Dianedancer

To explain better: We are staying in Interlaken. If we buy the Bernese Oberland pass and need to go to Zurich airport the last day, the pass will cover us as far as Bern but then the rest of the way would not be covered. So how do we go about this? Do we pay for the Bern-Zurich leg at the Interlaken ticket booth before we get on train the last day, for the leg of our trip from Bern to Zurich?

Edward2005

Yes, I think that is how it would work. Have you looked into a general Swiss pass? It would cover all intra-city public transportation (buses, trams, etc.), almost all trains and mountain cable cars, museums, and lake ferries.

PalenQ

Yes just take your BOB Pass up to the station where you start your trip to Zurich from and ask for a supplemental ticket from where the BOB Pass leaves off - very simple and ask about cancelling your own ticket to make sure it is valid - some Swiss trains are on honor systems with spot checks to see if passengers have valid tickets - which means they must be cancelled - usually by sticking them in some cancelling machine on platforms.

Dianedancer

Thanjs Pak. Didn't realize about cancelling the ticket since I've alwsys used a pass.

Edward, the Swiss Pass gives 50% off cable cars, doesn't cover in full, I believe.

PalenQ

Well I always use passes too so am not positive but I'd ask about that when buying that ducat.

PalenQ

IME but not having been on Swiss trains for a few years if inside the train car there is a large diagram of an eye with an eyeball in it colored in yellow then that means the train is on the honor system - if you do not have a valid ticket find the conductor if he/she comes around and they may well not but if they do better have a valid ticket or tell him/her before they find and fine perhaps you!

Edward2005

The Swiss Travel Pass fully covers almost all cable cars except a handful such as the ones above Murren or Wengen. It gives a 50% discount to the Mt Rigi trip. And it fully covers all public rail, bus, and tram routes.

tipsygus

I think Edward2005 is incorrect, the Swiss Travel Pass does not cover cable cars etc it gives a 50% discount on the cable cars and cog wheel trains apart from the journey to Jungfraujoch where travel as dar as Wengen/Grindelwald is free from there up and back the discount is 25%. The usual explanation is that travel is free if there is habitation, otherwise discounts apply. The lakes steamers in Switzerland are also covered, again there are different rules for the boats on Lake Maggiore. Many Swiss museums are also inlcuded.

Edward2005

I'm basing my advice on what is described on the Rick Steves website, which sells such passes:

"Switzerland-only rail passes cover much more: Berner Oberland: All trains and lifts up to Mürren/Wengen/Grindelwald are covered, then 50 percent off lifts above Mürren and 25 percent off lifts and trains above Wengen and Grindelwald."

http://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tip...s#swiss-travel

This is also as it was my last visit in 2009. Of course, things may have changed since then and the RS site could be out of date, but that seems unlikely since they sell the Swiss travel passes.

PalenQ

tipsygus has it right IME - Swiss Passes only give 50% off on aerial cable cars unless they go to an actual town or village - thus Lauterbrunnen to Murren via cable way to Grutschalp is 100% covered because it links two towns - as is the Stechelberg to Gimmelwald/Murren.

But Murren to The Schilthorn is only 50% off because the Shilthorn ain't a town. Most gondolas are 50% off - still a good deal.

Dianedancer

I will look again at the maps of what areas the passes cover and what is covered in full or whether covered in full or 50% (or 25%). Won't be doing the Jungfraujoch trip. You've got to love those red, yellow, white, black solid and dotted lines! A magnifying glass could come to use when looking at these.

Dianedancer

Schynige Platte - Does anyone live there? I remember when we first went (2002) and had the Swiss Pass that the whole trip up there form Interlaken was covered.

Yup, got to check the maps little colored solid lines and dotted ones too. Eyestrain here we come!

PalenQ

Schynige Platte IME of having Swiss Passes in that area for years has never TMK covered Schynige Platte 100% - only 50% because nobody but Teddy Bears live there! Could have been in 2002 but I've been using Swiss Passes here for decades and never had S-P covered more than 50%.

neckervd

Interlaken - ZRH:
You can travel either via Bern or via Bruenig - Lucerne. You will then need a standard fare ticket from either Berne or Lucerne to Zurich airport.
This ticket can be bought at any Swiss railway station, at Wengen, Grindelwald, etc. too.
Bern - ZRH costs 55 CHF
Lucerne - ZRH costs 29 CHF
The journey via Lucerne (much more scenic) lasts 1 hr longer.
In both cases, there will be 1 train change, either at Berne or at Lucerne

PalenQ

Definitely take the slightly longer Brunig Pass rail route Lucerne-Interlaken - one of Switzerland'smost scenic mountain railways - the only mainline Swiss Federal Railways train to use cogs on steep descents and ascents. The Golden Pass tourist-oriented train runs this route if you want the trappings of luxury and special observation cars.

Dianedancer

Thanks neckervd.

neckervd

Instead of guessing whether Rick Steves is right or not, one can just have a look at the official map of the Swiss National Tourist Office. The indications in this map are right for sure!

Open http://www.myswitzerland.com/en-ch/s...avel-pass.html
click on FAQ - show all
click on Travelling in Switzerland
click on area of validity

Dianedancer

Will do.

PalenQ

neckervd is amazing in the detail she/he gives - totally amazing!

Dianedancer

One other question - Does one have to get the BO Pass stamped anywhere or can I just write in the starting date wherever I am and decide to start it? We'd probably be getting the 4 day pass.