Switzerland

To find train fares:  https://www.sbb.ch/en   The route below shows a train directly from Flughafen to Bern, but we ended up having to change trains in Zurich HB, Bern, Spiez, and Interlaken Ost, making it 5 trains in total.  We had 4 roller bags, 5 backpacks and a shoulder bag that we had to lug up and down stairs with as few as 6 minutes to get between one train and the next.  I had heard that the views from the train were great, but that didn't start until Spiez, which was gorgeous and it only got better from there. Zurich - Sat arrive at airport, take many trains to Lauterbrunnen Hotel Staubbach https://www.staubbach.com/en/summer/   CHF 42.40/person   At the airport simply follow the "Bahn / Train" signs. The railway station is one level below ground, tracks one more. Short walk from customs exit 2, slightly longer from customs exit 1. All covered, short open but covered passage between customs exit 2 and the "Shopping Centre" where railway station is ...

Total:  $8900 = $2225 hike/hotel/dinner/breakfast, 5 nights 4 days, Sund, Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs $5000.80 = $1108.20 * 2 flights no baggage, $1392.20 * 2 flights one bag $350 = hotels in Zurich * 2 nights (Sat 7/27 and Friday 8/2) $800 = hotel in Lauterbrunnen on Sat, and Zurich on Friday   $1586.42 public transportation total = 120CHF half-fare card/person plus all cable cars, cog rails, buses, and trains see  https://swissphelps.blogspot.com/2024/05/trains.html $800 lunches Sat/sun/mon/tues/wed/thurs/fri/sat $800 dinners Friday 8/2, Sat 8/3, Friday 8/9, Saturday 8/10 $200 breakfast Sat 8/3 (we don't get off the plane until 10:50a, will be lunch time), Saturday 8/10 $280 phones = $10/person/day = 10*7*4 $150 parking $17,328 sub-total $18,230 $18517.20 ACTUAL:  $8900 = $2225 hike/hotel/dinner/breakfast, 5 nights 4 days, Sund, Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs $5312.80 = $1108.20 * 2 flights no baggage, $1392.20 * 2 flights one bag + $312 = $39/flight/each to choose seats so we co...