Help reviewing our Switzerland and Alsace Region itinerary

Is this trip for 2022 or 2023?
First, a car is useless for most of this-at least for the Switzerland part. The Swiss trains are friendly and efficient, and the Swiss Travel Pass [or half-fare card] works wonderfully.
Go straight from Zurich to Lucerne, it's a 1+hr train.
Lucerne- maybe three nights.
Don't day-trip to the Berner Overland [Lauterbrunen, Murren, Wengen area]. You will be in one of the most beautiful places on this planet - sleep at least four nights in this area.
Zermatt is a "one-trick" town; if you can't see the Matterhorn because of mountain weather, the area isn't the most unusual. Instead try Lausanne and Montreaux instead.
Stay/sleep in these beautiful areas instead of day-tripping.
Read through the last few months under Switzerland on this Forum; also check our the Trip Reports under that section. There's a significant amount of useful and pertinent advice from fellow travelers.
Then come back here and we all can help with the French side of the adventure.
Happy planning.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/lucerne-62eb4d28-60ab-4837-b4b4-91a2486eb732

Perhaps some info from my Trip Report from Sept, 2021 will be helpful.

Safe travels!

Hi,

Itinerary sounds fun and I think you will enjoy it.

If you’re going to be getting around by car and you’re going this in summer or early autumn, my suggestion would be to make the most of it and drive over some mountain passes. If you go over the Furka you can visit the Rhone Glacier.

Boat trip and Pilatus are w good idea. You can get a combined ticket at the station for boat to Alpnachstad - funicular to Pilatus - gondola to Kriens - bus to Luzern.

The towns/villages in Alsace you chose are good ones. Riveauville is one of my favourites.

I think you're skimping on really the very best part of Swiss alpine scenery: the Berner Oberland. I would modify your first week as follows:

• Spend the night in Zurich on April 3-4
• Take the train to Luzern and sleep there on April 5-6.
• Take the train to Lauterbrunnen and sleep there April 7-9.
• April 10 take a train to Interlaken and pick up your car rental and proceed to Strasbourg as planned.

Even better, you could cut out Zurich entirely, spend your first 2 nights in Luzern on April 3-4 and then the nights of April 5-9 in Lauterbrunnen.

From Lauterbrunnen you will have easy access to everything scenic in the Berner Oberland. Murren and Wengen are also great options if you want to stay higher in the mountains. However, be aware that in April higher elevation towns such as Murren and Wengen are likely to still see snow (they are a mile up, just like Denver).

Skip staying in Colmar and stay in one of the wine villages such as Requiwehr or Eguisheim. They are much more charming than Colmar which was a disappointment for us.
Re: April 11- I would rather see you staying in one of these towns than seeing it a day trip. You are not taking advantage of the Berner Oberland, one of the world’s most beautiful places! We loved staying in Grindelwald and felt like we could reach out and touch the mts!
We have stayed in Alsace and the Berner Oberland. We are glad we visited both but there is no comparison in beauty, awe inspiring sites! The Betner Oberland wins hands down! We enjoyed Lucerne but it is not the BO!
I would rethink your plans.

Fast Eddie has a great plan for you. If you like hiking/walking in the mountains, but sure to add another night in Lauterbrunnen.

Spend the night in Zurich on April 3-4
Take the train to Luzern and sleep there on April 5-6.
Take the train to Lauterbrunnen and sleep there April 7-9.
April 10 take a train to Interlaken and pick up your car rental and proceed to Strasbourg as planned.
Even better, you could cut out Zurich entirely, spend your first 2 nights in Luzern on April 3-4 and then the nights of April 5-9 in Lauterbrunnen.

Zurich is just a city. Switzerland is about the scenery.

Just be aware, briefly mentioned above, that the first week of April is really early (and late) for the Lauterbrunnen Valley of the Berner Oberland.

You will likely still have snow on the ground, even in some of the pedestrian areas, may get more overnight, and the snow will probably be melting causing icy slush and rivulets of water where you want to walk (first hand experience a couple of weeks later in 2019).

Ski season will be over but hiking season won't have started; expect various facilities to be on holiday or shut for maintenance - check before travel. People do live there so the whole place won't be shut - in fact farmers will be itching to get into the fields - but you may have inconvenience.

Actually, the ski season lasts until Easter (Apr 18), so lifts and all should still be running in the first week of April.
It is a poor snow year, so it is already "mud season" right now. Shoes with good tread are essential!

A few suggestions:
Pick one base for your overnights stays in the Alsace region and then day trip to the others via car.
Calculate the price of renting a car for the entire trip versus taking the train and then renting a car only in the places where needed for day tripping.
Looks like you've planned for 7 nights in Zurich-Lucerne - take 1 from Zurich and 1-2 from Lucerne and stay in the Berner Oberland (Wengen or Murren).

Very grateful for each suggestion, this trip is for April 2022 (next week!!) we’re making final modifications to the actual plan, so we can stay longer in OB.
We are definitely keeping the rental car.
If in need of more help, will surely come back here :-)
Many thanks !

April 3.:Arriving 7pm Zurich
April 4: Zurich / City tour and highlights
April 5: Rhine Falls and then drive to Alsace Region
April 6: Alsace
April 7: Alsace
April 8: Alsace
April 9: Lucerne / City highlights (must sees)
April 10: Mt Pilatus
April 11 : OB (Grindewald/ Interlaken/Jungfraujouch
April 12: OB
April 13: OB
April 14: OB
We are no skiers, we do like hiking but aware by your inputs it is not the season (mud season right?) so this area is going to be for the scenery and relaxing :-)
April 15: Montreaux- Laussane (either one)
April 16: Montreaux-Laussane
April 17: Driving to Zermatt (or as close as we can get to...)
April 18:Zermatt
April 19:Zermatt
April 20: Driving to Chamonix : we have been here and we loved it, we surely want to come back :-)
April 21: Chamonix
April 22: Chamonix
April 23: Drive to Geneva
April 24: Back to Costa Rica

Looks like a great trip. Have a fabulous time!!! 😊