[Anonymous]

7 January 2020 at 17:57:07 #824824

Hi all – my boyfriend and I are visiting France & Switzerland from June 9-18, flying in and out of Paris. We are planning 3 nights in Paris (June 9-12) and four nights in Grindelwald (June 13-17). Looking for suggestions of what to do/where to stop on the way to and from Switzerland:

On June 12, we’ll plan to leave Paris early morning and take the train toward Switzerland. We’ll have that full day and the next morning to explore.

• We’re very interested in checking out the wineries near Geneva, Lausanne, or Vaud, as well as some local cheese farms or chocolate factories. Is it possible to do all these things in one day? Or perhaps 1-2 of these things on the day we leave Paris, and the others the next morning before heading to Grindelwald. If so, what is the best home base?
• I’ve heard that there are various thermal springs. Is this a good thing to do in June? If so, any suggestions on good places to visit?
• Is it also possible to work in a trip on the Golden Pass from Montreux to Interlaken on the 13th, en route to Grindelwald?

-On June 17, we’ll leave Grindelwald and head back toward Paris, again stopping somewhere along the way to explore. We’ll have the next morning before we need to head back to Paris for our flight home on the evening of the 18th.

• How long does it reasonable take to travel from Grindelwald to (a) Lausanne, (b) Geneve, or (c) Lyon? All seem to have easy access back to Paris for our flight, so I think we may try one of these cities at the end of the trip.

And, of course, if there are any other obvious things in between that we’ve missed in our research, do feel free to share 🙂 We’re excited to get this all figured out — then we can start planning which Swiss Travel Pass works for us!

Thanks, all!

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[User]

Reply 1 of 5 • 7 January 2020 at 23:27:35 #927580

Hi ChuntyBunty-

Sounds like a nice trip. I started to work out some ideas, but got bogged down on the need to use a map, timetable and locations in a serious effort to get specific answers. Some tradeoffs may be needed, and you’re the best person to do that. In fact, that is why we don’t plan itineraries.

So, for the moment, here is a start to some answers.

<<“On June 17, we’ll leave Grindelwald and head back toward Paris, again stopping somewhere along the way to explore. We’ll have the next morning before we need to head back to Paris for our flight home on the evening of the 18th.

How long does it reasonable take to travel from Grindelwald to (a) Lausanne, (b) Geneve, or (c) Lyon? All seem to have easy access back to Paris for our flight, so I think we may try one of these cities at the end of the trip. “

The SBB timetable can answer the part about timing. Once you become familiar with it, you can work out time to travel between various stopping points, as a part of planning intermediate stops.

This page explains essential details, including the use of “via” points:

http://www.myswissalps.com/timetable

It will lead you to the actual timetable, which can be accessed directly form the SBB home page, once you are comfortable with the details..

http://www.sbb.ch/en/home.html

There is a lot of other information on that site, in addition to the timetable, including a link to let you download the smart phone App, which another forum member ( Rockoyster) swears by. I find it handy when traveling, but like the large screen for planning.

The timetable will give you travel times between points in Switzerland and the destinations in or outside of Switzerland.

You may also find this useful:

http://www.myswissalps.com/travel/toswitzerland/train

and, in particular –

http://www.myswissalps.com/travel/toswitzerland/train/tickets

If you wish to use the Golden Pass Route between Montreux and Interlaken, you could work out times using the timetable for that route, then add other stuff as it can be fitted to that schedule.

http://www.myswissalps.com/goldenpass

That journey takes about 4 hours on most trains, although some connection are about 3 hours.

The route through Bern usually takes 2 hrs 40 minutes.

A map become very useful as you try to add destinations. Many maps can be used, but this one is particularly suited to Swiss train travel, because of the way that the train routes are shown so clearly as you zoom in:

map.search.ch/?pos=574464,160256&z=64&poi=zug

The menus can add a lot – such as exact station names – if you spend some time with them.

A chocolate factory, Maison Cailler, is at station “Broc-Fabrique.”

cailler.ch/en/maison-cailler

It is not far from Gruyeres, where there is a show dairy.

http://www.lamaisondugruyere.ch/visits-discoveries/the-cheese-factory/

Cheese is usually made at dairies, not on farms. “Mountain Cheese” is made in the high Alps near where the cows are pastured in the Summer. Otherwise,the milk is usually taken from the farms to a local dairy.

Those two destinations are between Montreux and Fribourg. That means that they are not directly on the Golden Pass route, but can be reached by branching off from it. Use the timetable, and the map to sort that out.

Or, you go directly to them without passing through Montreux.

The TGV can be picked up at Bern and Basel, as well as Geneva. Bern might be your easiest option.

I think that can get you started.

Since we don’t actually plan itineraries on the Forum , we’ll see what you come up with. We can comment to refine or adjust it, once you have given us an idea of your plan. Some time working out travel time with the timetable will give you sense of what is possible.

Slowpoke

Cheese is pretty much always mades at dairies. However, cheese is made at the high Alps where cows are grazed in the Summer…so-caled “moubtain chese.” I don’t think you could access those easily. There is a “show dairy” at Gruyres. If you

[Mark]

Reply 2 of 5 • 8 January 2020 at 2:46:51 #927581

Hi ChuntyBunty

If mountain scenery is of interest to you we found Chamonix and Megeve to be very scenic with very good views of Mont Blanc ( the highest Alp). Also Annecy is very picturesque and easily worth a half day visit. All 3 are a short drive from Geneva.

The hiking around Chamonix and Megeve is almost as good as Grindelwald ( but not quite).

Mark

[User]

Reply 3 of 5 • 8 January 2020 at 18:03:57 #927582

Hi ChuntyBunty,

as you are coming from Paris, have a look at http://www.myswissalps.com/traintickets/france, it helps you to choose the right train ticket.

After you have your itinerary, go to http://www.myswissalps.com/train/ticketspasses/practical/chooserailpass. You’ll find a useful guide there with a calculation spreadsheet, which helps you to choose your rail pass. The downloadable spreadsheet also includes links to the “Where it’s valid” page for all available passes, be sure to study it carefully.

In my opinion, thermal baths are always a good idea, I like them better in the winter time, but as far as they have outside pools and a nice view, you can enjoy them during the whole year. My favorite is Leukerbad, but if you are not in that area, you can find other good places too.

I do not understand your question regarding working on the Golden Pass. Are you asking about the sockets?

If you are interested in Swiss wines, I recommend the Lavaux region, between Vevey and Lutry. A walk from Chexbres to Rivaz is easy and wonderful, you can also visit the Lavaux Vinorama, where you can try wines from different cellars.

I hope this helps.

Ildiko

Also read:

• Golden Pass: http://www.myswissalps.com/goldenpass
• Accommodation in Grindelwald: http://www.myswissalps.com/grindelwald/hotels and http://www.myswissalps.com/grindelwald/rentals

[User]

Reply 4 of 5 • 8 January 2020 at 18:43:39 #927583

HI Ildiko-

Idioms are a nuisance.

<<“I do not understand your question regarding working on the Golden Pass.”>>

She asks

<<“s it also possible to work in a trip on the Golden Pass from Montreux to Interlaken on the 13”>>

She means –

“Is it possible to fit that journey into our schedule.”

😉

Slowpoke

[User]

Reply 5 of 5 • 8 January 2020 at 18:46:47 #927584

Thanks. It is good to learn every day something new. 🙂