[Removed user]

6 October 2017 at 13:44:31 #813447

Hello Forum!

I would truly appreciate some expert advice on my planned itinerary in October. The only set event scheduled is the Basel Indoor Men’s tennis tournament that we have tickets for on October 27th….we are 2 adults and want to travel by train.

Oct 19 Arrive in Zurich – train directly to Lucerne

Stay in Lucerne 2 nights

Oct 21 Train to Lugano – stay 2 nights

Oct 22 Day trip to Lake Como

Oct 23 Train to Interlaken – stay in Lauterbrunnen 3 nights (various activities in the region) 3 nights

Oct 26 Train to Basel – stay 2 nights

Oct 28th train to Zurich

Fly out of Zurich on Oct 29

Do you think that’s doable – too much time on trains? Any feedback is appreciated…also what type of weather to expect? And what type of rail pass.

Thanks so much!

Robin and Peter

Effortlessly learn from the questions and answers in the forum. Receive a daily e-mail with new discussions. Sign up

[rockoyster]

6 October 2017 at 22:36:50 #870670

Hello Robin and Peter,

For your Lauterbrunnen stay be aware of attached closures (as prepared by Alpenrose666).

Attachments:

1. 

   3f6755ec-d6f1-4680-aad0-b8c124197f01.jpg
   

[Removed user]

7 October 2017 at 0:45:17 #870671

Rockoyster:

You rock!

Thank you for this..extremely helpful!

Any other comments re: itinerary…or amount of train rides?

Thanks again!

Robin and Peter

[Removed user]

7 October 2017 at 1:18:32 #870672

Hi Robin and Peter, and welcome to MySwissAlps!

>> Oct 22 Day trip to Lake Como

There might be information in the following earlier threads that you will find useful:

http://www.myswissalps.com/fo rum/topic/menaggio-to-lugano-by-bus

http://www.myswissalps.com/fo rum/topic/bus-stop-in-lugano-stazion-nord-or-autosilo

>> Do you think that’s doable – too much time on trains?

You can plan all your trips with the Swiss Timetable, and decide whether the travel times suit you:

http://www.myswissalps.com/ti metable

>> what type of weather to expect?

Chilly, perhaps a bit of short-term snow in places. Very cold on mountain tops. You could just as likely encounter overcast or foggy days as sunny (but cold) days. There is more information to help you on these pages:

http://www.myswissalps.com/be sttimetovisit

http://www.myswissalps.com/we ather

http://www.myswissalps.com/ab outswitzerland/nature/ climate

>> And what type of rail pass.

There’s only one foolproof way to find out, and that is to add up the cost of all trips you are likely to make by train, bus, boat and cable car, and compare the total with what it would cost using a Swiss Travel Pass, Swiss Half Fare Card etc. There is information here to assist with that task:

http://www.myswissalps.com/tr ain/ticketspasses/prac tical/chooserailpass

However, if you will be out and about every day on trains, buses, boats and cable cars (until you get to Basel), my first thought is that an 8-day Swiss Travel Pass would suit you, to use from 19 Oct to 26 Oct inclusive. Local transport in Basel on 27 Oct won’t cost much. A point-to-point ticket for your trip to Zürich on 28 Oct would cost CHF 34 (2nd class); or if you get in early enough and can commit to a specific departure time, a Supersaver ticket would only cost CHF 17. You can find prices, and links to buy tickets, in the Swiss Timetable (link above).

You can find out about the conditions attached to Supersaver tickets here:

http://www.sbb.ch/en/travelca rds-and-tickets/tickets-for-switzerland/supersaver -tickets.html

Alpenrose

[rockoyster]

7 October 2017 at 2:56:58 #870673

Hi Robin and Peter,

It’s difficult to evaluate other people’s itineraries – the decisions people make about places to visit are very subjective. But that won’t stop me offering some gratuitous advice. 😇

Personally I prefer to limit the number of hotel swaps and would skip the trip to Lugano at this time of year. It’s the sort of place you want to go promenading along the waterfront on a balmy summer’s evening. I’d stay in Luzern a couple of extra nights. If you desperately want to see Lugano you can get there from Luzern in 2 hours if you don’t mind going via the 57Km-long Gotthard Base Tunnel.

There is absolutely no shortage of things to do around Luzern http://www.myswissalps.com/lu cerne/activities

Another option you might consider if you want to see a bit more of the country is to go from Lauterbrunnen to Basel via the Golden Pass Line (ie via Zweisimmen and Montruex then Lausanne). See http://www.myswissalps.com/go ldenpass It will take 6 – 7 hours but some fine scenery. You will have already covered part of the Golden Pass Line on the Luzern – Interlaken Express.

[Removed user]

7 October 2017 at 17:29:52 #870674

Rockoyster:

Thank you – great advice and most appreciated!

Robin and Peter