First time visit to Swiss

sumi62

8 posts
new member

Feb 18, 2013 - 1:04 PM

HI,

Me and my wife are planning to visit Switzerland in June 2013 for 8/10 days. our interest is to go for all Excursion trips to Mountains like Mt. Jungfraujoch ; Schilthron; Mt Titlis; Matterhorn Glacier; Mt Pilatus; Rhine Falls and other lovely places in Lucerne; Interlaken; Zermatt; to travel in Glacier Express Train.

What is the best way to explore all this. I like to do this visit on my own and not in group travels.
Regards
Sumi

Annika

7333 posts
expert &
moderator

Feb 19, 2013 - 2:47 PM

Hi Sumi. You can easily plan such a trip by yourself. You should first decide whether you're fine with long travel days. If not, you should leave out some of the plans you mentioned below. Traveling times can be found through the timetable. I think it's best to pick one or two base towns and make day trips from there. Interlaken or Lucerne would be fine for most of your plans. Only Zermatt and the Glacier Express are in a very different part of the country. This would require quite long journeys, but it's doable. You could end your stay that way, for example: travel from Interlaken to Zermatt, get on the Glacier Express to St. Moritz there, and travel back to your airport (or another destination) from St. Moritz.

Hotels near the railway stations can be found for:

It seems you'll be traveling quite a lot. A rail pass, such as an 8 day Swiss Saver Pass or a Swiss Saver Flexi Pass, will save you money.

MySwissAlps.com recommends to read this:
Learn how to plan your trip Travel CO2 neutral!

Last modified on Nov 1, 2018 - 4:17 PM by Arno

sumi62

8 posts
new member

Feb 20, 2013 - 1:16 AM

Hi Annika, Thanks for your quick response and support. You are correct we will be traveling a lot, I also raised the same question to my travel agent who planned this trip, she said no the travel is not much.

Can we cover this plan in 12 days as against 8 days planned earlier. In fact we wanted to do Switzerland and Austria in this trip, 8 days in Switzerland and 6 days in Austria.

Do you suggest to drop some of the excursion in Switzerland or drop trip to Austria and spend more days in Switzerland.

Also can we have Swiss Rail Pass first for 8 days and than for 4 days so that we cover 12 days in Switzerland.

Also if we do direct hotel booking through Internet - will it be proper - I mean no harm.

Thanks & Regards
Sumi

Annika

7333 posts
expert &
moderator

Feb 20, 2013 - 1:26 AM

Hi Sumi,

A 15-day Swiss Saver Pass is much cheaper than buying two passes for 4 and 8 days, so that's the recommended option if you decide to stay longer. Please check the links I gave you for all purchase options and prices (select your country, pass type, etc. to see the correct offers). Switzerland offers plenty to do and see for 2 or more weeks, so it wouldn't be a problem to just stay there. The hotel pages I suggested only link to booking sites we know and trust (and actually use ourselves), so it's save to book there.

sumi62

8 posts
new member

Feb 20, 2013 - 1:43 AM

HI Annika, Thanks so much for your quick support. I will spend some time searching through the link provided by you. Till then good day, Oh for you its good night.

Thanks & Regards
Sumi

sumi62

8 posts
new member

Feb 20, 2013 - 3:35 AM

HI Annika; I went through all the links provided by you. It was really a great help and as said by you, it is really possible to plan for oneself rather then depending on Agent. The hotel link do not allow any booking for June 2013 as of now. Do you see any big jump in Tariff for Hotels in June. and also when can we expect to get the booking done online for Hotel rooms. Your idea for doing Glacier Express at the end of the tour period is really excellent. We can really plan that way and take train from Moritz to Zurich and fly back from Zurich. Only thing is I have to take very late flight from Zurich to Mumbai.

Thanks & Regards
Sumi

Annika

7333 posts
expert &
moderator

Feb 20, 2013 - 9:12 AM

Hi Sumi,

Most hotels should be bookable already, even for June. Specific hotels can be an exception, either because they're fully booked or just not available (yet). I can look into that if you've seen specific hotels you want to book and if you have exact dates. I don't expect prices to rise. Booking in time is just a matter of making sure you're getting the hotel and room that you prefer. Most hotels can be cancelled free of charge, so there's no problem there.

sumi62

8 posts
new member

Feb 20, 2013 - 9:33 PM

Hi Annika, One Hotel Etap Lucerne City is providing accommodation for June. They are asking for Credit Card Details now. There web site says I have to pay only at the Hotel. Is it safe to share Credit card details with them.
Also I tried three-four hotels in Interlaken City but each time Pop came that we can not book now. will try with some more hotel in Interlaken. I plan to stay 6 days in Lucerne and 7 days in Interlaken.

While traveling to Moritz on last day of the trip I will have to stay overnight at Moritz as all the flights from Zurich are morning flights.

Thanks & Regards
Sumi

Annika

7333 posts
expert &
moderator

Feb 21, 2013 - 3:50 AM

Hi Sumi,

I have checked and indeed some hotels are already fully booked. Since you're staying for quite some nights, it might be a bit more difficult to find available hotels, and it helps to book early. Here are some hotels in the lower price range that currently have rooms available through the booking sites we work with:

Interlaken: Hotel Blume
Interlaken: Hotel Rössli
Interlaken: Landgasthof Hirschen
Interlaken: Hotel Derby
Lucerne: Hotel Falken
Lucerne: Hotel Etap (recently renamed to Ibis Budget Hotel Luzern City)

The credit card details will not actually be used by the hotel unless you're not showing up and don't cancel the booking either. You can pay in the hotel. Also most hotels allow cancelling up to the day of arrival without you being charged. You can cancel through the booking site. Exceptions apply to some hotels (it that case it will be indicated), but this is how most of them work.

I hope this helps!

Last modified on Jul 13, 2018 - 12:12 PM by Arno

sumi62

8 posts
new member

Feb 21, 2013 - 10:39 AM

HI Annika: Thanks a ton for your prompt helps. I will start booking now, I am planning to stay 4 days in Lucerne 4 days in Interlaken 2 days in Moritz. Does this plan good or I have to increase my base place. My last worries is traveling with luggage from Rail Station to Hotel as most hotels are at least 15 min walk-able distance. Do we have local transport at reasonable cost or one has to just walk such distance.

One of my friend has suggested that there are Swiss family who are registered with Swiss Tourism Ministry under Swiss Government. These families are authorized to keep Guest in their apartment at nominal cost. They are called Bed & Breakfast (BB) family. Does such things exist and how safe are that.

Thanks & Regards
Sumi

Annika

7333 posts
expert &
moderator

Feb 21, 2013 - 10:56 AM

Hi Sumi,

Sounds good to me. I would not pick more base towns as that can be hectic too. Your Swiss Pass includes free city transport in most towns, please see the downloadable map on our Swiss Pass page.

Sorry, I'm not familiar with the B&B family concept if that's different than regular B&B's.

sumi62

8 posts
new member

Feb 21, 2013 - 11:28 AM

HI Annika, Thanks I mean regular B&B only.

Thanks & Regards
Sumi

Arno

16097 posts
expert &
moderator

Feb 21, 2013 - 3:11 PM

Hi Sumi,

I wouldn't be too worried about safety in Swiss hotels or B&B's. There's crime in any country, but Switzerland is generally a safe place.

sumi62

8 posts
new member

Feb 22, 2013 - 2:51 AM

HI Annika, Thank you very much for all your support and guidance.

Regards
Sumi

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