Hiring car in switzerland
 

Hi,

Planning to travel to switzerland in mid may is it suitable to drive
car during this period?. Is this period peak or off-peak? Can I get
motels range around 60US$. Please help.

Regards

Re: Hiring car in switzerland
 

<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected] oups.com...
    > Hi,
    > Planning to travel to switzerland in mid may is it suitable to drive
    > car during this period?. Is this period peak or off-peak? Can I get
    > motels range around 60US$. Please help.
    > Regards

Take the train.

There aren't very many motels in Switzerland and US $60 won't buy you much.

JohnT

Re: Hiring car in switzerland
 

"JohnT" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > <[email protected]> wrote in message
    > news:[email protected] oups.com...
    >> Hi,
    >> Planning to travel to switzerland in mid may is it suitable to drive
    >> car during this period?. Is this period peak or off-peak? Can I get
    >> motels range around 60US$. Please help.
    >> Regards
    > Take the train.
    > There aren't very many motels in Switzerland and US $60 won't buy you
    > much.
You can stay in B&B (called Privatzimmer) mainly in German-speaking areas
from around 30 CHF (20 euro or US$26) per person, or Youth Hostels at a
similar price. Ones with private bath/shower will cost more (40 CHF or $35)
per person. Modest hotel (Pension, Gasthaus) will be from around 50 CHF
($43) per person. It will be more expensive in cities (such as Lucerne) and
popular resorts (like Interlaken and Zermatt).
Car hire is possible, though driving in the mountains is slow and tiring
(and needs a head for height). A week's unlimited hire for a compact car
starts from around 360 CHF ($300), booking in advance through a broker like
Auto Europe. Walk-in can be twice as expensive. Unleaded is around 1.40 CHF
a litre ($4.40 per US gal). There is 40 CHF annual highway toll, but all
Swiss rental cars already come with a toll sticker (vignette).

Alec

Re: Hiring car in switzerland
 

[email protected] wrote in message news:<[email protected] roups.com>...
    > Hi,
    >
    > Planning to travel to switzerland in mid may is it suitable to drive
    > car during this period?. Is this period peak or off-peak? Can I get
    > motels range around 60US$. Please help.

May is low or intermediate season close to everywhere in
Switzerland, just be aware that [this year] May 5th, 16th
and 27th are holidays in several regions, leading to additional
traffic.

Driving is no special problem, just most of the main mountain
pass roads are usually closed till early June.

Dont expect finding many motels in Switzerland, but smaller
hotels mainly in villages off main tourist centers offer
single rooms in the range you specified.

Nevertheless I would check for some public transporations
passes for train, postal bus services and many lake steamers
for example at
http://mct.sbb.ch/mct/en/reiselust/int-gaeste/sts.htm

Re: Hiring car in switzerland
 

Am 3 Apr 2005 00:28:26 -0800 schrieb [email protected]:

    > Planning to travel to switzerland in mid may is it suitable to drive
    > car during this period?.

May is not peak period, and driving should be allright. Just in the high
mountains (some pass-roads) there can still be some snow, but not on the
motorways.

    > Can I get
    > motels range around 60US$.

There are not many motels, but many Guesthouses/pubs rent out rooms, and
you should be able to find something in that price-range (but don't expect
much, some rooms don't have their own bathroom and shower), as long as you
stay out of the big cities and look in some smaller villages.

Regards,

Frank

Re: Hiring car in switzerland
 

On Mon, 4 Apr 2005 11:18:46 +0200, Frank Hucklenbroich
<[email protected]> wrote:

    |Am 3 Apr 2005 00:28:26 -0800 schrieb [email protected]:
    |
    |> Planning to travel to switzerland in mid may is it suitable to drive
    |> car during this period?.
    |
    |May is not peak period, and driving should be allright. Just in the high
    |mountains (some pass-roads) there can still be some snow, but not on the
    |motorways.
    |
    |> Can I get
    |> motels range around 60US$.
    |
    |There are not many motels, but many Guesthouses/pubs rent out rooms, and
    |you should be able to find something in that price-range (but don't expect
    |much, some rooms don't have their own bathroom and shower), as long as you
    |stay out of the big cities and look in some smaller villages.
    |
    |Regards,
    |
    |Frank


Hi Frank

I'm considering Interlaken-Milan via the most direct off-motorway
route in late May '06. Would you foresee any snow problems?

For the OP, I found Switzerland the most expensive country in Europe
last time. A fairly ordinary hotel in the hills above Zurich (Albin??)
was CHF 125 in June. We also drove the full circle around the lake
(Zug?) to find a vacancy.


Cheers, Alan, Australia

Re: Hiring car in switzerland
 

On Mon, 04 Apr 2005 19:57:26 +1000, Alan S wrote:

    > I'm considering Interlaken-Milan via the most direct off-motorway
    > route in late May '06. Would you foresee any snow problems?

No, the roads should be clear by then and it's still possible to get a bit
of fresh snow on the tops of the passes but it's unlikely to stop a car.
Check here for up to date road/pass conditions:
http://www.swissinfo.org/sde/swissin...eSect=490#pass

--
Tim C.

Re: Hiring car in switzerland
 

"Tim Challenger" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:1112611781.0cd355cc1d0a302e69fc8a839df01f21@t eranews...
    > On Mon, 04 Apr 2005 19:57:26 +1000, Alan S wrote:
    >> I'm considering Interlaken-Milan via the most direct off-motorway
    >> route in late May '06. Would you foresee any snow problems?
    > No, the roads should be clear by then and it's still possible to get a bit
    > of fresh snow on the tops of the passes but it's unlikely to stop a car.

It is possible however, last year the Susten didnt open until
late May/early June

    > Check here for up to date road/pass conditions:
    > http://www.swissinfo.org/sde/swissin...eSect=490#pass

Good advice

Keith



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Re: Hiring car in switzerland
 

On Mon, 4 Apr 2005 12:09:53 +0100, Keith W wrote:

    > "Tim Challenger" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    > news:1112611781.0cd355cc1d0a302e69fc8a839df01f21@t eranews...
    >> On Mon, 04 Apr 2005 19:57:26 +1000, Alan S wrote:
    >>> I'm considering Interlaken-Milan via the most direct off-motorway
    >>> route in late May '06. Would you foresee any snow problems?
    >> No, the roads should be clear by then and it's still possible to get a bit
    >> of fresh snow on the tops of the passes but it's unlikely to stop a car.
    >
    > It is possible however, last year the Susten didnt open until
    > late May/early June

You're right, of course. I think a route with some alternative options must
be considered. In an emergency you can always get over the Simplon, but
it's not such a nice drive.
I've got a list of most passes - some with "official" opening dates here:
http://www.alpineroads.com/passes.php
It's not complete by a long shot of course, as you can see. Any additional
info gratefully received.

--
Tim C.

Re: Hiring car in switzerland
 

On Mon, 4 Apr 2005 12:50:32 +0200, Tim Challenger
<[email protected]> wrote:

    |On Mon, 04 Apr 2005 19:57:26 +1000, Alan S wrote:
    |
    |> I'm considering Interlaken-Milan via the most direct off-motorway
    |> route in late May '06. Would you foresee any snow problems?
    |
    |No, the roads should be clear by then and it's still possible to get a bit
    |of fresh snow on the tops of the passes but it's unlikely to stop a car.
    |Check here for up to date road/pass conditions:
    |http://www.swissinfo.org/sde/swissin...eSect=490#pass


Thanks for the info. The web-site was interesting, obviously I'll need
to learn some German. For example:

HAUPTSTRASSEN

H12
Hauptstrasse: Liestal - Balsthal 4. April 2005 15:01
Pass Oberer Hauenstein in beiden Richtungen frei


Became (via WorldLingo):

MAIN STREETS
H12
Main street: Reading valley - Balsthal 4. April 2005 15:01
Passport upper striking stone in both directions freely

I suspect that means you can drive both ways:-)


Cheers, Alan, Australia

Re: Hiring car in switzerland
 

On Mon, 04 Apr 2005 23:13:33 +1000, Alan S wrote:

    > On Mon, 4 Apr 2005 12:50:32 +0200, Tim Challenger
    > <[email protected]> wrote:
    >
    >|On Mon, 04 Apr 2005 19:57:26 +1000, Alan S wrote:
    >|
    >|> I'm considering Interlaken-Milan via the most direct off-motorway
    >|> route in late May '06. Would you foresee any snow problems?
    >|
    >|No, the roads should be clear by then and it's still possible to get a bit
    >|of fresh snow on the tops of the passes but it's unlikely to stop a car.
    >|Check here for up to date road/pass conditions:
    >|http://www.swissinfo.org/sde/swissin...eSect=490#pass
    >
    > Thanks for the info. The web-site was interesting, obviously I'll need
    > to learn some German. For example:
    >
    > HAUPTSTRASSEN
    >
    > H12
    > Hauptstrasse: Liestal - Balsthal 4. April 2005 15:01
    > Pass Oberer Hauenstein in beiden Richtungen frei
    >
    >
    > Became (via WorldLingo):
    >
    > MAIN STREETS
    > H12
    > Main street: Reading valley - Balsthal 4. April 2005 15:01
    > Passport upper striking stone in both directions freely

    :-) Nice one!


    > I suspect that means you can drive both ways:-)

Yes it does. Forwards *and* backwards.
It doesn't mean that the top part of your passport is flapping about on the
road ...hopefully.

--
Tim C.

Re: Hiring car in switzerland
 

That translation program seems pretty poor, as is Google's. It means
the pass is open in both directions. I recently used Google's to
translate a Stuttgarter Zeitung article about Pavarotti's upcoming
farewell concert in Stuttgart. The concert is to be held at the
Schlossplatz (actual location, no need to translate) but Google
translated as lock place, whereas palace place would be acceptable.

George

Re: Hiring car in switzerland
 

Thanks to everyone who replied & I'm relieved that I can enjoy my
holidays.

Regards


Frank Hucklenbroich wrote:
    > Am 3 Apr 2005 00:28:26 -0800 schrieb [email protected]:
    > > Planning to travel to switzerland in mid may is it suitable to
drive
    > > car during this period?.
    > May is not peak period, and driving should be allright. Just in the
high
    > mountains (some pass-roads) there can still be some snow, but not on
the
    > motorways.
    > > Can I get
    > > motels range around 60US$.
    > There are not many motels, but many Guesthouses/pubs rent out rooms,
and
    > you should be able to find something in that price-range (but don't
expect
    > much, some rooms don't have their own bathroom and shower), as long
as you
    > stay out of the big cities and look in some smaller villages.
    >
    > Regards,
    >
    > Frank

Re: Hiring car in switzerland
 

Alan S <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>. ..
    > On Mon, 4 Apr 2005 11:18:46 +0200, Frank Hucklenbroich
    > <[email protected]> wrote:
    >
    > |Am 3 Apr 2005 00:28:26 -0800 schrieb [email protected]:
    > |
    > |> Planning to travel to switzerland in mid may is it suitable to drive
    > |> car during this period?.
    > |
    > |May is not peak period, and driving should be allright. Just in the high
    > |mountains (some pass-roads) there can still be some snow, but not on the
    > |motorways.
    > |
    > |> Can I get
    > |> motels range around 60US$.
    > |
    > |There are not many motels, but many Guesthouses/pubs rent out rooms, and
    > |you should be able to find something in that price-range (but don't expect
    > |much, some rooms don't have their own bathroom and shower), as long as you
    > |stay out of the big cities and look in some smaller villages.
    > |
    >
    > I'm considering Interlaken-Milan via the most direct off-motorway
    > route in late May '06. Would you foresee any snow problems?

www.viamichelin.com is recommending Susten pass
road for St.Gotthard (Tunnel rather than pass road)
but chances are that Susten will be opened
for traffic only early June. The road I prefer
is Grimsel and Furka mountain pass roads
for St.Gotthard .... but here also chances
for all roads being closed in May. Better - if
time available and you like driving mountain roads
- is Susten, Furka, up first part of Grimsel for
shooting some pictures, return to Gletsch for
Oberwald and Nufenen mountain pass road. Best
is touring those roads by motorbike.

If Susten, Grimsel, Furka and St.Gotthard are
closed, option could be lower, all-year open
Brünigpass for Lucerne - but from there avoiding
highway, mainly Seelisbergtunnel would ask for
a major detour. No higway and no snow to be
expected on roads in May for Interlaken to Spiez,
load the car on train in Kandersteg to Goppenstein
and then the Simplon pass (open all year, some
restrictions due to snow in winter but usually just
for short time)

    > For the OP, I found Switzerland the most expensive country in Europe
    > last time. A fairly ordinary hotel in the hills above Zurich (Albin??)
    > was CHF 125 in June. We also drove the full circle around the lake
    > (Zug?) to find a vacancy.

Albis ?

Switzerland is expensive when it comes to housing
and hotels, especially in well known tourist resorts
and business cities. But there are still possiblilites
for reasonable prices in smaller towns - Zurich
belongs to the expensive cities, Zug even more .... !

Re: Hiring car in switzerland
 

"j.e.r." <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected] om...
    > Switzerland is expensive when it comes to housing
    > and hotels, especially in well known tourist resorts
    > and business cities. But there are still possiblilites
    > for reasonable prices in smaller towns - Zurich
    > belongs to the expensive cities, Zug even more .... !

Go to Zurich on a weekend, when there are no business travellers. The hotels
cut their prices.

Marianne