Divided between 2 large check-in luggage with 2 backpacks VS 4 carry on rollers (again with 2 backpacks). Our train itinerary is Zurich-Bern-Interlaken-Lauterbrunnen and vice versa.
My initial research suggests that there isn’t enough storage for large suitcases on Swiss trains, can anyone confirm esp. on this itinerary?
Thanks in advance.
There is enough room on the Swiss train for what you are planning to bring as long as you and the other 3 traveling with you can handle it. Otherwise use the check luggage services
https://www.sbb.ch/en/station-services/services/luggage.html
Is that for 4 people? For how long a trip?
Going through your previous posts, it seems to be a family of 5 with a 3-day layover at Zurich and you are looking to spend 3 nights in Lauterbrunnen. Where are you continuing to?
Zurich Hauptbahnhof has lots of luggage lockers, some quite big and they can be rented for several days. If the you don't need all that luggage you packed, You can repack and store some bags there and pick them up on the way back. It will make life a lot easier.
Tell us the ages of the kids so we can get a better idea of the logistics.
Yes sir..., family of 5 with 3 kids ages 8,9 and 11.
We are flying to Zurich, and will immediately head to the valley spending 2 nights there then back to Zurich for another night before flying the next morning on to our final destination in Africa.
This trip will transpire next month, the luggage is the last piece to the puzzle...this route specifically
There is an attended storage room at Zurich airport with reasonable (for Switzerland) rates. You don't need all that stuff for Africa for 3 days in Switzerland. So I suggest loading all the Africa stuff in the 2 big suitcases. Put all the stuff for 3 days in Switzerland in the 2 back packs. Plus get the kids small back packs they can handle so they can haul some of their stuff. That should make things a lot easier for you.
https://www.zurich-airport.com/passengers-and-visitors/airport-services-en/baggage-service
We are flying to Zurich, and will immediately head to the valley spending 2 nights there then back to Zurich for another night before flying the next morning
If you are flying in, that is Zürich airport, the station is called Zürich Flughafen. If you are spending a night in Zürich, that is Zürich HB, two different places. Going via Zürich HB to drop off your bags is an unnecessary time-consuming detour. I would drop of your Africa bags at Zürich airport, and then pick them up just before you check-in. I have never used one, but I am sure there MUST be some sort of luggage storage at Zürich airport.
Then travel as light as possible to and from Lauterbrunnen and save the effort of lugging those heavy bags on and off the trains.
Zurich-Bern-Interlaken-Lauterbrunnen
One way, go Zürich airport - Luzern - Interlaken - Lauterbrunnen (or Lauterbrunnen - Interlaken - Luzern - Zürich HB).
The route via Luzern takes longer, but is more scenic, via the Brünig pass line. It goes over the pass and beside lakes, the route via Bern goes round the mountains, but is quicker.
About the locker storage:
- Can the Swiss "Large" locker fit two Large suitcases, like those in Amsterdam airport?
.- The 72hr rule, does that mean I can store the bags 9am on a Wednesday and have up to Saturday 9am to retrieve it?..or they just go by day?
I think the odds of skipping Zurich in favor Luzern on our way back just became brighter..
Look at the luggage storage room at Zurich airport. I gave you the link. It is above the airport train station. Click on the "left luggage price list" to download the price list along with the location on the airport plan.
If you use the left luggage facility rather than the locker you don't have to worry about running out of time.
Since you are bringing kids to Lauterbrunnen, I should tell you about our favorite trails around there. I took each of my kids there when they were 13, and they returned as adults, so I know the trails kids (and adults) like. Click on my name and you'll find the link (that contains pics and maps) under my personal info.
Update: I overestimated our luggage, I was able to pack 2 weeks worth of essentials into two carry-on rollers & two 40L backpacks. We're thinking of taking the Zurich-Bern onward then the Brunig Pass on return. Shoudn't be a prob lugging them around no?
BTw, Thanks Shoe for sharing the blog.. All I can say is, months ago, it's just a 3 nts layover to Zurich, but has now evolved into some type of adventure.
thank you all and more power to this forum.
good result. If you sit on the right leaving Interlaken Ost towards Luzern via Brünig Pass you will have the best view of Lake Brienz at the beginning of your trip, and after the train stops and changes ends at Meiringen (previously front faces back and vice versa) (Meiringen where Holmes and Moriarty fought to the death at Reichenbach Falls, just a few hundred yards from the station) you will now be on the left side of the train for the rest of the trip to Luzern and you will have the best views of the waterfalls across the valley as you climb up into the woods, and the best views of the mountain lakes.
There are a few mountain animal painted wooden sculptures in the woods. See how many your kids can see....
Luggage: yes, any reasonably able person should be able to handle a backpack (on the back) plus a roller, on a train.
On the larger trains, there is usually space behind seats that arranged back to back, or there are usually empty seats.
On the smaller trains, such as Interlaken Ost to Lauterbrunnen, you may have to put some luggage on your lap, but that's only for 25 min.
