Why Switzerland? I originally wanted to go on the Scandinavia trip but all the dates I wanted were full. I waitlisted a few trips but after a couple of weeks I started to twitch with impatience so decided to pivot to Switzerland. I had seen the gorgeous scenery on International House Hunters and also a bucket list item of mine was to go to the Olympic Museum in Lausanne. No regrets about choosing Switzerland - it was even more beautiful than I'd imagined.
My plan was two days in Zurich then travel to Lucerne where I would have most of two days before the tour started. I also stayed an extra night at the end of the tour to make sure I had enough time to do justice to the Olympic Museum in Lausanne.
I like to have "choices" when I pack but I took up the Forum gauntlet of just a carry-on and a backpack and they worked nicely, though I did check the carry-on. I loathe schlepping luggage through the airport, trying to maneuver it into the tiny bathroom stalls and (being vertically challenged) heaving my bag into the overhead on the plane. I did pack some clothing in the backpack in case my carry-on went awry but all went well.
Things I loved on and off the tour:
Swiss full fare card: I maybe lost money on it (my math skills aren’t the best and at this point it doesn’t matter anyway) but I couldn’t beat the convenience and stress-free experience of just hopping onto a metro, boat, bus or train without trying to figure out the ticket vending machine or who or where to pay. Plus I received 50% off gondolas/funiculars as well. In hindsight it would have been much easier than I had anticipated to purchase transportation tickets but I’ll know better next time.
Excursion to Mt. Pilatus: Breathtaking. I thought the logistics of getting there were going to be difficult but it wasn’t at all.
Lindt Chocolate Factory tour. Interesting and worthwhile, especially if you like chocolate.
I’m a figure skating and an Olympic Games fan so I made sure I took photos of both of my Meccas - the International Skating Union and the International Olympic Committee headquarters in Lausanne.
The parade of cows through Murren – most exciting thing ever!
Other things I loved were Monte San Salvatore, Lugano, Lucerne, Chateau de Chillon, group wine tasting, Murren/hiking the North Face trail, the Matterhorn, the Schilthorn, Lac Leman/Lake Geneva, all the charming little villages/towns, the visits with the alphorn maker and dairy farmer. Truly too many to name.
Things I could have skipped:
River cruise on Lake Limmat in Zurich. Not much to see.
City tour in Zurich. Perhaps it was the jet lag but the tour just seemed to drag. I would have gotten more out of following the RS guided tour in the book after a nap.
Altdorf – home of William Tell. Not much to see and not much time there
Festung Furigen – Swiss fortress in the Alps. You just have to be into fortresses, I guess.
Maybe not skipped it but I was underwhelmed by the Olympic Museum. Frankly, only the Olympic torches display and Summer/Winter Olympic medals exhibit made it not a disappointment.
Bern tour with the local guide