SwitzerlandGuidebook corrections:Please note: The following corrections were submitted by readers and have not yet been confirmed by Rick. Check updates from Rick for the latest.  The transport museum in Luzern is only 1/2 price with a swiss pass. Swiss flex pass is valid for travel up to Lauterbrunnen (not Interlaken) Chateau Chillion is more than a mile form the train station in Montreux. Bus to the Chateau requires coins. william traester in simsbury, ct USA 11/11/2009 www.hotel-st-georges.ch Terry in Vallejo, Ca USA 11/04/2009 Would like to confirm: 4th edition, Switzerland, Luzern, Re: Picasso Museum This collection with photos of Picasso has been moved to the Rosengart Museum on Pilatusstrasse, admission charge was 16 euros, English descriptions are excellent although rather long. Beautiful collection! Loved the photos of Picasso; they helped personalize his work. We were intrigued to go because of the photos and enjoyed the entire collection.
Rita Hester & Claire Appelmans in Santa Cruz, CA USA 10/05/2009 The road signs on page 300 of the 4th edition are helpful to a point - that point is the last one described as the "Peace" sign! I walked to the train station in Frutigen every day and would have loved to know what the sign I passed in that shape actually meant! The book advises that you might be charged for tap water in the large cities. We were charged everywhere from obscure mountainsides to small towns and, of course, in the big cities. It seems to be a sad idea that has taken on a life of its own. Barbara Danzig in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL United States 09/25/2009 In Interlaken, Eurospar is open on Sunday for grocery shopping on the way to Gimmerwald. The Coop is closed on Sunday. There are several smaller markets also open. Kirby Nichols in Anderson, TX USA 09/24/2009 The Gimmelwald to Chilchbalm/Kilchbalm hike is labeled as "very easy." I will grant that I am from Florida and not used to the altitude or hills, but this is a mountain path, not a trail, with a lot of inclines and declines. The locals say it is a little challenging. It doesn't require any climbing skills or anything, but if someone wasn't in reasonably good physical condition, I think this would be quite difficult, especially for anyone with knee issues. Rick's book notes that it can be unsafe if there is snow so you should check on the conditions, and I second that. There were areas of erosion and small water flows that would be more challenging in snowy times. The destination was gorgeous though and the only time we were really completely alone in the Alps, which was very cool. I recommend the hike, but just think it needs a better description to better prepare people. Kimberly Tays in Saint Petersburg, FL USA 09/15/2009 already noted by others- the transport museum only gives a 50% reduction with the swiss pass amir USA 07/26/2009 Swiss Transport Museum no longer offers free admission as of 1/1/09 with Swiss Pass, it now 50% off. There's now a train stop right at the museum and 3 buses #6, 8 and 24 from downtown Luzern. The museum has opened a new building, the Road Transportation Hall end of June. The last bear in Bern died. They are finishing the renovation for the bear bit and bring in more bears soon. There's no longer a Bern Card Museum Pass. The Parliament offers free tours, but call ahead to get your tour in English.
B CA USA 07/26/2009 4th edition, Switzerland, Luzern, Re: Picasso Museum This collection with photos of Picasso has been moved to the Rosengart Museum on Pilatusstrasse, admission charge was 16 euros, English descriptions are excellent although rather long. Beautiful collection! Loved the photos of Picasso; they helped personalize his work. We were intrigued to go because of the photos and enjoyed the entire collection. Karen Lloyd in Lake Zurich, IL USA 06/05/2009 In luzern, the Transport museum is no longer covered by the Swiss pass. They told us it had been changed and now was a 50% reduction Rebecca in Edmond, Ok USA 05/26/2009 1. The folk museum in Stein only gives a 50% discount with the Swiss Pass. 2. The Swiss Pass is good for boat transportation on Lake Murten and is also valid for the 3 lake outting.+ Carolyn Snowberg in San Francisco, CA USA 09/11/2008 Zurich: E.G. Buhrie Collection has a sign posted that museum is closed until further notice. Bruce T. in North Brunswick, NJ USA 09/07/2008 In Lausanne, the Swiss Pass does cover all local transportation (the Guidebook says the rail pass does not, but it does not specify that the Swiss Rail Pass does). Also, the funicular is indeed under construction there, and it is hard to get around with the mess. The Cathedral Notre Dame is not open for viewing Sunday morning. I think Steves said that Chateau de Chillon was about a mile from Montreux, but it is certainly a much longer walk than that from the Montreux train station; it took us over 45 min. (with a heavy pack!). In addition, in the Berner-Oberland area, some of the lift pass prices in the book are not up-to-date. Kari in Dayton, OH USA 08/20/2008 In Murren, you list the hotel Bellevue as every room having a view and a balcony. We booked and asked for the Rick Steves discount, which we got but upon arrival we were given the ONE room in the entire place with neither a view or balcony-and we were told it was because we asked for the RS discount! Not happy about that!! If I had known there were rooms without views (even one) I would have requested a view/balcony as Murren is known for its views. Becca in Phoenix, AZ USA 07/24/2008 Just some pricing hikes in the Berner Oberland: 1) The cost to go up to Jungfraujoch (from Lauterbrunnen) is now CHF 200 (not 157). 2) We stayed at Chalet Bobs in Murren in mid June (which was very nice), but the rate was CHF 60 per person (not 40 CHF as noted in the book). Victoria Van Wie in Cypress, TX USA 06/22/2008 Not really a correction but we found that Lauterbrunnen made the most sense for us as it is centrally located, has MARVELOUS waterfalls and is a wonderful little hike to Gimmelwald. You can easily access the Schilthorn and Jungfrau. Curt and Patty Henderson in Minnetrista, MN USA 06/05/2008 Elite Hotel in Montreux has gone out of business. I was just there this month (3/08) and walked past the empty shell of what used to be it. Booked a great room at Hotel Golf Rene Capt via Expedia for $100/night for a $300 room since it was off-season. Since Montreux is the Swiss Riviera, I think part of the experience of that town is staying in an upscale hotel. I am a dyed-in-the-wool backdoor traveler, but I think Montreux merits a grand hotel to go along with the feel of the place. Also, Swiss Pass doesn't cover the Kunstmuseum in Zurich. Museum is SF12. Karren Tolliver in New Port Richey, FL USA 03/07/2008 In Zermatt, the Alpine Museum has been replaced with the new, larger Matterhorn Museum at the end of Bahnhofstrasse. Nikki in San Jose, CA USA 09/27/2007 Switzerland 2007: - On the colored map at the beginning of the book, Gandria should be one inch lower, on Lake Lugano near the city of Lugano. - The headings at the top of odd numbered pages 157-173 should say "Sights" or "Miscellaneous" instead of "Lauterbrunnen" because they are not about Lauterbrunnen. - I love your guides and just switched from using Lonely Planet all these years. Steve Brown in Olympia, WA USA 09/11/2007 What is mode of current mode of transportation from near center of LAUTERBRUNNEN (Switzerland 2007). Your maps (pages 155 and 161) and your text refer to a CABLE CAR. However in your video you ride a FUNICULAR, as I did on my visit? Lloyd in Overland Park, KS USA 07/31/2007 Page 91 of Switzerland 2007 suggests taking the FUNICULAR to the Fortress Furingen Museum of War History. The funicular is no longer in operation. The concierge at the hotel next to it indicated that repairs to the funicular were not cost-effective and that it has been closed down for the foreseeable future. The walk to the museum from the Stansstad train station (closer to 30 min. than 15) or a taxi are the only options currently available (July 2007). John E. Palomino in Oakland, CA USA 07/28/2007 Appenzell - The phone number for the PubliCar has changed slightly to: 0848 55 30 60 Bill Gordon in Miami, FL USA 07/12/2007 Luzern train station---the lockers for luggage are opposite Track 14 and one other track (maybe Track 2?), not downstairs as it says in the guidebook. We searched around downstairs from end to end before asking---and were told they are up at track level. Lola in Seattle, WA USA 07/10/2007 We had trouble with the trails in Zermatt and ende up on a strenuous one. Also, in Lugano they were not clearly marked. Sara Shaughnessy in Palm City, Fl USA 07/04/2007 Hotel Des Alpes in Luzern (German part of Switzerland) has a new telephone, as well as fax number. The old ones still work but might not work next year... the new ones are Tel. 041 417 20 60, and fax 041 417 20 66. Also prices, I was told, might go up a few francs in 2008. Furrengasse 3 is the hotel entry. In the back of that hotel building, not up front where the restaurant is. As in most hotels double beds as we know them do not exist but two little ones are pushed together which is also no problem. S. I. in Ventura, CA USA 06/21/2007 GTK tours out of Bern has gone out of business. He is a charming man and still answers his phone, but no longer gives tours and has a young family that he is busy with on weekends. Holly Owen in St. Paul, MN USA 06/21/2007 1) The castle at Gruyeres IS open until 6 like the book says but the latest that they will let you go in is 4:30.
2) Cailler Chocolate Factory: You might want to call or e-mail ahead so that you avoid the moment that the “Chocolate Train” arrives. They revamped their tour and you get to see touch and even taste some of the raw materials like the cocoa beans, the almonds and hazelnut as well as the cocoa butter. There are many film clips of all parts of the production process and an interactive map of the factory. They still have a great tasting room and there is no longer any charge for the tour. We were not expecting much and really enjoyed it. We considered trying to find a place to check our bags in Bulle but it would have made is miss our connection to Broc and we would have lost an hour so we took them along. It was NO problem as it is only a short walk (less than a block) from the Broc Fabrique station which is the last stop on that line so very easy to manage. Kathleen Burkley in Peoria, IL USA 06/13/2007 Be warned that if you want to use a credit card to purchase train tickets via the machines in Zurich, you will need to use a credit card that has a PIN number (discovered this after trying a number of times, and then finally asking person at ticket window). Also, everything was closed down in Murten during FastNacht festival (March 3rd - 5th in 2007), which wasn't mentioned in guidebook (we would probably have chosen a different day trip if we had known.) Carol S USA 05/14/2007 GTK tours in Bern, Switzerland doesn't seem to exist. Can't reach website or email address Jodi USA 05/04/2007 On pg 245 you said that Brig is an ugly industrial town.... We found Brig to be a beautiful Swiss town with nice restaurants and hotels. We stayed there about a half aday and overnight and enjoyed it very much. We went on to Chur it was not quite as nice but still more than satisfactory. Richard Stanish in Tulsa, OK USA 01/13/2007 Hiltl Vegetarian Restaurant seems to have moved. I asked a local walking by who pointed to a big billboard where the restaurant used to be, advertising its new location I think....but I don't know German so I don't know for sure. Ellen Bothwell in Melun, MI France 01/13/2007 I just feel that the point needs to be brought accross that from an outsiders perspective, Switzerland is an expensive country. The swiss on average have considerably higher income than do americans, and thus it is a rather expensive place to visit. Switzerland can be toured on a budget, but your trip will have to take a somewhat different approach than a budget trip to a country such as Germany or Italy. Patrick Bertsch in Eugene, OR USA 01/11/2007 |
