MySwissAlps.com features ads, commercial and non-commercial Lausanne & Montreux -planning help late September
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Bonjour,
Have a plan to visit Sept 26-Oct 2. Traveling into and out of Paris. Very active couple – late 40’s. Very limited (tourist) French.
This inquiry seeks guideance on activities and possible options for different rail pass options. (Swiss Travel Pass / Flex or Lake Geneva – Alps pass) and comments about possible weather effects on itinerary (clothing recommendations).
Traveled Lucern, Murren, Bern and Zurich last year similar time period. Used Swiss Travel Flex last visit.
My girlfriend and I hope to arrive Laussane late afternoon from Paris on the TVR. Our expectation is two nights in Laussane and four nights in Glion just above Montreaux. Considering we need a round-trip to Paris associated we are seeking the Swiss train experiences.
In Laussane – we are seeking advice on activieis and accommodation (particular location). Is it better to stay Ouchy or Old City? Is there enough to do on two-day/two nights Laussane or should we plan a day seeking further afield to Evian? On day three we hope to transition to Montreaux via (hopefully) a Belle Époque view the Lavaux terraces. Should we seek futher boat excursions?
The accommodations in Glion already booked. From that location we hope to / expect to have a day traveling to Rochers de Naye, one day traveling to Gstaad or Zweissmann, one day Chocholate train/Cheese train to Gruyere, one day wine train Lavaux. At each of these we hope to do some relatively vigourus hiking/walking/exploring (1-3hrs). On our return to lodging filling any other moments – early mornings/early evening with sights in and around Montreaux through strolling/biking by the lake toward Vevey and Chillon. (Are bike hire’s simple? CityBike/Bike-n-go).
These train trips are certainly celebrated and well documented as fantastic sounding excursions. Are there ‘insider’ tips either for these trips or ones that might be just astride and a more ‘locally known’ secret alternative?
While the Lake Geneva-Alps regional pass offers 3 fully covered and 4 half-fare days (in the 7 day), which of these ‘days’ are the most pricy? On which excursions should the full-coverage be used? Are there options for 1st-2nd class – and does a local suggest the premium as worth it? A further possibility – of course, with this much travel – should we simply purchase a Swiss Travel Pass…? (and if so, does that provide any discount on the TVR from-to Paris?)
Thank you so very much in advance. We used this forum before our trip last year, and in preparation for sending my 18yo daughter on a Swiss grand-tour this summer with her girlfriend (18days). She mentioned / expressed what so many do about their experiences in Switzerland 🇨🇭 “…it becomes completely indescribable through words, and pictures can not capture the magnatude of the beauty!”
Thanks,
Kyle & Jennifer
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Hi Chilitaylor
Sounds like a great trip.
I’ve stayed at Glion a couple of times at the big old Victorian hotelon the edge of the plateau right by the train station and funicular station. Forget the name. ;-(
Great views.
I’ve also done some easy walking on trails that are fairly constant altitude. from town to town ( train line to train line.) For example, near Le Sepey and Leysin.
The train stations at Le Sepey have stuck in my memory. See attached.
I don’t have much to say about most of you itineraray. It sounds good to me.
I vote for Ouchy at Lausanne. Good access to the lakeside trail. You can always ride the metro to go up to the rest of the town and the main station if you wish or need to.
For your hikes, here are some useful links:
http://www.myswissalps.com/hi king
http://www.schweizmobil.ch/en /wanderland/hiking-in-switzerland.html
and, this super topo map for fine detail:
I’ve turned on trails and transport stops.
For the color coding of trails on the SwissTopo map:
http://www.alpenwild.com/stat icpage/trail-signs-in-the-swiss-alps/
Slowpoke
Hi Kyle & Jennifer,
By TVR you mean the TGV Lyria train, right? Any Swiss leg you ride on that train will be covered by the pass if the route is included on the validity map:
- http://www.myswissalps.com/sw isstravelpass/validity
- http://www.myswissalps.com/re gionalpasslakegeneva
- http://www.myswissalps.com/tr aintickets/france
Note that hotels in the region provide you with a free Montreux Riviera Card : http://www.myswissalps.com/mo ntreux/hotels. Whether you need another pass and which one can be calculated: http://www.myswissalps.com/tr ain/ticketspasses/prac tical/chooserailpass.
There is plenty to do and see in the area: http://www.myswissalps.com/la kegeneva/activities (we’re still adding activities to this page). Logistically there would be no need to stay in both Lausanne and Glion. Glion is just above Montreux, which is a bit over 20 minutes by train from Lausanne. All activities can be done from either base. But for a change of scenery you can still have two bases of course.
Glad to hear you and your family are getting addicted to Switzerland 🙂
<<“The Victoria Hotel probably? The views must be great from there in a lake side room.”>>
They were fantastic. Actually, the Hotel Righi, I think. Maybe. Now seems to be Hotel le Parc-Rigi.
Permanently closed, now.
map.search.ch/?pos=560426,142511&z=40 96&poi=default
I remember the gardens on the downhill side and the restaurant across the street.
That was on one of our earliest trips to Switzerland…..maybe 1989.
The hotel was obviously one of those where older English folk had been coming for years. And, our room had a heavy dose of lavender odor. Not unpleasant, just very old-fashioned.
Slowpoke
<<“But for a change of scenery you can still have two bases of course.”>>
That is why I voted for Ouchy. Lakeside is a nice contrast to Glion. And, it does take a few minutes extra to go up or down between Montreux ( or Territet) and Glion.
Slowpoke
Yes – TGV Lyria, my mis-recollection.
Yes – just a break for lodging to explore Lausanne rather than travel up to Glion when seeking/immersing in/around Laussane.
Thank you for the deeply considered suggestions and guidenance.
Kyle & Jen
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