9 Dec 2018 - Grindelwald
ARRIVAL:
AIRPORT (Flughafen):
When you arrive in Zurich, go through the green customs, “Nothing To Declare”. You are a tourist, bringing nothing into the country for permanent use, except perhaps minor gift items or booze, and neither in such quantities that the Swiss officials will care.
If you are coming into Zurich directly from the States you will most likely land at Terminal E. The most convenient flights from Chicago are Swiss LX009 from ORD to ZRH, Swiss flight LX008 returning ZRH to ORD. To get from Terminal E to passport control and baggage pick-up, you must take an underground train. On the train note the pictures flashed on the sides of the tunnel and the sound effects. The train takes you to Terminal 2.
The Zurich Flughafen (Airport) map can be downloaded at:
Baggage carts are free, and they are designed to go up and down the escalators. ALWAYS BACK THE CART ONTO THE DOWN ESCALATOR SO YOUR BAGGAGE DOES NOT FALL OFF. The two terminals are joined by a forecourt on the departure level which has a kiosk and a Starbucks, so going from one terminal to the other is easy. To get to the railroad station, which is two levels underneath the airport on the opposite side of the roadways, follow the Bahn signs. You will have to go down, under the roadways from Terminal 1; from Terminal 2, cross the road outside and down one escalator to the SBB (Swiss railroad) ticket office. Get your train tickets and go down a second escalator to the proper track for the train to Zurich Hauptbahnhof and Bern. Remember, back the cart down the escalators to make sure your baggage is secure. You can take the baggage cart all the way to the train and leave it on the station platform.
We have four cell phones at the Chalet for guest use, so renting one for yourself is not necessary. The deposit for renting is gigantic, but they record your charge card and the deposit is not levied unless you abscond with the phone and don’t pay the charges. The cell phone is by far the best way to communicate on the mountain. If you rent a phone, call us (see below) when you are on the train to Interlaken Ost, telling us what train you are on. If you have no phone, try to get someone to text us to one of our cell phones. If we know when you left the airport, we will know when to pick you up at Interlaken Ost. Remember, there are two stations in Interlaken. The first is Interlaken West – you do not want that one. Go to the last stop, Interlaken Ost (East),
RAIL:
The rail schedule from the Zurich airport to Interlaken Ost via Bern can be downloaded at: It is updated mid-December each year when all Swiss train schedules change, IF they are going to change.
Train Schedule December 2022 / December 2023
….and so on, you get the picture.
If you’re coming from Geneva, check http://www.sbb.ch/en/home.html for the trains to Bern. The Geneva Airport Railroad Station (Gare) is out and to your right, about 50 meters.
The conductor can always tell you on what track the connecting train to Interlaken Ost is; in Bern it often is directly across the platform from the arriving train. You get to Bern, disembark, cross the platform and climb on the connecting train to Interlaken Ost. If the train is not on the adjoining track, there are ramps near the back of the train as it is positioned in the Bern Bahnhof.
Swiss International Airlines may still have their program whereby you can check your luggage through from any US airport directly to the Grindelwald Bahnhof. This is handy when you’re bringing your own skis, and is effective EXCEPT that the luggage seldom makes it the same day as arrival. I’ve had guests spending most of their first day on the phone trying to trace their luggage. Consider this if you are going to spend some time in Zurich or on the Continent before you arrive at the Chalet to ski. Check your skis and bulky luggage through to Grindelwald and operate out of your carry-on until you arrive in Grindelwald.
ADDRESS, PHONE & COMMUNICATION:
The addresses of the Chalet are:
MAIL:
Postfach 10 / 3818 Grindelwald / Switzerland
PACKAGES: (Use DHL, neither FedEx or UPS have acceptable service to G’wald)
Chalet am Renn / 68 Waergistalstrasse / 3818 Grindelwald / Switzerland
PHONE:
The Chalet phone is: From the States: 011 41 33 853 8888
From within Switzerland: 033 853 8888
011 – International operator in the States only (not in the rest of the world)
41 – Swiss country code
(0)33 – Swiss area code (calls from within Switzerland must put 0 in front of the area code, just as we must put a 1 in front of the area code in the States. So, if you are calling from a Swiss pay phone or from your Swiss cell phone, 033 853-8888)
853-8888 Local phone number for the Chalet am Renn
The Chalet FAX number is: 853-3131 – above conditions apply
All Swiss cell phones have their own area code, usually (0)79 or (0)78 etc.
Rene’s cell phone from within Switzerland: 079 / 619-4001
Coleman’s cell phone from within Switzerland : 079 / 619-4003
We have a separate computer in the guest quarters for guest use, primarily email. This uses a dedicated line, so email communication is no problem. However, PLEASE do not download any materials nor open any junk mail. We want to keep the guest computer virus free. Please respect this. And do not help us by adding your favorite programs, shortcuts or favorites. Also, remember to sign off when you are finished, otherwise the computer remains connected all night long, at a (very slight) per minute cost.
You may call the States easily and cheaply from the Chalet. It is direct dial and the cost is minimal, about eight cents per minute on weekdays, three cents a minute on weekends and evenings. You can talk for and hour and forty minutes for eight bucks. We have several trunk lines coming into the Chalet, so feel free to stay in touch with home if you so desire. OR, you can tell all that you will be out of touch! Your call (pun intended).
RULES, REGULATIONS & ADVICE:
Europe and the rest of the world, Switzerland included, has a different electrical standard than the States. The American standard is 110 volt, 60 hertz (cycles per second). The European standard is 220 volt, 50 hertz. American hair dryers explode on 220 volts. Guest bathrooms all have hair dryers. If you bring any electrical appliances be sure they can run on European current and/or you bring a converter with the proper capacity. You will also need an electrical plug adapter, which we have several of.
Money: Switzerland is NOT part of the EU (or NATO – neutrality, you know) and Switzerland does not deal primarily in Euros, although they will accept Euros - and give change in Swiss Francs. The currency is Swiss Francs, about .9 CHF to the US dollar. Don’t bother with travelers cheques, they are passe’ – hard to cash and get a lousy rate. Use your bank debit card in ATM machines for local currency cash, and your Amex, Visa or Mastercard for purchases, including the railroad tickets. Plastic, be it the ATM debit card or your charge card, gets the best exchange rate. But, beware, there are scams afloat that record your numbers and PIN – be VERY protective of your PIN, don’t be afraid to shield your input. This is now true worldwide, including the States.
The Chalet is a NO SHOES operation. Bring mukluks, slippers, moccasins or other foot coverings to pad around in inside the Chalet. And while we’re on the subject of shoes, bring snow-proof cleated soles for walking around and sledding and something for dancing at the Challi Bar, although stocking feet are also acceptable.
Like most resorts, Grindelwald is casual. Dresses, coats and ties are not necessary in Grindelwald. However, men might want to bring a blazer and tie if you are spending time in Zurich or want to go to the Victoria-Jungfrau Hotel, a super five star elegant hotel in Interlaken, for a special celebratory dinner.
Bring a swimsuit for the hot tub (or not, it’s your choice!). However, if you do bring a swimsuit, you will be requested to put it through a wash cycle without detergent to rinse all vestiges of detergent away. Even the smallest residue of detergent will build up in the hot tub, creating the necessity of draining and refilling. That takes a couple days, and you will be very unpopular with the other guests and the staff if that becomes necessary. Also, ladies (and gentlemen to whom this may apply), please remove hairpins and any other items that may be detached and clog the filters or cause injury.
We have an American washer and dryer available for guest use. Plan to use them and travel lighter.
Switzerland is NOT third world. Everything available in the US is available in Switzerland in some form or other. Ski rental equipment, including clothing, is readily available, and it is new and up to date. Short parabolic skis for rent are the norm. It is likely the rental equipment is better than the equipment you have at home, for the last few years have seen an enormous advance in technology. Rene’ will guide you in the rental procedure, so if you wish to travel lighter and rent, don’t hesitate. Many bring their boots, and rent the rest, although good boots are available too. It helps a lot to let Rene’ know your rental needs before you come so he can reserve the equipment. Give him your height, weight, boot size and level of expertise. His email address is: RLemble@aol.com.
I expect my guests to ski. Snowboarders are discouraged. It is allowed on the mountain, of course, but many of the ski trails have catwalks and other snowboard impediments. Snowboarders will not be happy spending the day with skiing guests. Ski touring is pretty much what Grindelwald is about. There are few short steep mogully double diamond tests like Rolex at Steamboat. Most of the skiing is blue. The run from the top to the bottom is several blue miles long. The Chalet is on the piste, so we ski in, ski out. You can ski home to the Chalet by yourself if you get tired and want to go in early. Rene’ is available for lessons, pointers, directions and moral support.
If you wish to cook, the guest area has its own kitchen. In addition to the guest computer for email, the guest quarters has a television with DVD. Bring your own DVDs if you wish; my supply is limited. American DVDs work.
I have three vehicles. The most useful vehicle is a dark blue VW nine passenger van (BE 909 999). The van has a ski rack on the back, looking somewhat as if it has just emerged from an orthodontic procedure. Two vehicles are all wheel drive, all vehicles are STICK SHIFT. Please don’t ask to use them unless you are experienced with a stick shift. Switzerland recognizes American driver’s licenses, although it is recommended (but not required) that you go to AAA and get a $10 International Driver’s License. I find the International Driver’s License to be a useful alternative means of identification to your passport, which you do not want to carry with you all the time.
The Chalet has a Yamaha (player) piano and talented guests are encouraged to play for us. I do, however, reserve the right to control the volume or declare the piano off limits! The Chalet is NOT wired for music. The atmosphere is to be quiet, relaxed, laid back. For frenetic activity we have the Challi Bar, which many guests will visit, frequently. As an aside, Switzerland has outlawed smoking in public places, so the Challi Bar et.al. are smoke free, as is the Chalet.
Sledding is a wonderful experience, so bring warm sledding clothes. Something you’d wear to the last Bear/Packer game of the season, outside, at Lambeau Field in snow flurries, will be appropriate. And ski shells or trousers which cinch around the ankle are highly recommended, for you sit upright on a luge type sled, steering with your feet, and the snow can fly all the inside way up to your crotch with jeans or khackis – shrinkage, big time!
