Plane
If Road Scholar is arranging your air travel to and from the program, and you travel on the scheduled start and end dates, you’ll receive free round-trip transfers from the airport to the hotel.
Arrival day is on October 15, 2025
Meet the group at Swisshotel Kursaal in Bern
Start of Trip: 11:30 a.m. group transfer to Bern; 3:00 p.m. hotel check-in; 5:00 p.m. Orientation followed by Welcome Dinner.
Getting to the site: From the airport in Zurich to the hotel in Bern, take the train to Bern (depending on the time, there is either a direct train or a connection with one change in Zurich HB). From the main exit at Bern Train Station, it is about a five minute walk to the hotel. The train fare will be about CHF 60.
A taxi from the airport to the first hotel, for 1-3 people, will cost approximately CHF 488 if booked ahead of time. You can book a taxi by contacting www.7x7.ch/en/home. If you wait until you arrive in Zurich, the cost will be more expensive.
Getting to the site by train or bus: Yes, but departure transfer is not an easy transfer on your own.
Your trip ends on: Saturday, October 25, 2025 in Annecy at Hôtel Le Pélican
End of Trip: 10:30 a.m. after breakfast; 12:00 Noon hotel check-out. Breakfast available depending on transfer time.
Getting to the airport: From the hotel in Annecy, take the bus to Annecy train station from either bus stop Marquisat, Piscine Marquisat, or Tresum. Here you will change buses and continue on to Geneva Airport. The ride will take up to 2 hours and requires 1-2 changes. The bus fare will be about CHF 30-45.
Information if you are purchasing your own airfare: Transfers for Independent Travelers
Road Scholar no longer offers complimentary transfers to participants with “Program Only” Status. However, both the arrival and departure transfers on this program are an exception to that policy due to the distance to/from the program hotels.
If you arranged air with Road Scholar and are arriving early, departing later, or booked your own air, there is a possibility to reserve a seat on the group arrival and/or departure transfers.
Reservations MUST be made by contacting rseuropeprograms@roadscholar.org no later than 30 DAYS prior to the program start date. Please note that we will not have a final transfer schedule until approx. 7 weeks prior to the program start date and it will be included in the Final Information Packet. As long as your flights fall into the parameters listed below, we will be able to confirm your ability to join a transfer if you reach out prior to that time, but no other details will be available.
YOU MUST INCLUDE YOUR PROGRAM NUMBER AND DATE IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF YOUR REQUEST. If you arranged air on your own, please include your flight information and date of arrival with your request.
There will be only one arrival transfer, and the cost is included in the Swiss Travel Pass provided for this program. If you are booking your own air, your ARRIVAL flight must arrive no later than 10:30 a.m. in order to be approved to join.
The departure transfer schedule will be based on the time of departure for Road Scholar booked flights. In order to ensure you are able to join a departure transfer, your DEPARTURE flight must depart no earlier than 9:00 a.m.
WE CANNOT GUARANTEE TRANSFERS FOR THOSE ARRIVING/DEPARTING OUTSIDE OF THESE TIMES!
Please note: Participants who have purchased Road Scholar airfare are protected against airline change fees; however, anyone who has not purchased Road Scholar airfare will be required to make their own adjustments and may incur fees imposed by the airline.
