“Train Transport: The best way to travel to St. Moritz from Zurich other than by private jet is by train. After collecting your luggage at baggage claim (assuming you didn’t do “Fly-Rail”), you can catch the train, a model of Swiss efficiency, from the basement of the airport. You must change trains twice, but you will arrive in St. Moritz faster than if you had had a chauffeur pick you up and drive you to St. Moritz. You must first go from the airport (Zurich Flughafen) to the center of the city (Zurich HB), change for the train to Chur, and make a final change at Chur to the cog railway up to St. Moritz. There is no direct train to Chur from the airport, and the trip up the mountain requires that you take a cog railway car. The whole trip takes approximately four hours. Although trains depart from the airport to the city every 15 minutes, and the trip in takes only 10 minutes, you should only get on the train that takes you from the airport to Zurich HB in time to make the connecting train from Zurich HB to Chur. Trust me, the airport is a better place to kill time than the train station in Zurich. The trains from the airport to Zurich HB to Chur depart hourly. A schedule of trains can be found online at www.sbb.ch. Reservations on trains are not required.
If you are going to use the train only for the purpose of getting to St.Moritz from the airport, and you don’t plan any additional tourism during your ski holiday, you should buy a “Swiss Transfer Ticket” (approx. $122 1st class/$80 2nd class) from the www.raileurope.com website, selecting “single country”, “Switzerland” then “Swiss Transfer Ticket” from the drop-down dialogue box at the top of the page. A roving trolley cart on the train provides food and drink. Certain trains have dining cars. Train tickets can also be booked through your travel agent or purchased at the Zurich airport. Although there is not much difference between first and second-class service on the train to Chur, you will want to be in first class for the trip up the mountain on the cog rail train.
Be sure when planning your flights that there is a train that will get you to the airport in time for check-in on the return leg. The morning departures from Zurich are a problem since the train trip is so long. Remember, it requires the same two changes of trains in Chur and Zurich HB to get back to the airport. There are no direct trains, and there is no scheduled train service that would require less than two changes.
Car Transportation: Rental cars are available from all of the major U.S. agencies at the airport and in St.Moritz, but a one-day rental of a station wagon costs more than taking your family on the train, you will pay through the nose to park your car in St. Moritz, and the trip will take exactly the same time as the train. Alternatively, The Palace Hotel can hire a chauffeur to take you to/from St.Moritz, but be prepared to spend $500 each way.
Air Taxi: The Samedan airport provides exclusive private jet service for those who own or rent their own aircraft. The facilities were recently upgraded, and it is even possible to fly in when weather conditions are poor. Unfortunately, there is no scheduled charter service between the Zurich airport and Samedan anymore, but if your party is large enough you can always consider a one-way charter through Jet Aviation (+41-58-158-8470 or www.jetaviation.com) for up to 8 passengers. Excess baggage would have to be sent by train, but they can help you with that when you arrive.
Alternatively, if you’re traveling light, you can charter a helicopter through Heli Bernina (+41 81 852-4677) that will take 40 minutes. “
From a longtime regular visitor from N.Y.
