Help with Switzerland-Germany-France Transpo

[wanderlustdoc]

Hello!

I am traveling around Europe with an almost fixed itinerary since I will be training under some doctors yet mixed with a little of pleasure. I will be in Zurich on December 10 and I need to be in the following places on these dates and planning to take these transportation:

10 - Zurich, Switzerland (train to Lausanne, car to Mollens)
10 - Mollens, Switzerland (car to Montreaux)
11 - Montreaux, Switzerland (car to Lausanne, train to Zurich-Heidelberg)
12-14 - Heidelberg, Germany (train to Frankfurt)
15-16 - Frankfurt, Germany (train to Heidelberg)
17 - Heidelberg, Germany (train to Frankfurt, fly to Paris)
18-23 - Paris, France

I know it's pretty tight since I have to meet my advisers in those places except for Zurich which I figured would be the best city to fly into from Asia. I picked to take a rental car from Lausanne to Mollens to Montreaux since I have to be in those 3 places on the 10th and stay that night in Montreaux then back to Lausanne for the train on the afternoon of the 11th.

Oh and Paris is the pleasure part. Lol.

I hope this makes sense. Thanks for all your help in advance!

[Eagle]

wanderlustdoc, I'm not sure I completely understand your question, but do have a few comments.

Your transportation using a combination of trains and rental car for Zurich, Mollens and Montreaux seems like a good plan, as does the travel from Heidelberg to Frankfurt, etc. (I'm assuming you have a conference or something in Frankfurt?).

The one point that I would question, is your plan to travel from Heidelberg to Frankfurt on Dec. 17th and then fly to Paris. That seems rather inefficient, and not a method I would have chosen. My preference would be to use the ICE from Heidelberg to Paris. There's a train leaving at 13:14 on Dec. 17th (one change in Mannheim HBF at 13:29) and arriving in Paris at 16:50 (total travel time 3H:36M). Note that a compulsory reservation is required.

This would seem much more efficient and probably more cost effective, as opposed to taking the train to Frankfurt and spending a lot of time with airport hassles (check-in times, going through security, waiting for the flight, etc.). Travel times to and from airports has to be included as well. Using rail and air travel from Heidelberg to Frankfurt and then Paris is likely going to be a considerably longer trip!

Hopefully the others will have a few comments for you as well.

Cheers!!!

[wanderlustdoc]

EAGLE, thank you so much for the detailed and very helpful response.

I can't change the Heidelberg-Frankfurt-Heidelberg route since on
December 12-14, I have training in Heidelberg
December 15-16, I have patients for therapy in Frankfurt
December 17, I have patients for therapy in Heidelberg.

I know that I should have seen the Heidelberg patients first but they won't be in Heidelberg at that time only on the 17th while the Frankfurt patients would rather be seen on the 15th or 16th. Whew!

I will seriously take the ICE if that is possible on the 18th as I have to to be in Heidelberg the whole day of the 17th.

Would you suggest I purchase the EURAIL Select 3 country pass (5days) for $459? But from the schedule I downloaded from the website, it shows only the schedule until December 8, 2007 (page 49-50). But I will check the www.bahn.de website.

Eagle, thank you once again for your advice.