oceanrose10

My husband and I are traveling two weeks in Switzerland in July. We will be doing hiking most of the time. We are confused about the passes. WHich train pass should we get:

Here is our itinerary:

FLy into Zurich go by train to Zermatt
3 days in Zermatt hiking using gondolas etc...
one full week in Wengen -
some of the first preliminary hikes with little research might be, but subject to change,
but with the idea of how many gondolas, cog railroads lifts etc..
1: Wengen to Kleine Scheidegg
2: Grutschalp to Murren (Mountain View Trail) + Almendhubel to Murren (North Face trail)
3: Mannlichen gondola to Kleine Scheidegg
4: Lauterbrunnen to Stechelberg + Trummelbach Falls
5: Schynige Platte to First
6: First gondola to Gross Platte via Schilthorn
7: The First Gondola from Grindelwald Side trip to Bern

Side trip to Meiringen to do Trift Bridge and waterfall and maybe hook this in also:
Meiringen to Grosse Scheidegg - is that possible to do that in one day?
Top of Europe - Jungfraujoch
hike the rest of the time there using gondolas and lifts

2 nights in Lucerne
go to Titlis cliff walk
Go to Mt. Rigi
Lake Lucerne
Mount Piatus may be.

How does this sound and what kind of pass would be bests?

Fly out of Zurich next day

ANy suggestions to hiking itinerary would be helpful.

Main idea is to try and figure out which pass since they have changed beginning the first of this year.

Thank you so much for all your help.

Joan

PalenQ

I would recommend the 15-conseutive-day Swiss Saver Pass which would cover most of your trains and give a discount of 50% usually on the ones not fully covered - you will be using some kind of transport daily it seems - anyway for a good look at Swiss trains and passes and things like the Half-Fare Card check out these IMO superb sites:

www.swisstravelsystem.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

Passes also give free entry to 470 Swiss sights - likeI believe Trummelbach Falls and are good on lake boats, city transit, postal buses.

swandav2000

Hi oceanrose10,

I recommend you check out the Half Fare Card -- it costs around 120 chf and gives you half off all of your train or bus or cable car travel. I normally travel to Switzerland as you do -- one base with day-trips out, and I've found the HFC the best option.

The only way to be certain you're getting the best travel card or pass is to do the math -- get the fares for all of your trips and excursions, then lay each out on a spreadsheet. It should be clear which pass or card will work best for you. I used to do this before each of my trips, and every time I did it, the HFC came up as the best option. Now I skip doing the math!

Have fun as you plan!

s

PalenQ

Well maybe the Berner Oberland or Jungfraubahn Pass would be a much better deal than the Half-Fare thingy as most of the travel - except Zurich - would be covered and may overall save you more than the Half-Fare Card.

neckervd

What do you mean with 6) and 7)? I live in the area, but never heard about.
The hikes you list are very heterogeneous:
Gruetschalp - Muerren: 1-2 hrs promenade
Maennlichen - Kleine Scheidegg: 2 hrs promenade
Lauterbrunnen - Truemmelbach: 2 miles along the White Lutschine river, in a flat area
Schynige Platte - First: full day hike.
Tirft hike: count about 1 1/2 hrs from the gondola up to Trift hut, 2 hrs up to Trift bridge and 4 1/2 hrs up to Trift Hut and about 3 hrs for the way back.
Kleine Scheidegg: easy panoramic 1 1/2 hrs hike from First gondola. Buses from Grosse Scheidegg to both, Meiringen and Grindelwald.

Best railpass: depends on your train/cablecar/gondola rides around Zermatt and on a possible Jungfraujoch trip.
Compare:
Swiss Travel Pass
Swiss travel Pass Flex
Swiss half Fare Card
Regional Pass Bernese Oberland, maybe together with a Swiss Half fare Card.

Titlis with Bernese Oberland Pass:
Trains and buses Wengen - Meiringen - Engstlenalp (2 1/2 hrs journey) are free. Half fare for the chairlifts and the gondola Engstlenalp - Truebsee - Titlis (50 min journey).

neckervd

It should be:
Trift hike: count about 1 1/2 hrs from the gondola up to WINDEGG HUT.
Sorry!
BTW: the glacier view is best from Trift Hut.

PalenQ

anyone thinking of the Half-Fare Card should also look at the Swiss Czard, which gives the exact same benefits of half off everything that Half-Fare Card does but also gives a trip from any border or airport to any place in Switzerland and then out to any border point or any airport - often is a better deal than the straight up Half-Fare Card.

swandav2000

Yes, I thought so, too, Pal, especially considering that it will be a long (expensive) train ride from Zurich airport to Zermatt . . . however, I could not find the Swiss Card at www.swisstravelsystem.com overview page. The Transfer Card was there and the Half Fare Card, but nothing on the Swiss Card. I wonder if they've discontinued it.

I do find it when googling "Swiss Card":

https://www.swisstravelsystem.com/en...s-card-en.html

Not sure why the discrepancy.

s

PalenQ

Sold in U.s. agencies for $229 - includes two transfers plus the 50% off for a month or until the last transfer is taken.

PalenQ

The Grutschalp-Murren walk is so so sweet - right along or not far from the edge of the cliff with stirring views of the glacier-drenched Jungfrau Massive the whole way - on a sunny day like we had it was brilliant - there is a famous restaurant/sun terrace - about halfway that is famous for Farmer's Omelettes and other Swiss food.

swandav2000

Pal, I'm not sure if you're addressing me with the information on the Swiss Card -- I do know what it is (which is why I was agreeing with you on my post above).

s

PalenQ

No I was making a general comment - many folks who get a Half-Fare Card have never even heard of the Swiss Card - I know you have because I regularly mention it and you are so well versed - I was not addressing you much the same as when I say Interlaken is a neat town and many who diss it I think never get off the main tourist drag (which you have for sure) - sorry for any implications.

PalenQ

swandav - I was talking to Byron at Budget Europe, from whom I've bought Swiss Passes many times (after checking to see if they were cheaper here than there as they often are but not always!) and he says the Swiss Card has indeed been discontinued....

But there is a new scheme - the Swiss Transfer Ticket not has an option to buy a Swiss Half-Fare Card for 50% off ($125 he says those cost here at full price) and then still have a round trip to any point in Switzerland and back to any border or airport like the Swiss Card (I'll have to check if it does not have to be to the same place and back like the Swiss Card was - not sure).

Transfer Ticket costs about $180 p.p.

Other Swiss Pass news he told me about - on a Swiss Saverpass you no longer get 50% off things in between the first and last day of unlimited travels but again can buy the Half-Fare Card at 50% off. And there is no longer a Swiss Saverpass - for two to five traveling together anymore - only solo passes though he says they are about $40 cheaper than last year.

So have to rearrange my referral to these changing products.

indy_dad

Those hikes look familiar.

Unfortunately, you have to do the math to be sure but I bet the Half Fare Card is very close to the best if not the best if you don't want to bother.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...e-oberland.cfm

swandav2000

Oh wow, that is bad news.

Thanks so much, Pal, for investigating for us!! It's always good to get the latest information (especially for those confusing Swiss passes)!!

Thanks --

s

neckervd

The Swiss Pass is now called Swiss TRAVEL Pass
The Swiss Flexipass has been replaced by
SWISS TRAVEL PASS FLEX WITH SWISS HALF FARE PASS COMBY: same validity as the previous Swiss Flexipass
SWISS TRAVEL PASS FLEX: Unlimited travel by rail, road and waterway on selected days only; NO reductions on other days
Saver Passes don't exist any longer
http://www.swisstravelsystem.com/en/...-overview.html

PalenQ

Unfortunately, you have to do the math to be sure but I bet the Half Fare Card is very close to the best if not the best if you don't want to bother>

You could say the same about the Swiss Transfer Ticket whidch now enables one to buy a Half-fare pass at 50% off - can't go wrong many times better.