Switzerland anyone?(Lucerne/Davos/Zermatt/Grindlewald)

[GhoulsToo]

we are seriously thinking of 2 weeks in Switzerland - journey by train.

Fly to Zurich then train to Lucerne - few days there then train to Davos for a couple of days there then Glacier Express to Zermatt for a few days then train again to Grindelwald for final leg of trip.

Anyone done it or know anyone who has done it, or have you been to any of the places mentioned? What's it like?

Ta

Message withdrawn

Grindlewald is gorgeous. It is very expensive though so watch out. The trains are fine as I remember, very easy to use and very clean and reliable. I hope you get good snow.

ok - arrive Davos day 5 and leave day 7 so if it's crap, its not too long! Mind you if the scenery is spectacularastic it should be ok!

thanks trice - I hope there IS snow but not too much - it'll be a summer trip - June

Very find memories of Grindelwald though no helpful info whatsoever as it is about 30 yrs since I was there.

A school trip to Switzerland is my one and only trip abroad and I still long to go back there.

Been to each separately ! Weather could be critical to getting the most out of it and in June you may want to check that the main lifts will have opened to get up the mountains especially in Davos. Of the 3 Grindelwald would be our favourite. From there you 'll be able to take the train up to the Jungfraujoch and walk on the Aletsch glacier. at Zermatt you have a choice of railways to view the Matterhorn . We went up the Gornergrat and walked down a station or two , taking in a lake where you get a great reflection of the Matterhorn. Davos is an acquired taste but grew on me . You are least likely to see snow there, the others you definitely will . Are you staying at Sunstar hotels by any chance ?

thanks Lizs that's really useful - here are the hotels

Lucerne - Hotel Montana - 4 nights.

Davos - Central Sporthotel - 2 nights.

Zermatt - Hotel Alpenhof - 4 nights.

Grindelwald - Hotel Belvedere - 4 nights

i went years ago too, we stayed in a hotel near lake thun. also visit the Reichenbach falls where sherlock holmes met his fate. it's really a lovely place. although i remember going to a disco where there was only one other person breakdancing.

Not stayed in any of those, lol, have you Googled ? The Montana looks lush ! Lucerne is a lovely city, about an hour by train from Zurich, and there should be boat trips on the lake plus take a trip up Mount Pilatus and/or Rigi. The Grindelwald one looks a little way up from town but still close enough, with views. The Davos one is near the Schatzalp funicular railway which will be running (there is a smart hotel/restaurant up there as well as walking and a botanical garden ) even if the other lifts there are only open at weekends. Zermatt one looks fairly central but the town itself is quite spread out.

hth

excellent thanks Lizs!

It's an Inghams holiday so all the arrangements are done for us!

I've fancied Grindelwald/Wengen/Murren for ages but I suppose this lets us see a bit more of the country and it's a little bit different.

Thanks again!

Zermatt is fabulous. You can't get there by car, the only mechanised transport is the milk-float type cars run by hotels as a shuttle service. The train ride up there is an experience in itself. I've been on the Gornergrat funicular railway too - it's expensive but worth the trip. There tends to be a lot of people at the top though. Don't take any bags of crisps on the Gornergrat - the air pressure is so low near the top that the packets explode dh nearly caused a major panic when his bag went bang!

We have family in Switzerland that we visit frequently, and we always try to get to Zermatt when we go.

I'll be very too . No trips over there planned (for the moment at least) and will be getting withdrawal symptoms by then !

thanks again girls

cheesy I'm of you having family there you can visit!

I've been to Switzerland. The trains were really impressive. Look at the train passes as they were pretty good value.

Presumably Inghams will provide you each with a train pass. It may also entitle you to free/reduced rates on some mountain lifts and railways, even private ones such as the Jungfraubahn - and could save you a fair bit on excursions.

If you get a train pass you can also use it on the ferries - get on a boat at Geneva and you can spend the day cruising up the lake to Montreux. Fabulous. Probably a bit far for you to get to from any of your destinations though.

We have also done the ferry/cruise thing from Interlaken to Thun. iirc you can use it on any public ferry service.

I think we get a 'half price' pass - any saving is welcome!

We intend going in June - that's the first trip.
Glad about the trains, I think we go first class too! (not sure if that's on all the trains though!) The glacier express is 8 hours!

We;ve been to Geneva before but only the airport on our way to Chamonix

Is Thun pottery linked to Thun the place or is that something entirely different?

I'm getting quite excited about this trip, although not booked yet - dh asked me to ask you lot what you think first!

Oh I love Chamonix too... we generally go for a foray across the border whenever we're in the area. The standard of roads and driving suddenly plummets once you get into France

Ohhhh I wanna go to Switzerlaaaaand

(Dunno bout Thun pottery I'm afraid, we only passed through)

Davos is fairly similar to Chamonix but more modern hotels and conference centres.

Lucerne is gorgeous. Whilst you are there do the Mirror Maaze, sounds cheesy but it is one of the most incredible things I have ever done. You actually see yourself as other people see you, its hard to describe so you just need to go there.

nudge

Nothing useful to add but just realised I should have written mirror maze rather than maaze, ahem.

Hi Jools.
Missed this thread, sorry!
Zermatt must sees..
the view from the top of the Klein Matterhorn cable car (snow all year) This is very high so drink loads of water and move slowly.
The tunnel into the glacier is great.

The cinema, think its called the Versenage(sp) is worth popping in for a drink, watch when the film starts.
If pos eat at Zum see and chez Vrony.

Take the Gornergartt train for top views of Matterhorn sit on the RHS.
Have a great time!