bornintheusa

Am interested in purchasing one of these for my 6 days in Switzerland..think this is the best way to go for the following train travel:
Basel to Lucerne
Lucerne to Lauterbrunnen
Lauterbrunnen to Jungfraujoch
Lauterbrunnen to Milan

Plus boat trips on Lake Luzern
Cable cars/gondolas to Mt Pilatus and/or Mt Rigi
Train trips from Lauterbrunnen to Murren, Gimmelwald, Wengen

I have found the half fare card on 2 websites with 2 different prices--are they the same card and if so why such a price discrepancy???
Rail Europe has it for $129 US dollars
https://www.raileurope.com/activitie...rd/index.html#

SBB swiss train ticket site has it for 185CHF
https://www.sbb.ch/en/travelcards-an...ravelcard.html

PalenQ

Yes though I haven't done the maths offhand the Half-Fare thingy would be the best and only card or pass you should consider - the CHF price is for a year-long card but they have a cheaper one-month pass (I think 1 month) and should be comparable to U.S. pricing, set by RailEurope (part owned by Swiss Railways) but not always so check both. I always by Swiss Pass and cards thru www.budgeteuropetravel.com - ask for Byron - he will IMO expertly answer any relevant questions even if not buying but if price is about the same just wait until Switzerland before buying-at any train station - those bought ahead of time face cancellation fees if something pops up and you don't go, etc.

So search www.sbb.ch for month-long TC prices and compare.

Now are those the total of your trips by train, boat and gondola? If so the maths are easy - Half-Fare Card wins no doubt I would wager.

Melnq8

The 30 day Half Fare Card is 120 CHF

bornintheusa

PalenQ-- those are the minimal of the trips we would go on so I think that the month long Half Fare card is the way to go...when I buy this at the first Swiss train station (Basel) do I need a photo to go on the card...or maybe that was just for the year one for 185CHF...

Melnq8

No photo needed for the 30 day card.

bornintheusa

Thank you Melnq8 and PalenQ for the helpful info--love my Fodorite advisors !!

PalenQ

Lauterbrunnen to Milan would only be covered by Half-Fare Card until Domodossola, border station in Italy for Swiss tarifcation purposes- you may find at www.sbb.ch or www.trentialia.com cheaper Lauterbrunnen to Milan discounted tickets vs half-fare to Domodossola then separate ticket from there to Milan - or maybe not - check both.

PalenQ

Plus boat trips on Lake Luzern>

Boats have two classes - 2nd and 1st -IME it is well worth doing first class here as only with that can you sit on the open-air front deck - much nicer than other areas and at half-off not that much.

Lucerne to Interlaken-Ost (change their for Lauterbrunnen) you can also take the tourist-oriented Golden Pass trains with spiffy glass-domed observation cars on the lovely Brunig Pass route (be sure to take this route and not the other route via Bern) - again first-class is more leisurely and at half-off again not that much.

WeisserTee

Just an FYI for anyone reading this thread who's traveling to Switzerland between now and November 5 -- there is a 2 for 1 sale on day cards and only one of the pair traveling needs to have a half-fare card. 75 francs for 2 people traveling second class; 127 for two traveling in first class.

It's a good deal and DH and I are using it next week for a day trip to Lugano.

https://www.sbb.ch/en/travelcards-an...ass-for-2.html

A lesser discount (6 day cards for the price of 5) is available to half-fare card holders buying the multi-pack. https://www.sbb.ch/en/travelcards-an...ravelcard.html

bornintheusa

WeisserTee-- I did see this 2 for 1 sale and am hoping it is something they offer frequently seeing as we won't be in Switzerland until June 2018...does anyone know if this special deal happens often???

PalenQ

Not much in high season but check constantly.

PalenQ

On WeisserT's link there is a code that gives you half-off a Half-Fare Card but I think it is for a whole year but could be cheaper at half-off than a month-long one later. did not peruse details much but check it out.

PalenQ

Lucerne to Lauterbrunnen
Lauterbrunnen to Jungfraujoch
Lauterbrunnen to Milan

Plus boat trips on Lake Luzern
Cable cars/gondolas to Mt Pilatus and/or Mt Rigi
Train trips from Lauterbrunnen to Murren, Gimmelwald, Wengen>

and those are minimal trips - did not read carefully - DO investigate the Berner Oberland Pass valid in Lucerne and Lauterbrunnen areas though check coverage for things you are doing. Could be a better deal than 1/2 Fare Card- could...

PalenQ

http://www.regionalpass-berneroberland.ch/en/