Help Plz! Swiss Pass or Regional Pass?
 

I would love help in figuring out which train pass to purchase!

My husband and I are planning our first trip to Switzerland - plan on spending about 6 days in the Bernese Oberland area, stationed in Murren, and then another 4 days in Luzern before flying home from Zurich.

I'm stumped on purchasing either the Swiss Travel Pass or the Regional Pass Bernese Oberland. I called Byron at BETS to ask about the regional pass, but he didn't know much about it. Has anyone purchased the Regional Pass that can speak to it? Does it offer the same benefits as the Swiss Travel Pass (unlimited travel etc but within designated region, free admission to museums, free travel public transportation, 50% discount most mountain railways)?

The prices are similar:
10 day Bernese Oberland Pass is $380 US
8 days Swiss Travel Pass is $399

Any opinions, insights, recommendations or advice would be so appreciated!

I'm going to the Bernese Oberland next July myself, and I've looked into both passes. I'm likely going with the Bernese Oberland Regional Pass, because I'll spend a week in Wengen, and it's my understanding that the BO regional pass covers 100% of all cable cars, gondolas, buses, boats and trains in that area- the exception being only 50% to the Jungfraujoch and the Schilthorn. Now once you leave the Lucerne area, the BO pass doesn't cover you, so you would have to pay the remainder of that ticket to Zurich. But the 100% coverage for all the mountain trains and gondolas and cable cars is what has convinced me.

It's impossible to decide without knowing which cable cars, mountain railways etc. you are planning to ride.

One major difference: The regional pass does NOT cover museums. Also, 100% coverage is only on 3 resp. 5 days, the other days it's only 50% discount.

The regional pass Berner Oberland is valid for the trip to Luzern via Meiringen/Brünig pass, from Luzern to Engelberg/Titlis, but it's only 50% from Brünig pass on.

I am inclined to say you're better off with the Swiss Pass.

Hi HappyFeat,

Have you looked into the one-month Half Fare Card? I've always found that to be the most economical option. I think it costs 120 chf now, and it gives you half off practically everything that moves in Switzerland for one month (including half price when you rent bicycles at the train station).

I used to have to do a spreadsheet to keep track of what's covered under each option & combination, so you may want to do that to make sure you're getting the best pass for your money.

Have fun as you plan!

s

The Regional Pass Bernese Oberland is sold for 4, 6, 8 or 10 CONSECUTIVE days.
It grants free rides between:
Lucerne - Hergiswil - Bruenig - Meiringen - Brienz - Interlaken - Spiez - Zweisimmen - Gstaad - Saanen (Golden Pass),
Bern - Thun - Spiez - Muelenen - Reichenbach - Frutigen - Kandersteg - Goppenstein - Brig,
Interlaken - Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald - Kleine Scheidegg,
Meiringen - Engstlenalp,
Meiringen - Susten Pass,
Meiringen - Grimsel Pass,
Meiringen - Schwarzwaldalp,
Meiringen - Reuti - Alpen Tower
Reuti - Bruenig - Ballenberg - Brienz,
Brienz - Rothorn - Soerenberg - Schuepfheim,
Lucerne - Schuepfheim - Konolfingen - Bern,
Lauterbrunnen - Gruetschalp or Stechelberg - Muerren,
Grindelwald - First,
Grindelwald - Maennlichen - Wengen,
Boats on Lake Brienz and Lake Thun,
Interlaken - Schynige Platte,
Interlaken - Beatenbucht - Gunten - Thun,
Interlaken - Beatenberg,
Beatenbucht - Beatenberg - Niederhorn,
Gunten - Sigriswil - Schwanden,
Muelenen - Niesen,
Reichenbach - Griesalp,
Frutigen - Adelboden,
Kandersteg - Sunnbuel (Gemmi),
Goppenstein - Lauchernalp/Fafleralp,
Zweisimmen - Lenk,
Bern airport - Bern,
Bern airport - Thun

and half fare between:
Hergiswil - Engelberg - Truebsee - Titlis,
Engstlenalp - Jochpass - Truebsee - Titlis,
Susten Pass - Andermatt - Gotthard Pass - Airolo,
Grimsel Pass - Oberwald - Nufenen Pass - Airolo,
Andermatt - Oberwald - Moerel (Aletsch) - Brig,
Grindelwald - Schwarzwaldalp,
Grindewald - Bussalp,
Kleine Scheidegg - Jungfraujoch,
Gstaad - Glacier 3000,
Saanen - Montreux (Lake Geneva).

NO reduction on Lake Lucrne boats and mountain (and other) railways in this area.

As said above, all depends on the places you plan to visit from Wengen resp. Lucerne.

Load down the maps with the range of validity and compare:
http://www.regiopass-berneroberland.ch/offer-2015/
http://www.swisstravelsystem.com/en/...Questions.html
> travellng in Switzerland > where is the Swiss Travel pass valid? > area of validity