MySwissAlps.com features ads, commercial and non-commercial 9 Day trip to Switzerland by train in July
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Hello,
Our family will be travelling in Switzerland for about 10 days in July. We will be staying the first few days with friends in Zurich, after which we plan to travel from Zurich to Geneva using a Swiss Rail Pass. Several friends have recommended renting a car and driving but after doing a bit more research, we have opted to use the efficient swiss transport system. We may rent a car the last two days. I have tentatively planned the following itinerary once we are on our own. We want to get the 8 Day Swiss Flex pass or the 8 Day Swiss Pass as we will be using it when we travel with our friends.
Zurich – Lucerne – Montreux – Geneva
Day 1&2 Zurich-Lucerne
Day 3 Golden Pass from Lucerne to Montreux
Day 4 Montreux Chocolate Train
Day 5 Train or Car from Montreux to Geneva.
Questions:
- How does the family pass work? Our children are 14, 12, 10 and 6 but our 14 year old will be at a summer camp in Geneva for most of our trip and will only join us for the last few days. Should we register him as part of our family pass from the beginning or just register him when and if he joins us?
- Do I need to make a separate booking and reservation for the Golden Pass Train?
- Do I need to make a separate booking for the Chocolate Train or is this covered with the Swiss Flex Pass? Should I reserve now?
- Because we are travelling with kids, I want to limit the number of times we move and change hotels but are there any must see places on this route? Should I opt to stay only one day in Lucerne and the next day in Interlaken instead of two nights in Lucerne? Or is my current itinerary fine?
Thanks in advance for your help!
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Hi Tokyomom,
Welcome to MySwissAlps! Please note that the 8-day Swiss Travel Pass Flex costs CHF 44 extra as compared to 8 consecutive days of the Swiss Travel Pass. You may not need either of these during the first days in Zurich if you stay in that area only. There are local passes for that, so you could start using your Swiss Travel Pass once you leave for Lucerne.
1. Please see myswissalps.com/ swissfamilycard for the details. You’d better register the 14 year old too. It does not cost anything extra and that way he can join in whenever he wants.
2. At most you could buy optional reservations for the Zweisimmen to Montreux leg. Please see myswissalps.com/golden pass/tickets.
3. Yes, you need to book this as soon as possible. You will get a discount with your pass. If you travel on your own using the regular trains it is all free with your pass, including the entrance to the cheese and chocolate factories.
4. Switzerland is packed with wonderful areas and things to do, but I can understand you’d rather limit the number of hotel changes. Since it’s only 5 days (after Zurich) I think two base towns is fine. Yes, the Jungfrau Region is great, but you just can’t see it all.
Does this help you out?
Thank you so much Arno. Your advice is extremely helpful. I will get on purchasing the travel passes! Maybe we’ll just have to make another trip to Switzerland next year!
You’re very welcome! Please see here for where to buy the passes. If you decide to buy from the “official” Swiss Railways webshop at http://www.swissrailways.com/ en then you will need to tick the “Family Card” box for each child. After filling out your address, they will show the delivery options. Pick “Online Ticket” from the bottom of the list to get your passes e-mailed.
Yes, do come back 🙂 There is much more to see.
Thank you again! We’re all set for our trip. This is a fantastic forum!
Hello again,
Regarding the Chocolate Train, would you recommend visiting on your own using the regular train lines or the Chocolate train?
Thank you!
Hi Tokyomom,
The Chocolate Train is running on the same train line as the regular trains. The difference is that there is guidance and some chocolate tasting on the train. Also it’s a luxurious historical train. I’m sure it’s a nice experience but in the end you’ll see the same things. I did it on my own.
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