!Travel Blog.
Folks, recently we made a holiday trip to Swiss and Italy and thought of sharing the joyful experience with you and also some learning. If you are planning a trip to Europe and looking for some tips......
We took a conscious decision to just focus on two countries ie Switzerland and Italy. Switzerland land because my wonderful friend Debashish and his lovely wife Veena are based at Basel and we wanted to spend some time with them and also make their home as our base.
Once this is finalised I started looking around for the best route and also the cost of flying by a well known airlines.
We have to fly out of Chennai, ie me and Jeyanthi as our son wanted to fly out of Singapore.
I looked at Lufthansa first as that’s the easiest and fastest to reach Zurich. Chennai to Frankfurt and with an hours halt to Zurich but the seats were not available.
I looked at Emirates as it is one airline I love to travel. Also they fly A 380 from Dubai. But the fare was high.
I requested our travel agent Travel Optionz, a Chennai based company (they are really good) and they came out with the option of Oman air.
Though I had flown by Oman Air many times but short hauls only, I was not clear how that airline would be on long hauls...Did enquire with some Gulf friends and they were all pushing me to go for Oman Air the primary reason being their safety record and the world class terminal they had built a couple of years ago.
I found the fare was the most economical compared to any other airlines and without any hesitation advices my travel agent to go for it. My son also decided to fly via Chennai.
The MAA-Muscat was Boeing 737-800. Smaller aircraft but the cabin crew made it up with their wonderful services.
The flight was dot on time and once we reached Muscat and checked in to the lounge, it was a different world. The buffet spread was awesome and the ambience was excellent. It’s as good as Emirates lounge in DxB.
The flight to Zurich was Airbus 330-200 and with very comfortable flat bed. The flight again was dot on time. The cabin crew and the choice of food was also great-am a vegetarian and thoroughly enjoyed their offerings.
The spirit selection was okay.
The cabin comfort and the linens were great.
They served raw dates this time which was just delicious. In the return the flight was on time up to Chennai.
The inflight entertainment was very good with choices of movies, music et al. The cabin crew were just great!!!
Accommodations!
Guys, pl book your rooms well in advance for you to get the best of rates. AirBnB, if you don’t have an account, start one right now.
As mentioned, we kept Basel as our base so that we can travel light out of Basel.
Rithvic took care of the hotel booking in Venice using his points and we stayed at Four Points Sheraton in Venice. Great stay!!!
In Rome, I booked through AirBnB. The entire apartment was ours. Two bedroom, hall, Kitchen with utensils...complete apartment....and the host-Patrizia was just great. It’s centrally located with 7 minutes walking to the Metro and a supermarket in the neighbourhood and lots of eateries.
We stayed at a hotel in Zermatt and AirBnB accommodation in St. Martinez.
There are plenty of options available with AirBnB and if you plan well you can really get great deals.
Euro Rail pass.
Another important thing before you embark on your journey. Euro Rail covers almost the entire region. The trains are the best/effective and most economic ways of transportation. They have different schemes. For example you can take a 7 days pass in 30 days or 10 days pass in 30 days. Each day means, you can travel as much as you want in a day!!!! So planning is vital here. The trains are 99% punctual. Swiss trains are 99.99% and Traintalia is probably 99%. We didn’t experience any delays. The first class compartments are very comfortable....even their second classes are good. For long distance just a day before you can reserve your seats as sometimes, if the trains are running full, you may not get a seat. So for journeys beyond 3 to 4 hours pl book your seats in advance. You have to pay extra for reservation but that’s worth doing it. There are also stop overs where you have to change the train but that’s quite easy. For example, when we travelled from Basel to Venice, it went like this....Basel to Zurich-Lugano-Milan-Venice. But the wait in each station would be a max of 15 to 20 minutes only.
There are lockers available in many of the train stations and suppose your final destination is Milan but you want to spend some time in Lugano, you can keep the baggage’s in their lockers go around the city, come back, take your baggage’s and take the train. In many of the stations, the lockers are quick to access especially in Swiss side. In one station we used the clock room and in other places mostly the lockers. In Pisa town within around 5 minutes walk from the station we found one locker facility and used the same...but all these would cost you some money but not in expensive. You need to ensure the keys or the token are kept safe with you as without that you would end up wasting lots of your precious time. Almost all the restaurants and cafes have WiFi and you get free access. If you are travelling from India, pl go for a Jio sim where the cost of call to India and from India and with in the EU country is just Rs.2 per minute. I topped up 1200 but could only use 850 in 15 days!!! A big thanks to Jio!!!
You have to walk a lot so be aware of that. Public transport like trams, buses, taxis are there too but you would enjoy walking as you can see around the lovely city and its lovely cafes.....
Scintillating Swiss.
What a country...my friend picked us up from Zurich Airport (Debashish and Veena-my ex Diageo colleague who is currently with Colgate based at Basel-wonderful hosts and great couple) and we drove down to Basel.....A shot of Japanese Single Malt (another great whiskey)-i broke my non drinking after almost 330 days-that’s how the day went.
First day we all drove down to Brunen....stunning views but constant drizzle dampened our enthusiasm. But it was a good drive.
Second day....by Euro rail-Basel to Zurich to Lugano-Milano-Venice. Spent a few hours in Lugano.....what a spectacular sight....the lake was so beautiful with the backdrop of the mountains and the lovely cathedral....
Am not going to talk about the lovely places we have visited which you can google and get better perspectives.
Few things first.
In Venice pl understand how the boat rides work and also if you ever want the Gandola ride where to take it from. IF you enquire at the main jetty opposite to the Rail Station, they charge you more....so just go interior and you would get it for 80Euros for around 30 minutes. It’s a great experience but the water is smelly....its not as bad as Coovum but not clean....don’t know why the government is doing nothing.
The cathedrals are great to see for its architecture.
In Venice pl walk around to get a feel of the place. The place is awesome with its lovely cafes and ristorante. Generally the food is good and I was pleasantly surprised to see the veg choices offered by them. Soups are great and so as salads and also the typical pizzas and pastas.
Burano and Murano-unless you have extra time pl don’t bother....glass wares and laces are done even in India....I wasn’t much impressed.
Rome.....I had written about the AirBnB acco in Rome in the beginning.
There are plenty of eateries and vegetarian is available everywhere. Gelato ice cream across everywhere....i saw almost everyone eating ice creams....
If you are staying two or three or four days, pl buy the metro pass.....for two days we paid 12.5 total and you can have any number of trips by metro and the buses.....
You would be visiting Colosseum and Vatican. Pl buy your entry tickets on line in advance to avoid wasting time in the queues....This is a must.
You have to walk around a lot so be prepared.....the area in and around Spanish Steps—-you can spend a whole day there....many places to see.....and every single place is beautiful and the architecture with the sculptures are just mind boggling.
The fountains....WAH....
c
Vatican: Of course, Vatican’s prime objective is to promote Christianity and you would feel that every where. We Indians especially the Hindus have to learn a lot from them....
The St Marks Bascilica in Vatican is something one has to soak in to....what a marvel so as the 16th Chappel in the museum.
The Vatican museum is only for art lovers....too many people and too much of time....I didn’t enjoy....If you are not a museum and arts person, just hit the Bascilica straight after visiting the 16th Chappel—you have to spend a minimum of 2 hours in the Bascilica....
Linen shirts are excellent...if you want to shop.....
The train services including the reservation counter are well manned and world class services....
We have better places to show case in India but the political apathy and lack of interest has not taken us anyway forward.
We need to Promote Tanjore Big Temple, Madurai Meenakshi, Rameswaram, Kashi temples in a big way which would attract millions across the globe. We need to build infra around these places and the government has to do a lot and put a minister in charge for tourism alone with clear KRAs.
Back at Basel on 14th night. Couple of drinks, great food and rested.
15th.
As it was a Sunday we took it easy and left Basel around noon and drove down to Grindelwald....on the way was the spectacular Interloken....where two lakes are separated with a bridge. We didn’t go inside but drove past one of the lakes and it was just spectacular. Spread over probably a few miles, it was a sight to behold.
We reached Grindelwald and took the cable car to the top....cable car was expensive but the sight from the top was another spectacle. We trekked a bit and just soaked in to the lovely mountains and the crisp air.....it was awesome....If you are fond of trekking, reach the top around 11ish and keep a couple of hours for trekking to Bachalpsee Lake.....We could not undertake as we reached the top late but we met those who trekked the one hour long route-one hour- and they were very ecstatic about their experience.
Grindelwald is a small town but like the other towns in Switzerland, its so beautiful.
16th....
Took the train to Zermatt and then to Gornergrat.....the train journey from Zermatt to Gornergrat was, though just half an hour, just awesome with mind boggling views of the mountains and the valleys....Gornergrat was 10000ft MSL and it gives a 360 degree view of the mountains around....You feel that you can just touch the glaciers...The view is just spectacular....you need to just move around, do some small treks, soak in, and enjoy the offerings of the nature....don’t be in rush....feel the inner self and also the oneness with the nature....soak in.....just feel it...
Words cant express ones feelings....this is something one has to experience. From Gornergrat you can view the Matterhorn mountain which looks like Mount Kailash....standing tall and alone covered with snow top....this is whats featured on the Tablorone cover.
We spent quite sometime just soaking in to the surreal spectacles and in the restaurant had lunch and came down.
Evening we walked around Zermatt.....little town but clean and beautiful.....world travellers and trekkers. Pollution free...no vehicles allowed except e vehicles...
If you are adventurous, you can go for para gliding too. I met a pilot who is running a paragliding business for the past 30 years....it would cost around 270 Swiss Franks + the train journey to the point.
Generally things are quite expensive in Switzerland.....
You need to plan well, book the rooms in advance and also google a lot on the kind of food joints and transportation.
One has to be prepared to walk a lot.
This day was so memorable for one of the best experiences of my life.
Also it happened to be my father’s DA.
17/9.
Took the Glacier Express from Zermatt to St. Martinez.
The Glacier Express from Zermatt to St Martinez is a great journey and takes around 7 and half hours.
The train has a panoramic view with huge glass windows and has a great kitchen and service. When you book in advance you can also opt for a 3 course lunch both veg and non veg and staff of the train are amazing. For Euro Rail pass holders, they offer 50% discounts.
The first couple of hours of the journey is great but after some time, I started getting bored as the train almost stops in all the stations en route and for long too.
Some views are breath taking but that’s all....
Ideally, one should travel in this train for some experience, get down after a couple of hours in a nice picturesque location, stay put for a day or two and continue.
The final stop of this train is St. Martinez. The town has a nice lake but the town is a bit quite and boring.
If you are a trekker, you can go to the mountain from St. Martinez by spending another 100 to 200 Euros and trek. Otherwise my advice is to 1) take the Glacier express for the experience, get down at Chur and take a train from there to a town called Luzern.....it takes around 2 hours from Chur to Luzern....One can stay at Luzern and enjoy the beauty of the town and the lovely lake there.
We stayed that evening at St. Martinez and next day morning took the train around 730 and reached Luzern around1130hrs.
18the Sep.
Reached Luzern around 1130 hours.....
What a beautiful town full of tourists and a Great Lake.....
Lovely views from the lake....few places to see.....small town but beautifully laid.
If you are a shopper, branded stores to offer everything and anything.
Great restaurants including some Indian.
We just spent some time around the lake, strolled around the town, ate some nice Italian food, came back to the lake again and spent some more time soaking in,and boarded the train to Basel straight.
Reached Basel around 7 and spent the evening with Debashish and Veena with some Karaoke singing and great food.
19th Sept.
Left around 11 to a place called Titisee....German town....took around an hour and fifteen minutes to reach. This is Black Forest area with lovely trekking on the mountain and a beautiful lake. This town is known for its Cookoo clocks and also for Black Forest Cake and pure honey and home made jams. Lots of German tourists and nice places to stay. But you should spend some good time soaking in to the beauty of the lake and mountain, nice German drinks and beer and lots of walking and trekking. Just for a full day its a great place to visit if you love nature.
Reached Basel around 540 and went straight to the stadium to watch Basel FC vs a leading Russian team match which is the inagural match of the European league. Great and electrifying atmosphere.
One of my old colleagues from IDV days joined me that evening for the match. HE is from TN and managing a huge production company assisting producers who want to shoot in Europe. Felt good to see how people grow in their life in stature and wealth.
Dinner with Roy’s. Again great food and lovely time chatting.
20th Sep.
Time to say Chio.....
Drove down with the Roy’s to the neighbouring German town to get a feel of the shopping experience. Lots of Baselians Tavel to this small town for their shopping as things are much cheaper compared to Basel. Nice little town with huge shopping area....nice experience.
Lunch with the Roy’s and Debashish and Veena drove us to Zurich....spent some quality time moving around the Zurich lake (another spectacular lake). Had some nice chocolates.
Zurich airport and terminal is so clean and beautiful. Spent some time chatting with the Roy’s at the airport terminal and with all our lovely experience boarded the flight of Oman Air back to Chennai.
The flight was dot on time and reached Chennai on 21st around 1330hrs....
What a lovely holiday....One has to spend at least 10 days in Swiss to get enough of this lovely, God’s own country!!!!
