Hi All,
Am about to finalize the following trip, have a few questions around it.
Trip: May 15 to May 24 for 8 nights/9 days
From Toronto, Canada to Paris and back.
4 nights in Paris
2 nights in Geneva
2 nigths in Zurich
back to Paris and then fly back to Toronto.
So here are the questions:
Is our plan ok, ie 4 nights in Paris etc.
For our trip, should we book a rental car for the whole duration or Get the Eurorail Paris-Switzerland Pass. They both seem to be costing the same.
Being from North America, am very comfortable driving, but am concerned about the petrol/gas prices and parking cost at hotels in the cities.
Have done enough research..but still can%26#39;t decide.
Would really appreciate any suggestions.
Thanks.
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Why Paris then Geneva and Zurich? Especially with just 8 nights?
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Well, its my first trip to Europe, so I wanna touch a few cities and then airfare to paris is cheaper from Toronto compared to Swiss airports.
So the idea is to split the time between Paris and Switzerland ie 4 nights each...but just have that recurring itch to drive around in europe instead of taking the train.
The thing is the Paris forum has advised against seeing Paris by car so am really undecided if I should travel by car or public tranit.
Being american/canadian I really prefer the travel by car especially because of the potential sightseeing I may get along the way.
So in final..
Should I travel Paris and Switzerland by Car or Train?
Any thoughts/tips.
Thanks.
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Hi CoolToronto
You definitely will not want a car in Paris, so you will only have 4 nights with a car so I wouldn%26#39;t worry about the parking cost.
It%26#39;s only a 5 hour drive from Paris to Geneva direct and another 3 hours to Zurich so it%26#39;s not a major drive. Then a 6 hour drive back from Zurich to Paris. Given that you have a desire to drive around a bit of Europe, then hire a car for 4 days.
I would plan on spending 8 hours getting to Geneva and take the A6 south-east out of Paris, get off and take a walk around Auxerre, back roads down to Beaune for another stroll, then back onto the A6 down to Macon and onto the A40 to Geneva. That will give you 2 nights and a whole day in Geneva. Take the A1 to Zurich with the option of a detour through Lausanne and Bern en route, for 2 nights and a Whole day in Zurich.
Be aware that to drive on the A1 (Toll road) in Switzerland you will need to purchase a Vignette to place on the windscreen. They are available at the borders, gas stations and post offices for chf40.00.
Personally, unless I had a compelling reason to visit Geneva and Zurich, I%26#39;d get a car and spend the 4 days driving west into the Loire Valley or east to Troyes and Strasbourg.
In any event, rent a car for the 4 days and have a good trip.
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OK, kinda get your logic.
In which case, I%26#39;d reiterate the previous poster%26#39;s advice: rent a car after you%26#39;re time in Paris. Given the small amount of time you%26#39;ve got, the flexibility of a car will way out weigh any cost differential with the train...
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Many thanks for the suggestions Wigwam and Ella, much appreciated, since I%26#39;m researching the options....any thoughts on buying the France-Switzerland Eurail Pass compared to renting car in Switzerland for 4 days...any major advantages of the Eurail pass over the rental car?
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I am not sure why you want to get to Switzerland but as you say it is your fist trip to Europe, and you have only 8 days, if I were you I woudn%26#39;t spend that time in Geneva and Zurich. It is a personal opinion, but Geneva and Zurich have not much to offer compared to...let%26#39;s say London or Amsterdam or any city in Italy!
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What were you hoping to see in Geneva and Zurich? I%26#39;d think most tourists visiting Switzerland go primarily for the scenery, not the towns. The area round Interlaken is very popular - the Jungfrau railway through the Eiger, the Schilthorn cablecar (famous for a Bond film stunt), Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald, etc, jungfraubahn.ch/en/… There%26#39;s also Zermatt/the Matterhorn or the area round Lake Luzern. Ask on the Switzerland forum, but I believe these are all areas with excellent public transport where a car is a liability rather than an asset. Swiss railways do some useful transport passes.
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If you intend to drive on the autoroutes (motorways) in Switzerland, you must buy a vignette sticker that costs 40 Swiss franks. You can get them at the border.
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