Is the Rick Steve's Ninth Edition Train Itineary too much

I'm not sure what this itinerary involves. Where can I see the itinerary onlilne? Or is it only in one of the guidebooks?

Checked my shelf. I actually had the 9th edition Switzerland guidebook and found the two week trip by train plan on page 8.

Day 1 Arrive Zurich Airport, head to Appenzell
Day 2 All day for Appenzell and Ebenalp
Day 3 Leave early for Luzern
Day 4 Luzern
Day 5 Boat and then train to Lugano along Gotthard Panorama Express Route
Day 6 Bernina Express to Upper Engadine Area (Pontresina)
Day 7 Pontresina, St Moritz, and Samedan
Day 8 Take Glacier Express. If weather's good, head for Zermatt. If bad, consider heading for Lausanne early
Day 9 Zermatt
Day 10 More time in Zermatt if good weather or linger in Lausanne
Day 11 Take the Golden Pass to the Berner Oberland.

Day 12 All day for lifts and hikes in Berner Oberland
Day 13 More time in Berner Oberland
Day 14, Early to Bern and then on to Zurich
Day 15 more time in Zurich or fly home.

In looking at that train itinerary, that would be way too much moving around for me, and I’m in my 40s. 😊 I count 8 different hotel changes!! For a 2-week trip in Switzerland, I would pick 3 locations, maybe 4.

Are you flying in and out of Zurich?

In answer to your question. It really depends on your travel style. I would be quite happy with this schedule, but I also like to see things. It turns out to be 2 nights, 2 nights, 1 night, 2 nights, 2 nights, 1 night, 3 nights, 1 night. in different locations.

Rick makes a big point of skipping Zermatt in poor weather. My personal preference is for the Berner Oberland over Zermatt. If it were me, I would probably drop time in Zermatt in favor of Murren vs. (Zermatt or Lausanne.) That would also give you a place to settle in for a bit.

Trains are comfortable and on time in Switzerland and are a great way to travel. The key for enjoyable train travel is that everyone handles their own luggage. If they can't handle it, they don't bring it. You will find the trip far more enjoyable and Switzerland does have laundry services.

We consider any itinerary with less than 3 nights in each place too rushed to get comfortable in one place. Three nights gives you two full days of exploring the area.

Traveling with a group of 5 (or 7) has its challenges: getting everyone out the door on time, packing light so you can manage your own luggage on the trains, energy/patience levels. All these things should factor into your itinerary to make the trip as enjoyable for everyone in the group. You will only travel as fast as the slowest person, and one grouchy traveler will spoil the bunch.

This would be way too much for me. Part of the joy of Switzerland is slow pace. Also I hate packing,unpacking, moving, new hotel, etc. that much. I would pick like 3 places you want to see and you will spend less on trains. Really travel between point A and B can be time consuming if you are changing hotels every single time.

I agree with the others who say it’s simply too fast. I would prioritize the Bernina Express train route, Lucerne and the Berner Oberland. I would drop Zermatt/Lausanne and add the time to the Berner Oberland, as the scenery is much more spectacular in the Berner Oberland destinations of Murren, Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald.
The Bernina Train route ( regular trains travel the same train tracks as the “ Bernina Express”) and the route from Lucerne to The Berner Oberland via Interlaaken are my two favorites and I’ve been on most major train routes in Switzerland,
Have a great trip!

Wow. So is that 5 (mom, dad, kid, grandma, grandpa) or 7 (3 kids)? Ages of the kiddies?

In any regard, with so much moving and changing every day, be aware that a group always moves at the speed of the slowest.

Anybody need extra toilet stops, or picky or slow eater, anybody a slow walker or perhaps slow to get out of bed (teenagers I am looking at you!!)?

I'm nearly 70 and 20 years ago I would have seen this as a route march and would have become disillusioned quite early on. And I absolutely love Switzerland and all those trips. Just not all at once.... Views and walks mean so much.

I took a deep breath when I saw your day 7 and thought I could finally draw breath and enjoy a day with very little travel.

The grandparents are the issue here, you need to accommodate them and move at their pace. Otherwise it's not really a vacation.

We're a couple (55 and 67) who will be making a 12 day trip to Switzerland in September. We've chosen to stay in an AirBnB in Interlaken the entire time and take various train trips from there. It seems like a very central location and within a 2 hour train ride to most everywhere we want to go. Having a familiar place to go back to each night, sometimes after 12+ hour days, always appeals to us.

Too rushed for us. We like to settle in for at least 3 nights per location, especially important in the mountains where weather is fickle. But what do you all like to do? Ride in trains to see scenery? Hike? City tours?

If you are active people and like the outdoors, then you really want to spend some quality time in the Berner Oberland, especially the Lauterbrunnen Valley. That could be the centerpiece of your trip for 4 or 5 nights.

You are right: the Swiss transportation system is A+! It is entertainment in and of itself especially when you include magnificent mountain lifts.