MySwissAlps.com includes Danielsan
Forum replies
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in reply to: Thank you and goodbye to our moderator Yolanda
Yolanda,
As I have said in one of my last posts, best of luck to you, and thank you so much for your kind and informative repliés. Reading your repliés to so many folks (as well as my own) has been a pleasure for so many, and again, much luck and success to you. Sincerely.Regards,Danielsan
in reply to: Where to purchase portable WiFi for Switzerland?
Hi Arno,
I am not sure about the e-sim cards and such. All I know is that I have a Samsung Galaxy and android, and all I want to do is get the Wi fi to be working in both Switzerland and France. Please forgive me for not understanding. Should I check with my carrier to see if I have an e-sim on my phone? Or just go ahead and order it on the links you provided? This is where I get confused. And I want to pick it up at Geneva airport upon my arrival. Again, thank you for your help. Sincerely.Regards,Danielsan
in reply to: Where to purchase portable WiFi for Switzerland?
Hello to luvmystang and Yolanda,
Thank you, luvmystang, for your input. I am supposed to land around 0830 and should not have a problem. I will inquire about that.Thank you, Yolanda, for your input also, as always. Thanks for all your kind responses throughout the past few years as well. I am sorry I was unable to respond in the last few days, but again, thank you so much. Best wishes, and much luck and success with your future endeavors.Sincerely to you both.Regards,Danielsan
in reply to: Where to purchase portable WiFi for Switzerland?
Hello Arno
I thank you for your response. I have read the link you sent, and, unfortunately, I am more confused.I am landing in Geneva. I am purchasing a 15-day STP. I will be spending 12 nights in Switzerland and two nights in Chamonix. Is the Wifi also good in France, or just in Switzerland? In the link you sent, I believe it also said the WiFi was not good on trains unless I misunderstood. Again, I am confused about this. If you could clarify this, I would appreciate it greatly. Also, can I purchase it at the airport.Thanks again,Regards,DanielsanThanks, Anna. Some great info. I may do the trail from Lutry to Cully, since I will be staying at the Hotel Lavaux where it ends at Epesses. Thanks again.
Regards,
Danielsan
Hello Roger and Yolanda,
Thank you for your replies. I have basically decided to just go to my hotel and leave my bag there (as per the hotel, near Cully), and continue on to Gruyères from there, via Montreux. This way, I can explore the Lake Neuchatel area bright and early the next morning and enjoy the day without being rushed in any way and go from there. Yes, I. will have the STP, as I have for my previous 3 trips, as it is unbeatable (in my opinion). I also want to explore Lausanne (the Olympic museum, etc) while there. I’ll be staying in Lavaux and looking forward to seeing the vineyards up close. Will also try to get to La Chaux de Fonds. Thanks again for your input.Regards,DanielsanHi Queenie,
You appear to be very worried/concerned about seat reserves from Zurich to Lucerne. Don’t be. As per Anna’s and Roger’s above posts, there is no reason to be concerned about seat reserves. From Zurich (airport, or Zurich main station) to Lucerne is essentially a main commuter line, and to worry about seat reserves is not a concern. (This assumes you are landing in Zurich.) Basically, the only need for seat reserves is on the Gotthard Panoromic, the Bernina, and the Glacier Express trains. (For an additional cost.) Possibly on the Golden Pass Express, but mostly in the summer months, which doesn’t pertain to you. I’m not sure where you’re traveling to, for how long, after Lucerne, or what kind of travel pass you may be looking at, but one less worry should be about seat reserves to Lucerne. There are several ticket dispensers at the airport for point to point tickets to Lucerne that will not be time sensitive. If need be, you can stop in the SBB office that is located on the same level as the departure area and ask them any questions about tickets, Swiss Travel Passes, or anything you may need to know about traveling there. Have a great trip.
Regards,DanielsanHi TKH,
I agree with Anna in shaving a day or two from Zurich. However, instead of using that day in Wengen, I would strongly suggest staying in Zermatt (https://www.myswissalps.com/town/zermatt/) for two nights instead of Brig. (Unless there is something you desperately want to do/see near Brig.) You can head to Montreux, then Zermatt, then Wengen, then Lucerne, and back to Zurich for the last two days. This will basically be one consecutive circle finishing where you started, and none of the travel times are overly extensive, two and a half, to three hours, tops.Zermatt is beautiful, and the iconic Matterhorn shouldn’t he missed if that close. (Just my humble opinion, of course.) And there is a lot to see and do in Zermatt. I hope this helps you out on some way. Enjoy your trip.
Regards,
Danielsan
Hello veep,
In 2018, I had perfect weather and went to the Glacier Parsdise around noon. This was the second week in September, not too far after your planned trip. I spent some time there, took photos, and since it was after the Riffelberg connection, I did go back into Zermatt and (after having a sausage on my way to the Gornergrat), I spent the next few hours up on the Gornergrat. While I agree with Annika, in so far as better photos and such of the Matterhorn, I was able to see the sun setting beyond, and it was a beautiful experience to see the sun setting beyond the shoulder of the Matterhorn. Either way, you can see both on the same day. I had the Swiss Travel Pass (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/swiss-travel-pass/), and both destinations were 50% discounted.Again, whichever direction you choose, you won’t be disappointed (as long as the weather cooperates). Hava a great trip.Regards,
DanielsanHello d_goldbarth,
To add to Yolanda’s very good info, it’s really up to you if you want to get some Francs prior to your trip. Most SBB offices at the airport or in most train stations will exchange for Francs. I usually exchange at the airport when I land in Zurich. Keep in mind that you will need cash to exchange, as to do so with the credit card will only be good at ATM’s. Have a great trip.Regards,DanielsanHi Heather,
I would highly recommend taking the cable car from Wengen (the one right in the center of the village) up to Mannlichen and hiking to Kleine Scheidegg from there: https://www.myswissalps.com/blog/hike-wengen-kleine-scheidegg/. The cable car is roughly 5 minutes, and the view up is incredible, as well as the view when up there. It’s roughly an hour and a half hike (depending on photo stops and such) with the Eiger in front of you the whole time. Eventually, the Monch and Jungfrau will also come into view. It’s an easy, mostly downhill hike. If you choose to hike from Wengen to KS, the route that essentially parallels the railway, it’s nearly 2.5 hours and mostly uphill. Not steep, but uphill. Again, I highly recommend the hike from Mannlichen. You won’t be disappointed. Also keep in mind when you take the Eiger Express down to Grindelwald, you arrive at Grindelwald Terminal, not in Grindelwald itself. You have to go one stop on the train to get into Grindelwald, which is the last stop. It can be confusing looking at the train, as ‘G-wald Terminal’ is not the last stop, ‘Grindelwald’ is. Enjoy whatever route you do choose. You can’t go wrong either way. Have a great trip.
Regards,
Danielsan
Hello Philip Tan,
In 2018, I went up to the Stanserhorn on a Friday evening and it was open later than the weekdays. Since then, as I understand it, it is now open later from Thursday evening, through Saturday evenings in the evening. Do look through the links provided from Yolanda to make sure. Also, the Harder Kulm is open later also. Again, have a look at the links. Be careful though, on the Harder Kulm, try not to leave on the last railway down. Plan accordingly and try not to be on the last one or two trips down. Extremely crowded. In Zermatt, the Gornergrat is also open later, but check with the local tourist info, which is just steps away from leaving the train station. As far as clubs and such, you can find them everywhere. If need be, ask at the local tourist info office as well, or even at your hotel.I hope this may help you in some way. Have a great trip.
Regards,Danielsan
Hello SMR,
I am not sure for how long you are staying in the Lauterbrunnen area, or what time of year, or what sights you are looking for, or hubs to the area or other parts of the country, but based solely on the towns/villages you mentioned, I would choose Wengen, if your chosen time is between late June and October. On my first trip 6 years ago, I was torn between staying up in the mountain and looking down or staying in the valley and looking up. I ultimately chose the former and stayed 3 nights in Wengen. I loved it so much that I spent 4 nights there in 2023 and this past year as well (all were in September). It is a car free village, quiet, the views down to the valley and the scenery in the village are absolutely beautiful and there are lots of restaurants to choose from as well.
In the center of town is a cable car that can take you up to the top of Mannlichen (https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/mannlichen/). From there, you can look down to the Lauterbrunnen Valley, the Grindelwald valley, and Wengen. Also, you can ride a gondola down to Grindelwald or hike down to Kleine Scheidegg. (About an hour and a half, depending on photo stops and such.) A beautiful hike with the Eiger in front of you the whole time, and eventually, the Monch and Jungfrau will come into view. Lots to choose from, from Wengen, again based on your preferences.
Murren is beautiful to see, but at the end of the valley, and, as mentioned by Roger Sexton, is not great as a place to stay due to being at the end of the valley, and easily accessible from Wengen, either by a train, bus, or hiking from Grutschalp.
Grindelwald is down in the valley, too, beautiful, but more commercial than Lauterbrunnen, which is smaller but also very busy. Neither of which are car free like Wengen.
Do some research of the Lauterbrunnen area and see what holds your interests to see what you want to see and go from there.
You may want to look into either a Swiss Travel Pass (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/swiss-travel-pass/) or the Bernese Oberland Pass (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/berner-oberland-pass/), depending on how long you’re staying for. I hope this helps in some way. Have a great trip.Regards,
Danielsan
Hi ronak_khandelwal,
If it’s not too late to change your hotel reservations in Lucerne, you may want to think about staying in Grindelwald for two nights based on your plans and head to Lucerne from there. With an early start to Lucerne, from Grindelwald, you can get to Mt Titlis the same day. Upon arrival at the Lucerne train station, you can put any luggage in a locker and head right out on the next train to Engelberg to visit Titlis.
Grindelwald is between 2.5 and 3+ hours (Each Way) each day from Lucerne. That’s 5 to 6 hours out of your day, twice. Also, I don’t believe there will be any paragliding available in February, as it will probably be too cold.
I also agree with Yolahda with investing in the Swiss Travel Pass. All your transportation on trains, buuses, and boats are free. 50% discount on most cable cars (25% discount up to the Jungfraujoch). I hope this helps you in your planning. Have a great trip.Regards,
Danielsan
Hello again Dick,
Thanks for your scheduling info. What you can do is send the luggage on either the last day in each place, or two days before. I used a large backpack (with a smaller collapsible one inside it for my ‘everywhere bag’) with two days of necessities (toiletries, etc) and just exchanged things when I picked up the luggage at each location. Again, it worked out great. So for your week in Wengen, send it on to Thun on your second to last day there. To do so, it is located at the train station just behind the ‘Kiosk’ store at the station. If you’re not planning on stopping in other places in between destinations other than Zermatt and Thun, you may want to just bring the luggage with you (save some money). Again, your choice on that, depending on your sightseeing desires. You do have the options of sending it forward.
If you do send luggage from Lucerne to Zermatt, the SBB OFFICE is located upstairs on the upper level of the train station.
Also, after reading your post, I happened to read some reviews of the Oeshininsee hike from the cable car to the lake, has a lot of streams, and advised to have some waterproof shoes. (I have not yet been there, but if all goes well, I will be there in September of this year.) Again, have a great trip.Retards,
Danielsan
Hello again Dick,
Thanks for your scheduling info. What you can do is send the luggage on either the last day in each place, or two days before. I used a large backpack (with a smaller collapsible one inside it for my ‘everywhere bag’) with two days of necessities (toiletries, etc) and just exchanged things when I picked up the luggage at each location. Again, it worked out great. So for your week in Wengen, send it on to Thun on your second to last day there. To do so, it is located at the train station just behind the ‘Kiosk’ store at the station. If you’re not planning on stopping in other places in between destinations other than Zermatt and Thun, you may want to just bring the luggage with you (save some money). Again, your choice on that, depending on your sightseeing desires. You do have the options of sending it forward.
If you do send luggage from Lucerne to Zermatt, the SBB OFFICE is located upstairs on the upper level of the train station.
Also, after reading your post, I happened to read some reviews of the Oeshininsee hike from the cable car to the lake, has a lot of streams, and advised to have some waterproof shoes. (I have not yet been there, but if all goes well, I will be there in September of this year.) Again, have a great trip.Retards,
Danielsan
Hello LPerry,
I fully agree with Roger and Yolahda, but I may suggest that you spend the night in Lucerne if it’s not too late to make accommodations there (if so, then no reason to keep reading). After such a long day on the trains, Lucerne would be a great place to spend a/the night. It is a great walking city, small, and a lot to see as the night sets in. The next morning, you can explore at least one of the mountaintops and perhaps a lake cruise also before heading back to Basel. Personally, I think it would he a shame to just ride trains all day and not experience any of the spectacular mountaintops that can be seen in and around the Lucerne area. Just some food for thought to break up a long day of train travel. Maybe explore/read up on this site about some of the attractions available in April that may hold your interest. Have a great trip.
Regards,
Danielsan
Hello Dick,
I’m not sure how long you are in Zermatt for, but if it’s longer than two days, you may want to send your luggage to the Thun train station. This will afford you the freedom of exploring Oeschinensee on your way to Thun without having to drag your luggage around with you. I have used this (luggage forwarding) service for the last two years, and it is an unbeatable convenience. You need two days to send and pick up. This way, whenever you get to Thun (depending on the time), the luggage will be there waiting for you. In Zermatt, you can find the office to send it along platform 5 (ask for help if needed). The cost is CHF 12 per bag. When sending the luggage, always be sure to ask what time the opening and closing times are at the pick-up station (Thun, in this case). I hope this helps in your travels. Have a great trip.
Regards,
Danielsan
Hello Alizar,
Your indication of your husband skiing in the morning only, and Yolanda’s response leads me to believe you are visiting in the summer months or not in the ski season. (Please, correct me if Im wrong.) If this is true, the only skiing that may be available will be up on the Glacier Paradise (https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/matterhorn/). That can take place all year around (depending on weather). Meaning, there won’t be any skiing down into Zermatt through Trockernersteg. Nor will there be any skiing from the Gornergrat down to anywhere, as there won’t be any snow (or, at least any to ski down).
I, too, don’t ski, and that is why I have visited Zermatt three times in the last six years in September each time. That includes this past September. While this last trip was colder than the first two trips, there was no snow in the area to ski down into Zermatt from. Not being a skier myself, l would suggest stopping in the tourist info office right outside the main station upon arrival in Zermatt to help with any ski rental questions.
I would also suggest you accompany your husband to the Glacier Paradise. While he’s skiing, relax in the cafeteria up there and return with him. You can only visit the Gornergrat by going (depending on time of year) back down on the gondola into town and going to the Gornergrat station across from the main station. I agree with Roger. The Gornergrat is one of the best attractions in the Alps, but you can’t get there from, say, the Glacier Paradise or Trockener Steg without switching ‘valleys’. While inquiring about the tickets to Italy, for some reason, they weren’t running then, so I just continued on my journey through Zermatt.
I hope this may help your planning.
Have a great trip..Regards,
Danielsan
Hi Izzati,
Again, to be certain, when sending to Zurich from Grindelwald, be sure to ask the closing times (and opening times) in Zurich, as well as how many days before extra charges will kick in. If things haven’t (fee’s) changed since last October, you should be fine. When there last October, I spent my last three days in Lugano and stored my bag at the Zurich train station. It, too, was CHF 12.00 per day, but, again, well worth it, as I stopped in Locarno and Bellinzona along the way, which wouldn’t have happened with baggage/luggage in tow. Again, have a great trip.
Regards,
Danielsan
