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Itinerary/transportation suggestions

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Traveling with my husband to two conferences (recent news) this fall. First is in Montreux, Switzerland 10/18 to 10/20 (Tues - Thurs) and second is the following week in Amsterdam 10/25 to 10/27 (Tues - Thurs). Probably returning home (Boston) on Fri. 10/28. It is our third consecutive trip to Amsterdam and was I maybe not going to join him this year until we learned about Swiss opportunity.

Right now planning to leave Sat night 10/15 and fly to Geneva. Maybe spend the next two nights in Annecy (take train or bus?) for a soft landing and arrive in Montreux on Tues. afternoon. Explore the area (Vevey, Castle of Chillon, etc) and enjoy hotel spa for next couple days. Not sure exactly what to do for next 5 nights (great problem to have)! Take Golden Pass to Interlaken area? Should we wing it depending on the weather? I haven't been to Alps before but husband has. Dont really need to head further west, we have been to Zurich, Lucern, Lugano together but not French side of Switzerland. Alternatively, should we rent a car in France and go thru Alsace? and autumn vineyards for a few nights? We always say we're going to take a side trip to Bruges but never end up going. So, maybe spend Sun and Mon nights there en route to Amsterdam? Would love some suggestions on villages and places to stay. Big question is where and how long to rent a car for knowing that it can be quite expensive returning it to another country. Maybe just drive from Geneva to Belgium border? However, if we stayed in Switzerland, we could maybe strict to the rail system. Are places still open in late October in the mountains?

Posted by
32801 posts

How can we start to answer that? You seem to know many of the options, and have thrown the 30 pieces of spaghetti up against the wall and are hoping for us to tell you which should stick.

I can't do that. I don't know anything about what you and your husband like to do, see, eat, or anything about you.

I could tell you what I would do in a similar situation but that is unlikely to help you.

Now that you have written down your options which ones do you think, "nah, not this time", and which ones tickle your fancy? What does your husband think about the choices you have considered?

Posted by
20143 posts

If you are willing to modify your travel dates, you can save a whole lot of money. Looks like you can do Icelandair on 10/14 to Geneva (change at Keflavik) and return from AMS on 10/29 (change at Keflavik) for $549. I know hubby is flying on the company, but what about you? You might spend the extra money to fly Saga class.
Mountains can get snow mid October onward, but no reason to you cannot wait and see til you get there.
I don't think I would rent a car, just travel by train. Plenty of noce spots to stop for a day or two between Basel and Amsterdam.

Posted by
16893 posts

I would say to choose your destination first and then find the best transport option that fits. If you want to rent a car for France, then you can, for instance, request it from the French side of Geneva airport. Some of the best train connections to Bruges depart from Strasbourg and avoid Paris, like this one:

Strasbourg Fr, 12.08.16 dep 15:07 TGV 9894

Bruxelles Midi Fr, 12.08.16 arr 18:45

Transfer time 21 min.

Bruxelles Midi Fr, 12.08.16 dep 19:06 15 IC 540, Direction: Oostende

Brugge Fr, 12.08.16 arr 20:02 10

Or from Basel, I like this other evening connection, with no expensive TGV or Thalys trains:

Basel SBB Fr, 12.08.16 dep 15:13 12 ICE 104

Köln Hbf Fr, 12.08.16 arr 19:05 4

Transfer time 38 min.

Köln Hbf Fr, 12.08.16 dep 19:43 5 ICE 10 Intercity-Express

Bruxelles-Nord Fr, 12.08.16 arr 21:26 4

Transfer time 14 min.

Bruxelles-Nord Fr, 12.08.16 dep 21:40 9 IC 1543

Brugge Fr, 12.08.16 arr 22:51 2

Posted by
2 posts

Thanks, I appreciate your input Sam and Laura and suggestions on cost effective airline and specific trains in France. We have considered flying Iceland Air (and would actually love to stopover, too) but it is unlikely we can extend our stay on either end due to other commitments. There is a Delta/AirFrance flight to Geneva (via Paris or Amsterdam) and a direct return home. I can maybe pay with some points and accrue a few more. Airfare is definitely more expensive this year. As for destinations, right now leaning towards visiting the Swiss Alps when the chances of good weather are higher. Need to do some further research and make some decisions. But, your input helps me get a little closer to them.

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