Hello Everyone,

I am planning a trip to switzerland from july 14 for 8 days. I am
planning to rent a car in zurich and drive around to interlaken and
all other places. Is it better to drive in car to all places in
switzerland or travelling by train is the best option? Also could you
please suggest some must see scenic locations in switzerland. Also I
would like to know some very good restaurant in switzerland to
experience the switzerland cuisine( i meant local food.) or any other
top restaurant. Also , I would appreciate if someone can suggest me
some good choclate ( preferably dark choclates) companies or brands to
be bought in switzerland as gifts.

Thanks in advance for all your help;
Shanky

On Fri, 06 Jul 2007 06:55:08 -0700, shanky <[email protected]>
wrote:

>Hello Everyone,
>
>I am planning a trip to switzerland from july 14 for 8 days. I am
>planning to rent a car in zurich and drive around to interlaken and
>all other places. Is it better to drive in car to all places in
>switzerland or travelling by train is the best option? Also could you
>please suggest some must see scenic locations in switzerland. Also I
>would like to know some very good restaurant in switzerland to
>experience the switzerland cuisine( i meant local food.) or any other
>top restaurant. Also , I would appreciate if someone can suggest me
>some good choclate ( preferably dark choclates) companies or brands to
>be bought in switzerland as gifts.
>
>Thanks in advance for all your help;
>Shanky
Some destinations in Switzerland are not accessible by car but only by
train. (such as Zermatt, Wengen and Jungfrau area, and so on). The
separation from the closest auto approach is not great, however, so
you can drive the basic routes and have added convenience.

I would say that travelling only by train is quite practical in
Switzerland.

On Jul 6, 9:55 am, shanky <[email protected]> wrote:
> Also I would like to know some very good restaurant in switzerland to
> experience the switzerland cuisine( i meant local food.) or any other
> top restaurant.


The "Blinde Kuh" restaurant in Zurich is world famous. It was set up
as a restaurant for the blind, but anyone can eat there, and you dine
in total darkness.

Definately plan to use the train system. A rail pass is good on
trains, post buses, lake boats, and with a discount on cable cars. A
two-week rail pass would be perfect for you--and if you are travelling
with someone, a companian pass. Passes must be purchased here before
you go. Most travel agents would be able to get one for you.

Switzerland is expensive. Your best bet for money is to use ATMs--not
credit cards--for the best exchange rate. Plan to pay cash for
everything.

Not to miss sights include the Matterhorn at Zermatt. The Jungfrau,
Monk, and Eiger mountains.. The trip to the top of the Junfrau is
expensive (buy your tickets at the Interlaken rail station) and even
though the weather is nice below it is very iffy at the top. I think
a better trip is to the Schilthorn by cable car for a spectacular view
and a rotation restaurant. The Lauterbraten valley is as beautiful
as Yosemite and there is even an inside-the-mountain waterfall--the
Tummelbach Falls.

Ballenberg, an outdoor museum, with old buildings from over the whole
country is also worth a visit--start at Brienz.

Trips by boat on the major lakes are great things to do--especially if
it rains. Your rail pass is good on the boats.

Take your hiking boots. Well-marked trails extend over the whole
country and the tourist office in each town has maps of the local
trails.

Actually you can't go wrong with the food almost anywhere. Be sure to
try rosti (a kind of hash browns), fondue, and raclet--melted cheese
with potatoes and pickles. Beer is cheaper than a cup of coffee most
places.

August 1 is the Swiss national holiday and celebrated like our 4th of
July. In 1991 they celebrated 700 years of independence. We are
planning our 7th trip to Switzerland this year and will be there on
August 1.

On Fri, 06 Jul 2007 08:19:17 -0700, [email protected] wrote:

~snip~

>
>Actually you can't go wrong with the food almost anywhere. Be sure to
>try rosti (a kind of hash browns), fondue, and raclet--melted cheese
>with potatoes and pickles. Beer is cheaper than a cup of coffee most
>places.
>
We were there when spargle (white asparagus) was featured on it's own
separate menu -- not or less available in other seasons than spring.

On Fri, 06 Jul 2007 06:55:08 -0700, shanky <[email protected]>
wrote:

>Hello Everyone,
>
>I am planning a trip to switzerland from july 14 for 8 days. I am
>planning to rent a car in zurich and drive around to interlaken and
>all other places. Is it better to drive in car to all places in
>switzerland or travelling by train is the best option? Also could you
>please suggest some must see scenic locations in switzerland. Also I
>would like to know some very good restaurant in switzerland to
>experience the switzerland cuisine( i meant local food.) or any other
>top restaurant. Also , I would appreciate if someone can suggest me
>some good choclate ( preferably dark choclates) companies or brands to
>be bought in switzerland as gifts.

There are lots of "top restaurants" in Switzerland, some known
internationally. Near Lausanne there is "Chez Rochat" (official name
is Restaurant de l'Hôtel de Ville) in Crissier, but there is also
Chevrier in Satigny (near Geneva), and there are many others in
German-speaking Switzerland. I'm talking top restaurants and top
prices there, but for that category, the quality/price ratio is
incredibly good.

Nathalie in Switzerland

On Fri, 06 Jul 2007 08:08:45 -0700, Iceman <[email protected]>
wrote:

>On Jul 6, 9:55 am, shanky <[email protected]> wrote:
>> Also I would like to know some very good restaurant in switzerland to
>> experience the switzerland cuisine( i meant local food.) or any other
>> top restaurant.
>
>
>The "Blinde Kuh" restaurant in Zurich is world famous. It was set up
>as a restaurant for the blind, but anyone can eat there, and you dine
>in total darkness.

So I could steal my husband's grilled mushrooms without his noticing?

--
Barbara Vaughan
My email address is my first initial followed by my surname at libero dot it
I answer travel questions only in the newsgroup

On 6 juil, 15:55, shanky <[email protected]> wrote:
< Hello Everyone,
<
< I am planning a trip to switzerland from july 14 for 8 days. I am
< planning to rent a car in zurich and drive around to interlaken and
< all other places. Is it better to drive in car to all places in
< switzerland or travelling by train is the best option?

Go for both: I would not start the trip renting a car
in Zurich (airport) but rather use train (Swiss Pass
or Flexi-Pass) for a place to stay for 1-2 days and
rent a car for 2-3 days for some specific trips not
easily possible by using public transportation.

< Also could you
< please suggest some must see scenic locations in switzerland.

plenty - but will also depend on your own interests.
Without checking guide or websites
- Bernese Oberland - close to all of the mountain
area south of Interlaken
- Zermatt-Gornergrat
- Lucerne
- Montreux area
for the lesser known
- Berne (old city)
- Murten
- Stein-am-Rhein
- Gruyeres (town, not the Castle)
- Val-d'Anniviers (Grimentz)
- Lac des Dix
- most of the major mountain pass roads
(Susten, Furka, Grimsel, Nufenen)
- area south of Aletsch glacier
- Ballenberg (open air museum)
-

< so I would like to know some very good restaurant
< in switzerland to < experience the switzerland
< cuisine( i meant local food.) or any other top restaurant.

Forget the "top" restaurants if you dont already have
a reservation, and they are not really in "local food".
Check some specialized guide - best imho still
is Michelin, including their web-site.
Be aware that there is no such thing as "Swiss cuisine"
but a large number of more or less regional specialities.
Site
http://www.travellady.com/articles/a...iss-taste.html
for example is close to reality, but far from being
complete .....

< so , I would appreciate if someone can suggest me
< some good choclate ( preferably dark choclates) companies or brands
to
< be bought in switzerland as gifts.

Check any major brand chocolate in some
supermarket (Nestle, Cailler [yes, belongs to
Nestle], Camille Bloch, Tobler, Villars).
Migros (country's main food distributor) is
selling its own trade-mark Frey. Be aware
that often chocolate is sold in different
"national" flawors by international groups.
And if money is a minor concern: check
for "top" chocolate manufacturers like
Sprüngli and Steiner by starting at Zurich
airport (Sprüngli at shopping area near
airport railway station, Steiner near
Swiss airlines checkin-departure area
[Steiner shop next to Sprüngli has only
limited chocolate selection]).
Or downtown Zurich Honold
Just for fun: have a look at
http://www.flughafenbeck.ch/
http://www.spruengli.ch/index.php?lang=en
http://honold.ch/

And come back if you have more specific
questions

"shanky" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected] oups.com...
> Hello Everyone,
>
> I am planning a trip to switzerland from july 14 for 8 days. I am
> planning to rent a car in zurich and drive around to interlaken and
> all other places. Is it better to drive in car to all places in
> switzerland or travelling by train is the best option? Also could you
> please suggest some must see scenic locations in switzerland. Also I
> would like to know some very good restaurant in switzerland to
> experience the switzerland cuisine( i meant local food.) or any other
> top restaurant. Also , I would appreciate if someone can suggest me
> some good choclate ( preferably dark choclates) companies or brands to
> be bought in switzerland as gifts.

Good responses. I agree that there's no need for renting a car in
Switzerland. In fact, it's a disadvantage. Just want to add that the Swiss
Pass does not cover all the railways in the Bernese Oberland. Some of these
are privately owned and will allow you a discount on their fares with a
Swiss Pass.

The boats and postal buses are also covered by the Swiss Pass and are great
fun to ride. As well as perfectly coordinated with the trains.

Marianne

"Mimi" <[email protected]> kirjoitti
viestissä:iK6dnZebGOXFKhLbnZ2dnUVZ_rKvnZ2d@comcas t.com...
>
>
> Good responses. I agree that there's no need for renting a car in
> Switzerland. In fact, it's a disadvantage. Just want to add that the Swiss
> Pass does not cover all the railways in the Bernese Oberland. Some of
> these are privately owned and will allow you a discount on their fares
> with a Swiss Pass.
>
Not too many disadvantages in my opinion. Higher expenses naturally can be
one. On the other hand it is very time efficient way of travelling.

On Jul 6, 6:55 am, shanky <[email protected]> wrote:
> Hello Everyone,
>
> I am planning a trip to switzerland from july 14 for 8 days. I am
> planning to rent a car in zurich and drive around to interlaken and
> all other places. Is it better to drive in car to all places in
> switzerland or travelling by train is the best option? Also could you
> please suggest some must see scenic locations in switzerland. Also I
> would like to know some very good restaurant in switzerland to
> experience the switzerland cuisine( i meant local food.) or any other
> top restaurant. Also , I would appreciate if someone can suggest me
> some good choclate ( preferably dark choclates) companies or brands to
> be bought in switzerland as gifts.
>
> Thanks in advance for all your help;
> Shanky

You really don't need a car to see Switzerland as the trains are quite
extensive - unless you like driving on slippery winding roads with
sudden unexpected weather closures. I do, but that's just me.

Here are some stories on Switzerland destinations. You can't drive a
car into places like Zermatt anyway.

Matterhorn/Zermatt
http://www.bargaintraveleurope.com/S...Matterhorn.htm

Zermatt Walliserhof
http://www.bargaintraveleurope.com/S...el_Zermatt.htm

Glacier Express
http://www.bargaintraveleurope.com/S...er_Express.htm

Michael

On 7 juil, 23:02, michaelj <[email protected]> wrote:
< On Jul 6, 6:55 am, shanky <[email protected]> wrote:
<
< > Hello Everyone,
<
< > I am planning a trip to switzerland from july 14 for 8 days. I am
< > planning to rent a car in zurich and drive around to interlaken
and
< > all other places. Is it better to drive in car to all places in
< > switzerland or travelling by train is the best option? Also could
you
< > please suggest some must see scenic locations in switzerland. Also
I
< > would like to know some very good restaurant in switzerland to
< > experience the switzerland cuisine( i meant local food.) or any
other
< > top restaurant. Also , I would appreciate if someone can suggest
me
< > some good choclate ( preferably dark choclates) companies or
brands to
< > be bought in switzerland as gifts.
<
< > Thanks in advance for all your help;
< > Shanky
<
< You really don't need a car to see Switzerland as the trains are
quite
< extensive - unless you like driving on slippery winding roads with
< sudden unexpected weather closures. I do, but that's just me.

So we are at least two ... :-)
But imho weather forecast is not THAT bad

With decent weather, touring real scenic mountain
pass roads can be great, especially by bike, but
also by car or even postal bus service, see
http://www.post.ch/en/index/uk_priva...izer-alpen.htm
Some of the pass roads can be kind of impressive
to some drivers and passengers. To get an idea:
http://www.ryter-hermann.ch/motorrad...rad_fotos.html

True: some places are not reachable by
car (some not at all, some only with special
authorisation), but a few not really easily
accessible by public transporation - or
the trip will simply take much more time than
by car.

Have fun!

Thanks a lot to Everyone for all the help.

I will be travelling from Zurich to Lucerne, since we have our hotel
booked in Lucerne. Is driving the car a good option to reach Lucerne
or travelling by train better? We will be staying 4 days in Lucerne
and 4 days in Interlaken.
>From what I have read so far, the zermatt, jungfrau mountains are
close to Interlaken. Could you please suggest places that can be
travelled from Lucerne? We are not that particular in visiting
museums.
Also the mountain pass roads mentioned such as Susten, Furka, Grimsel,
Nufenen - are they close to lucerne or interlaken?
Also like winter had posted earlier that beer is usually cheaper in
Switzerland, any suggestions for local( swiss) beers/ wines that are
good?

Also it would be nice if someone could recommend some good indian
restaurants in zurich / lucerne/interlaken.

Also, it was mentioned to pay for everything using cash. So carrying
cash from US in $ and exchanging it for SW francs in Swiss is a good
idea or using the atm's in switzerland for withdrawing swiss francs is
a good idea?

Thanks again for all the help.

Shanky

On 8 Jul, 15:57, shanky <[email protected]> wrote:
> Thanks a lot to Everyone for all the help.
>
> I will be travelling from Zurich to Lucerne, since we have our hotel
> booked in Lucerne. Is driving the car a good option to reach Lucerne
> or travelling by train better?


Please please forget a car , let the train take the strain, or the
post bus or the boat .
Make use of the best public transport system in the world , enjoy the
scenery , don't spend time looking at traffic
look at the swiss pass for unlimited use .

We will be staying 4 days in Lucerne
> and 4 days in Interlaken.>From what I have read so far, the zermatt, jungfrau mountains are
>
> close to Interlaken.
Both doable from Interlaken as two different day trips

Could you please suggest places that can be
> travelled from Lucerne? We are not that particular in visiting
> museums.

Boat trip length of lake to Fluelen
train to Schaffehausen - Stein on Rhine Rhine falls
Pilatus
Rigi
Lugano is possible


> Also the mountain pass roads mentioned such as Susten, Furka, Grimsel,
most yes
Susten-, have done that - get a post bus from Interlaken - Brienz
brilliant ride, sit in the front seat ( small alpine suplement with
the swiss pass) over the mountain to Goshenen station , then you could
probably loop back vis Andermatt , Brig , Spiez to Interlaken. Any
station or the post bus stn at Brienz will give you a printed
personalised timetable to ensure its possible . You can only enjoy
the route if someone else is driving. Post buses have proirority over
all other traffic
possible also from Luzern
http://www.swisspost.ch/en/index/uk_...izer-alpen.htm


> Nufenen - are they close to lucerne or interlaken?
> Also like winter had posted earlier that beer is usually cheaper in
> Switzerland, any suggestions for local( swiss) beers/ wines that are
> good?
>
> Also, it was mentioned to pay for everything using cash. So carrying
> cash from US in $ and exchanging it for SW francs in Swiss is a good
> idea or using the atm's in switzerland for withdrawing swiss francs is
> a good idea?

I would take some cash , but use atms , but from uk it may be
different . Switzerland is quite expensive.
www.sbb.ch for time table info

>
> > Also the mountain pass roads mentioned such as Susten, Furka, Grimsel,
>
> most yes
> Susten-, have done that - get a post bus from Interlaken - Brienz

opps mistake - bus from Meiringen not Brienz