Alpine car rental question

I'm sure you know that Geneva to Kandersteg to Lauterbrunnen is trivial by train...

If you want a small car - after all, your distances are short - go for it. Swiss highways are built for buses and trucks so in most cases are not particularly steep or winding. Don't leave luggage in the car unattended.. There are crooks everywhere in the world - don't lt them make you a victim.

I agree that Geneva to Lauterbrunnen via Kandersteg is an easy trip by train and I can't see any reason for renting a car.

But if there is only two of you, a Polo will be fine. The scenery and the weather will be same no matter what kind of car you have.

Don’t get a car at all. You’re going to need to use trains and cable cars to explore these areas, so you’re just going to be paying for expensive parking, gas and speeding fines while also having to pay for transportation. With carry on only it will be so easy for you to use the trains and a lot more enjoyable.

You'll love having the car. Ever try to get off a train at 100 km/h when you see a beautiful lake or cute village? Much more flexibility with a car.

In September, there will be no snow on any roads. No need for anything special.

@darrenblois After many train-based trips to Switzerland, that's exactly why we're renting a car this time: to have the flexibility to stop and get out whenever and wherever. It's just a short segment of a much wider-ranging few weeks of train travel. BTW love Moncton! Pretty town, friendly people, and I'll never forget people surfing the river!

Never tried to get off a 100km moving train, but have you ever tried to find a non existent parking spot in Lauterbrunnen to try to go up to a car free village above Lauterbrunnen? Ever gotten a speeding ticket for driving 3 km over the limit? Ever found yourself missing out on views because you have to pay attention to the road and traffic congestion instead of leisurely looking out your window? It's very possible (and advised) to see cute little villages in Switzerland via public transportation, it just requires a little planning and the realities of a car in Switzerland are not great. We spend our summers living in the alps and we always rent a car in Austria, Germany, Slovenia, Italy, etc. but never, ever ever in Switzerland. I've tried it and it's a bad idea. The best parts of Switzerland are not accessible by car, so you end up paying double for transportation because you have to rent the car, pay for expensive gas, pay for expensive difficult to find parking and then still have to pay for the cable cars and trains. Expensive way to avoid a little planning.

The car driver in Switzerland is the one I pity the most. They have to keep their eyes on the road and signs, rather than on the magnificent scenery.

All right. We get it. You all love trains. But can we let this poor OP get on with his chosen mode of transportation without everyone piling on. A little decency, please.

It is more than decent to help someone by pointing out when they are planning something that won't be to their benefit. That is, in fact, the point of this forum. As I pointed out in my post, it's not that I "love trains", it's that I understand the reality of cars in Switzerland, as well as in other countries and have seen what a bad idea they are in Switzerland in particular. This is not just my opinion, you'll see it suggested by Switzerland experts here, on other forums and in the country itself.

You're not helping with a decision to be made; you are ridiculing a decision already made. Big difference. OP has already decided to rent a car, and has questions about that. Lets just try to help the OP and not force our travelling ethos onto them.

A decision was not made, as they clearly haven’t rented a car yet. Thus, I was giving logical and helpful reasons why it’s not the best idea in case THEY decide that with more info they want to change their plan.

We all push our own travel ethos on the forum, as we help based on our own opinions & experiences, including you, by saying the car was a good idea. The point of the forum is to get multiple perspectives and then as adults we get to make our own decisions. I volunteer my time here to help based on living in the area of question, so if my experience says otherwise, I’m going to speak up out of a desire to help. You’re welcome to give your logical, experienced reasons why you disagree with my advice, that can be helpful, but no babysitting required, thanks :)

that's exactly why we're renting a car this time: to have the
flexibility to stop and get out whenever and wherever.

It is becoming a huge problem. Tourists who expect to in deed be able to just stop and get out wherever they want. In the Lauterbrunnen valley locals have started to steal the licence plates of wrongly parked rental cars...

Thanks everyone. Now please stop. I don't owe anyone an explanation, but my wife and I have been to Switzerland by rail (and foot) many times. There have always been a few places we've wanted to see but haven't because taking trains doesn't work with a realistic schedule. We could walk for several additional days or rent horses, but instead decided to rent a car for a couple of days. If that makes me the a*****e, then so be it. @darrenblois: thanks for trying to be the voice of politesse.

Thanks. We really enjoyed our driving trips through Switzerland. Our two trips were: (July) Frankfurt-Basel-Bern-Murren-Zurich; and another time (June) Basel Airport-Bern-Murren-Lucerne-Liechtenstein-Chur. We had no trouble with traffic or parking.

You're going to Lauterbrunnen. I have parked at the train station there without trouble, but that was a few years ago. Last time we parked at Stechelberg at the base of the Schilthorn cable car. If Lauterbrunnen parking does happen to be a problem, just continue on to Stechelberg and park there. From there, to get to Lauterbrunnen (if that is where you are staying), you can take:

• the easy way, which is the half-hourly Postbus from the Schilthorn cable car station to Lauterbrunnen (takes 10-15 minutes); or
• the fun way, which is the Schilthorn cable car up to Murren, walk through Murren, the BLM train along the edge of the cliff to Grutschalp, and down the cable car to Lauterbrunnen (this would take over an hour so not for everyday use but do it at least once).

If you decide to stay up in Murren, let me know. I have a nice chalet recommendation.

@darrenblois Thanks for that. We're actually dropping the car in Interlaken and then taking the train to Lauterbrunnen and on to Wengen. My wife's family started going to Wengen 40 years ago and we've been following tradition ever since. Murren is just lovely. Maybe next time!