[Anonymous]

5 January 2020 at 10:31:10 #824804

Hello Members,

I am travelling to switzerland with my extended family consist of 2 children (aged 5 and 10), and 3 senior citizens (aged between 60 and 70), and 2 adults (36 & 40). Duration is between 5 – 7 days on May 31st to June 6th. Coming from Toulouse (France). Flight to/from Geneva. Our main interest to see Interlaken areas (to cover the villages Murren/Lauterbrunnen/Grindelwald), and to take them to Mount Titlis. Considering the number of persons, I think, taking a rental car from Geneva airport is better and planning to reach interlaken directly from Geneva airport. The google maps says it would take 2 and 30 hours. Then, planning one full day in golden pass train. The second day will be to go around villages that I mentioned above. For this, is it possible to park my car in Lauterbrunnen? Or is it possible for me take to the car upto Grindelwald and Murren as well? After this stretch, shifting to Lucerne. For mount titlis, it is possible to park the car at Engelberg cable car station?In all these trip, anything that I need to be concerned with respect to rental cars? Thanks a lot for your suggestions. Hope i can plan cleanly and execute them weather permits 🙂

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[Arno]

Reply 1 of 12 • 5 January 2020 at 11:20:13 #927402

Hi Balsom,

Yes, you can park in Interlaken, Lauterbrunnen, Stechelberg and Grindelwald (and a few other less significant places). Most of the area is not accessible by car though. Please see http://www.myswissalps.com/jungfrauregion/travel.

Your second day is best done without a car. Leave the car in Interlaken to be able to see the whole area without backtracking to your car. You can use this itinerary for inspiration: http://www.myswissalps.com/onedayjungfrauregion.

I would do the incoming trip from Geneva to Interlaken without a car as well. That will save you an entire day. You can take a direct train from the airport to Montreux, and board a Golden Pass train there. Then continue to Interlaken. You can see the second leg of the Golden Pass line while traveling to Mount Titlis, which is a bit slower than by car, but more relaxed and it will be easier to also include a visit to Lucerne that day if you wish.

Further details are here:

• http://www.myswissalps.com/goldenpass/gettingthere
• http://www.myswissalps.com/titlis/gettingthere
• http://www.myswissalps.com/lucerne
• http://www.myswissalps.com/interlaken
• http://www.myswissalps.com/timetable (use this for train timetables)
• http://www.viamichelin.com (use this for estimated driving times)
• http://www.myswissalps.com/carversustrain

Considering the size of the car(s) you need for 7 people plus luggage, and the destinations, I personally would not rent a car.

Happy planning!

[User]

Reply 2 of 12 • 5 January 2020 at 13:30:16 #927403

Thanks Arno for your response… I thought of renting a car as I see the rental for my duration was much cheaper than the train travel cost for all of us from Geneva to Interlaken return !!! Nevertheless, I will make some accurate calculations on train tickets. By the way, is it possible to send some part of luggages from Geneva airport to interlaken/Lucerne? This will help us to enjoy the golden pass train by stopping in between for sight seeing.

[User]

Reply 3 of 12 • 5 January 2020 at 13:52:30 #927404

Hello balsom,
Thanks for your questions!
You can decide and do the calculations from an excel spreadsheet that you can download from this link:
http://www.myswissalps.com/train/ticketspasses/practical/chooserailpass
It takes some planning prior to your trip, but it so worth it because train travel is much more relaxing in comparison to driving in Switzerland:
http://www.myswissalps.com/train/ticketspasses/practical/discounts
http://www.myswissalps.com/train/ticketspasses
There are luggages services from Geneva airport to Interlaken/Lucerne offered from SBB – Swiss Federal Railways. Please take a look at this link:
http://www.myswissalps.com/train/practical/luggage
Details of the Golden Pass is outlined here for your reference:
http://www.myswissalps.com/goldenpass
I hope that helps!
Best regards,
Suzanne

[User]

Reply 4 of 12 • 6 January 2020 at 3:13:29 #927405

If you are visiting all the high mountains as per your plan, a trip on the ‘Golden Pass’ train is probably pointless. You will see all the mountain scenery you ‘need’ once in the areas you mention (ie Jungfrau region etc)

[User]

Reply 5 of 12 • 8 January 2020 at 1:35:34 #927406

Hi 1960man-

<<“You will see all the mountain scenery you ‘need’ once in the areas you mention (ie Jungfrau region etc)”>>

I agree in principle with your comment – just how many mountains does one need to see?

However, I am not willing to accept the concept that it is all that they “need.”

Neither you nor I can judge “needs.”

Only balsom can make those judgements. Or, are they friends of your whose interests are fully represented by your opinion?

Slowpoke

[User]

Reply 6 of 12 • 8 January 2020 at 1:40:44 #927407

Hi balsom

<<“to cover the villages Murren/Lauterbrunnen/Grindelwald), “>>

A bit early for those villages, depending on your interests. Rooms will be available, but many of the higher trails will be blocked by snow. That means that some ..not all..hotels and restaurants will still be closed for lack of customers.

As long as you do not plan hiking –I think that is true? — you’ll be in good shape. 😉

Slowpoke

[User]

Reply 7 of 12 • 8 January 2020 at 5:56:54 #927408

Oh really!! I thought I am just before the high season. Anyway, We are not planning to hike but only sightseeing (main streets) .. I saw those villages in photos and decided to visit them. And Mount Titlis.

[User]

Reply 8 of 12 • 8 January 2020 at 6:30:00 #927409

Hi Balsom,

January and February count as high season because of the snow http://www.myswissalps.com/activities/snow). The slopes are full with people skiing, snowboarding, sledging or just enjoying the snow 🙂

This might be useful for you: How to get to Mount Titlis.

Also see: http://www.myswissalps.com/besttimetovisit

Ildiko

[User]

Reply 9 of 12 • 8 January 2020 at 14:05:23 #927410

Hi Balsom –

<<“Oh really!! I thought I am just before the high season. “>>

You are. The Hotel Schönegg in Wengen opens on May 29th, as one example. The Bellevue opens on May 30th. They will have few customers then.

There will be no skiing after sometime in April, and the higher hiking trails open at about June 15th +/-. So, there are not many customers then. May is really slow. By mid June things start to get busy. and “high season” starts a somewhere toward the end of June.

The first few weeks of June are really the tail end of Winter, and the transition to Spring occurs with considerable snow still on the ground blocking the trails at higher elevations. But , it usually occurs during June.

So, to be very fussy, and with a degree of precision that is really impossible for predicting the weather in the High Alps, I would have put “just before the high season” about 2 weeks later. Not that it matters. 😉

At lower elevations…say Luzern…Spring is well along in early June. Even most of May.

By the way –

<<“I thought of renting a car as I see the rental for my duration was much

cheaper than the train travel cost for all of us from Geneva to

Interlaken return !!! Nevertheless, I will make some accurate

calculations on train tickets.”>>

I’m sure it will be cheaper. But, factor in the free fare for the children:

http://www.myswissalps.com/swissfamilycard

<<“The Swiss Family Card allows your children, stepchildren and foster children from 6 to 15 years old to travel along for free;”>>

Plus expensive parking at Lauterbrunnen (18 CHF per day), and the need to rent an unusually large car by Swiss standards, and the cost difference will narrow.

The Swiss Travel Pass offers a 25% discount on the expensive trip to Jungfraujoch, and 50% on Mürren to Schilthorn. ( free, Lauterbrunnen to Mürren.) That also factors in to the calculation.

And, if you take the Golden Pass Route or any part of it, it is free with the STP.

With lots of luggage and 6 people, the car may prove a better option, but please be sure to understand the total cost picture. You can ship some luggage, even direct to your hotel, as noted before, or you could choose to use the other less expensive service. You can carry some light baggage for the first day or two and ship the rest ahead, since you will be in one location for seveal days.

Slowpoke

[User]

Reply 10 of 12 • 8 January 2020 at 17:25:27 #927411

Hi Balsom,

I misread something, I was thinking you are going end of Jan, I do not know why. Sorry.
Right, end of May – early June is definitely not high season.

[User]

Reply 11 of 12 • 8 January 2020 at 18:48:16 #927412

Hi Ildiko-

If you check for parking in Lauterbrunnen right now, the garage is full, and they divert you to a secondary facility. Must be good skiing now?

Slowpoke

[User]

Reply 12 of 12 • 9 January 2020 at 6:38:42 #927413

Hi Slowpoke,

it’s January, so yes, time to ski. 🙂

I haven’t checked the snow status in the Jungfrau region, I guess we will go just to a smaller ski region this weekend.