The Three Faces of Switzerland:
A Railfan's Quest
May 16-29, 2000
Itinerary
Day 1, Tuesday, May 16
Depart from the United States for Zürich on individually
arranged flights.
Day 2, Wednesday, May 17 D
After a light breakfast on the
plane, arrive at Zürich's Kloten Airport - one of the easiest
and most sensible airports in the world to access. Proceed through
Passport Control to baggage claim, zip through Customs, and take
a handy escalator down to the railway station beneath the airport.
If you don't have wheeled luggage, you can use the free luggage
carts. You will be amazed that the carts easily go up and down
the escalators. Five trains per hour connect Zürich's airport
with the main station (the ride takes 10 or 11 minutes). Proceed
to our lovely 4-star Hotel Glockenhof for a two-night stay. It's
a 10-minute walk from the station or a fast cab ride. The hotel
is central but in a quiet location with a garden. You'll have
the afternoon at leisure to catch a nap, stroll down Zürich's
world-famous Bahnhofstrasse or shop in its fabulous stores. This
evening, you'll meet your tour leader, Swiss rail expert George
Drury, at a reception followed by a welcome dinner with wine
and coffee as we glide around Zürich on an exclusive, privately
chartered streetcar restaurant. Overnight: Zürich, Hotel
Glockenhof
Day 3, Thursday, May 18 B
This morning George and our local Zürich guide will lead
an excursion around the city to see the sights and to view and
experience the mind-boggling diversity of public transportation
in the city: a plethora of trains, streetcars, and boats. The
exact itinerary and items to be covered will depend on the weather
- if the weather is good, we'll take a train to the summit of
Uetliberg, a low mountain south of the city. Tonight, dinner
is on your own. You are invited to join George at The Restaurant
Orient Express at the Hotel Terminus in Brugg, a quick train
trip outside of Zürich. Overnight: Zürich, Hotel Glockenhof
Day 4, Friday, May 19 B,D
After breakfast we'll take a
train southwest to Bern, capital of the Swiss confederation.
There we have an easy change of trains to one that will takes
us to the French-speaking parts of Switzerland - through Fribourg
and Lausanne along one of the prettiest stretches of main line
in Switzerland to the town of Morges, on the shore of Lake Geneva
between Lausanne and Geneva. It faces Mont-Blanc. Meanwhile,
our baggage will make its own way and meet us at our hotel, our
base of operations for the next few days. In the afternoon George
will lead an excursion to Aigle, a small wine-making town, to
ride several of the three narrow-gauge mountain-climbing railroads
there. Those who would prefer can take one of the frequent trains
to Geneva or Lausanne and explore either city on their own or
visit the Castle of Chillon at Montreux; nearer at hand are the
narrow-gauge Biere-Apple-Morges railway, which serves the agricultural
country northwest of Morges, and the lakefront park that is the
site of the Morges Tulip Festival. We will dine together at our
4-star hotel - it is right on the lake, with exquisite 5-course
dining and its own train station, Gare St. Jean. Overnight:
Morges, Hotel La Fleur du Lac.
Day 5, Saturday, May 20 B, D
Today we start by taking a train through Lausanne, along the
shore of Lake Geneva, and south up the Rhone Valley to Martigny.
There we will board the Mont Blanc Express, a narrow-gauge train
of the Martigny-Chatelard Railway for the first leg of a ride
back to Geneva. Because the lower part of the Trient Gorge is
so narrow, MC's line climbs steeply up the valley wall, tunneling
here and there, to reach the rim of the gorge higher up. Technologically,
the MC is interesting - even unique - in its combination of cog
rail and third-rail power pickup system. At the border we'll
cross the platform to board a French narrow gauge train that
will take us first up, then down through the resort of Chamonix
to St-Gervais. Two more easy changes of train will ensue as we
follow the valley of the Arve down to Geneva. We will arrive
at Geneva's unpretentious Eaux Vives station, then take a streetcar
across the city to the main station and a quick ride back to
Morges. We will again dine at the hotel, enjoying the exquisite
cuisine of the Hotel La Fleur du Lac
Overnight: Morges, Hotel La Fleur du Lac.
Day 6, Sunday, May 21 B,D
We'll ride back the way we came two days ago as far as the hilltop
walled town of Romont. Our climb up to the town will be rewarded
by views of the surrounding countryside and the mountains of
the Haut Gruyère. Those who would like can visit the church,
the castle, and the Swiss Museum of Stained Glass. After lunch
we'll ride a train across pleasant open country to Bulle, and
from there go through the Gruyère region to Montbovon.
From Montbovon we'll ride another narrow-gauge train down to
Montreux - the twisting descent will afford fine views of Lake
Geneva. Then we'll have a quick ride back to Morges. Dinner tonight
at the hotel. Overnight: Morges, Hotel La Fleur du Lac.
Day 7, Monday, May 22 B
We'll start the day by traveling
up the Rhone Valley to the pleasant market town of Brig. Meanwhile,
our luggage will travel separately to our hotel. In Brig, we'll
board a narrow-gauge train up to the resort town of Zermatt.
After lunch, take an optional ride up the cog railway to the
Gornergrat. If our prayers for clear weather are answered, we'll
enjoy superb views of Switzerland's icon, the Matterhorn, at
4,477 meters high, a stunning sight. Our Swiss passes, included
in the tour, give us a discount. Those who wish can take the
cog railway back down only part way - and participate in Switzerland's
favorite pastime - hiking. It's great fun, if you're fit and
have good hiking shoes. Zermatt is the city where gas-powered
cars are banned - but watch out for the little electric carts
driven by hotel porters! Relax tonight with dinner on your own.
Overnight: Visp, Hotel Touring
Day 8, Tuesday, May 23 B
Visp, nestled between the Bernese and Valais Alps where the Vispa
joins the river Rhone, is an ideal base from which to explore
the area's world-famous resorts and for taking great train trips!
Today you're free to explore on your own. Among the excursions
you could make are a round trip on the Glacier Express route
to Andermatt or Disentis, a trip on any of several aerial cable
cars to resort villages high above the Rhone Valley, a walk along
the path that follows the railway down from the Lötschberg
Tunnel, and a postal-bus ride over Simplon Pass. George will
provide information on the possibilities Overnight: Visp,
Hotel Touring
Day 9, Wednesday, May 24 B, D
Today we'll leave Visp and pass
through Brig. While still in sight of the Brig station, our train
will enter the 12-mile Simplon Tunnel, for years the longest
tunnel in the world. We'll emerge in taly. At Domodossola we'll
change trains and ride the Centovalli Railway - Centovalli means
"100 Valleys," east to Locarno. The railway may well
cross or traverse one hundred valleys; it is one of the most
scenic train rides in Europe. "The line clings to dramatic
hillsides, soars across steep valleys (hence its name) and around
Santa Maria Maggiore affords stunning views," says On the
Rails Around Europe, a Thomas Cook guide. The railway is operated
by two companies, one Italian and the other Swiss. The Swiss
company, the Ferrovie Autolinee Regionali Ticinesi, is known
among rail enthusiasts worldwide for its practice of blithely
using only its initials on the sides of its cars. We'll continue
on to Locarno, where we will stay at a beautiful 4-star hotel
on the lake. Meanwhile, our luggage has been traveling, too,
and we will meet up with it at the hotel. Locarno, on the banks
of Lake Maggiore, is pretty, quiet and relatively lacking in
crowds. Welcome to Ticino, the Italian-speaking canton of Switzerland,
which juts into Italy. We'll enjoy dinner tonight at the hotel.
Overnight: Locarno, Hotel Reber au Lac
Day 10, Thursday, May 25 B
Today we'll ride the Monte Generoso Railway up to the summit
of its namesake mountain with its spectacular views in
good weather - and we'll visit Swiss Miniatur, a miniature village
and garden railway at Melide, just south of Lugano. The scale
of the model buildings at Swiss Miniatur is just right so that
the finger-length lizards that inhabit the area look like giant
crocodiles creeping through the city streets, like a bad monster
movie. Persons who would like to can also ride one or more of
the funiculars that ascend into the mountains watching over Lugano's
bay. One climbs to Monte Bré (930 meters) an incredible
view, says our contributing editor, Ralph Holzwarth, and the
other to San Salvatore (912 meters). Overnight: Locarno,
Hotel Reber au Lac
Day 11, Friday, May 26 B, L
From Locarno, we'll return to
northern, German-speaking Switzerland through the 9-mile Gotthard
Tunnel. The line is one of the most fabulous pieces of railroad
engineering in the world, with spiral tunnels and horseshoe curves.
At Flüelen we'll detrain and board a lake steamer on the
Lake of the Four Forest Cantons for the final leg of our trip
to Lucerne - and we'll have lunch on the boat. This journey is
both relaxing and beautiful. From the boat dock at Lucerne a
short walk will take us to the 4-star Hotel Wilden Mann, a favorite
of IRT travelers. Dinner on your own tonight in one of Lucerne's
delicious restaurants. Overnight: Lucerne, Hotel Wilden Mann
Day 12, Saturday, May 27 B, L
An experienced guide and native of Lucerne will lead us on a
wonderful walking tour of the city this morning. We'll see the
open-air market, the pink baroque interior of the church of St.
Francis, and the unique painting on the buildings in the old
part of Lucerne. Afterward we'll ride a train to Stans, then
take a funicular and an aerial cable car to the summit of the
Stanserhorn, where we'll have lunch while we enjoy a panoramic
view. There will be several options for additional scenic train
and boat travel on the way back to Lucerne. Overnight:
Lucerne, Hotel Wilden Mann
Day 13, Sunday, May 28 B, D
After a morning at the Swiss Transportation Museum, one of the
best in the world, we'll board a lake steamer for a cruise down
the lake to Vitznau, to travel on Europe's oldest rack and pinion
railway. Lunch will be available on the boat. At Vitznau, the
cog railway for a ride up to the summit of Mount Rigi, at 1,800
meters, offers stunning views. It was made famous by Mark Twain
in his book "Innocents Abroad"; we'll enjoy a 360-degree
panorama. We'll ride another cog railway down the other side
of the mountain and return to our hotel. This evening, enjoy
our traditional, farewell celebration at the hotel with
cocktails, dinner, wine and coffee. Overnight: Lucerne,
Hotel Wilden Mann
Day 14, Monday, May 29
Too soon, it always seems, a Swiss vacation is over. Trains run
hourly from Lucerne to Zürich Airport in just 63 minutes.
Escalators and elevators take you up to the check-in counters.
You'll have time for some last-minute purchases (chocolate is
always good) in the many elegant airport shops before boarding
your flight home.
Land-only price of trip:
SAVE $200 per person by booking before November 16, 1999, $2,686
per person, double occupancy. $354 Single supplement
After November 16, add $200 per person.
$2,886 per person, double occupancy $354 Single Supplement
Pre-tour hotel night, Hotel Glockenhof, Zürich: $106 per person, double; $148 single. Post-tour hotel night, Hotel Wilden Mann, Lucerne: $118 per person, double; $146 single.
Please note:
the above tour prices are for Society of International Railway
Travelers members and one guest only. Non-members pay $50 per
person more. Please inquire about Society membership if you are
not now a member! Included in this trip are: Services of a full-time
tour director Accommodation as listed in 4-star hotels, with
the exception of the 3-star Hotel Touring, Visp Buffet breakfast
daily, service charges, taxes Porterage at all hotels, in and
out Separate luggage transfers between all hotels May 19,
Zürich to Morges; May 22 Morges to Visp; May 24 Visp to
Locarno; May 27 Locarno to Lucerne Entrance fee to Swiss Miniatur
in Melide Entrance fee to Swiss Transport Museum in Lucerne Local
English-speaking guide for city tour of Zürich and Lucerne
First-class Swiss Pass valid for 15 days Train tickets not covered
by the Swiss Pass or supplements: Monte Generoso, Stanserhorn
and Mount Rigi All seat reservations wherever they are possible
All gratuities for all included services, except those of your
tour director. Gratuities are always at your option. Reception
and Dinner on a chartered Zürich streetcar restaurant, May
17 5-course cuisine at the Hotel La Fleur du Lac in Morges, May
19, 20, 21 Dinner at Hotel Reber au Lac, Locarno, May 24 Cocktail
party and dinner at the Hotel Wilden Mann, May 28 Lunch on lake
steamer Fluelen to Lucerne Lunch on the Stanserhorn, May 27
Please note: porterage of bags is not included from/to the Zürich Airport because Society members arrive at different times, on different days. Please note we will be delighted to provide a "meet and greet" service, where you will be transferred by private Mercedes with a English speaking driver. From Zürich Airport to Hotel Glockenhoff, $58 per person, double. From Lucerne to Zürich Airport, $125 per person, double. All rates are given per person. Gratuities are included in cost of transfers.
Tour Conditions
How to Book: Call our tour desk at 1-800-IRT-4881 to make a reservation.
A deposit of 15% of the total trip cost is required. Deposits
can be made by check or credit card (Mastercard, Visa, or Discover).
Reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis. Final payment
is made by check 90 days before departure.
Passport: A
valid passport is required, valid for six months after departure
from U.S.
Cancellations:
Notice of cancellations must be received by this office in
writing before 90 days prior to departure and are subject to
a 15% per-person administrative fee (the deposit). Final payment
is due 90 days before the trip. Cancellations occurring within
90 days prior to the trip are nonrefundable unless the space
is resold. In the event the space is resold, a refund, equal
to the resale value of the space, is made after deduction of
the 15% per person administrative fee and applicable airline
cancellation penalties. No refunds will be made in the event
of "no-shows" or cancellations the day of the trip.
No refund will be given for unused portions of the tour. No refund
for airline tickets once issued.
Insurance: We
highly recommend that all passengers protect themselves with
tour insurance to cover your costs in case you must cancel your
journey. We will send you a brochure upon confirmation of your
reservation. Please note: in order to waive medical pre-existing
conditions clauses in the tour insurance, insurance must be post-marked
within seven days of deposit.
Minimum Participants: This tour must have at least 15 passengers in
order to
qualify for special group rates.
Prices: This
tour price is based on currency exchange rates in effect at the
time of printing. In the event of revaluation or devaluation
of U.S.
currency, the tour operator reserves the right to make adjustments.
Price does not include: Passport and visa fees; personal expenses such as laundry; telephone calls; meals and alcoholic beverages not listed in the included section; optional sightseeing excursions; services other than those specifically mentioned in the included section; transfers and baggage handling on the day of arrival and departure; accident; sickness, trip cancellation and baggage insurance; and excess baggage charges on aircraft. Please note: our tours officially begin at the first hotel. The tour does not include porterage from the airport to the first hotel; or from the last hotel to the airport. With IRT members coming and leaving at so many different times, this is impossible to arrange on a group basis. However, if you would like the IRT tour desk to arrange a private car and driver for you at additional cost, please notify IRT at time of booking.
Medical :
Any physical or mental condition which may require special medical
attention must be reported in writing. All Society trips require
some walking to take full advantage of the transportation systems
of each country we visit.
Baggage: Porterage is limited to one main bag per person. Please note that because of the differing times of arriving and departing flights, porterage to and from the airport to and from the first and last hotels is not included. Baggage and personal effects are taken at owner's risk throughout the trip, and baggage insurance is strongly recommended.
Responsibility: The
Society of International Railway Travelers, Inc. (IRT)
and Hardy Publishing Co., Inc. (HPC), parent company of The Society
of International Railway Travelers, act only as agents for the
passenger with respect to travel services. IRT and HPC do not
own or operate any of the suppliers of services or accommodations
for your trip. As a result, IRT and HPC are not responsible for
any negligent or willful act or failure to act of any such supplier
of any other third party over whom IRT and HPC have no control.
We can assume no responsibility nor liability in whole or in part for any delays, delayed or changed departure or arrival, missed carrier connections, loss, damage, weather, strikes, acts of God, circumstances beyond our control, force majeure, war, quarantine, criminal activity, expense, accident, sickness, injury or death to person or property, or mechanical defect, failure, or negligence of any nature howsoever caused in connection with any accommodations, restaurant, transportation or other services, for any substitution of hotels or of common carrier equipment beyond our control, with or without notice, or for any additional expenses occasioned thereby. If due to weather, flight schedules or other uncontrollable factors you are required to spend an additional night, you will be responsible for your own hotel, transfers and meal costs. No refund will be made for any unused portion of the tour due to these causes or voluntary cancellations. Baggage is at the owner's risk entirely.
No revisions of the printed itinerary or the "included" section are anticipated; however, IRT and HPC reserve the right to make changes at any time and for any reason, with or without notice, and IRT and HPC shall not be liable for any loss whatsoever to passengers by reason of such cancellation, substitution or changes. All fares as well as ship and train schedules, port calls, hours of arrival and departure, special programs, and guest lecture series (if applicable), are subject to change without prior notice. IRT and HPC shall not be required to refund any portion of the fare nor make any other compensation under these circumstances. IRT and HPC cannot be responsible for penalties assessed by air carriers that may result due to operational and/or itinerary changes, regardless if the passenger and/or IRT and HPC make the flight arrangements. Any additional expenses resulting from the above will be paid by the individual passenger. IRT and HPC reserve the right to substitute a similar category for those listed in this brochure. IRT and HPC reserve the right to increase the tour price in the event of cost increases due to changes in air fares, currency fluctuations or fuel surcharges and such increases are to be paid to IRT and HPC by the tour participant upon notice to the tour participant of such increases.
The air tickets when issued shall constitute the sole contract between the air company concerned and the purchaser of these tours and/or passenger.
The airlines and other transportation companies concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission, or event during the time passengers are not on board their conveyances.
By forwarding of deposit, the passenger certifies that he/she does not have any mental, physical or other condition of disability that would create a hazard for him/herself or other passengers and accepts the terms of this contract.
IRT and HPC reserves the right to decline to accept or retain any person as a tour member should such a person's health, mental condition, physical infirmity or attitude jeopardize the operation of the tour or the rights, welfare, or enjoyment of other participants. Refunds will be made in accordance with the cancellation policy listed above.
Rates quoted are based on tariffs and exchange current at the time of printing and are subject to changes therein, at or before the time of departure. No revisions of the printed itinerary or its included features are anticipated; however, the right is reserved to make any changes without notice, that might become necessary, with the mutual understanding that any additional expenses will be paid by the individual passenger. Baggage is at the owner's risk throughout the trip, unless insured. The right is retained to refuse any application for reservation(s), cancel any reservation(s) or decline to accept or retain any person as a member of the tour group at any time.
RATES:
Prices quoted are based on fares in effect at the time of printing
and are subject to change prior to departure. Upon payment of
a deposit, tour participants indicate acceptance of the above
terms and conditions.
Complaints: We
strive to offer the very best value in travel services to our
members. However, if you have a complaint during your journey,
please bring it to the attention to your tour leader. Should
the problem remain
unsolved, please write to the Society at its main office (Hardy
Publishing< Co., and the Society of International Railway
Travelers are located at 1810
Sils Ave., Louisville, KY 40205). We will not consider any claims
not made to us within
settled by arbitration in Louisville, Kentucky.
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