MySwissAlps.com includes andrew
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Hi Artim,
We haven’t stayed at either of the hotels you mention but two years ago we stayed for a few days at the ABC, just across the square from the station. We’re booked in there again this summer.
In 2024 the reception desk had a sign which said simply, “Please Do Disturb” and the hotel very much lived up to that splendid ethos.
Very nice roomy bedrooms with a coffee machine and en suite; lift to all floors and a good breakfast.
The first morning as we appeared for breakfast we were asked our room number. When we gave it the immediate response was, “Ah! Gluten free!”
It’s a modern building and the only downside was that rooms at the back overlooked a courtyard and other equally high buildings. Quiet though, with no noise from the square at the front.
Best wishes for your holiday.
Andrew
in reply to: Hiking options and towns near Zurich April 7-8
Hi Shivam,
The walk from Uetliberg to Felsenegg is indeed a lovely one and not difficult. We did it about 10 years ago and enjoyed it but be warned: the path is mostly below the top of the ridge on the side looking away from Lake Zurich and views of the lake are limited. There are wide, far reaching views to the west.
I’ve attached a photograph I took from Uetliberg on 24th February this year. We had been on a lake cruise but the visibility looked so good we jumped ship at Thalwil and took the train up ‘Zurich’s own mountain’.
AndrewAttachments:
Hi Roger,
I can beat you on one count but not the other.
During our recent skiing holiday this Briton celebrated his 80th birthday, but I’ve only been visiting Switzerland regularly (usually twice a year) since 1981 when I learnt to ski!
I would point out that our quick entry into Switzerland at Zurich Airport was unusual even for pre EES times. Our Birmingham flight normally lands just before lunchtime when passport control seems to go for its collective lunch break. The queue when leaving was bad but I have known worse. There always seems to be a queue of some sort.
At least the “Blue Stamp” is better organised than it used to be. For those who haven’t experienced it, what looks like the front of a small kiosk appears in the departure ‘lounge’ and all passengers have to present their passports and have their boarding cards stamped. Without that stamp you won’t be allowed to board. Sometimes the ‘kiosk’ displays the flight number and destination. Go up to it as soon as it appears.
AndrewHello Roger,
I was also somewhat surprised when asked to use the fingerprint scanner. I suppose it demonstrates that the system is still not fully up and running and/or not yet fully trusted by Swiss border control. Our passports were stamped in and out.
What I found difficult to accept was the apparent lack of staff to operate the system as it stands at present. I shall be interested to see what happens if/when we return in the summer.
AndrewHi everyone interested in this thread,
In contrast to our recent rapid entry to Switzerland at Zurich Airport, which I reported here, our exit experience at the same airport was not so relaxed.
When arriving by train, Check-in 3 is particularly handy especially when luggage includes skis or similar bulky items. In the past we have dropped bags there including skis. This time, because of the skis, we had to take it all to Check-in One where we were promptly dealt with.
A bigger problem lay ahead in the form of a long queue for passport control at D & B terminal.
Passengers who were not already registered for EES were being registered at the control points with fingerprints and photograph taken. Those, like us, who were already registered still had to use the fingerprint machine, have our passports scanned and the details carefully examined. The minimum time for each pre-registered person was between 30 and 40 seconds and much longer for those who had their photograph taken. Timing the proceedings at least gave me something to do!
30 seconds is not a long time and there were, I think, 7 passport control points. Unfortunately, at any one time only 2 or 3 were staffed so the queue grew steadily.
We joined the passport queue at 16:10 for a 17:10 scheduled departure but it took about 40 minutes to cover the short distance to the departure gate where boarding had already started. The aircraft left late as we waited for stragglers who, an on-board announcement told us, had been delayed at passport control.
Thankfully, we landed on time but, it seems, EES delays can still occur at Zurich and especially when passport control is not adequately staffed.
AndrewPlease note.
As far as I can tell the current situation is that, following a fatal accident in July 2025, the Heimwehfluh Toboggan Run in Interlaken remains closed.
The authorities determined that ongoing maintenance was insufficient to meet safety standards and it is not known when the facility will resume operations.
Please check with the Heimwehfluh authorities for yourself before making a special journey.
AndrewHi everyone on this thread or interested in it.
Yesterday (23/2/26) we flew into Zurich Airport from Birmingham and, having landed 30 minutes early at about 11:20, had the fastest transit through all the entry procedures that we have experienced for several years.
As for EES, we spotted a row of unused EES registration booths on the left as we entered the Passport Control hall. A sign pointing roughly in their direction said something like “Self Service”. That was all.
If you didn’t know what to look for or weren’t expecting them you would walk straight by. They all had a rectangular green light flashing around what turned out to be where you place your passport for scanning.
After the scanning process the machine shows your passport photograph and a few of your details and asks if you are you! Once you’ve done that and the machine is satisfied another similar green light starts flashing.
This is when your fingerprints are read. NB fingers only: keep your thumb well out of the way as instructed. It all took less than a couple of minutes for two of us.
At Passport Control all was normal except no queue. No questions were asked about whether we had registered for EES or even where we were going and our passports where stamped as usual, so at least we have proof of entry.
I hope all that is helpful if you’ve been wondering or worrying about it.
I’ll report next week how we get on in the reverse direction.
AndrewHi Roger,
“And the slot only costs two francs!”
Doesn’t seem worth the cost of administering but I suppose it’s just enough to stop people booking a slot (or multiple slots) and then not using it (or only one of them).
Andrew
Thank you, Roger. What you write is beautifully stated and I agree wholeheartedly.
I shall make doubly sure that our passports are stamped on entry to Switzerland next week and on exit in March. It seems to be the only sure way of guaranteeing successful entry/exit in the summer.
AndrewIt would seem that Swiss Border Control at Zurich Airport is at fault in bypassing the E-gate for non-Schengen passengers which is, as Roger Sexton says, “a matter of concern” and worrying.
We will shortly be making our winter visit to Switzerland and I shall be watching carefully to see what happens at both entry and exit to Switzerland. I’ve no wish to be refused entry in the summer.
Good to learn that the EES registration system at Zurich Airport is working well.
AndrewHi Sandra,
I’ve one important thing to add to the above. The Trummelbach falls will not be open at the time of your visit. They are normally only open from April to October.
I can only emphasise the virtual benefits of the Swiss Travel Pass over and above the price.
We have often set out on a day’s adventures with a rough plan ‘A’and joke that we have finished on plan ‘K, subsection 3.5’, having frequently changed plans at a bus stop, railway station or pier or even on board a train, bus or boat. “Let’s get off here! There’s another train in an hour.”
Enjoy your holiday. We will be there some of the same time as you.
Andrew
in reply to: 12 days in Appenzell and Central Switzerland in July
Hello Ana,
Book a hotel of your choice in Appenzell Innerrhoden for three nights or more and, when booking, receive a free public transport ticket (2nd class) from your point of entry into Switzerland to Appenzell for your arrival and return journies. You also get the Appenzell Innerrhoden holiday card but see http://www.appenzell.ch/en/accommodation/appenzeller-holiday-card.html for more details of all the lovely free or discounted offers for public transport and entries to all sorts of things.
The town of Appenzell itself can get a bit ‘touristy’ but, as Roger says, there is often cheaper (and better) accommodation in the countryside. We have stayed a couple of times in Schwende but 7 or eight years ago. The hotel there served wonderful food and was very comfortable and friendly and you might say the train stops almost outside the hotel except it’s 30 metres lower by the roadside.
Andrew
Hi Subrata,
You should note that, usually, the trains from Interlaken Ost arrive in Luzern at 5 minutes to the hour. The same train then forms the next departure for Interlaken Ost at 6 minutes past the hour – only 11 minutes at the platform.
If you arrive on the platform in Luzern before the train arrives the electronic signs over the platforms will tell you where to find the first class seats so you can be in place and ready to board as soon as the train empties.
Sit on the right hand side of the train facing forward for the best views. The train reverses at Meiringen but stay in your seats for the best views from there to Interlaken Ost.
Enjoy your holiday.
Andrew.Hi Hi DeeDeeS, Roger et al,
Following my comments (echoed by Roger – thank you) about winter and summer in Switzerland, I thought you might like some photographs. The snowy one is looking into the Lauterbrunnen valley and taken from Männlichen. It was taken in February 2020, when we got home just ahead of covid. I’ve not seen that much snow there since although last winter was much better than the previous two. The heights are deceptive. You can see part of Wengen at the bottom of the picture. Lauterbrunnen, which can be seen just above it in the picture is actually 475 metres lower.https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/mannlichen/
The sunset is taken from Wengen, also in the winter, across the valley towards the Lobhörner and the lake view is a summer one showing the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau to good effect. They are about 20 miles away from the camera which was on the ferry at the exit of the river into the lake near Thun.
Regards
AndrewHi DeeDeeS,
If you’re going to spend time in Interlaken and Lauterbrunnen I would suggest you stay in one or the other rather than changing your base. They are, after all, only 24 minutes apart on the train.
Yes, the winter timetable on Lake Thun is disgraceful and the summer one, although better, is a shadow of what it was not long ago.
Last February we planned to take the boat from Thun to Interlaken West. We actually went on board but it was crammed full – standing room only even in first class! – so we went back ashore and travelled by a different scenic route.
We watched the boat depart and saw people left behind. The situation wasn’t helped by the company’s choice of vessel, the ‘Schilthorn’ – not one of their bigger vessels. They should have known in advance that a bigger vessel was required. Even the SBB online timetable was showing three red figures beside the sailing meaning ‘full’. One group were on a planned cycling tour but they were not allowed to take their bicycles on board wrecking the whole day for them.
There’s plenty to do in Switzerland in the winter as well as the summer and the scenery, if anything it is just as, if not more, spectacular than the summer. Enjoyhttps://www.myswissalps.com/planning/practical/best-time-to-visit/
Regards,
AndrewHi Sip,
I concur with Roger’s recommendations – I usually do. I think I’m in the same age bracket and for over 40 years my wife and I have been regular visitors to Switzerland. Anna and others have also made some good suggestions.
I am pleased to see you mention Appenzell, which is in a part of Switzerland that is often by-passed. It’s beautiful and the walking possibilities are seemingly endless. Follow Roger’s advice about the Voralpen Express.
The local pass, the Appenzeller Holiday card, is free if you stay 3 nights or more. The card gives you free 2nd class travel within Switzerland to and from your Appenzeller destination on the days of your of arrival and departure there, free 2nd class travel in 15 zones around Appenzell and lots of other benefits to enhance your stay. As you plan to finish in Appenzell it may also mean you can shorten the length of your Swiss Travel Pass.
See http://www.appenzell.ch/en/accommodation/appenzeller-holiday-card.html
When we have stayed on the area we have avoided the town of Appenzell itself as a base (a bit ‘touristy’ although worth a visit) and stayed 3 kilometres away in Schwende. There are lots of similar places to stay.
Appenzellerland doesn’t have quite the sophistication of the Luzern area but, in a way, that’s the beauty of it and there’s always Säntis, the highest peak in Eastern Switzerland and St Gallen which is a ‘must’ and within easy reach.
Regards,
Andrew
in reply to: Thank you and goodbye to our moderator Yolanda
Well said Roger. Spot on.
Thank you so much, Yolanda. You’ll be sorely missed. All the very best for the future.
Andrew.Hi Don,
I concur with Roger – not unusual. Not only will the car spend a high ratio of your time parked but, when you find somewhere to park, you will have to pay large amounts for the privilege.
I don’t know the current rates for car hire in Switzerland as in summer we always have Swiss Travel passes and in winter it’s Saver Day Passes plus ski passes. But even if STPs cost more than a hire car plus fuel, they will more than make up for it in convenience. No having to buy tickets and no being stuck with those tickets if you want to change your route/plans.
The roads are busy too in the popular tourist areas. For example, on our recent holiday we met two people who said it now takes 50% longer to drive up to Grindelwald from Interlaken than it used to and they now use the trains – which are soon due to run every 15 minutes instead of the present 30 minutes.
AndrewHi Yolanda,
Many thanks for the news re MV Bubenberg.
I think it’s probably my favourite ship in the BLS fleet so it will be good to see it back in service. I look forward to more news.
Kind regards,
AndrewIt’s a vicious circle isn’t it?
If we try to use timetabled Thunersee ships on Mondays this summer, the service is irregular and an inadequate ship may be used.
If we don’t use them the company will no doubt argue, “No one’s using them on Mondays so we’ll cut the service even more next year.”
It won’t stop us returning to Switzerland and Lake Thun as long as we can do it.
Andrew
