Bernese Oberland/Switzerland with kids in winter?

On Jan 12, 5:45 pm, mumdawn wrote:
> Hi-going for a whistle stop 3 night break to Switzerland with our two
> children aged 3 and 6 years old. Arrive Geneva. Staying at
> Lauterbrunnen and thinking of one day trip to Schilthorn and another
> day trip to Meiringen for the Meiringes and the Sherlock Holmes
> 'Falls'.
> Any advice re rail passes/general advice gratefully received.
> Many thanks and happy travels.

You don't say how soon you're going, the Funicular to Reichenbach
Falls runs from May to October. There is a Sherlock Holmes Museum in
town. You might go for a day of kid skiing or snow cycles in
Grindelwald.

www.bargaintraveleurope.com/07/Switzerland_Grindelwald_Winter.htm
 >> Stay informed about: Bernese Oberland/Switzerland with kids in winter? 

On 13 jan, 02:45, mumdawn wrote:
< Hi-going for a whistle stop 3 night break to Switzerland with our
two
< children aged 3 and 6 years old. Arrive Geneva. Staying at
< Lauterbrunnen and thinking of one day trip to Schilthorn and another
< day trip to Meiringen for the Meiringes and the Sherlock Holmes
< 'Falls'.
< Any advice re rail passes/general advice gratefully received.
< Many thanks and happy travels.

For timetables, ticket prices (within Switzerland) and passes
check http://www.sbb.ch/en/index.htm
http://mct.sbb.ch/mct/en/reiselust/int-gaeste.htm
http://www.swisstravelsystem.ch/?L=2

For your short trip, the regional pass is probably not the
best option
http://www.regiopass-berneroberland.ch/engl/ticket.html

Might also be interesting for preparing your trip:
http://mct.sbb.ch/mct/en/reisezeit/dienstleistungen/familienwagen.htm
http://mct.sbb.ch/mct/en/reisemarkt/services/schalter/reisegepaeck/rei...epaeck-
http://mct.sbb.ch/mct/en/reisemarkt/services/schalter/reisegepaeck/fly...l-bagga

Assuming you arrive by plane: even with the railway-station
at the airport and direct connections to most intercity trains,
trip from Geneva Airport to Lauterbrunnen will take almost
4 hours with 2-3 train changes. Can be kind of challenging
with young children - I would consider at least a more or less
short stop. Shorter in terms of distance, the more scenic
trip (with "Golden Pass"; for itineraries select "Geneva Airport"
to "Lauterbrunnen" via "Gstaad") takes one more hour and
3 train changes - scenery might be worth the additional hour.
Depending on weather (2-3 day forecast is reliable enough)
and time available I would decide for either the faster but only
partially scenic route or the scenic via Montreux, Zweisimmen,
Gstaad.
Montreux might be a "walk stop" - small railway station not
far from lake shore (and great view from there, but depending
again on weather)

If you can, split your luggage and forward at least the
heavier part by train (see one of the links above).

Be also aware that some tourist sites are closed during
Winter and Winter sports resorts overcrowded (and often
also overpriced) in February and March

Have a great trip
 >> Stay informed about: Bernese Oberland/Switzerland with kids in winter? 

Am Sat, 12 Jan 2008 17:45:24 -0800 (PST) schrieb mumdawn:

> Hi-going for a whistle stop 3 night break to Switzerland with our two
> children aged 3 and 6 years old. Arrive Geneva. Staying at
> Lauterbrunnen and thinking of one day trip to Schilthorn and another
> day trip to Meiringen for the Meiringes and the Sherlock Holmes
> 'Falls'.
> Any advice re rail passes/general advice gratefully received.
> Many thanks and happy travels.

The Schilthorn is only good when you have nice weather - otherwise its a
waste of money. Remember that in can be very cold up there in winter, -15
degrees and less. Also when it's very windy the Schilthorn-cable car
doesn't go.

Regarding Rail passes - they have a pass for children for only 20 CHF, it's
valid for a full year and kids are free on every train (as long as they are
with at least one of their parents), even expensive ones like up to
Jungfraujoch. I think the ticket is called "Junior-Card", and definately
worth the money.

Regards,

Frank
 >> Stay informed about: Bernese Oberland/Switzerland with kids in winter? 

On 14 jan, 12:21, Frank Hucklenbroich wrote:
< Am Sat, 12 Jan 2008 17:45:24 -0800 (PST) schrieb mumdawn:
<
< > Hi-going for a whistle stop 3 night break to Switzerland with our
two
< > children aged 3 and 6 years old. Arrive Geneva. Staying at
< > Lauterbrunnen and thinking of one day trip to Schilthorn and
another
< > day trip to Meiringen for the Meiringes and the Sherlock Holmes
< > 'Falls'.
< > Any advice re rail passes/general advice gratefully received.
< > Many thanks and happy travels.
<
< The Schilthorn is only good when you have nice weather - otherwise
its a
< waste of money. Remember that in can be very cold up there in
winter, -15
< degrees and less. Also when it's very windy the Schilthorn-cable car
< doesn't go.

Definitely true for close to all mountain trips.

Once in a while (thermic inversions) you can get great sunshine
at higher altitudes while its raining or foggy in the valleys.
Mountain
travel should alway be planned according to weather forecast.
Be also aware that S/SE part of the Alps mountain range is
sheltered against dominant NW weather fronts (Bernese Alps
therefore more exposed than say Valais or Engadine valley in
Switzerland)

And in addition to my last posting on a possible Montreux stop
while travelling from Geneva to Lauterbrunnen:
http://www.montreux.ch/panoramas/ -> Montreux Downtown
Superb view from the lake-shore and the hills above in Winter
when the mountains are snow-covered, at least by great weather.
 >> Stay informed about: Bernese Oberland/Switzerland with kids in winter? 

Hi-many thanks for all the tips>I really appreciate it.



On Jan 18, 4:11 pm, je wrote:
> On 14 jan, 12:21, Frank Hucklenbroich wrote:
> < Am Sat, 12 Jan 2008 17:45:24 -0800 (PST) schrieb mumdawn:
> <
> < > Hi-going for a whistle stop 3 night break to Switzerland with our
> two
> < > children aged 3 and 6 years old. Arrive Geneva. Staying at
> < > Lauterbrunnen and thinking of one day trip to Schilthorn and
> another
> < > day trip to Meiringen for the Meiringes and the Sherlock Holmes
> < > 'Falls'.
> < > Any advice re rail passes/general advice gratefully received.
> < > Many thanks and happy travels.
> <
> < The Schilthorn is only good when you have nice weather - otherwise
> its a
> < waste of money. Remember that in can be very cold up there in
> winter, -15
> < degrees and less. Also when it's very windy the Schilthorn-cable car
> < doesn't go.
>
> Definitely true for close to all mountain trips.
>
> Once in a while (thermic inversions) you can get great sunshine
> at higher altitudes while its raining or foggy in the valleys.
> Mountain
> travel should alway be planned according to weather forecast.
> Be also aware that S/SE part of the Alps mountain range is
> sheltered against dominant NW weather fronts (Bernese Alps
> therefore more exposed than say Valais or Engadine valley in
> Switzerland)
>
> And in addition to my last posting on a possible Montreux stop
> while travelling from Geneva to Lauterbrunnen:http://www.montreux.ch/panoramas/-> Montreux Downtown
> Superb view from the lake-shore and the hills above in Winter
> when the mountains are snow-covered, at least by great weather.
 >> Stay informed about: Bernese Oberland/Switzerland with kids in winter?