Switzerland

We departed Zurich on a newer Airbus A321 with winglets, Finnair flight number AY1512 departing ZRH at 10:55am arriving HEL at 2:45pm, a scheduled duration of 2 hours and 50 minutes over a distance of 1107 miles. Seats feature thinner backs on the newer models and provide better support and a little more space. Food tasted better than it looks in the photo and drinks service was great. On arrival in Helsinki the aircraft parked away from any gates and all passengers were bussed to the terminal. Check in at Zurich airport was very smooth and the smallish Oneworld Lounge was excellent.

Chillon Castle Avenue de Chillon 21, 1820 Veytaux, Switzerland is a great site to visdit and a full day can almost be spent exploring this castle. Here are a few photos taken on a recent visit.

Zurich Central Plaza Hotel Central 1, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland as accommodation over New Years was a great location and the room was great. Over looking the river with the central station across the bridge out front, a COOP store on the other side as well and the tram stops right out the front. Very close to many bars and a wide variety of dining options. One of the only weird things with housekeeping on the second morning the only coffee pods we left were decaffeinated pods and they gave more decaffeinated! Photos show the room and view from the room.

Although we were only staying in Switzerland for less than 6 full days we purchased the Swiss Travel Pass 8 days. This covered travel to and from the hotel in Zurich from Zurich airport and unlimited travel on most trains and trams within Switzerland during our stay. Some recommended trips are between Luzern and Interlaken in both directions, a trip to the town of Brig especially in winter and a trip down to Lugano via Gotthard Basistunnel. Swiss train travel offeres an extensive network, is very clean and on time.

We had arrived late into Zurich on BA712 from London Heathrow so our connection time of 1 hour and 10 minutes was reduced to less than an hour and we had to change terminals and clear another security screening.

Anyway we made it and boarded Cathay Pacific CX382 a Boeing 777 and for this flight we were located in the main business class cabin in the center two seats row 18 being 18D and 18G. Leaving Zurich at 1:30 PM and arriving in Hong Kong the next morning at 7:05 AM the meals were lunch and breakfast with snacks available in between if desired.

These would be the best accommodation experiences during 2013 and 2 from late 2012

Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Beach Road Singapore November 2013

Hotel Haven Helsinki January 2013

Hotel Schweizerhof Bern Xmas day week 2012

The Signature at MGM Grand Las Vegas late December 2012

This would be without a doubt the absolute worst train trip we have ever experienced and that includes Sydney rail experiences! We have used London metro, Paris metro, Los Angeles trains, Tokyo metro, Kyoto metro and Japan rail, Hong Kong Rail, Italian Rail, Barcelona metro, German trains, Finland, Swedish, Danish and Singapore trains, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane rail and yes this Swiss one is without doubt the very worst by a long margin.

Arrived at this hotel to check in late at around 11:00PM and very keen to get to the room and sleep.

Check in person insisted on showing us the room and asked several times if we wanted help with bags which we refused. For a start we had dragged them more than half way around the world already including Los Angeles, Las Vegas, London, Amsterdam and Paris without a problem and that night just wanted to get to the room with the least amount of fuss via the fastest method.

Attempting to book a train like this from Australia will continually divert you to the rail Europe Australian site. Using a UK IP address avoids this and you can access the UK booking site.

Total price was 236 euro for 2 people in first class which they call LYRIAPREMIERE PICCOLO.

Service on board was a meal at your seat which neither of us really ate and a drink with one refill offered.

Images from an around the world trip via;

1. Australia
2. USA
3. Finland
4. Sweden
5. Denmark
6. Germany
7. Austria
8. Switzerland
9. Italy
10. Spain
11. France
12. UK
13. Hong Kong

Cities;