Has anyone ever been there? What cities are the nicest to go to? And can you see another country thats close to there? We would probably have about 8 or 9 days.
Kathy116
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Re: Switzerland anyone?
This is Zermatt....my next door neighbor lived in Zermatt for many years (her husband who passed away was a famous European artist...this is where the famous Matterhorn is...my neighbor travels back to Zermatt EVERY YEAR, and she's 90 years old! The PLACE IS AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just so peaceful, clean, and beautiful.
There are so many historical sites in Lucern (well everywhere in Switzerland, but for some reason, it really hit me here in Lucern. It's like stepping back into history...the cobblestone streets, the architecture)
We also spent time in Austria (Vienna and Salzburg). I'm glad I saw them, but I'd never go back...I'd rather spend the entire time in Switzerland. The beginning of our honeymoon we were in Paris for a while, it was nice, but for some reason, I just fell in love with Switzerland!
merf99
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Re: Switzerland anyone?
Kathy- thanks so much for posting your beautiful pictures. I wonder if it will look as pretty when there is no snow in August.
What cities would you recommend in Switzerland? Lucerne? Zurich? St. Moritz? Geneva?
So you didn't love Austria?
Kathy116
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Re: Switzerland anyone?
Zermatt and Luzern, definately!
We experienced some very nasty people in Vienna (at our hotel, which cost a darn fortune...the Hotel Imperial...,the conceirge was hounding us to upgrade our room to a recently available suite for a mere $1500 for two days! We just felt like they were trying to suck every penny out of us....and not hospitable).
Salzburg was very charming, but as soon as the sun went down we noticed a lot of mentally unstable people harassing by-passers. One huge man attacked a little old woman right in front of us as we walked down a main street (the street opposite the Sacher hotel on the other side of the river)....my DH got the woman away from this freak and she was shacken and scared. I felt unsafe numerous times in Salzburg.
Kathy116
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Re: Switzerland anyone?
And Vienna was just a big city, it didn't have the charm that Luzern or Zermatt had.
I wouldn't worry about trying to see as much as possible, I'd go to the best places, and really take it in.
merf99
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Re: Switzerland anyone?
How far are Zermatt and Luzern (is that the Swiss version of Lucerne?)
Would you go to Zurich and St. Moritz? Looks like we might be passing up Austria....
Thanks for your help!
Kathy116
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Re: Switzerland anyone?
I am glad that I saw all the cities I saw, but if I had just a week in Switzerland, I'd pass up St. Moritz and Zurich.
But, it depends what kind of person you are, and what you like to do.
St. Mortiz was really snobby and people were walking around with all sorts of exotic furs (which really gets under my DHs skin...he always says, 'those are my patients that these people are wearing).
In three restaurants, we could hear these Super wealthy Europeans making fun of Americans and saying how American woman have no class, no style, etc.
I'd say St. Mortiz was nice to visit for a day...but I feel there are only so many high end fashion stores or jewelers that you can go into....some people LOVE window shopping...but these stores are the same high end stores that are on Park or Madison Avenue in NYC...why travel to Switzerland to look at the same stuff?
Zurich was just a big city. We loved Zurich because of our hotel, The Dolder Grand. We never had such amazing service in our lives...but I don't think I'd go back there just to see the city again.
Lucern, Luzern...Lucerne...I've seen it spelled all different ways...I don't know which is the English version, the Swiss version, etc.
Kathy116
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Re: Switzerland anyone?
Zermatt and Lucern are far from each other.
What you can do is start out in Zermatt for a few days...then take the Glacier Express to St. Moritz...stay there for a day, then take a train from St, Moritz to Lucern (I'm pretty sure that was the order for our traveling).
Keep in mind...the to get from Zermatt to St. Moritz on train is about 7 hours....but the Glacier Express is AMAZING...and if you do it, be sure to pay for the Lunch/Dinner...you eat in a dining car, and it's not like airplane food...there's an actual kitchen and cook on the train!
I'd contact a travel agent to set up the details of your trip. If you need one, let me know, ours is excellent!
Kathy116
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Re: Switzerland anyone?
One more thing......the Glacier Express MUST BE RESERVED IN ADVANCE...you must do it before you leave to Switzerland...all the other trains, no big deal...just buy a ticket and find a schedule, it's very easy.
