Swiss Trip - some questions

Most all train stations in Switzerland have lockers and staffed luggage hold counters. You can't use a locker to store luggage for a week; I believe they are emptied out after a couple of days. Thus, for a week it's best to use the hold counters. Swiss Rail will also forward luggage to another station, and for an extra fee deliver it directly to your hotel.

Trummelbach falls would be an easy morning. Lots of stairs, and I think the umbrella stroller would be impossible. I would want my 2 year old in a backpack carrier there. It's too easy to slip and fall.

For the most part, the area is better for a backpack carrier, but for example Jungfraujoch, I remember lots of long hallways where you might be able to roll the stroller. If the two year old is used to the backpack, I'd just go with that.

One place you could use a stroller though, possibly anyway, would be the Ballenburg Open Air Museum. There are all kinds of domestic animals to see and my kids would have loved it when they were two. We took the boat/bus over from Interlaken and the bus/train back. Great day trip.

Thanks Linda and Michael for your response.

About the Zurich Airport hotel...you don't need a hotel close to Zurich airport. All you need is a hotel near to the main train station. The train runs directly from downtown straight into the Zurich Airport. In my experience, staying in a hotel near to the airport is actually less convenient than just jumping on the fast efficient train straight to the airport.

We spent 4 days in Lauterbrunnen and the surrounding areas with our then 2 year old last summer. We stayed at Hotel Staubach. It was a basic hotel, but it has a play area for kids and the staff was very knowlegable of what we could do with our son/stroller. We used our stroller everywhere we went (schilthorn, jungfrauejoch, interlaken, brienz, ballenberg museum, and gimmelwald). We took an easy hike from Murren to Gimmelwald (1-2 hours), which was paved. We found a great playground in Allmendhubel that our son enjoyed and got some amazing pictures of him playing with the alps in the background. We were not able to take the stroller in the ice palace and outside to the snowy area of the jungfrauhoc, but were happy we had it. If you are wanting to do more hiking, I would suggest using the backpack carrier. If you want to just bring one it is possible to do the trip with a stroller. We prefer the stroller since we get tired of carrying our son on our backs the whole time. If you go to Pilatus while you are in Luzern there is a great playground at the first stop on the gondola. Be prepared the Swiss are not as lawsuit crazy as we are in the US so the playgrounds are a little lax, but it is a great way for him to get some energy out. I have never been to the glass factory outside of Zurich. You can email me for child friendly things to do in Zurich if you end up deciding to come early. We love the city, but it is one of those places that is a better place to live than to tour.

WE stayed at the "Hotel Bristol" in Zurich, small room but great value for money with good continental breakfast and close to the centre for an evenings stroll before bed. Its about a 10 minute easy walk from the ZRH train station. Took the train to the airport the following morning, very easyWe are very budget mnded and this place worked well for us.

Another option would be to stay in Luzern and take the train straight to ZRH airport its not a long trip and very easy. I prefer Luzern to ZRH, but thats just my preferance.
GHhave fun!

Zurich has a great old town with beautiful bldgs etc. The lake is nice too. An extra day in the old town and the Chagal windows at the chathedral would be nice. Plenty of B&Bs along the river front too.

If yorue hiking the baby carrier (like convertable bags too) will be eaiser than any thing with wheels. If you have to bring extras (with baby stuff) you can have the bag tagged and shipped by train to your hotels. Ask when making reservations and also at the trainstation. You may be able to pick it up at the station destination hold yourself - but usually the hotel will get it. Remember they have babies in europe too so packing lite for the little one is and getting extras at their super markets is always an option if you can!