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Trying to nail down point of entry to Switzerland

Posted by on

We have to be at a conference in Montreux for 3 days during the middle of October.

We have 2 grown male children who will be coming along. We plan on adding 5 - 7 days either before or after the conference. At first, I was just going to book one way air fare (into Geneva & out of Zurich) so that we could travel around after the conference, but the difference in airfare is crazy (round trip is $1400 & one ways are $2500@ ($5000 round trip using one-ways) from US, so it really does NOT make any sense to do my plan.

  1. SO, to fly round trip to/from Zurich or round trip to/from Geneva really doesn't make any difference, right?? (OR does it??).

  2. I have read that hotels provide a 1/2 price card, so while we are in Montreux, can we use that card to do day trips? (am I understanding this correctly??)

  3. Since the Swiss Travel Pass (we haven't purchased anything yet!) provides transportation from your airport to your destination, would it provide from Zurich to Montreux or Geneva (OR visa versa, from Montreux/Geneva to Zurich??)

  4. I have been reading about skiing, but I can't seem to figure out if the slopes will be open in October?

THANKS so much for your help!! I am finding that planning a trip is over-whelming.

Posted by
10344 posts

Our European posters are in bed now, look back here in the morning for input from locals.
[edit:] And for excellent input from non-locals like Sam!

Posted by
21140 posts

I think you may be laboring under a misconception about "open jaw" flights. They are not 2 one-way tickets, for which the airline's will quote outrageous numbers, but you actually use the "multi-city" function on the airlines or travel site's search engine. So on the website, you'll see "one way", "round trip", "multi city". Click on the later and you will put in say, City X to Geneva, and for the next flight, put in Zurich to City X. You will essentially get a round trip ticket price that will be the average of the 2. Check the round trip price for both cities and compare.

1) You will probably find a lower price into Zurich simply because there is more competition, but you will only know by getting a quote. Since it looks like your trip is semi-flexible, use the +/- 2 days function to find out if flying in or out a little earlier or later will save money, often it does.
2) Check with your hotel. Usually this is just local buses and trains in the immediate vicinity.
3) The Swiss Travel Pass provides free use of all the trains and buses in Switzerland between inhabited locales, as well as local transport in most Swiss cities. There is also a product called a Transfer Card which provides free transport from your entry point to your destination and return BY THE MOST EXPEDITIOUS ROUTE for 141 chf 2nd class. For an added 60 chf, you get a Half Fare Card for other travel while you are in Switzerland. This product must be purchased before entering Switzerland. You can buy the Travel Pass at the airport train station.
4) In October, it will just start to snow in the Alps. So no skiing. I suppose you could on the glacier in Zermatt, but most likely it would be in a complete whiteout.

Posted by
38 posts

WOW, Sam, you are AWESOME!!!! I had NO idea about the "multi-city" function!! YES, it is about the same price!! Thank-you sooooo much for taking your time to help me out!!

Now, I can go with my original plan of going into one city & out of the other. I know that I will have questions as I con't my plannng process. Now I understand why everyone takes "tours"; sure would be eaiser!

merry

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