Taking a group by rail ---confusion!

Call BETS (Budget Europe Travel Service). They give free, expert, and friendly advice. Their toll-free numbers are on their Web site: www.budgeteuropetravel.com.

Janet, looks like Sues post will be helpful since she has actually done simalar trip,, but frankly since you are responsible for planning this trip for 15 other people I think you should most definately "spring the 50$ " and use Ricks ( or anyones really , travel consultant.

I can't believe how many well meaning volunteers ( teachers, scout leaders, girl guides, etc etc) offer to lead GROUP trips with only their experience as an individul travellors to fall back on.. I really think travelling with a group IS different and getting what ever help you can from someone experienced is smart.
Ps Yes, there are many helpful and smart posters here, but, not many have led a group of kids , plus one who sounds like mobility might be an issue, these circumstances really support you investing in some help.
Have alot of fun,, and keep asking questions here, as I agree there are some great helpful people here, ,, also try tripadvisor.com forums also.

Since yours is "group travel," you are better off using an expert to help. Try the girl scouts national organization, a travel agent who specializes in groups, or even rail companies.

Groups, BTW, can get much better rates if you book as a group and not try to buy 15 individual tickets.

Start with this link...it is the Group Travel Planning Guide at Rail Europe:

http://www.raileurope.com/us/group_travel/planning/index.htm

I took my scouts to Pax three years ago and my family went to Our Chalet four years ago! Adelboden is amazing! We stayed at a small chalet a little further down the valley, but visited Our Chalet for a tour. I just wish we could have stayed there (turns out in the end, they had one of the buildings totally empty, but couldn't take a reservation from us "in case" they had inquires from other scout groups.)

We got to Adelboden from Zurich. We seem to remember it was a direct train to Fruitigen (I'm not sure I spelled that right) and then a bus to Adelboden. The bus station is in the middle of the alpine town and it's still a bit of a drive to get to the Chalet. (we took a taxi) All but the taxi was booked on one ticket from the Train station in Zurich. When we left the Chalet, we headed to Munich via Zurich.

This msg probably isn't very helpful to you, but thanks for bringing back the memories!

Thanks for all the suggestions thus far. Yes a group definitely has a different dynamic - but part of my frustration is I have not done trains in Europe -so can't always think of the right questions to ask and havne' yet found a travel agent with group train experience locally- and RailEurope has been helpful but still only want to sell certain things it semms.I will be calling BETS!
So here's one ---if it didn't matter cost-wise - if your only chance to see half of France was through train windows-would you take the TGV because its easier and faster - or spring for a 'slower train' to be able to see more --is there really much difference in what you're able to view?

Don't worry about scenery and the TGV, unless your scouts are really hot on those things that will be close to the tracks, like train stations. You can see far-off things like mountains just as well from a fast train. And in the mountains, there are no fast trains, which need straight level track.

Besides, which is better, an 8-hour train ride or a 6-hour ride with 2 more hours to spend with scenery in Adelboden? (Rhetorical question, that.)

With 15 people I wonder if a bus or pair of vans and a driver might not be a better bet.

Finally, Rail Europe if you must, but they charge a stiff premium and their web site does not list nearly all of the available trains.

the other option is to let RS take care of your tickets. Supposedly, they sell more railpasses than anyone else in the U.S.

With all those tickets for your group, perhaps they'll wave the $50 consulting fee since they'll make plenty of commission on the train tickets.