 Poster: A snowHead
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Booked 1 week in Zermatt over Christmas - can fly to either Geneva or Zurich, have taken train from Geneva Airport before and found it very convenient. Is Zurich a better option?
Thanks
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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franga, Far nicer, less busy airport. I think the prices of flights to Zurich generally take longer to get to silly levels. I've flown there a couple of times at half term for not too much. Rail journeys take about the same time.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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franga, Zurich a slightly shorter journey. May involve two rather than one change.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Franga
I've done both - Geneva to Zermatt and return Zermatt to Zurich. Zurich's a nicer airport. Geneva can get VERY VERY busy at peak times. The train journeys took a similar time and both involved 1 simple change at Visp. The main difference was that there were refreshments on the train from Zermatt to Visp but none on the journey from Geneva to Visp.
Checkout the Swiss rail website http://www.sbb.ch/en/timetable.html for times, changes and type of service. Click the 'Show all details' button in the results page of timetable search to get more info about refreshments, platform numbers etc etc.
It looks like the InterRegio (IR), Regio (R) trains services don't have refreshments but the Intercity (IC) and Eurocity (EC) trains do.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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+1 for Zurich if you have the choice. Due to it being less busy, we are often off the plane, with bags and on the train within 40 minutes of landing. Trains to Brig at 40 minutes past the hour, one change at Visp as with the Geneva train. Trains are usually double deckers with buffet car on board, or there is a large Migros supermarket on the floor above the train platforms if you have time to stock up there. Pleasant journey through Bern and central Switzerland.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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franga, Zurich is a slightly better airport to go through, the Swiss Rail timetable link above works every time to check on connections (currently one an hour at half past the hour) but being honest if you are not travelling in peak season theres very little in it I'd go with whichever flight gives better value.
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From my experience of one trip from Zurich to Zermatt I'd reserve a seat on the train though. It was packed at half term when I used it, guess Christmas would be pretty busy too.
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franga, I've just made the connection with your other post…so if you are travelling with kids I would mention that the trains from Zurich often have family carriages (marked "FA" on the online timetable) these have a small soft play area, sometimes with a little slide etc. Not sure that I would specifically miss one train to wait for one of these for example but with small ones it does provide a diversion on the journey if you get a train with one available and they don't run these from Geneva…they may also get a kick out of the double decker trains which again are only on the Zurich route.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Thanks everyone, Zurich it is then. Flight prices (taking baggage allowances into consideration) not dissimilar at the moment either ...
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