KiasuParents - Parenting in Singapore

Hi

Will be travelling to Switzerland with 2 adults and 2 teens, would like to pop over to France for a day trip if time permits. Can those whom have been kindly advise if it's worth travelling to Chamonix Mont Blanc or any other suggestions?

Many thanks in advance.

nani wrote:Hi

Will be travelling to Switzerland with 2 adults and 2 teens, would like to pop over to France for a day trip if time permits. Can those whom have been kindly advise if it's worth travelling to Chamonix Mont Blanc or any other suggestions?

Many thanks in advance.

if you are in Geneva or Lausanne area, day trip to France is possible.

Can drive to Chamomix and / or Annecy. Winter is more tricky as shorter daylight and less time to do things / sightsee plus the road is more slippery

Chamonix is definitely attractive in winter - mind the snow covered road, Annecy is also nice in summer / autumn, lakeside dining is great, and some Roman ruins along the route

You can choose to stay in Thoiry which is cheaper than in Geneva, plus rental car from Geneva airport (French side) is cheaper than the same car in Swiss side.

Thank you, will be travelling with 2 adults and 2 teens on a 15 day Swiss pass, could you help advise me on the recommended things to do in each city and how much time I need for each place, taking into consideration is Winter with short day-light and over Christmas season, please feel free to input or critic if the following itinerary is realistic and do-able?

15 Dec Day 1 - Zurich Airport to Bern (Bern as base 3 nites)

16 Dec Day 2 - Basel

17 Dec Day 3 - Fribourg & Neuchatel

18 Dec Day 4 - Bern to Lausanne (Lausanne as base 4 nites)

19 Dec Day 5 - Montreux, Gruyeres,

20 Dec Day 6 - Geneva and if time permits hopefully France

21 Dec Day 7 - ???

22 Dec Day 8 - Lausanne to Lauterbrunnen (Lauterbrunnen as base 3 nites)

23 Dec Day 9 - Jungfraug, Murren

24 Dec Day 10 - Wengen, Grindelwald

25 Dec Day 11 - Lauterbrunnen to Lucerne (Lucerne as base 3 nites)

26 Dec Day 12 - Mt Pilatus, etc??

27 Dec Day 13 - ??

28 Dec Day 14 - Lucerne to Zurich (Zurich as base 1 nite)
- Visit Rhinefalls, Schaffhausen

29 Dec Day 15 - Full day in Zurich, Zurich airport to Home (Nite flight)


*On a note, if we'll already be visiting Jungfraujoch, isn't still worth a trip to Chamonix? (Never been there, hence not sure if I'll be getting a similar experience)

Thanks in advance

nani wrote:Thank you, will be travelling with 2 adults and 2 teens on a 15 day Swiss pass, could you help advise me on the recommended things to do in each city and how much time I need for each place, taking into consideration is Winter with short day-light and over Christmas season, please feel free to input or critic if the following itinerary is realistic and do-able?

15 Dec Day 1 - Zurich Airport to Bern (Bern as base 3 nites)

16 Dec Day 2 - Basel

17 Dec Day 3 - Fribourg & Neuchatel

18 Dec Day 4 - Bern to Lausanne (Lausanne as base 4 nites)

19 Dec Day 5 - Montreux, Gruyeres,

20 Dec Day 6 - Geneva and if time permits hopefully France

21 Dec Day 7 - ???

22 Dec Day 8 - Lausanne to Lauterbrunnen (Lauterbrunnen as base 3 nites)

23 Dec Day 9 - Jungfraug, Murren

24 Dec Day 10 - Wengen, Grindelwald

25 Dec Day 11 - Lauterbrunnen to Lucerne (Lucerne as base 3 nites)

26 Dec Day 12 - Mt Pilatus, etc??

27 Dec Day 13 - ??

28 Dec Day 14 - Lucerne to Zurich (Zurich as base 1 nite)
- Visit Rhinefalls, Schaffhausen

29 Dec Day 15 - Full day in Zurich, Zurich airport to Home (Nite flight)


*On a note, if we'll already be visiting Jungfraujoch, isn't still worth a trip to Chamonix? (Never been there, hence not sure if I'll be getting a similar experience)

Thanks in advance

Jungfraujoch is definitely different from Chamonix

Jungfrau is Swiss and is very "touristy" in a DIFFERENT sense from Chamonix because Chamonix is like an open field with ski resorts while Jungfrau is almost like "glass enclosed" as you travel in the train and go straight to the terminal which is glass enclosed unless you go up the roof and into the open within is of course in extreme cold even in summer, but you should not miss the opportunity....and the class cabin-train is breathe-taking with the view to die for, whether summer or winter.....just make sure your shoes have good grip, and the air is thin, more than 4000 m above sea level for Jungfrau...don't rush the moment you get off the train, or mountain sickness may strike the weaker ones. winter temperature is subzero - make sure you got the right clothing and know how to layer yourself correctly

Chamonix is wild in the open with many ski resorts around and you get French cuisine. My personal preference for French than Swiss food (in Gruyere you can try their çheese hot pot').

For Gruyere you should not miss the castle, same for Montreux

Your Swiss pass will not cover Chamomix/ Thoiry/Annecy but a rental car is easily available from Geneva airport. CAUTION : left hand drive + winter snowy condition = tricky and risky for the inexperienced in such weather and terrain

your itin looks great and you will surely enjoy it even without Chamonix and it should be less stressful for you without having to self drive

Pilatus is worth a visit and I recommend the Golden Circle Pass. Take the ferry at Luzern, followed by the world's steepest incline rail to top of Pilatus, have a lunch picnic there, and take the cable car down the mountain and ride the free shuttle bus back to Luzern ferry terminal

enjoy your holiday ! Swiss is one country no one will be tired of visiting again and again

Pilatus is definitely worth a visit! Have fun!

Anyone been to Evian-les-Bains, from Lausanne before, isn't worth a visit?

Thanks

nani wrote:Anyone been to Evian-les-Bains, from Lausanne before, isn't worth a visit?

Thanks

I drove half way and turned back, and went to this place http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Diablerets

fantastic for the kids

verykiasu2010 wrote:

nani wrote:Anyone been to Evian-les-Bains, from Lausanne before, isn't worth a visit?

Thanks

I drove half way and turned back, and went to this place http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Diablerets

fantastic for the kids

Thanks, I googled http://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/Tourism-g ... tions.html

Is this just another alps? Can advise what is fantastic for the kids?

Our objective is to pop by France.

verykiasu2010 wrote:

nani wrote:Anyone been to Evian-les-Bains, from Lausanne before, isn't worth a visit?

Thanks

I drove half way and turned back, and went to this place http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Diablerets

fantastic for the kids

Hi VeryKiasu2010,
Please share your itinerary?
Will kids get bored with the long train ride?
Which train express to go for if have time only for two?

Anyone been to Zermatt ?

nani wrote:

verykiasu2010 wrote:

nani wrote:Anyone been to Evian-les-Bains, from Lausanne before, isn't worth a visit?

Thanks

I drove half way and turned back, and went to this place http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Diablerets

fantastic for the kids

Thanks, I googled http://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/Tourism-g ... tions.html

Is this just another alps? Can advise what is fantastic for the kids?

Our objective is to pop by France.

kids would love the play grounds and adults can picnic there after the kids played enough

this is opposite direction from going to France. In summer, day trip to Chamonix from Geneva is feasible, lunch in Chamonix and dinner in Annecy, enroute can explore the Roman ruins