We will be spending a month travelling around Austria, Bavaria and Swizterland in July of 2016. On our last full day of our holiday we will be driving our rental car from Lauterbrunnen to Zurich. We will stay overnight in Zurich and then fly out of Zurich airport delivering the car to the airport. Our flight leaves on a Friday about 1:30 pm in the afternoon. We are a family of 2 adults and 3 children ages 13, 11 an 9. Any suggestions for where to stay in Zurich. Should we stay near the airport or is anywhere in Zurich fine. Any hotels or accomodations that people know of that can accomodate all five of us so we don't have to rent a hotel room? For the majority of the trip we are booking through rental accomodations through VRBO allowing us to not have to book two hotel rooms. What would be suggest we do on our travel day to Zurich. Are there sights on the way that are worth seeing or would one just drive to Zurich to see the sights there? With only an afternoon in Zurich what would you try to see?
Posted by
Somerville, MA
653 posts
It is very easy to get to/from the airport from the city center so I would stay in the city.
The church with Marc Chagall stained glass windows is one of my favorite sites in that part of the world. I would do that.
Matt
Posted by
Los Angeles
4853 posts
Instead of having to drive into Zurich, park for the night, then drive out of Zurich to the airport, I'd try to dump the car as soon as you're done with it (i.e., after leaving Lauterbrunnen). then you have 2 choices/options, stay the last night in town or stay at the airport. Either way works. There's a big train station right at the airport that links you to the city, and there are several hotel choices right at the airport as well. We stayed at the airport Hilton (to get/use points) and they have a free frequent shuttle that takes 10 mins to get you to the terminal.
Posted by
Bainbridge Island
3287 posts
Most trains from downtown Zurich to the airport take only 12 minutes.
I second the suggestion to drop the car the day before, if you can change your rental reservation. Otherwise you'll have to find a place with parking, which limits your choices---probably to outside the city.
Off hand I do not know of any places with family rooms that sleep five, but I'll look around. We stayed with 2 kids in Hotel Bristol, walking distance to the main train station, in a large family room that had a double bed and two singles. There was plenty of room for an extra bed so it might be worth a look.
Posted by
Bainbridge Island
3287 posts
Here you go--Hotel Bristol has 4-bed rooms that will take an extra bed, or up to 6 people:
http://www.hotelbristol.ch/zimmer8_en.html
Price for 5 people in July (highest season) is 360 CHF. But that is less than two rooms would be, I'm pretty sure.
Posted by
Lynnwood, Washington
8876 posts
I strongly suggest that you make air conditioning a requirement for your accommodation in Zurich in July. We were there last July and were so thankful that we had a hotel with air conditioning as we quickly wilted as we went around town.
We stayed in the Hotel Alexander. It has a good location easily walkable to the train station or the river. Lots of action up and down the street. We were in a corner room overlooking the street and the noise was bothersome to me as the activity lasts long into the night. There are rooms away from the street that seem to be quite a bit quieter. The rooms were clean, the hosts friendly and the breakfast good. I would insist on a room away from the street if I stayed there again.
Posted by
California
770 posts
We always stay at Hotel Leoneck (in Rick's book) before flying out of Zurich. I believe they have family rooms. Dinner at the Zeughauskeller is always fun!
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
It would be best to NOT have a rental car in Switzerland at all. Both Lauterbrunnen (and the surrounding Alpine villages) as well as Zurich are well serviced by trains. Your kids will travel absolutely 100% free with you in all of Switzerland if you get a free Swiss Family Card.
You have a nice departure time of 1:30 which will allow you a leisurely hotel departure from downtown Zurich to the train station. The train will deposit you right into the airport in as little as 9 minutes. No Brainer - don't have that boat anchor of a rental car tied to your leg. Get rid of it.
BTW - we always stay at the Hotel St Josef the night before our Zurich airport departures.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17418 posts
We stayed in a family room at St. Josef once. It was quite small and very crowded for four people (two adults and our two teen daughters)---there was almost no floor space left once we opened the sofa bed. We have not been back. We have also stayed at Hotel Bristol with the girls and it was fine---the quad room was spacious and bright (modern). I do not recall if it had air-con.
Neither Hotel Leoneck nor St. Josef shows any 5-person rooms online, so you would have to call or email and ask if they have any. Bristol you can book online.
It has been a few years (8) since we spent a night in Zurich, and there may well be new options. I would do a search on booking.com for apartment hotels or hotels with family rooms. When you find a likely prospect, book directly with the hotel. I am seeing family rooms for 5 at Inside Five City Apartments for $196 on July 15 (non-refundable rate, no breakfast). Their website shows the same price. No parking available at the hotel.
The car does complicate things if younwant to stay in downtown Zurich, and I suggest you reconsider that choice (the car). Or plan to stay outside the city. Booking.com shows Hotel,Allegra at Kloten (right by the airport) with rooms for 5 and parking fir $225 (non-refundable) or $250. (pay later, no breakfast). They give free access to the local public pool.
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
Don't waste your last night in beautiful Switzerland by staying at an airport hotel.
Posted by
Los Angeles
4853 posts
I wouldn't call it a waste to stay at the airport, no one says you have to get to the room by a specific time so stay in town, live it up, take the train whenever you're ready. Next morning no rush, no stress, have nice breakfast take shuttle to terminal.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17418 posts
Tim, that is my attitude as well, whether Zurich, London, or wherever. But it does not always work for everyone.
We actually did stay at the airport once, when we had an early morning flight. We got a great rate at the Radisson Blu in the terminal (unfortunately they don't offer it any more). When we checked in the clerk informed us it was the night of Zurich Fest and we "must" go into the city. Of course we had planned to do that anyway, but what luck that was. It is a great festival, with a street fair, food booths, air show, fireworks,,etc. but they only do it every three years. It was fantastic ( the Swiss know how to throw a party) and we stayed downtown until midnight, then returned to the airport to sleep.
BTY, 2016 is a Zurich fest year. If their July date happens to be July 1, I would absolutely urge them to stay downtown if possible---but hotel prices may be inflated on that weekend.
Posted by
Alabama, USA
271 posts
My easiest decision most trips is where to stay the last night in order to leave out the next morning from ZRH.
We stay at Hilton (operated by Apart Hotels in Opfikon/Glattburg). It is minutes from the airport and they run their own shuttle to the airport. The night before we leave we repack our stuff, take our car to the airport and turn it in (and weigh any bags that may be over), and take their shuttle BACK TO the hotel. The next morning we take it TO the airport and go home.
With the shuttle we don't have to take the train or car to the airport. If you are arriving by train then you can stop at the airport, do your repacking (they have lockers and a luggage holding area), and then 'transfer' to the shuttle for the ride to the hotel.
They have a hand scale to weigh your luggage if you have anything last minute. A big, hot breakfast, too. 700 ft away is a strangely located but fully stocked Aldis.