How to Choose the Right Vehicle for Your Swiss Transfer: Seats, Luggage and Skis

To choose a vehicle for a transfer in Switzerland, start with two numbers: how many passengers are traveling and how many pieces of luggage they bring. In the SWISSTRIP fleet, one to three passengers with up to four suitcases travel in a Mercedes S-Class or Maybach, groups of up to six take the Mercedes-Benz V 250 AMG, and larger parties move to a Sprinter, a midibus or a coach with up to 70 seats. In winter, ski and boot bags change the calculation, so count bulky items before you book.

Key facts

• Sedans (Mercedes-Benz S-Class W223, Mercedes-Maybach S 560): 3 passengers, 4 pieces of luggage.
• Minivan (Mercedes-Benz V 250 AMG): 6 passengers, 4 pieces of luggage, luggage trailer available.
• Sprinters: 8 passengers (Mercedes 316 Sprinter) or 15 passengers (Mercedes-Benz Sprinter VIP), one piece of luggage per seat.
• Midibus (Mercedes 519): 17–21 passengers, 20 pieces of luggage.
• Coaches: 35, 50 or 70 seats, one piece of luggage per seat.
• Included with every vehicle: flight tracking, 60 minutes of free waiting time, Meet & Greet with a name sign, no prepayment.

Seats, suitcases and skis per vehicle

The table shows the capacity of each vehicle in the SWISSTRIP fleet. Luggage figures refer to standard suitcases. Ski and snowboard bags, golf bags, pushchairs and oversized hard-shell cases take more room, so list them when you book.

Two details are easy to miss. First, the sedans seat three passengers, not four. Second, the V-Class carries six people but only four standard suitcases, so on a family ski week the luggage trailer is often the deciding factor. The Sprinters and the midibus are described on the minibus page, the coaches on the bus page.

Which vehicle for 2, 4, 7, 12 or 30+ people?

2 people

A couple or two executives travel comfortably in an S-Class W223 or a Maybach S 560: a quiet cabin, space to work or rest and room for four pieces of luggage. If your bags include ski equipment or several large hard-shell cases, tell us the sizes, or switch to the V-Class to be on the safe side.

4 people

Because the sedans seat three, four adults should book the V 250 AMG. It seats six, which leaves spare room for hand luggage and coats, and carries four standard suitcases. Executives who want privacy or have different onward schedules can book two sedans instead.

7 people

The V-Class takes up to six passengers, so a seventh traveler means either a Mercedes 316 Sprinter (8 passengers, 8 pieces of luggage) or a split into a V-Class plus a sedan. One vehicle keeps the group together and makes the airport pickup simpler; two vehicles give flexibility if guests are heading to different hotels.

12 people

The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter VIP carries 15 passengers and 15 pieces of luggage, so a group of twelve has three spare seats and some extra luggage capacity for a few ski bags or event material. If every guest brings skis, tell us in advance. One Sprinter is usually easier than coordinating two or three smaller vehicles in a busy arrival hall.

30+ people

For 17 to 21 passengers, the Mercedes 519 midibus bridges the gap between a Sprinter and a coach. Above that, choose by seat count: the Setra S 516 HD for up to 35, the Mercedes coach for up to 50 and the Setra luxury coach for up to 70 passengers, each with luggage space for one piece per seat. Larger groups, such as delegations at the World Economic Forum in Davos or congress delegates, are split across several vehicles running to one coordinated schedule.

Winter transfers: all-wheel drive, tires and ski storage

Transfers to ski resorts in Switzerland, Austria, France and Italy add a few questions to the vehicle choice.

Where do skis and boots go?

Count each ski or snowboard bag and each boot bag as a separate item. In the V-Class, the optional luggage trailer keeps skis and suitcases out of the cabin, so six passengers still sit comfortably. In the Sprinters and coaches the luggage figure matches the seat count, which covers most ski groups, but let us know about extra equipment in advance.

All-wheel drive (4MATIC)

4MATIC is the name Mercedes-Benz uses for its all-wheel-drive system. All-wheel drive improves traction on snow-covered village roads, but it does not replace winter tires or snow chains where these are required. If your journey ends at a steep driveway or a remote chalet, mention it when booking, so that the vehicle and timing are planned for the last few hundred meters and not just the motorway.

Tires, snow chains and timing

Rules on winter tires and snow chains differ between Switzerland, Austria, France and Italy, and conditions on mountain roads can change within hours. Ask any transfer company how its vehicles are equipped for winter, and build in a buffer before tight connections such as a train or a ski-school start. If snow delays your flight, flight tracking means your chauffeur works to your actual arrival time, and 60 minutes of complimentary waiting time are included.

Car-free resorts

Some resorts cannot be reached by car all the way. Zermatt is car-free: private vehicles may only drive as far as Täsch, and from there the shuttle train or a taxi takes 12 minutes to the village. A road transfer to Zermatt therefore ends in Täsch, where all luggage changes over to the train or taxi, so mention bulky equipment when you book.

Beyond size: purpose and comfort

• Business and VIP travel: the S-Class and Maybach suit board members, private-banking clients and guests arriving by private jet. Ramp-side pickups at private-jet terminals (FBOs) are possible once authorized. Chauffeurs are security-trained; close protection is arranged through licensed partners.
• Families: the V-Class gives children space and, with the trailer, keeps luggage out of the cabin. Child seats are free on request, and pets are welcome.
• Delegations and events: the Sprinter VIP, midibus and coaches move teams together on a fixed timetable, which matters at events such as the World Economic Forum in Davos, where SWISSTRIP has experience with delegations.

What every booking includes

• Meet & Greet in the arrival hall with a name sign
• Flight tracking and 60 minutes of complimentary waiting time
• No prepayment; pay by bank transfer, cash, Visa/Mastercard or TWINT in the vehicle
• VAT-compliant invoices for companies
• Multilingual chauffeurs, available 24/7

Request a fixed price

Send us the date, route, number of passengers and luggage, including skis or oversized items, and we will recommend the right vehicle and quote a fixed price. Use the contact form, write to us on WhatsApp or email service@swiss-trip.ch, day or night.