We are thinking about this tour for next year. For those that have been on it, can you share your beginning and ending? Did you fly round trip to zurich and take the train? If so was it easy? Were you able to navigate hikes on your own? Any insights are appreciated.
Posted by
Atlanta
2568 posts
I’m signed up for this tour leaving in 3 weeks! We’re flying round trip to Zurich from Atlanta, direct. Upon arrival, we plan to take the train from the airport train station to Lucerne and after the tour ends in Bern we will take the train to Zurich. We’re staying one night at the Airport Hilton because our flight leaves at 10 am the next day. We have booked the tour hotel for the night before the tour begins to help acclimate to the time change and to sightsee a bit.
I plan to do some easy hikes and will use the guidebook for guidance. Also, bringing hiking poles in my checked bag. The tour guide will help us with ideas for our free time as well.
Posted by
Rhode Island, USA
263 posts
We flew direct round trip, Boston to Zurich. We stayed the afternoon we arrived and one night in Zurich old Town. The next afternoon we took the train to meet the tour in Lucerne. Our flight left at 12:55pm the day the tour ended so were able to leave Bern by train at a reasonable time the morning the tour ended. We did not hike on our own.
Posted by
Kalamazoo, MI, USA
101 posts
In and out of Zurich. Was so wonderful, both of us would do this trip again. Train station in the airport, easy to get to Lucern. Suggest staying a couple of days before at RS hotel, so much to do there. We went back to Lausanne after tour ended to go to the Olympic museum as there wasn’t time on the tour to visit it. After museum, trained back to Zurich, walked around old town and back to airport to stay at Blu hotel in the airport for early morning flight out.
Posted by
Winter Park, Florida
314 posts
Although this tour has changed somewhat since we took it in 2018, it is still our top rated of the 11 RS tours we have taken. Very easy access with flights to and from Zurich. Easy train connection to Lucerne and from Bern. Not much hiking included in the tour, but you have free days in Lugano and Murren where you can hike as much as you wish. Weather in the mountains changes quickly so bring appropriate footwear and layered clothing. Be aware that Switzerland is expensive so budget accordingly for meals and other costs not included in the tour.
Posted by
OP
119 posts
Thanks! Very helpful.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
71 posts
We flew in and out of Zurich. This was a wonderful tour! We highly recommend it.
Posted by
Pleasant Hill, Ca
286 posts
We were in France, but flew in to Zurich, then train to Luzern. We took the train from Bern to Cinque Terre then to Milan and home from Milan. Easy to take the train from Bern.
Posted by
20 posts
I'm going on this tour in late September. My plan is similar to Jill's, but I plan to spend a couple of days in Zurich ahead of time, then take the train to Lucerne the day before the tour starts. I'm also going to extend for one day so I can go to the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, then train to Zurich and spend the night at the Hyatt Place before I fly home.
Jill, I believe I can store my suitcase at the Olympic Museum while I visit. Is that correct? Was it an easy process to take the train from Bern to Lausanne? Did you make any train reservations ahead of time?