Travelers- 12hr layover at zurich?

[berettafan]

trying to get booked up for our Italy trip this summer. for those that have done this I'm curious what you might think of the following-

non stop jfk to zurich. spend a night or to in zurich then train to Venice. Venice to Brescia, then to Milan, then to Florence, then to Rome. the former being trains. Now the flight back goes Rome to zurich, 12 hr layover, then from zurich to jfk.

the hotel attached to the zurich airport is $450 per night. ouch! really don't want to spend that for an 8 hour nap.

thoughts on this layover at zurich? not sure how to pass 12 hours at an airport and not be completely miserable. going with wife, 15yo and 9yo. appreciate any tips you well traveled folks might have.

[pwd72s]

Use the time to open your Swiss bank account?

[stomachmonkey]

Get a room.

You're going to want to be comfortable for that 12 hours.

Shower, fresh clothes etc... before a 9 hour flight back.

There are at least 3 hotels just outside the airport that will shuttle you there and back.

Don't end a great vacation on a low note full of stress and misery.

[stomachmonkey]

https://goo.gl/maps/Zo7xAFCn6G62

https://goo.gl/maps/iftpPDFHXSu

https://goo.gl/maps/eB2LH6YJzfM2

https://goo.gl/maps/yKnNqtC7NXz

Cheapest

https://goo.gl/maps/WG9umiQ1ayM2

https://goo.gl/maps/Mq8swQMskjL2

[berettafan]

Will we have time to get through customs?

[Neilk]

Originally Posted by berettafan

Will we have time to get through customs?

Customs in Europe tends to be a formality and pretty quick. You generally make it through before your luggage makes it to the carousel.

[Synchro Joe]

Depending upon which airline, and whether you're coach, business, etc. you can use one of the many lounges at the airport. You can check to see which offer showers, sleeping area, meals, etc. You may have to pay depending on your 'status' with airlines, etc. but it's cheaper than hotel and you're right there. We flew in and out of there on Emirates so used their lounge, so cant' speak to the others. https://www.zurich-airport.com/passengers-and-visitors/airport-services-en/layover-and-lounges/lounges-en

[reachme]

The magazine stands in the airport in Zurich are fantastic. More Porsche, classic and 911 magazines on the newstands than London though more esoteric ones are in German. I always leave with a stack.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by berettafan

Will we have time to get through customs?

Plenty of time.

Pack a change of clothes in a carryon as your big luggage will get checked through to your next leg.

You can stay in a transit hotel on site if customs worries you.

CHF->USD exchange is currently 1->1 so a triple room plus extra mattress will run you $150.00

https://www.zurich-airport.com/passengers-and-visitors/airport-services-en/layover-and-lounges/transit-hotel-bedrooms

Pricelist, https://www.zurich-airport.com/~/media/flughafenzh/dokumente/passagiere_und_besucher/airport_services/preisliste_transit_hotel.pdf

But, you are still in the airport.

From Rome to Zurich is 4 hours, get there 2 hours before flight then a 2 hour flight.

12 hour layover

~9 hours to Maryland.

That's a long day in that environment no matter how you slice it.

Hell, I got stuck in SFO for only 6 extra hours 3 weeks ago and was ready to kill myself.

Me personally, I'd look to break that **** up. YMMV.

[Paul_Heery]

Why are you flying in and out thru Zurich? It seems that most of your trip is to Italy and you are just having layovers in Zurich.

We made a similar trip a few years back. We flew non-stop from JFK to Venice. Took trains city-to-city in Italy. Then flew back to JFK from Rome.

[berettafan]

well we want to see zurich and do the train ride from there to either Venice or Milan. I've read that is worth the trouble. I don't need to see the zurich airport twice but we haven't found a good price otherwise. I'll keep searching.

for the flight back home we're finding it's a LOT cheaper to do this layover business. with four of us it adds up.

[white85carrera]

Get to Zurich then train to Lucerne. Much more friendly city for bumping around. lots to do in town or jump up to Mt Pilatus. CH is all expensive but Zurich is, IMHO, not worth it while Lucerne is always fun and beautiful.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by berettafan

for the flight back home we're finding it's a LOT cheaper to do this layover business. with four of us it adds up.

I hear ya,

Doing England and Scotland with the kids this summer.

Have a non stop into Heathrow but can't get a non-stop coming back from Edinburgh.

Changing the non stop going to one stop saved ~$700.00 per person.

X's 4 makes it well worth the hassle.

[group911@aol.co]

You didn't say whether the 12 hours was day or night?
If daytime, take the light rail down to the city and jump on one of the boats that goes around the lake.
I think you can get off at various points if you've already seen everything you want in Zurich.
Zurich is spectacular.
What's the point in flying across the world to nap in a hotel!
On train travel to Italy, can't remember the route but one of them is the Simplon tunnel that goes through the mountain. Longest tunnel in the world? Amazing when you go in and out of the mountain in Italy just above Lake Maggiore.

[PorscheGAL]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

I hear ya,

Doing England and Scotland with the kids this summer.

Have a non stop into Heathrow but can't get a non-stop coming back from Edinburgh.

Changing the non stop going to one stop saved ~$700.00 per person.

X's 4 makes it well worth the hassle.

Not to highjack but the airport in Edinburgh requires a lot of patience. It's small but very chaotic. Just be prepared for that.