Should we get a Swiss Travel Pass?
Apr 24th, 2017, 01:09 AM
#1
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Should we get a Swiss Travel Pass?
Hello,
Our family of four is traveling to Switzerland end of May to June, staying for 14 days. We will be renting a car (I know public transport is efficient there but we still opted to rent one forcertainf reasons) but I heard that a Swiss Pass will still be helpful for us? Especially going up mountains and all.... We are going to Zermatt, Lauternbrunnen, Murren, Gimmwelwald, Schilthorn, Lucern, Mt Titlis and Chur to board Bernini Express to Tirano Italy. What kind of pass you think will be helpful for us (2 adults and 2 kids)?
Thanks in advance.
Our family of four is traveling to Switzerland end of May to June, staying for 14 days. We will be renting a car (I know public transport is efficient there but we still opted to rent one forcertainf reasons) but I heard that a Swiss Pass will still be helpful for us? Especially going up mountains and all.... We are going to Zermatt, Lauternbrunnen, Murren, Gimmwelwald, Schilthorn, Lucern, Mt Titlis and Chur to board Bernini Express to Tirano Italy. What kind of pass you think will be helpful for us (2 adults and 2 kids)?
Thanks in advance.
Apr 24th, 2017, 01:42 AM
#2
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SWITZERLAND BY CAR
It's perfectly possible to visit tons of gems in Switzerland by car, without boarding any train (between June and October, when all mountain roads are open).
But if you want to visit Switzerland by car, don’t choose just the places that can NOT be reached by car (like Muerren, Gimmelwald, Wengen, Schynige Platte, Schilthorn, First, Kleine Scheidegg, Maennlichen, Rigi, Pilatus, Bettmeralp, Zermatt, Braunwald, etc). Otherwise you will have to pay for both: car rental, fuel (about 8 USD per US gallon/3,85 litres) AND mountain railways.
There are tons of beautiful places in the Swiss Alps which can be reached by car. Some suggestions:
Drive from Martigny to Col de la Gueulaz on Lake Emosson (2000m/6600ft). You are then just in front of the Northern side of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain chain of Western Europe. The glaciers of Trient, Tour, Argentiere as well as the peaks of Aiguille d'Argentiere (3900m/13000fr), Aiguille Verte (4120m/13500ft), Grandes Jorasse (4210m/13800ft), Mont Blanc (4810m/15800ft) ar jus a few miles away.
Drive from Martigny to Grand St Bernard Pass (2470m/8100ft) and hike in 1 hr to La Chenalette (2800m/9200ft). From there, you have a stupendous view to the Southern side of Mont Blanc (A Neuve Glacier, Dolent Glacier, Pre de Bar Glacier, Triolet Glacier as well as a lot of 3800 to 4800m / 13000 to 15800ft high peaks). In the South, but farther away, you see the glaciers and peaks of the Gran Paradiso chain.
A easy, but very scenic 6hrs circular hike goes from Col du Gd St-Bernard via Col des Chevaux - Lake Petit Le - Col de Bastillon to the 3 blue mountain lakes of Fenetre and then over the Col de Fenetre de Ferret back to Col du Gd St-Bernard.
Drive from Sion to Col du Sanetsch (2250m/7400ft) and hike in about 2 hrs to Refuge/Restaurant La Quille du Diable on Tsanfleuron Glacier (2900m/9500ft). You are there on the top of a perpendicular cliff and can look down to Lake Derborence, just 1500m/5000ft below your feet. Stupendous view to Mont Blanc chain, Grand Combin, Mont Collon and tons of other peaks.
Drive from Sierre to Grimentz and then up to the end of the road on Lake Moiry (2250m/7400ft) and hike then in aobut 1 hr to Moiry hut (Swiss Alpine club) and Moiry Glacier.
Drive from Brig to Ried-Moerel, go by gondola to Riederalp (5 CHF/one way), hike in 1/2 hr to Riederfurka (2070m/6800ft), visit the visitor's centre/museum of the Jungfrau-Aletsch Nature reserve, walk through the Aletsch Forest and have a look at the Aletsch Glacier (longest glacier of Europe) just below and in front of you.
Drive to Breuil-Cervinia (Italian neighbourhood, 2000m/6500ft) and go by cableway to Plateau Rosa (28 EUR/35 USD roundtrip). Plateau Rosa (3500m/11500ft) is close to Matterhorn Paradise/Kleinmatterhorn (1 mile away, same panorama). The roundtrip ticket from Taesch Parking to Matterhorn Paradise costs 107 CHF/112 USD
Drive to Grimsel Pass (2200m/7200ft) and hike in about 1 1/2 hr to Sidelhorn (2800m/9200ft). Panoramic views to Unteraar Glacier, Oberaar Glacier, 6 mountain lakes around Grimsel Pass, Finsteraarhorn (4300m/14100ft) and dozens of other peaks. You may also hike from Grimsel Pass to Lake Oberaar (1 hr) and along this lake to Oberaar Glacier (another hr).
Drive then from Grimsel Pass to Furka Belvedere and visit the Ice cave in the Rhone Glacier.
Another road in the same area goes to Nufenenpass/Griessee. The hike from the end of the road to Lake Griessee - Gries Pass - Gries Glacier takes about 1 1/2 hrs.
Drive from Davos or St. Moritz to Stelvio Pass (2800m/9200ft). Hike to the glaciers (1 hr or so) or enjoy the view to them from Piz da las Trais Linguas (3 languages peak; 2850m/9400ft).
etc. etc.
But if you prefer to ride with Glacier Express, Bernina Express, Golden Pass Panoramic, etc. and if you want to visit Gornergrat and Jungfraujoch, you better look after rail passes.
You may have a look at
http://www.myswitzerland.com/en/home.html
http://www.swisstravelsystem.ch/en/
It's perfectly possible to visit tons of gems in Switzerland by car, without boarding any train (between June and October, when all mountain roads are open).
But if you want to visit Switzerland by car, don’t choose just the places that can NOT be reached by car (like Muerren, Gimmelwald, Wengen, Schynige Platte, Schilthorn, First, Kleine Scheidegg, Maennlichen, Rigi, Pilatus, Bettmeralp, Zermatt, Braunwald, etc). Otherwise you will have to pay for both: car rental, fuel (about 8 USD per US gallon/3,85 litres) AND mountain railways.
There are tons of beautiful places in the Swiss Alps which can be reached by car. Some suggestions:
Drive from Martigny to Col de la Gueulaz on Lake Emosson (2000m/6600ft). You are then just in front of the Northern side of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain chain of Western Europe. The glaciers of Trient, Tour, Argentiere as well as the peaks of Aiguille d'Argentiere (3900m/13000fr), Aiguille Verte (4120m/13500ft), Grandes Jorasse (4210m/13800ft), Mont Blanc (4810m/15800ft) ar jus a few miles away.
Drive from Martigny to Grand St Bernard Pass (2470m/8100ft) and hike in 1 hr to La Chenalette (2800m/9200ft). From there, you have a stupendous view to the Southern side of Mont Blanc (A Neuve Glacier, Dolent Glacier, Pre de Bar Glacier, Triolet Glacier as well as a lot of 3800 to 4800m / 13000 to 15800ft high peaks). In the South, but farther away, you see the glaciers and peaks of the Gran Paradiso chain.
A easy, but very scenic 6hrs circular hike goes from Col du Gd St-Bernard via Col des Chevaux - Lake Petit Le - Col de Bastillon to the 3 blue mountain lakes of Fenetre and then over the Col de Fenetre de Ferret back to Col du Gd St-Bernard.
Drive from Sion to Col du Sanetsch (2250m/7400ft) and hike in about 2 hrs to Refuge/Restaurant La Quille du Diable on Tsanfleuron Glacier (2900m/9500ft). You are there on the top of a perpendicular cliff and can look down to Lake Derborence, just 1500m/5000ft below your feet. Stupendous view to Mont Blanc chain, Grand Combin, Mont Collon and tons of other peaks.
Drive from Sierre to Grimentz and then up to the end of the road on Lake Moiry (2250m/7400ft) and hike then in aobut 1 hr to Moiry hut (Swiss Alpine club) and Moiry Glacier.
Drive from Brig to Ried-Moerel, go by gondola to Riederalp (5 CHF/one way), hike in 1/2 hr to Riederfurka (2070m/6800ft), visit the visitor's centre/museum of the Jungfrau-Aletsch Nature reserve, walk through the Aletsch Forest and have a look at the Aletsch Glacier (longest glacier of Europe) just below and in front of you.
Drive to Breuil-Cervinia (Italian neighbourhood, 2000m/6500ft) and go by cableway to Plateau Rosa (28 EUR/35 USD roundtrip). Plateau Rosa (3500m/11500ft) is close to Matterhorn Paradise/Kleinmatterhorn (1 mile away, same panorama). The roundtrip ticket from Taesch Parking to Matterhorn Paradise costs 107 CHF/112 USD
Drive to Grimsel Pass (2200m/7200ft) and hike in about 1 1/2 hr to Sidelhorn (2800m/9200ft). Panoramic views to Unteraar Glacier, Oberaar Glacier, 6 mountain lakes around Grimsel Pass, Finsteraarhorn (4300m/14100ft) and dozens of other peaks. You may also hike from Grimsel Pass to Lake Oberaar (1 hr) and along this lake to Oberaar Glacier (another hr).
Drive then from Grimsel Pass to Furka Belvedere and visit the Ice cave in the Rhone Glacier.
Another road in the same area goes to Nufenenpass/Griessee. The hike from the end of the road to Lake Griessee - Gries Pass - Gries Glacier takes about 1 1/2 hrs.
Drive from Davos or St. Moritz to Stelvio Pass (2800m/9200ft). Hike to the glaciers (1 hr or so) or enjoy the view to them from Piz da las Trais Linguas (3 languages peak; 2850m/9400ft).
etc. etc.
But if you prefer to ride with Glacier Express, Bernina Express, Golden Pass Panoramic, etc. and if you want to visit Gornergrat and Jungfraujoch, you better look after rail passes.
You may have a look at
http://www.myswitzerland.com/en/home.html
http://www.swisstravelsystem.ch/en/
Apr 24th, 2017, 02:27 AM
#3
First of all, you need to say which places you plan to use that car FOR. Some you have mentioned can be reached by car and some not.
I am not going to tell you to go other places JUST because they are car-convenient.
You've "heard?" Where? You need to price a couple of trips since we have NO idea what order of travel you've decided upon, how long you are going to HAVE the car, WHERE you are planning to take it, etc., so it is impossible to know whether a pass would be better for you.
If you said you were not going to use a car AT ALL then PERHAPS a pass MIGHT be better than buying point-to-point tickets.
AND, <B>how old</B> are those "two kids?" They might travel for FREE depending on their ages if you get the right kind of pass.
Sorry, we need more info BUT if you want to change all your plans, go ahead...it's your decision.
I am not going to tell you to go other places JUST because they are car-convenient.
You've "heard?" Where? You need to price a couple of trips since we have NO idea what order of travel you've decided upon, how long you are going to HAVE the car, WHERE you are planning to take it, etc., so it is impossible to know whether a pass would be better for you.
If you said you were not going to use a car AT ALL then PERHAPS a pass MIGHT be better than buying point-to-point tickets.
AND, <B>how old</B> are those "two kids?" They might travel for FREE depending on their ages if you get the right kind of pass.
Sorry, we need more info BUT if you want to change all your plans, go ahead...it's your decision.
Apr 24th, 2017, 05:53 AM
#4
Buying a Swiss Travel Pass is overkill if you're driving. You're essentially paying double for your basic transport. Why pay for something you won't use?
The Swiss Travel Pass covers pretty much everything that moves, but only gives a reduction on some mountain top excursions, whereas the Half Fare Card is half off just about everything that moves.
For example, a 15 day Swiss Travel Pass (second class) is currently 458 CHF per adult, 239 CHF per kid between 6-18. That's a lot of $$$ for a family of four who only plans to use it for mountain excursions.
A Half Fare Card is 120 CHF per adult and is good for 30 days. Kids 6-15 travel free with their parents with an included free travel card.
You can park in Lauterbrunnen (for a fee) and take trains/funiculars/gondolas from there to the car-free villages above.
You can park in Tasch (for a fee) and take the train to Zermatt from there.
You can drive in Chur and Lucerne.
Before you commit to a car, I suggest you look at parking rates.
I'd think the Half Fare Card would be a much better option for you, but I'd still crunch the numbers based on exactly what mountain excursions you want to take to see if buying Half Fare Cards are even beneficial, given their cost, plus the 50% you'd still have to pay for each person on each excursion.
The Swiss Travel Pass covers pretty much everything that moves, but only gives a reduction on some mountain top excursions, whereas the Half Fare Card is half off just about everything that moves.
For example, a 15 day Swiss Travel Pass (second class) is currently 458 CHF per adult, 239 CHF per kid between 6-18. That's a lot of $$$ for a family of four who only plans to use it for mountain excursions.
A Half Fare Card is 120 CHF per adult and is good for 30 days. Kids 6-15 travel free with their parents with an included free travel card.
You can park in Lauterbrunnen (for a fee) and take trains/funiculars/gondolas from there to the car-free villages above.
You can park in Tasch (for a fee) and take the train to Zermatt from there.
You can drive in Chur and Lucerne.
Before you commit to a car, I suggest you look at parking rates.
I'd think the Half Fare Card would be a much better option for you, but I'd still crunch the numbers based on exactly what mountain excursions you want to take to see if buying Half Fare Cards are even beneficial, given their cost, plus the 50% you'd still have to pay for each person on each excursion.
Apr 24th, 2017, 07:18 AM
#5
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While it's OK to go from rental car to public transportation on many European itineraries (and even some Swiss trips), if you tell us that you're going to have a car for the duration of a two week trip to Switzerland, and want to know whether a rail pass makes sense, then that does suggest an answer: no, it probably doesn't make sense, but it also doesn't make sense for your itinerary to be a long list of places that you can't go by car, if you are concerned about your budget.
If you are OK with renting a car and parking it for most of the trip, then it would seem that you really aren't very cost conscious, and maybe you just want to purchase a Swiss Pass for the flexibility, even if it's not terribly efficient from an economics standpoint.
On the other hand, if cost is important, you should probably either rethink your itinerary, to be focused on places you can go by car, or rethink the decision to have a rental car for the full trip.
If you are OK with renting a car and parking it for most of the trip, then it would seem that you really aren't very cost conscious, and maybe you just want to purchase a Swiss Pass for the flexibility, even if it's not terribly efficient from an economics standpoint.
On the other hand, if cost is important, you should probably either rethink your itinerary, to be focused on places you can go by car, or rethink the decision to have a rental car for the full trip.
Apr 24th, 2017, 07:33 AM
#6
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With kids in your family renting a car over rail may be a sensible choice. As a result, a rail pass may not be cost effective. You just won't be using public transportation enough.
However, the half-fare card costs 120CF per adult and the kids can ride with the parents for free if they are under 16 years old (not so with point-to-point tickets, I belive). As long as you plan to buy more than 480CF worth of full-fare tickets the half-fare card would indeed save you money. Getting to the Schilthorn, Jungfraujoch, or Titlis and all the other cable cars here and there will add up quickly. You'll have to do the math yourself to know for sure.
However, the half-fare card costs 120CF per adult and the kids can ride with the parents for free if they are under 16 years old (not so with point-to-point tickets, I belive). As long as you plan to buy more than 480CF worth of full-fare tickets the half-fare card would indeed save you money. Getting to the Schilthorn, Jungfraujoch, or Titlis and all the other cable cars here and there will add up quickly. You'll have to do the math yourself to know for sure.
