Switzerland Again!

[Cleve]

Hi all

As part of my grand tour with Helen the Hymer this year I am planning to visit the festival de la Vapeur at Blonay. I was going to enter from the direction of Evian Les Bains and need to know

1. Do I need a vignette?
2. If yes, should I apply online now and get it sent to me before I go - about £40 or can I simply buy one at the border. I am under 3.5 tonnes?

Thank you in anticipation.

If I have the vignette I may enter from the North and cross the Northern shore of Lemain instead.

Cheers Clive

 

[Ridgeway]

it's €40 and yes just buy it at the border. only required if you're going to use the Autoroute.

 

[DavidG58]

my understanding is you can't get into Switzerland without one, even if you don't intend to use motorways

could be worth lying about your weight though, I think short trips are cheaper if over 3,5T

no knowledge about your route options though sorry

 

[sdc77]

We've always bought online before we go

 

[Ridgeway]

my understanding is you can't get into Switzerland without one, even if you don't intend to use motorways

No need for a vignette unless you use the autoroute, we will let you in don't worry

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[Cleve]

Good morning everyone and thank you for your replies.

I have actually ordered a vignette on line yesterday evening.

I had been talking to someone earlier in the day about the possibility of visiting some of the Swiss Mountain Railways in addition to the Festival at Blonay.
They recommended that I go to Interlaken for this which would be a good base for several and to get a 4 day regional pass, I have looked at the Swiss Railway website (where I ordered the vignette) and the passes seem to give enormous flexibility and may opt for a longer stay as I am under no pressure time wise.

I look forward to riding on the steamers on the lakes again, I travelled on one from Evian Les Bains to Lausanne return three years ago which was excellent. Such elegant vessels.

Thanks again and any other tips, recommendations welcome.

Clive

 

[Rob Turner]

Camping Jungfrau at Lauterbrunnen is a good base and a 5 min walk to the railway station where you can go into Interlaken or take the cog railway and go up the mountains.

 

[aztecannie]

Yes definitely go up from Interlaken into the mountains in he cable car and walk back down as we did.....amazing. We have also camped at Jungfrau - fabulous!

 

[magicsurfbus]

We've stopped on this site at Matten-bei-Interlaken, with a short walk to the station at Wilderswil. Not sure if they still take MHs though - the website seems very tent village orientated.

We also used this one at Bonigen, by the lake.

 

[Bailey58]

We stayed at Camping Alpenblick on the western end of Lake Thun 3 years ago, an ASCI site which made it affordable in June. A pleasant 30 minute walk into Interlaken or take the bus outside the camp with the the free tourist pass that takes you a fair distant around the area, but only half way to Thun which involves paying extra. We too bought a Regional pass that, although costing around £200 each, saved us probably 3 times that based on the price of the journeys we took. We were blessed with good weather which does make a difference and one or two places were only just open, the Schynigge Platte for one as there was still snow on top.

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[Chris Laing]

You should try and visit the Matterhorn it's wonderful this time of year. There is a superb restaurant with huge sun terrace over looking the famous peak.
It's a Greta place to sit with a beer and admire how awesome it is.
I recommend taking the Gornergrat railway from Zermatt

 

[Bailey58]

Glad I'm not alone in nearly always typing great as greta, must be the position of the keys as it's too easy to skip to T after the E.

 

[Cleve]

Hi Chris

Thank you for the recommendation re the Matterhorn. I will see if I can fit it in. My "Swiss" visit has already expanded exponentially so this will be a "greta" bonus.

I will buy the Regional pass from a station - had considered getting it sent here but no gain. Have received my vignette and when I get Helen back (hopefully this weekend) I will thoroughly clean the inside of the screen to attach it.

Thanks again, Clive

 

[Chris Laing]

In my case its trying to use a Tablet keyboard when you have hands like shovels.

Glad I'm not alone in nearly always typing great as greta, must be the position of the keys as it's too easy to skip to T after the E.

 

[nicholsong]

Good morning everyone and thank you for your replies.

I have actually ordered a vignette on line yesterday evening.

I had been talking to someone earlier in the day about the possibility of visiting some of the Swiss Mountain Railways in addition to the Festival at Blonay.
They recommended that I go to Interlaken for this which would be a good base for several and to get a 4 day regional pass, I have looked at the Swiss Railway website (where I ordered the vignette) and the passes seem to give enormous flexibility and may opt for a longer stay as I am under no pressure time wise.

I look forward to riding on the steamers on the lakes again, I travelled on one from Evian Les Bains to Lausanne return three years ago which was excellent. Such elegant vessels.

Thanks again and any other tips, recommendations welcome.

Clive

Clive

If you like railways this info is probably like 'telling granny how to suck eggs', but do you know about the website 'The Man in seat 61' which is at

www.seat61.com

For you and everyone else reading, it really is a most informative site for rail travel; if he does not list the info he has links to it. It includes such detail as 360 degree tours of various sleeper compartments, in adddition to timetables, fares, routes and ......mountain railways.

It is a journey in itself

Geoff

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[Cleve]

Thank you Geof, I will have a look at that this evening. Clive

 

[Cleve]

Had a look at Mattehorn which is off to the side on my way after Blonay so a strong contender. The "look" was using Google maps which spoke of private/restricted roads, so, any info on this. How is access with a Hymer size camping car and any must avoids please. The view looked fantastic.

Clive

 

[Chris Laing]

Hi Cleve sorry I thought you would parking up and taking Swiss rail to Zermatt.
Zermatt is a car Free zone so only way to get there is by train. There is a campsite 5km from Zermatt where you can stay and get to town via a shuttle I think. If you go to the motorhome ski website their is lots of info there. You will need to get the gonergrat funicular up 10000ft to see the Matterhorn. It's a once in a lifetime visit.

Had a look at Mattehorn which is off to the side on my way after Blonay so a strong contender. The "look" was using Google maps which spoke of private/restricted roads, so, any info on this. How is access with a Hymer size camping car and any must avoids please. The view looked fantastic.

Clive

 

[Cleve]

Brilliant Chris, that is just the sort of info I need. Zermatt it is and use the train.
Demonstrates the value of this forum beautifully.

Thank you Clive

edit - Just had quick look at campsites, looks very promising, my bucket list is growing so quickly I may need a second bucket!

 

[LOOSE WHEEL]

Drove through Switzerland last year on way to Italy and have decided to go back next year. But now I,m over 3.850 tonnes can.t us vignette read all Swiss sites it's hard to find list of costs.
Planning on doing the grand tour roughly in about three weeks.
As anyone done it lately that can put it in laymen teams .

Regards Andy

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[Rob Turner]

Stop at the border and pay for heavy camping car.........€25 for 10 days if I remember correctly.

 

[LOOSE WHEEL]

What happens if it runs out and I'm no were near border.

Thanks for reply Rod

Andy

 

[Rob Turner]

Not a clue if I'm honest but I'm sure somebody will be along shortly

 

[Robert Clark]

They last a year and you buy sets of 10 so might be worth buying a few more than required as yuh can always use them at a later date

 

[Cleve]

Can't help with your costs but if you do not have day running lights then you must use your headlamps day and night. I was fined 40€00 (I did not have any Swiss francs). Just in case.

Have a great trip, I was there last week and back again in about a month but I am on the simple vignette!

Clive

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[Ridgeway]

Would anyone know you're 350kgs over the magic mark ?

I can only guess we maybe on the odd occasion after some trips.....

Just avoid major border points like Geneva, Schaffhausen where they do have weigh bridges.

 

[LOOSE WHEEL]

Would anyone know you're 350kgs over the magic mark ?

I can only guess we maybe on the odd occasion after some trips.....

Just avoid major border points like Geneva, Schaffhausen where they do have weigh bridges.

Thought of this but don,t no werther Merlin looks over 3.5 but as long as I can buy a couple of ten day passes that should get me through .clive I tend to drive with side lights on all the time abroad to warn them there's a nutter on the wrong side the road.