I live in USA (Washington DC) and travelling to Switzerland for 10-11 days in Summer (Can add 1 extra day if I have to). My friend lives in Lausanne so I will be spending 3 nights in Lausanne as I am not paying anything in that city. For other cities I plan to use AIRbnb , hoping it is safe and non-expensive choice as I am on very low budget. Please tell me if you suggest any other cheaper (and better) option than airbnb.
I am planning to travel to following cities while my stay in Switzerland. But I am not sure in what order I should visit the cities. I think it depends on train routes but I have also question about these trains in Switzerland. What is the name of the pass that lets you visit all these cities without paying extra money? My assumption is that with that pass one can get off in any city they want to take pictures or stay for a night and hop-on to next train without paying extra money? Am I right? Also, please advise me in what order I should visit these cities?
Thank you.
These are the cities I want to visit and nights I want to spend there.
1) Land in Geneva early in morning, travel the city whole day and stay there overnight and travel again in morning - leave the city with my friend in evening who will drive from Lausanne to pick me up)
2) Lausanne 3 nights (As I said my friend lives in this city) - please advise if 2 nights are enough here or 3 as I am not paying my friend to stay there lol)
3) Bern 2 nights ( Will travel to Gimmelwald town while staying in Bern) – I have read it takes about 2 hours to travel to Gimmelwald from Bern – Please tell me if I am wrong and I have to stay around Gimmelwald for a night?
4) Lucerne (1 night)
5) Zurich (1 night)
6) Wasserauen – Stay in Äscher cliff restaurant (1 night)
7) Travel back to Zurich and stay one night and take flight back.
I am really confused about the trains and cable cars and buses I have to take. I really want to know if I have to spend any extra money if I have the train pass and which train pass I need to visit all these cities above.
I have my US passport , What other documents I need to travel?
Thank you very much.