese Oberland or Lucerne area.

If you click on the area for Bernese Oberland for instance, all possible destinations in that area open up as text and you can make your choice. Same way you can research for other regions also.

Choose the season of your visit (summer/winter) and research the options available for that season... Ignore the sample itineraries on the site as they are impractical.







I’ll summarize how you can go about planning your dream visit to Switzerland... 


A polite Good Morning, Please and Thank you are essential in all interactions --- just as we start any interaction in India with a “Namashkar” and end with “Shukriya”!

How to Plan a Swiss Trip:


Please print out a map of Switzerland and mark where the prominent sites are.

Map 1 below shows different ports of entry and a few places you can base your stay in. International flight from India can land either in Zurich or Geneva If you are taking a train from Paris, you’ll come in via Basel or Geneva as there are direct trains to both from Paris.


MAP 1: Ports of Entry and some bases

Depending on your port of entry, you can design your itinerary or the other way around… you can list what your priorities are and decide where to enter to achieve that.

Luzern and Interlaken are also marked in Map 1. Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Murren, Grindelwald near Interlaken are scenic places to stay in.


What is a base and how can we choose one?



You have to understand the concept of “bases” when you are planning a holiday. A base means a place convenient to stay a few nights in and take trips in the vicinity. In Switzerland there are quite a few such bases with great transport infrastructure so that you can have lake cruises, or go to mountain tops, play in the snow etc. You choose a  base after looking at the options in that region and plan trips in that area for the number of days you can allocate.

If you have only 4 days in Switzerland for instance, stay in one base. If you have a week, think of adding another base. Note  you’ll lose ½ a day moving from one base to another… you have to pack your bags, check out of your hotel, take the train or the available appropriate transport to your next base, walk to your hotel there and check in, keep your bags, before you can start on your sight seeing for the day. Prime time is lost when you are doing all these; so limit your bases to a minimum and make best use of your time. Choose your base wisely and see all the nice sights available near by … most bases in Switzerland have plenty of options for at least 5 days.    


If you choose Luzern as your base for example, you can take trips to see nearby mountains like Titlis, Pilatus, Rigi etc, one on each day. These trips are done by various modes and combinations of transport like cog wheel trains, cable cars, boats etc. It’s not just the destination that counts but the whole journey is scenic and you can stop anywhere on the way and enjoy the views and hikes. It’s NOT about rushing to the final destination, ticking it off in the list and rushing down to another.



COMMON MISTAKES MADE BY FIRST TIME VISITOR:



When you have 2 weeks or more, you have a lot of wiggle room to plan, but when your trip is short, you have to pick your priorities right. Try and avoid the following mistakes on a short trip. 

1. Opting for a big city as base on a short trip to Switzerland: 


People tend to include names of cities they have heard about in their trip plan. In the case of Switzerland you may think it’s important to include Zurich and Geneva. These are big cities and if you are in Switzerland for its scenic beauty, it’s OK to NOT spend time in Zurich and Geneva.


Both these airports have train stations. You can move on to your base as soon as you land. There are direct trains once an hour or even 2 per hour till late at night around 11PM and it's quite safe to travel onward to your final destination straight from the airport. Get exact timings from the sbb site as explained below under heading How to use trains 


2. Scheduling Interlaken as an attraction in itself:


Tour companies offer packages listing Luzern and Interlaken as the main places to visit. So people mistakenly believe Interlaken in itself is a tourist attraction… the reality is different. Interlaken is comparatively quite charmless and has become very congested with loads of tour buses and the resultant shops catering to the crowd. See where it’s located in map 2 [under point 4 below]region  Bernese Oberland (BO) with Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Murren, etc is very beautiful with lakes and mountain peaks. 


Interlaken is between 2 lakes. At best it’s a transport hub and may make a decent base only in leaner tourist season. Interlaken has restaurants catering Indian food and is appealing to Indians on that account. 


If you are looking for a serene alpine experience, there is no need to allocate time for sightseeing in Interlaken. Use it only for touring the beautiful region surrounding it (Bernese Oberland which has the famous Jungfraujoch and plenty of other scenic spots)


3. Trying to include ALL highlights:



Another mistake of first timers is to include ALL the sights they have heard of in their planTop Swiss sights are listed in brochures as Matterhorn, Titlis, Jungfraujoch, Rhine falls, Chateau de Chillon, Glacier 3000, Lake Geneva (which in reality is referred to as Lac Leman as it belongs to an entire region, not just to the city of Geneva). You don't have to include all these in one short trip...don't have FOMO.... Fear of Missing Out. 

There are many issues in trying to tick off ALL the sights on a list in one short trip as explained below.



4. Not analyzing logistics/location of different sights:


Let’s mark these sights on our map 2 below.

You’ll see it’s not possible to visit all the "TOP SIGHTS"  in a short time as they are geographically far apart.


MAP 2: Tourist Attractions--Schafhausen (Rhine Falls), Pilatus, Rigi, Titlis, Jungfraujoch, Schilthorn, Glacier3000, Gornergrat and Matterhorn Glacier Paradise 



As you can see in map 2, you can include Pilatus, Rigi and Titlis if you are based in Luzern.

But Jungfraujoch and Schilthorn are much further south to Luzern and you can't successfully do a day trip to them from Luzern


Note where Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is.... it can be accessed from Zermatt and you can include Gornergrat also from Zermatt.

Rhine falls is in Schaffhausen, extreme north in this map. You can make a day trip from Zurich, not from the BO region


5.  Including similar experiences without opting for variety:


Matterhorn, Titlis, Jungfraujoch, Glacier 3000, and Diavolezza in Engadin valley are all glacier experiences…. That is, you go up in a cable car or by cog wheel train and arrive in perennial snow. You get to see high peaks all round covered in snow. So when your desire is to be on snow and play with snow for a little while, and see snowy peaks around you, it is enough if you visit one of these on a SHORT TRIP.


Above is the cable car operating for Schilthorn... it's big with a few seats;  rest of the people stand as seen below and watch the sights as the cable car ascends...



Below is the gondola plying to Klein Matterhorn from Zermatt... it's a smaller car with 2 opposing seats; 6 people travel seated in one such gondola... you can see the famed Matterhorn in the pic...


 All these are lovely experiences and it’s best if you stay at a convenient base near them and do the hikes and enjoy the whole ambiance in that particular place for a few days. It’s not advisable to run over to a place for just one day to tick off a list.

Just pick one Glacier Experience and spend a few days in the surroundings, if you are short of time.  Out of the 5 listed, Glacier 3000 is not as impressive as the others. Matterhorn is at the end of a narrow, remote valley and makes for a long day trip if you are not based nearby. Jungfraujoch is reached after an expensive train journey. Klein Titlis can be easily enjoyed from Luzern.

You can choose one of these glacier experiences after analyzing what suits you and your needs. You may add Mount Blanc to the list if you are based near Geneva. Think about going to the Aiguille du Midi at Chamonix, France. You can get to Chamonix in 90 mins by shared van transfer from the Geneva airport and from the Aiguille du Midi you have superb views of the highest mountain in Europe - Mt Blanc. You can also do the "Step into the Void" - walking out on a glass platform a couple of thousand meters above the valley floor. If you are based in Montreux, train through Martigny to Chamonix... easy and scenic.

6. Not understanding altitude issues:


Remember these glaciers are above 2000 m in elevationKlein Matterhorn (3,883 meters/12,740 ft above sea level), Klein Titlis (3,028 m), Jungfraujoch (3454m), Glacier 3000 (glacier of Les Diablerets which as the name says is 3000m), Diavolezza (3000m) .

As altitude increases, the available amount of oxygen to sustain mental and physical alertness decreases with the overall air pressure, Acute altitude sickness can begin to appear at around 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) above sea level,

Symptoms include Headache, Fatigue, Stomach illness, Dizziness, Shortness of breath upon exertion, Nosebleed, Persistent rapid pulse, Drowsiness. Exertion aggravates the symptoms.


Reliable treatment and in many cases the only option available is to descend. Supplemental Oxygen may be used for mild to moderate AMS. 

Anybody may be susceptible to altitude sickness. So be aware of symptoms; slow down and seek medical help when needed.


When your party includes children below 2 years (they may not be able to articulate their discomfort), pregnant women (they have to oxygenate the blood of the baby too, hence "breathe for two"), the elderly, those with prior breathing problems, get your doctor’s advice before attempting such trips.


7. Scheduling a mountain experience for a specific day much ahead:


You can ensure good views in a mountain experience only when the weather in that particular place is clear and not cloudy/rainy.

Main problem in planning mountain excursions is predicting weather. If there are low clouds, you don’t have any views of the tall peaks around you—there is only fog. You should always check the live webcams for the place you plan to visit in the morning before you start your trip. The forecast the previous day is also reliable.

You can’t plan “I’ll visit Jungfraujoch on this particular day”….because you will not have any views if you go on a cloudy day. If your heart is set on Jungfraujoch, you should stay in a base nearby in BO (Bernese Oberland)/Jungfrau region for at least 3 days, so that one of those days may have clear weather for your Jungfraujoch trip.

Same way, for Titlis, stay in Luzern for 3 days at least so that your chances of good weather improves. For Klein Matterhorn, stay in Zermatt.


8. Scheduling a mountain experience from a distant base:


If you stay in a far away base, by the time you make your long journey, the clouds may gather and obscure the view. So in addition to the inconvenience of a long train trip, you may lose out on your goal of seeing nice views.

NEVER schedule a trip to Jungfraujoch from Luzern… the journey is 4 hours one way… You wake up, and yup, it's a clear and lovely day, bright blue sky. So you set out on your way to the Jungfraujoch…

But, 4 hours later when you finally arrive -- the whole area is socked in by clouds. Things change very quickly in the mountains, and the weather may turn during the five hours you'll be travelling. . Your best chances for a clear day are in the morning usually.

 As said, it's best to do the mountain trip from a nearby base. If you are coming in from a distant place, by the time you reach there after a long train journey, the clouds may have won the race!

That's why it's best to stay overnight in a nearby base.... for saving precious time as well as to have a great mountain top experience.


9.  Focusing on taking the famous train trips without analyzing suitability:


Glacier express is a 7 hour journey from Zermatt to St. Moritz. Yes, you have heard it’s a beautiful journey but look which area it covers and don’t try to cram it into your plan involving another area of Switzerland.

The map below shows the area for Glacier express (Zermatt to St. Moritz.) and Bernina Express (Chur or St Moritz to Tirano-Lugano).



Base yourself in the Engadin valley if the Glacier Express ride is important to you. Andermatt to Chur is the most scenic part of that trip

.As a general rule, take a scenic train ride only if it fits into your plan. You enjoy yourself much more when you are actually walking around in scenic surroundings, with the cool wind caressing your hair and sun stroking your face…


How to use the trains:


For high speed trains to/from France/Italy etc you need a seat reservation, you buy the ticket for a specific train. You get highly discounted tickets if you buy 3 months ahead... prices go up as travel date approaches. 


Within Switzerland, most visitors use the wonderful public transport to enjoy the country:

We can put in our place of origin and destination in the above link and get all the train/bus/boat options available. Tickets can be bought on the day of travel and are valid for the whole day, not just for a particular train. Ticket machines are easy to use... by default, it'll be in the local language but you can change it to English for convenience. You can use the manned counter as well during working hours. If you have data, SBB. CH app is very easy to use. Of course it's always cost effective to use a travel Pass ... I've discussed how to choose a travel pass in the first part of this particular intro:
http://adventuretrav.blogspot.com/2016/04/switzerland-part-3-passes-food-safety.html

Though there may be many transfers to get to one place, it's always easy to make the transfers as the connecting train's platform will be just opposite or just down a ramp. 

No need to worry if one connection is missed as trains are frequent, usually one per hour or even one every 30 minutes. 

In Switzerland, regular tickets are for an itinerary, not bound to a specific train - so you could leave your luggage at any intermediate railway station (lockers or left luggage service), spend the time you want in that place, and take one of the next trains to your final destination. The whole journey has to be completed in one day –the day you have bought the ticket for. 

Trains ply every hour on popular routes, so there is no fear that you'll miss your connection. Be sure to check when the last connection is from the official site! Be aware of the time for the last connection to avoid being stranded.


No need to reserve tickets for ordinary trains. Only Glacier Express and Bernina Express need mandatory advance reservation which should be done online. For Golden pass, if you want to travel in the very first coach ahead of even the engine, you need reservation. 

 For cable cars etc, we need to look at the official site of that attraction as these are not operated by the sbb train company mentioned above. 

If you have an early flight out of Zurich you can still have a full day of sight seeing at Luzern and then take the public transport to the airport. 

There is an early bus from Lucerne to Zurich airport - www.flugbus.ch   - which brings you to the entrance of the airport when it opens in the morning if the first train (leaving at 04.55h) would not be early enough. 


Look at http://www.sbb.ch/en/home.html   for train time tables
Below is the map showing important  train lines... you can see how well all places are connected




I've discussed the travel passes in the next part... let's go ahead with the general introduction now...


This blog continues with tips on when to go, where to stay and must-dos in the following post:

http://adventuretrav.blogspot.com/2016/04/switzerland-part-2-when-to-go-vacations.html


Tips on choosing the correct travel pass, currency/handling money in Switzerland, clothes, food, safety tips are covered in the post:
http://adventuretrav.blogspot.com/2016/04/switzerland-part-3-passes-food-safety.html


In case you need info on basics of planning a trip to Europe in general, 3 earlier posts will help you:

http://adventuretrav.blogspot.com/2016/03/how-to-plan-trip-to-europe-air-tickets.html
covers booking air tickets, train trips, Hotel bookings, restaurant tips, safety recommendations.

http://adventuretrav.blogspot.com/2016/03/how-to-plan-trip-to-europe-planning.html
covers the factors governing number of days allocation, self drive options, tour vs independent travel etc

http://adventuretrav.blogspot.com/2016/03/how-to-plan-trip-to-europe.html
is an introduction on passport, visa formalities for Indians.

Videos of our Switzerland Trip



Thought I’ll share some videos of our Switzerland trip here. It may help you in choosing your itinerary.

I’ve captioned some frames and added music too! There are detailed reports and pictures of each day of our trip in the next posts. 

video covers Rochers-de-Naye

video shows our Swiss train rides

video covers Cheese, Chocolate factory visits

video covers Matterhorn cable car ride and glacier paradise…

video covers Jungfraujoch

 video covers Vevey, Luzern, Stechelberg, Trummelbach falls, Staubbach falls

video covers the Swiss hotels we stayed in. 

The next post will show you the several choices available for you... click on this link:
http://adventuretrav.blogspot.com/2016/04/switzerland-part-2-when-to-go-vacations.html

164 comments:

  1. Thanks Bhagvat kripa for the detailed views on the most sought after topics when one plans for a trip to Switzerland.

    Jithesh

    ReplyDelete
  2. This blog is so accurate and so awesome. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Very useful info. Helped a lot in planning.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Happy to hear this. Have a great vacation, Kavitha!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Jeez, how did I miss your blog earlier? Very detailed, precise info with useful, practical tips. Thanks a ton Bhagvat. This will be of immense help to not only first timers, but to all travellers

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Chetan,

      Great to get your positive feedback!

      Regarding blog visibility, well, I've hardly done any Search Engine Optimization... it's amazing how people do manage to find the blog, indeed very smart of them, Ha ha!!

      Delete
  6. This blog is so awesomely useful Kripa! So much time effort thoughts and humour in it!
    Im planning a trip in May with my folks and am wondering if i could PM you for some tips!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Ting,

      Great to have my effort and time spent (and the attempt at humor!) acknowledged. What's life without a few laughs? (I used to write for the Humor column in the national newspaper and also in the leading women's magazine! )

      I try to maintain some anonymity and don't give out my personal email contact. Even the name Bhagvat Kripa is a nickname (it means God's Blessings in Sanskrit, an ancient language).

      You can post your plans and doubts right here ...I'll be happy to offer my comments. It may help other readers too if they are thinking along same lines.

      If you are particular about pm, send one to my Tripadvisor account.

      I hope you have a terrific vacation!

      Delete
  7. excellent ... well written and absolutely to the point ... !!
    I am planning a short trip to Switzerland from London with my 2 young kids in June 2017. I was little confused ...and couldn't decide and bring up an itinerary for 4/5 days. ur blog should help.
    thank you !!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Sandy

      I'm very happy to know my blog is of help.

      I'll be posting on London and Edinburgh etc soon

      Have a fantastic vacation!

      Delete
  8. Hello bhagwat very well written.and it so helpful thanks a lot.for past one week I am doing survey on were all to go..atlast I found yours and have answers for all my doubts.can u plz help me with s this .we are going to Geneva from Paris .stay there for one day.and next day we want to go to AIGUILLE DU MIDDI and then leave to berne .see berne and leave to luzerneon the same day .we will stay in luzerne for 3 to 4 days.we are planning to do mt.pilatus .mt.rigi ;lake cruise and rhine falls also.and then our next base planning to stay in wengen for 3 nights.visit jungrau and near by villages.we want to see montreux also.so can I do a complete day trip from wengen to montreux?we are planning to leave to salsburg from Interlaken.we are planning to be in Switzerland around 21st of April. mt.pllatus mt.titlis mt.rigi and to jangfrau will it be open?can u pls advise me which pass should I take self and my husband and my daughter.i would be very grateful to you if u could answer my questions.waiting for ur reply.thanks

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hello Savitha5

    If your daughter is under 16, she travels free if you buy a Swiss pass or half fare card for you and your husband and ask for the family card.

    Jungfraujoch train runs all year round; closes only if there is ver heavy snow storm.

    You need to check out on the official website dates when cable car to Klein Titlis or Pilatus are closing for maintenance. They do close in April,

    You need to do the math regarding the pass. If Jungfraujoch is a must, note, it has only 25% discount with Swiss pass.

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  10. Thanks bhagwat for such a prompt and wrong. My daughter is 2001 may born so when we are in Switzerland she'll turn 16. Will the family card still be applicable?
    We want to visit montreux also, is it possible to do it as a day trip from Luzern or wengen?
    Can I take a Luzern tell pass and a berner oberland tell pass because I'll be staying in both the places?
    Lastly,in April will it be cloudy,foggy and rainy without sunshine?
    Waiting for your reply.
    Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hello Savitha

    I see you are posting the same queries on TA forum also; no point wasting my time I guess!

    Also guess the word "wrong"is a typo?!

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  12. Saw your blog and found it very useful. I will be Staying at Switzerland for 6 nights and will be travelling with 2 kids. Thereafter will be leaving for Venice or Austria following Germany and Paris. Since will be landing at Zurich on mid June17 by 7.30 PM, (Q1)should I stay back at Zurich for the night or will it be safe to leave for the base area and check in at the hotel there in the night. I am a vegeterian and confused as (Q2) which base to select so as to find any Veg food. I am planning to Visit lake Lucerne, Mt. Titlis, Jungfrau Top, Matterthorn Glacier, Montreux, Panaromic Express train ride to St. Moritz. (Q3) Will it be cheaper to buy individual tickets or Swiss Travel Pass for 4/8 days. Will this pass also include for Cable Cars or Gondolas (Q4) Also if I have a Eurorail Pass, still I need to buy Swiss Travel Pass separately.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Unknown?!!

      I feel like the disappointed Professor...after giving a LONG lecture finding an inattentive student asking questions on the same topics discussed threadbare in class!!

      I've already addressed all your doubts in this part as well as the following ones on Switzerland as well as in the general intro on Europe.

      May be you should really read these posts instead of expecting me to rewrite the same issues?

      Delete
  13. Hi Bhagvat, quite an amazing blog. I am planning a July trip with my parents with 4-5 days in Switzerland. My parents are diabetic and do not want to goto the peaks (Jungfrau, Titlis, etc). How would you suggest we schedule our 5 days in Switzerland with 1-2 bases? Appreciate your views. Thanks.

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    Replies
    1. Hello Albert

      July-Aug is the most crowded season in Switzerland. Have you read the next part of this section? It gives tips on choosing bases.

      I think the lake regions may be hot and very sunny in July and mountain regions may be a better bet for pleasant weather. Even in September we found Luzern very hot! Jungfrau region would be my recommendation for you and parents

      With dietary restrictions, you may probably have more options in Grindelwald or even crowded Interaken though it's not that scenic.

      How active are they? Hope they can do some scenic hikes.

      It would make a nice half day trip to the Aare gorge and you could combine it with a lake cruise on the Brienzersee and see the Geisbach Falls on the way.
      A popular walk on the Brienzersee is to take the boat or bus to Iseltwald and then walk to Geisbach and then take the boat either to Brienz and then a train back to Interlaken or the boat back to Interlaken. The walk is gently undulating through the woods beside the lake with good views over the lake to the mountains on the other side. You can see the top of the Brienzer Rothorn, also Augsmatthorn. Many people also do it in reverse, boat to Geisbach and then walk to Iseltwald.

      At Geisbach there are some waterfalls and an old funicular railway up to the hotel. It's a good walk on a hot day as it's in the woods. There are some parts of the path that has some steps.

      A day trip out to Oberhofen Castle by cruise on Lake Thunersee will be great.

      Trummelbache Falls and the Lauterbrunnen valley Staubach falls are lovely,

      All the villages in the Jungfrau region like Wengen, Murren, Gimmelwald are worth a stroll

      Look at www.myjungfrau.ch for all options

      Delete
  14. Wow! So beautifully written, clear and concise. I've been planning our trip to Switzerland for months now and when I stumbled on your blog, it all made so much more sense to me. Thanks from the bottom of my heart. At times just reading Trip Advisor and talking to other folks makes it all the more confusing. I know what I want and have always done my research before visiting other countries....however Switzerland has left me pretty confused till now. I'm about to check out your other links and videos. Thanks a ton, great blog post! :)

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    Replies
    1. Very Happy to read your feedback, Loretta Moniz.

      I'm writing about our recent trip to New Zealand now and comments like yours put a smile on my face!

      Happy travels!

      Delete
  15. We are two adults and two kids – 14 & 11 years in the party. We are travelling to Zurich on 20th May 2017. Night stay at Lucerne on 20th May, night stay at Interlaken on 21-22nd May. We would like to see Mt Titls on 21st May from Lucerne. Please can you help us in planning to visit Zungfrau on 22nd May?
    Should we travel to Bern from Interlaken on 23rd May? Our return flight is from Zurich at 16:00 on 23rd May
    Should we buy 4days travel pass and a family card for kids?
    Any suggestion for utilization the trip? Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've answered you in the Luzern post:
      https://adventuretrav.blogspot.com/2016/04/day-9-switzerland-trip-luzern.html?showComment=1494385543421#c8558624053735165450

      Delete
  16. Thank you for the great info Bhagvat.

    We are going to Switzerland in August for 5 days. We will be arriving in Zurich but have booked hotel in Lauterbrunnen. Since we have to catch our return flight back from Zurich (plus have a 4 year old with us) we thought it'd be a good idea to rent a car and that way we will be able to drive and explore on our own. But I'm learning about how a lot of areas are "carfree". The places we want to visit are: Interlaken, Jungfrau, Zermatt and Gstaad. I believe Jungfrau and Zermatt will have to be train rides but we can drive to Interlaken and Gstaad. So I'd greatly appreciate if you can tell me if it's worth having a car for this trip or simply rely on the trains. Thank you

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  17. Hi zainahzarlasht,

    I notice you've posted the same query on TA Forum and probably in many other places.

    Guess my response is redundant?!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hi Bhagvat,
    Planning a 3 day sightseeing London trip and 4 day trip in Switzerland.
    Appreciate your help in planning.Visiting London from NYC.
    Thx Ram

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Ram,
      Book an open-jaw flight flying into London and flying out of Switzerland...rather than looking at a return trip from the same country.

      For Switzerland, the Bernese Oberland region would be my top pick.

      Delete
  19. Hi! Thank you for such a detailed explanation of what to do and what not to do. I am visiting Switzerland with my wife in July 2018 for 5 nights. We intend to stay in Lucerne all this while and explore the area. I am confused if I should get a hotel within the city for comfort or a hotel slightly outside the city (close to a station which isn't far from Luzerne) for scenic views? What do you suggest?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Nitin Luthra,
      Check the reviews for both the hotels. Check how much time you'll need for your commutes. I'd go with the one with the scenic views outside the city

      Delete
  20. Hi Bhagvat
    Good Morning
    Great write on travelling.
    We family of 4 (2adults + 2Teens) planning family holiday for 14days to switzerland and France.
    Can you suggest a easy going itinerary for 14 nights in Switzerland & France?
    Thanks in advance
    Anil

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hello Anil

    The mountain villages in Bernese Oberland will be my choice for Switzerland, if you need a 2nd base Vevey is great and a bit of contrast as it's on a lake.
    Read up on the next posts and you can copy what we did. Same for Paris also.

    I notice you are asking on Trip advisor also. Whose suggestion would you take?

    I'm probably wasting my time

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Bhagvat
      Thanks for your mail. I have gone through your blog on Switzerland visit. It really covered very well.
      Yes I uploaded query on TA because I was unable to post the query on your blog. Definitely I will go with your suggestion.
      I have tried to work out and summaries the trip as below:
      1. 2 night Zurich starting point- Schaffausen/Lucerene
      2. 3 Nights Churn---Cover Davos/Appenzell/St Mortiz
      3. 2 nights Zermat on Glacier express
      4. 3 Nights Murren--Visit Grindelwald/Interlaken/

      What do you suggest on my tentative itinerary for my wife and two daughter 21/16yrs.
      Do you think it will work on public transport, if so what sort of Rail or transport pass we should go?

      Thanks in advance.
      Anil

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    4. Hello Anil

      I'm not a big fan of 2 night stays. so may be you can just keep your bags at the station and do your Schaffausen trip and proceed on to your next destination.

      Luzern in itself is just mediocre, the mountains around and the lake cruise are the attractions there. So not really day trip stuff from Zurich.

      From Chur, don't try and hit the towns, go for the scenic excursions. Rather stay in one of the villages not in Chur.

      You'll be better off with HFC and saver day pass for heavy travel days like glacier express. As always do the math

      Delete
    5. Good Morning!
      Thanks Bhagvat for your update. We can change Itinerary as per your suggestion. We are planning a easy going nature based places to visit. Food and staying no issues with us.
      Can you give your suggest to modify below itinerary.
      1. 2 night Zurich - Cover Schaffausen/Lucerene
      2. 3 Nights Chur ---Cover Davos/Appenzell/St Mortiz
      3. 2 nights Zermat--taking Glacier express
      4. 3 Nights Murren--Visit Grindelwald/Interlaken/
      and from Geneva fly back.

      We are arriving from London to Switzerland.

      Thanks a lot
      Anil

      Delete
    6. Anil,
      Have you not read my replies changing your plan?

      why are you repeating the same again?

      READ the replies and also the whole post. you have not grasped the concept.

      Davos/St Moritz are concrete jungles, you'll be better off in Sils Maria instead of Chur. do the Bernina express as day trip and stop at Poschavia on the way back.

      no point going to Zermatt for 1 day, what if the weather is bad?

      go straight to Murren, either the fast way through Zurich and Bern or take the Glacier express if you are keen.

      You could take the Glacier Express from Chur to Brig or Visp, then over the mountains to Spiez, then to Interlaken. However, you are going to have a hard time getting the Swiss Rail website to give you that route.  The Glacier Express is not called the "slowest express train in the world" for nothing. It's very slow, so the websites will try to route you through Zurich and Bern instead of on the Glacier Express.
      Type in Chur on the From: line, Lauterbrunnen on the To: line and either Disentis or Andermatt on the Via: line. The Swiss site will then know your don't want to route via Zurich. The run takes 4hr32min. . You can easily take any of the other runs since they are on the same tracks but you will change trains twice along the way if you do. But, Disentis and Andermatt are beautiful stops. When you arrive in Brig, you are actually arriving at Brig Bahnhofplatz which is where the cog train stops. You walk about 250 feet into the Brig train station and take the train from Brig to Lauterbrunnen. You will change trains at Spiez and at Interlaken Ost to the Jungfraubahn train (very scenic).

      Delete
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  24. This is so amazing. Great Tips !! Keep publishing the great content for your blog. Keep writing and sharing your thoughts with us. Restaurant Frankfurt-Oder

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  27. Hi,
    Do you have any trip planning for Paris(2 days) and Disneyland(1 day)

    ReplyDelete
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  29. Thank You for providing this information. It is very beneficial.
    Travel Blogs

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    1. Spam ad in your signature is hardly visible, so I'm letting it slide this time. I'll delete the comment if you try more spamming.

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  30. Hi,
    I am reaching Zurich from Paris on 19th Oct-2018 with my wife and 5 year old kid.I will leaving Zurich on 22-Oct-18.On 19th Oct,I will see Rhine falls and other places in Zurich and then reach Luzern.My base will be Luzern.
    20-Oct-2018:Planning for MT titlis trip.
    21-Oct-2018:Luzerne Day trip
    22-Oct-2018:Bern Trip

    DO u think planning is fine or I should plan for Jungfraujoch trip.Then I think I need to stay in Interlaken.Can you please suggest.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Soumya Mallick

      Your plan needs tweaking as your visit is so short.
      You may be better off, avoiding the detour to Zurich and reaching Luzern directly from Paris.
      Use Bern as a rainy day option.
      Do Titlis on a good weather day and take a lake cruise if cruise is still on that late offseason

      Delete
    2. Hi Bhagvat Kripa,
      Thanks for the reply.Which lake cruise r u talking about?

      Delete
    3. https://www.lakelucerne.ch/en/timetable-fares/faq/

      Delete
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  37. Great blog and so much good info! I agree that Trip Advisor can make things more confusing. Thank you for posting such concise information.

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    1. Great to see your words of appreciation, Sybil Dee

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  45. Great reading and extremely comprehensive post – pretty much covers everything...
    Expediting Switzerland
    NDT RT,UT,MT,PT,VT,ET Norway

    ReplyDelete
  46. Such a beautiful place, thank you for sharing this with us.
    luton meet and greet parking

    ReplyDelete
  47. This is a fantastic blog and I stumbled upon this thru the link provided by a TA user. Thanks to him and thanks to you for articulating it so well.
    Based on the reading , I have come up with a below itinerary for our 14 day tour with a group that includes 6 adults and 5 kids from 19th Apr to 3rd May
    Will appreciate if you could review this and suggest any changes to be done.
    Day 1 - Land in Zurich at 10 pm and Stay in Zurich
    Day 2 - Zurich to Lucerne Transfer, Visit Mt Rigi in morning and City Tour/Rosengart museum in Evening
    Day 3 - Check weather and visit Mt Titlis
    Day 4 - Reserve Day at Lucerne - can be used for Mt Titlis incase weather isnt good on Day 3
    Day 5 - Lucerne to Interlaken Transfer, Explore Höhenweg(?)
    Day 6 - Lake Thun, St Beatus Cave, schlossoberhofen(open park)
    Day 7- Lake Brienz, Ballenberg Open Air Museum
    Day 8- Zermatt, Gornergrat,Riffelsee Lake or Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
    Day 9 - Mt Schilthorn &Lauterbrunnen Falls
    Day 10 - Interlaken to Montreux Transfer, Visit Chillon Castle & Vevey Montrux
    Day 11 - Visit Gruyeres Cheese factory & Chocolate factory
    Day 12 -Day trip to Mount Saleve, Geneva
    Day 13- Day trip to Gstaad, Glacier 3000
    Day 14 - Transfer to Zurich and explore City
    Day 15 - Departure at 10 am from Zurich

    The 5 days at Interlaken will have a flexi itinerary where we will look up the weather and do the mountains on a good day
    I am yet to read up on the travel pass. Will do so later this week

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Rohan Desai
      Yes, it takes a lot of time and effort to make these blogs, good to know it's helpful!

      Re your itinerary:
      How old are the kids? Keep a look out for altitude sickness

      Day 5 - Lucerne to Interlaken Transfer, Explore Höhenweg(?)
      The Höhenweg (high-altitude trail) is in Zermatt... quite far away

      Many attractions will be closed during your visit...castles on Thun etc.

      Day 12 -Day trip to Mount Saleve, Geneva
      May be Rochers de Naye is better as it's nearer
      Day 13- Day trip to Gstaad, Glacier 3000
      Totally not worth it. May be just visit Saanen.

      Happy travels!





      Delete
    2. Thank you brother. I will re check the attractions in my itinerary for the opening dates and revisit accordingly.
      Glacier 3000 will be mostly dropped from the itinerary and we will move to Zurich but that will give us 2 days in Zurich. Any recommendations on what could we do those 2 days ? One option is Liechtenstein but I have read TA folks don't rate it too high.

      Delete
    3. Saanen and Gstaad villages are pretty and can be visited from Montreux even if you don't go up to Glacier 3000 which is mediocre comparatively.

      Zurich old town walk and trip to Rhine falls is an option if you guys haven't been to big waterfalls like Victoria falls, Iguacu, or Niagara and have realistic expectations

      Delete
  48. I need help for 2 days trip. We will leave Munich on 28th Jan so guide me which town/city we will stay & take EURAIL 3 days or Swiss rail day pass or 3 days pass. I am travelling with my wife & 1 year old baby. We have a flight from Geneva on 30th morning`for Istanbul so total 2 night stay.
    Our target places are : Saanen, Gstaad, Zweisimmen, Interlaken also if can make good DDLJ trip and have time then other places also specially Mount Titlis.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. you must be Mayur R! I'm a GREAT detective!

      EURAIL pass is NOT worth it. Even for day pass, may be you are too late. They should be bought 60 days out.

      DON'T take your 1 year old to Titlis or any place above 2000m ... read my intros here. I can't repeat again here.

      28 Jan period will be VERY COLD, and daylight hours short.
      Tough to say how the weather will be in any particular place... so check meteo site... https://www.meteoswiss.admin.ch/home/weather/current-weather.html before your trip and choose ONE place, either, Luzern or Interlaken.

      Saanen is near Montreux... look at the maps here. So may be you should stay there.

      You can buy tickets on DB (German Railways) ... tickets from Munich (or any other German town or city) to any station in Switzerland, from €29 upwards. You need to buy 6 months ahead... anyways check availability. Use www.bahn.de/en to buy tickets - you print your own ticket.
      There are several daily Munich-Zurich EuroCity (EC) trains with onward connections to anywhere in Switzerland. It's a lot cheaper to buy a through ticket at cheap advance-purchase rates, for example you might see Munich to Luzern for €39 (no refunds, no changes to travel plans),
      And try saying Please, thank you... I'm a stranger under no obligation to type out responses!

      Happy travels!

      Delete
  49. Yes I am Mayur but dont know why name not showing. thanks for your reply. I read another reply too. actually baby is 19 months old. thanks for advice about Titlist so now its out of list.
    no I can take flight/train to Geneva from Munich if you suggest. I check map several times from last 3 days and bit confuse.
    Also I have only 1 day stay in Munich coming from Amsterdam. Most important for us is Switzerland trip so what you suggest for 2 days from where we can start Zurich or Geneva.
    I am sorry bro it was too late & was sleepy & even I didn't write what I want to ask completely and not able to edit.
    I check swiss rail day pass & route pass also available with saver.
    I am really confused its for non swiss person also or not.
    So you suggest we can stay in luzern or interlaken

    ReplyDelete
  50. Also please guide me about train tickets. Day pass for 2 days or half pass or route ticket

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry, Mayur, your plan sounds crazy even for a single person... more so with a small kid in peak winter.

      no point going to Munich for a day from Amsterdam.

      fly in from Amsterdam to Geneva. you'll have one more day in Switzerland. stay in Vevey, 1 hour train trip from Geneva and see your movie sights in Saanen. then you can easily go back to Geneva for your flight out.

      are all your flights bought?

      buy the day pass... price is cheapest 60 days ahead.

      And come on, dude, try saying Please, thank you... I'm a stranger under no obligation to type out responses!

      Delete
  51. Actually I have conference in Amsterdam & I will be free on evening 26th. we have a flight to Istanbul from Geneva on 31st. We are thinking we will leave Amsterdam on 27th afternoon by air then 1 day/nights in Munich for meeting then 28th, 29th & 30th day/night in Switzerland. then 31st flight from Geneva at 11:30 am.
    This time I want to fulfill my promise for DDLJ trip with my wife.
    Hope you understand & help me

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. is Munich meeting official and mandatory?

      just flying to Munich for a day will be a waste.... lot of time wasted flying in and out of Munich, not to talk of hotel checkin/out, with hardly any time for sight seeing

      Delete
  52. hahaha brother I send message before completely read your reply. to inform you about my trip.
    hope you understand now how many days I have and why Munich is important. so please please please now guide me for not only Saanen for Gstaad, Zweisimmen, Interlaken too.
    Only flight is from Geneva to Istanbul is confirmed. I check swiss day pass cost is 130 + for few days I found 88 which is lowest for first class.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. your statement is confusing. do you have an official meeting in Munich on 28th?

      Switzerland experience is so weather dependent. Already it's winter when you visit and you won't see the green meadows and flowers you are expecting.
      On top of the cold, if it turns out foggy/rainy/snowing, you'll need one more day to hope for clear weather. Currently you are making it too tight.. remember travel days can't be used for sight seeing
      I can give you some routing if I understand Munich can be skipped

      Delete
  53. sorry bro please help me.
    official meeting in Munich on 27th at 4 PM. so will will stay that night in Munich. from 28th morning we are free & we have flight to Istanbul on 31st 11:30.(this is the only ticket I already bought) for green meadows we already visited in last April this trip is for snow :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Great, Mayur. If you guys have already enjoyed Switzerland, no pressure on this trip. You also personally know the hassles in train transfers... with bags and a kid.

      As DDLJ locations seem to be priority, fly into Geneva, stay in Vevey or Montreux. We don't see Indian movies... and have not seen this one, but I googled.
      Just keep your fingers crossed for no fog/rain/snow during your stay

      Delete
  54. Thanks again. sorry to bother you again & again.
    please don;t remind me train transfers. That was a long 4 country trip via eurail.
    Our must visit places are : Saanen, Gstaad, Zweisimmen, Interlaken.
    I hope no fog or rain :) lets see.
    Please

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've given you routing and pass suggestions in earlier answers if you are Mayur.
      With this Unknown ID, it becomes tiring for me to know who is asking what

      Delete
  55. please guide me what train pass or route pass I can use and in which town I will stay and when

    ReplyDelete
  56. bro its me mayur who is messaging you daily for this route. so please assume I am the only one who is eating your brain :)
    so you suggest from Munich directly go to Vevey or Montreux on 28th afternoon or if possible a bit early so we have 3 days & night & on 4th day all night as same place or Interlaken.
    So day pass for 2 days or 3 days.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you fly in on 28th from Munich, you have only 3 nights of stay. Stay in one place Vevey or Montreux. No need to drag your bags on train transfers to Interlaken. You can go there for day trip... though there is nothing there. You'll have a good time in the mountain villages above Interlaken.

      Delete
  57. please also tell me saver day pass
    https://www.sbb.ch/en/buying/pages/kontingent/kontingent.xhtml;jsessionid=1C76912DD9A6D78589D156619A7786DE
    is ok for us as a non swiss person. or route ticket.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 60 days out, the day pass is 39 CHF. You are delaying buying, and the price will keep increasing.

      Hit no discount and see route prices... you'll see even one way Montreux to Interlaken is high... 74 chf. if you buy saver pss you can take as many trips as you want...

      Montreux to Geneva one way on 31st may be OK to buy route ticket.

      Rest it's probably better to buy saver day pass... check for how much it's available now

      Delete
    2. wow, it's 52 chf withput HFC
      https://www.sbb.ch/en/travelcards-and-tickets/tickets-for-switzerland/1-day-travelpass/saver-day-pass.html

      that too 60 days out

      Delete
    3. i checked, it's available for 52 chf for your days.

      if you plan to do day trips, you definitely need it for 3 days, 28, 29, 30.

      if on 28th you'll only go from airport to hotel, then route ticket should do

      Delete
  58. thanks a lot :) wish my trip will goes as I plan
    again thanks for helping me
    have a nice weekend

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  69. Discovered your blog just in time and consider myself lucky! Salute your spirit!!
    We are 2 adults and 2 children less than 16 years. Everyone excited while I am anxious with so much of over information and so less insights! Wish to see the most and best in 6+ days in Swiss. Hiking and excessive walking without stop difficult for me as one of the knee gets painful. I was thinking to take Swiss 8 day flexi, although expensive, but thought it will give flexibility and relieve hassle of taking tickets…

    Keen to get different experiences not similar… and not miss the best…wish to include different cities, museums, choc and cheese factory, watches, culture but still not walk a lot…

    Have drafted an itinerary below and seek your support and guidance… thinking I may not be visiting the alps again….

    12 July : Reach Zurich airport at 8.30 pm and stay at Lucerne till 15 night. Should I try to stay near Interlaken for 2 days instead or is this manageable

    13 July , Lucerne sight seeing and cruise or should I do Breinz and Thun, ENgelberg, Mt. titlis. Is Weggis worth and possible...
    14 July , Jungfrouch, Wengen, Grindelwald. Is it a lot of walking?
    15 July , Lauterbrunnen, Harder Kulm, Interlaken, Gstaad. Is Bern possible with this?
    16th July, Golden Pass (Interlaken to Montreax) and Laussane, Laussane to Zermatt (night stay) or should I do bernina instead. Can I include short trip from glacier as well?
    17th July , not sure?
    18th, Half day sightseeing Zurich (museums?), off to paris
    19-22 morning , Paris. Will read your blogs to paris and then send this draft…
    22nd , 12 pm to 8 pm – Zurich sightseeing (Scauffelson, Rhine Falls). 1030 pm flight to India

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello NC

      In my opinion, the Bernese Oberland area is quintessential Switzerland... the mountains and and valleys you see in picture postcards. Luzern lake is just a greyish lake...not stunning turquoise blue like in Canada, Alaska, Argentina etc.
      I'd suggest you stay in Interlaken area right from day 1.

      it's easy to buy tickets from the machine. your kids are under 16, they'll travel free if you collect a family card along with half fare card for you. this will be the cheaper option for you. you can buy tickets from the SBB app on your phone also.

      14th july: nothing is too much walking unless you embark on trails. of course check if weather is clear on that day. otherwise it'll be a royal waste.

      15th july: SERIOUSLY?? did you even read my posts or see where things are? Gstaad is not impressive. Enjoy your surroundings, don't attempt far off day trips

      Delete
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  72. Hi Bhagvat

    I've been wanting to visit Switzerland for a long time and recently have taken it upon myself to do as much reading around the topic as I can....there is so much out there and I've found it very overwhelming! Your blog was a welcome read - clear, concise and to the point!
    What would you recommend as an itinerary for a couple flying in from the UK to Bern (or Zurich?)who want to keep costs down. We are interested in beautiful scenery (a la 90's Bollywood!) Do you think buying a 3 day pass is worth it? With regards to Jungfraujoch - bearing in mind what you have mentioned about fog etc do you suggest booking on the day - is this even possible?

    Thanks again

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello
      I'm just back from a vacation in Iceland... checied this email only now. Hence the delay in responding.

      I'd suggest traveling slightly off season to avois crowds.... book private room in hostels to keep costs down.

      Bernese oberland region should please all lovers of nature... Swiss Alps is at its best there.

      I think half fare card and saver day pass fpr travel intensive days will wok best. Definitely for Jungfraujoch, half fare card gives max discount...50%

      You should buy tickets and travel only on clear weather days... no need for advance booking. Just start early on a clear weather day

      Delete
  73. Oh which month/s would you prefer for travelling?

    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I would suggest September... it avoids peak rush and weather is usually good.

      Are you the same anonymous as the other guy above? Leave a name/initial to get clear answers...

      Delete
    2. Hi
      Yes its me...please feel free to provide clear answers.
      Thank you for your responses!

      Delete
  74. Your post is so helpful for all and my opinion is, this is one of the best Post. Thanks for sharing. Let me explain about Taj Day Package which is finest Tours & Travels company in all over India & provides all Taj Mahal Tours @ very reasonable price. Thanks for read comment hope you’ll visit here.
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  78. Hey Bhagvat, great blog, very informative! I had a question: how would you rate Bern as a base? We are in Switzerland for 4 days and our primary areas of interest are Lucerne (Mt Titlis), Jungfrau (I know we are repeating similar items) and we thought of choosing Bern as a base because we are coming to Switzerland from Paris and then going onwards to Vienna and our hope was that a base in Bern will bring down the travel time. Also, do you think it will increase intercity travel cost vs basing ourselves in Lucerne?

    Thanks,
    Anant

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Anant
      Bern to Vienna will be a LOONG train journey, Even if you opt for night timing, the transfers will be tough. Have you thought this through?

      For Switzerland if you are into mountain scenery, Bernese Oberland will fit the bill. There are many mountain excursion options apart from Jungfraujoch such as Schilthorn, First, Schynige Platte as well as lovely lakes at Brienz and Thun, My advice will be to stay in a mountain village.

      If you are staying in Bern, it'll definitely add to travel time and cost

      Delete
    2. Thanks for the prompt response, Bhagvat! We were thinking of the night train; however, looking at it again it looks like Zurich will be a better option to take the train to Vienna from. Given this, which one of the mountain villages do you recommend?

      Thanks,
      Anant

      Delete
    3. Anant, You want a scenic base or just convenience of onward travel?

      in my opinion, Lauterbrunnen or Wengen are scenic bases with minimum hassle... just one train from Interlaken ost.

      Zurich to Salzburg is very scenic, why would you want to travel in the dark and miss it?
      probably a good idea to halt at Salzburg, enjoy it at least for a full day and move onward to Vienna.

      here I am trying to reshape your plans when not even knowing your priorities and your ability to put up with tedious long trips, ha, ha!!

      anyway discounted tickets on OBB site are available 180 days out and they are just few. if you delay you'll end up paying 100 plus euros instead of 29/39

      Delete
  79. Replies
    1. Letting the link slide for now... if you keep spamming, next time it'll be deleted

      Delete
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  83. You have written such a in-depth article, i really enjoyed reading it.

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  84. For 6 days. Which base will be perfect? i am from Bangladesh, 35 yrs old. will travel alone in May 2022.

    ReplyDelete
  85. Hello
    you can choose between Luzern and Interlaken. Luzern is on a lake and you can visit Rigi, Pilatus, Titlis etc and have a cruise on the lake checking the weather daily.
    Interlaken is not pretty, it'll be cheap; you can visit lovely mountain villages like Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Murren, Grindelwald from there. And also go up to Schilthorn etc by cable car. Everything depends on the weather.
    Include your name in case you want to post more questions. Good luck

    ReplyDelete
  86. this blog is a tressure, eye opener. I was struggling to finalize my plan. Now I kinda know what to do.. Thanks a ton.

    ReplyDelete