[jimmyjames]

18 March 2022 at 3:23:34 #826675

Hi all.

Thank you for the resource. My wife and I used your site in 2015 and 2018 to plan trips on the Bernina Express and other trains and towns to stay in. Your help was wonderful. Sadly my Wife passed away last fall while travel was still not possible. We didn’t get our last dream trip together. I will take it without – but with her – next week…

I want to to take a 3 to 4 day trip from Milan through Switzerland to Amsterdam.

I am wondering if anyone has recent personal experience/knowledge of any Covid testing requirements on crossing the borders.

Germany? France? Netherlands?

My thought is to take the 10:40am Train from Milan to Tirano, the 14:24 Bernina Express fomr Tirano to Chur, and on to Amsterdam from there through Zurich staying in Zurich for a few days, I’m open to suggestions for a better spot to settle down in on the way north!

I found this site. Using this it seems like travel is pretty open when Fully Vaccinated.

apply.joinsherpa.com/map

=====

For the record here is some government info from three countries info I have found if it helps anyone else:

Netherlands:

http://www.government.nl/topics/coronavirus-covid-19/visiting-the-netherlands-from-abroad/mandatory-negative-test-results-and-declaration/mandatory-when-travelling-from-a-high-risk-country

Essentially saying if I am traveling from a Schengen country I do not need a test if I have Proof of Vaccination. I presume a US CDC vaccination card is accepted.

Also of note is that if you are on a bus that is within 30 Km of the border no test is required:

“You do not have to show a negative test result if you are travelling to the Netherlands on:

a regional train, a public regional cross-border bus that stays within 30 kilometres of the border on both sides. If the stops where you get on and off the bus are both in the Netherlands you do not need to show a negative test result either.”

France:

http://www.sncf-connect.com/en-en/help/coronavirus

Saying it uses a Vaccination Card as a required “Vaccine Pass” except for travelers from these countries:

“Passengers from Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia or the United Kingdom must provide evidence of a test or examination carried out less than 24 hours before travel.”

Germany:

http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/coronavirus/2317268#content_0

Vaccination Cards would suffice from EU countries.

—

James

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[Anna]

Reply 1 of 9 • 18 March 2022 at 6:55:02 #939606

Hi James,

Welcome to the forum, thanks for joining us.

I’m sorry for your loss, and that you couldn’t make this last dream trip together with your wife. Nevertheless, I hope this will be a memorable trip for you.

If you’re travelling directly to Switzerland from Italy, prior testing is not required. As Italy is not in the high-risk list, proof of vaccination is not required but be sure to have it ready anyway. You can find full details of the travel requirements to Switzerland here: http://www.myswissalps.com/forum/topic/does-the-corona-virus-affect-trips-to-switzerland

I’m not familiar with the current entry requirements for France, Germany and the Netherlands but perhaps the following link could be a good reference point on international rail travel: http://www.sbb.ch/en/leisure-holidays/destinations/destinations-europe/corona-international-rail-travel.html

I strongly recommend you to check with the respective travel authorities in those countries ahead of your trip.

Safe journey and regards,

Anna

[jimmyjames]

Reply 2 of 9 • 18 March 2022 at 7:36:37 #939607

Thank you Anna.

Do you have a suggestion as to a good place to stay besides Zurich on the trip north?

Have you any knowledge of the NightJet Sleeper Train from Zurich to Amsterdam?

Thank you again..

–

James

[Anna]

Reply 3 of 9 • 18 March 2022 at 8:24:03 #939608

Hi James,

The Nightjet train to Amsterdam leaves Zurich HB at around 21.50 pm. Optionally you can also catch the train from Basel (departure time ca 2300).

So either Zurich or Basel could be a good base if you plan to spend a few days exploring a destination before continuing your journey northwards. The following links might help in your search for a suitable accommodation:

• Zurich: http://www.myswissalps.com/zurich/hotels
• Basel: http://www.myswissalps.com/basel/hotels

You can find more information about the Nightjet trains here: http://www.sbb.ch/en/leisure-holidays/trains-trips/night-train.html

Hope this helps as you firm up your plans.

Regards,

Anna

[jimmyjames]

Reply 4 of 9 • 19 March 2022 at 1:27:45 #939609

Thank you very much Anna.

[Annika]

Reply 5 of 9 • 19 March 2022 at 8:05:28 #939610

Hi James,

My condolences for your loss. That’s very sad news. I hope you’ll have a wonderful experience in Switzerland, and that you somehow feel your wife’s presence while traveling.

I agree with Anna that Zurich and Basel are very nice cities. You may also like a smaller village along the Walensee. Or look into Rapperswil: a romantic town along the north-eastern shore of Lake Zurich.

Best of luck and warm regards,

Annika

[jimmyjames]

Reply 6 of 9 • 19 March 2022 at 8:17:13 #939611

Thank you very much. It has been so very hard to accept and live without her as she loved traveling, riding trains and loved Switzerland so much. I will try to think she is with me..

I will look into the small town you suggest.

Much love to you all for the thoughts.

Here is Julie in 2018 at the top riding the Bernina Express.

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[Anna]

Reply 7 of 9 • 19 March 2022 at 10:32:04 #939612

Thank you James. Oh what a lovely photo.

Agree with Annika, Rapperswil is a lovely town with a medieval castle and a historic old town. A nice little place to explore enroute to Zurich or Basel.

Regards,

Anna

[User]

Reply 8 of 9 • 20 March 2022 at 1:50:15 #939613

That’s very sad news. I’m still coming to terms with the fact that my mum passed away in Dec 2019, my dad (at 95) in Dec 2020 and my uncle resident near Geneva suffered a fatal cycling accident also in end 2019. All three were an integral part of my travels in and around Switzerland.

Are you definitely coming via Chur on your trip north? Rapperswil is between Chur and Zurich.

However if you are coming direct via the Gotthard axis, I can recommend the Hotel Waldtstatterhof on the lake shore at Brunnen. Brunnen is a stop on the Gotthard route and the hotel has a courtesy minibus which can be arranged.

http://www.waldstaetterhof.ch/

[jimmyjames]

Reply 9 of 9 • 20 March 2022 at 2:11:15 #939614

I’m so sorry for your losses.. That is very sad.. My heart goes out to you.

Thank you for the detail. As it looks now I will make the stayover on my way back south. I am going direct now on my Northerly trip to Amsterdam without a night. But will return from Basel to Zurich area next week via train. I will make a stop and reserve a room in Raperswill, then onward south into Italy.

Thank you for this recommendation.

James