Switzerland trains - SwissPass / Half Fare / BO Regional Pass?
Sep 9th, 2016, 05:34 AM
#1
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Switzerland trains - SwissPass / Half Fare / BO Regional Pass?
Hi All,
Just trying to get some feedback on the train travel in switzerland. Our planned itinerary & train travel as per below, and i'm still not sure whether it makes sense to get the Swiss Pass or the Half Fare Card. And also, whether the BO Regional Pass also makes sense to do the traveling around the Bernese Oberland.
Day 1 - Arrive Zurich. Train Zurich-Luzern. Base in Luzern
Day 2 - Go up Mt Pilatus. Train/bus Luzern - Kriens/Wesemlinrain & back. Base in Luzern.
Day 3 - Train Luzern-Interlaken-Lauterbrunnen. Also travel around by train to Lake Thun & surrounding. Base in Lauterbrunnen
Day 4 - Go up Jungfraujoch. Train Lautebrunnen-Jungfraujoch, and back via Grindelwald. Base in Lauterbrunnen
Day 5 - Travel around Murren / Schilthorn / Gimmelwald. Base in Lauterbrunnen
Day 6 - Train to Lauterbrunnen-Montreux. Also travel around to Veytaux Chillon, Villeneuve. Base in Montreux
Day 7 - Travel around to Gorges du Chauderon, Rochers-de-Naye by train. Base in Montreux
Day 8 - Train Montreux to Geneva airport. Depart via Geneva
Just trying to get some feedback on the train travel in switzerland. Our planned itinerary & train travel as per below, and i'm still not sure whether it makes sense to get the Swiss Pass or the Half Fare Card. And also, whether the BO Regional Pass also makes sense to do the traveling around the Bernese Oberland.
Day 1 - Arrive Zurich. Train Zurich-Luzern. Base in Luzern
Day 2 - Go up Mt Pilatus. Train/bus Luzern - Kriens/Wesemlinrain & back. Base in Luzern.
Day 3 - Train Luzern-Interlaken-Lauterbrunnen. Also travel around by train to Lake Thun & surrounding. Base in Lauterbrunnen
Day 4 - Go up Jungfraujoch. Train Lautebrunnen-Jungfraujoch, and back via Grindelwald. Base in Lauterbrunnen
Day 5 - Travel around Murren / Schilthorn / Gimmelwald. Base in Lauterbrunnen
Day 6 - Train to Lauterbrunnen-Montreux. Also travel around to Veytaux Chillon, Villeneuve. Base in Montreux
Day 7 - Travel around to Gorges du Chauderon, Rochers-de-Naye by train. Base in Montreux
Day 8 - Train Montreux to Geneva airport. Depart via Geneva
Sep 9th, 2016, 06:47 AM
#2
Have you even TRIED to check point to point prices?
The more you use a pass the more economical it becomes. With a SwissPass you can get some reductions for some cableways as well as on the Rochers de Naye trip.
You can buy any pass or other product directly from the Swiss Fed Railways site www.sbb.ch/en Do NOT get anything from RailEurope.
The more you use a pass the more economical it becomes. With a SwissPass you can get some reductions for some cableways as well as on the Rochers de Naye trip.
You can buy any pass or other product directly from the Swiss Fed Railways site www.sbb.ch/en Do NOT get anything from RailEurope.
Sep 9th, 2016, 11:31 AM
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I've tried to fill in an excel sheet, comparing point to point prices for the main destinations for full fare, half fare with the card and swiss pass. So far it looks like half fare card will give me better value. But as I add more small excursions from the base, it gets closer to the swiss pass fixed price. And the
The main confusion though is there are some points which is not covered, but you get reductions with the pass (eg. jungfraujoch), while the BO regional pass will also cover some other rides (cable cars & gondolas). Just checking whether anyone's been in the same boat.
And for half fare card, do children get to travel for free, or their fares get halved?
The main confusion though is there are some points which is not covered, but you get reductions with the pass (eg. jungfraujoch), while the BO regional pass will also cover some other rides (cable cars & gondolas). Just checking whether anyone's been in the same boat.
And for half fare card, do children get to travel for free, or their fares get halved?
Sep 9th, 2016, 01:06 PM
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I'd probably go with the 8-consecutive-day Swiss Pass that would cover nearly all your transports except Wengen/Grindelwald to Jungfraujoch -25% on that - you may use a pass more than you think.
Like if funky weather sets in in the Jungfrau Region - take a day trip to Bern, a city with many covered walkways!
also valid on boats, city transports like Kriens to Lucerne (for a boat ride Lucerne to Alpnachstad - from there go up Pilatus and down the other side to Kriens.
A Swiss Pass covers in full trains from Interlaken to Wengen and Grindelwald - including Lauterbrunnen and also the cable ways from Lauterbrunnen to Grutschalp and the connecting train up top to Murren and the cable down to Gimmelwald and cable from there down to the valley at Stechleberg and the postal bus back to Lauterbrunnen - covered in full - 50% off Murren to Schilthorn.
And for half fare card, do children get to travel for free, or their fares get halved?>
Always free as long as accompanied by a parent- not an aunt or grandparent but at least one parent I believe.
<You can buy any pass or other product directly from the Swiss Fed Railways site www.sbb.ch/en Do NOT get anything from RailEurope.>
Very poor advice in my experience as I have been tracking prices for the exact same price bought here in the U.S. and in Switzerland - often the past several years prices have actually been lower than in Switzerland (and no 1-3% foreign transaction fee either)- not always the case and I have not checked recently but DO check each source as in the past on many occasions you could have save significant money buying here vs there - this all depends on currency fluctuations to some extent. If there is little difference in prices just buy once you land at any Swiss train station - anyway for lots of info on Swiss Passes check www.swisstravelsystem.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.
If you were not also going to Montreux perhaps the Berner Oberland Pass would be a better deal.
Like if funky weather sets in in the Jungfrau Region - take a day trip to Bern, a city with many covered walkways!
also valid on boats, city transports like Kriens to Lucerne (for a boat ride Lucerne to Alpnachstad - from there go up Pilatus and down the other side to Kriens.
A Swiss Pass covers in full trains from Interlaken to Wengen and Grindelwald - including Lauterbrunnen and also the cable ways from Lauterbrunnen to Grutschalp and the connecting train up top to Murren and the cable down to Gimmelwald and cable from there down to the valley at Stechleberg and the postal bus back to Lauterbrunnen - covered in full - 50% off Murren to Schilthorn.
And for half fare card, do children get to travel for free, or their fares get halved?>
Always free as long as accompanied by a parent- not an aunt or grandparent but at least one parent I believe.
<You can buy any pass or other product directly from the Swiss Fed Railways site www.sbb.ch/en Do NOT get anything from RailEurope.>
Very poor advice in my experience as I have been tracking prices for the exact same price bought here in the U.S. and in Switzerland - often the past several years prices have actually been lower than in Switzerland (and no 1-3% foreign transaction fee either)- not always the case and I have not checked recently but DO check each source as in the past on many occasions you could have save significant money buying here vs there - this all depends on currency fluctuations to some extent. If there is little difference in prices just buy once you land at any Swiss train station - anyway for lots of info on Swiss Passes check www.swisstravelsystem.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.
If you were not also going to Montreux perhaps the Berner Oberland Pass would be a better deal.
Sep 9th, 2016, 01:27 PM
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Between Lauterbrunnen and Montreux be sure to take the Golden Pass scenic train- takes a bit longer perhaps than the more mainline route via Lausanne but oh so much prettier - fully covered by a Swiss Pass - try to get VIP seats for a real treat!
Sep 9th, 2016, 02:53 PM
#6
Anyone who has ever travelled to Switzerland has been in the same boat.
I've been to Switzerland 8-10 times and I still have to crunch the numbers for each particular trip. It's a royal PITA.
Just glancing at your itinerary, I can't help but think the 8 day Swiss Travel Pass is the way to go.
I've been to Switzerland 8-10 times and I still have to crunch the numbers for each particular trip. It's a royal PITA.
Just glancing at your itinerary, I can't help but think the 8 day Swiss Travel Pass is the way to go.
Sep 9th, 2016, 03:04 PM
#8
FWIW I always buy my passes when I arrive in Switzerland.
I see no benefit in buying them in advance and paying a delivery fee.
Pre-issued passes are only good for a certain amount of time from date of purchase, they need to be validated at point of entry in Switzerland anyway, and my credit card doesn't charge a foreign transaction fee, so it's a non-brainer for me. I buy upon arrival. Simple.
Don't forget the Swiss Travel Pass also covers admission to many museums, and Chillion Castle.
I see no benefit in buying them in advance and paying a delivery fee.
Pre-issued passes are only good for a certain amount of time from date of purchase, they need to be validated at point of entry in Switzerland anyway, and my credit card doesn't charge a foreign transaction fee, so it's a non-brainer for me. I buy upon arrival. Simple.
Don't forget the Swiss Travel Pass also covers admission to many museums, and Chillion Castle.
Sep 9th, 2016, 04:21 PM
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You like paying shipping charges? Go ahead and use RailEurope>
anyone buying two passes will pay no mailing fee from RE or other outlets TMK- any purchase over $399 is free except if you need it rush service.I suggest you do some research before posting inaccurate info.
That said I agree with Melnq8 - unless the price difference is substantial and it indeed has been at times in the past in favor of U.S. I'd just buy it there - passes issued thru RE have to be activated within six months of issuance.
and yes you do have to go to a ticket window anyway to activate the pass.
I still advise folks to do a quick check on both prices - and again at times the difference has been substantial- not usually but at times.
anyone buying two passes will pay no mailing fee from RE or other outlets TMK- any purchase over $399 is free except if you need it rush service.I suggest you do some research before posting inaccurate info.
That said I agree with Melnq8 - unless the price difference is substantial and it indeed has been at times in the past in favor of U.S. I'd just buy it there - passes issued thru RE have to be activated within six months of issuance.
and yes you do have to go to a ticket window anyway to activate the pass.
I still advise folks to do a quick check on both prices - and again at times the difference has been substantial- not usually but at times.
Sep 10th, 2016, 12:56 PM
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Day 3 - Train Luzern-Interlaken-Lauterbrunnen. Also travel around by train to Lake Thun & surrounding. Base in Lauterbrunnen>
The most scenic train route Lucerne to Interlaken-Ost (changing there for Lauterbrunnen) is via the scenic Brunig Pass (part of the Golden Pass Scenic train route) and this goes along Lake Brienz to Interlaken - much more scenic than the other routing thru Bern and along Lake Thun to Interlaken.
The most scenic train route Lucerne to Interlaken-Ost (changing there for Lauterbrunnen) is via the scenic Brunig Pass (part of the Golden Pass Scenic train route) and this goes along Lake Brienz to Interlaken - much more scenic than the other routing thru Bern and along Lake Thun to Interlaken.
Sep 10th, 2016, 02:09 PM
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http://www.goldenpassline.ch/en/interlaken-ost-luzern/
You can take regular trains or the special tourist-oriented Golden Pass scenic train Lucerne to Interlaken-Ost - Swiss Passes fully valid - no reservation required but suggested for seats in panoramic 'observation' cars.
You can take regular trains or the special tourist-oriented Golden Pass scenic train Lucerne to Interlaken-Ost - Swiss Passes fully valid - no reservation required but suggested for seats in panoramic 'observation' cars.
