1) Pros/Cons - Option #1 or Options #2 ? Separate Posting for Option #2. <<Option 1: Switzerland - Three Areas>> 18 July - (Wednesday) Arrive Paris 0830 hrs Travel by train to Lausanne - Overnight Tour Lausanne 19 July - (Thursday) Chateau de Chillon Castle (Montreux) Travel Montreux to Interlaken on "Golden Pass " train Travel to Murren - Overnight 20 July - (Friday) Tour Berner Oberland area Murren - Overnight 21 July - (Saturday) Tour Berner Oberland area Travel to Interlaken / Luzern on "Golden Pass" train Overnight in Luzern 22 July - (Sunday) Day trip from Luzerne Overnight in Luzern 23 July - (Monday) Travel Luzern to Paris via train 24 July - (Tuesday)
Travel from Paris to Home / Work
Randy, do you mean you're arriving in Lausanne on the 19th? (since you are doing an overnight train from Paris). I'm also assuming you're arriving in Paris from Houston?
I don't like either itinerary, because both will be derailed by not accounting for jet lag. You're going to be wiped out by the time you reach the Berner Oberland.