We are five people planning to visit Switzerland in June 2-8, 2002 . I`ve checked the Swiss Rail Passes options, but still not sure of which is better for us. Our schedule will be as follows:<BR><BR>Day one - Arrive at Zurich airport (one night at the city)<BR>Day two - Zurich to Luzern (one night at the city)<BR><BR>Day three trough eight - Murren (base location). From Murren we will be visiting Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Schilthorn, Kleine Schedigg and Schynge Platte (sorry for the spelling). Can anyone shed some light on the Rail Pass you use on a similar trip?<BR><BR>Thank You.

G. Torres,<BR><BR>I've spent a happy hour doing some calculations and imaginative wanderings, and this is what I've come up with. The figures are per person for two people travelling together.<BR><BR>Buy the 7-day Berner Oberland Regional Pass (www.regiopass-berneroberland.ch), which gives you three free days of travel and four days of 50% reduction. The price is 180 chf. This is why.<BR><BR>Flat-fare for your vacation is this:<BR>Zurich - Luzern 22 CHF<BR>Luzern - Muerren estimated at 65.20 CHF<BR>Muerren - Lauterbrunnen est. at 30 CHF<BR>Muerren - Wengen 30 CHF<BR>Muerren - Schilthorn 60.20 CHF<BR>Muerren - Kleine Scheidegg 65 CHF<BR>Muerren - Shynige Platte est. at 48.80<BR>So the sum of your trips would be 321.20 CHF.<BR><BR>The Swiss Pass for four days is 196 CHF, then when you add the excursions to the Schilthorn and Kleine Scheidegg at half-price, your total is 289.90. The eight-day Swiss Pass is 272 CHF, then your total comes to 314.90 CHF, just about the same as the flat rale fare.<BR><BR>If you buy the Berner Oberland Regional Pass, you would pay 22 CHF to get from Zurich to Lucerne, then use the half-off discount and pay only 32.60 (est) to get from Lucerne to Muerren. Add on the excursion to the Schilthorn (at 50% off, 30.20 CHF), your total cost for your excursions is 264.80 CHF. The cost will go up, of course, if you take excursions past the three free days -- in that case, your total cost will come close to the same price as paying the flat rate. The Berner Oberland Regional Pass offers a 15-day version of 5 free days and 10 days half off, and that is 220 CHF. But then your total cost will be 304.80, not much of a savings.<BR><BR>So -- if you want the freedom to hop on/hop off the trains without worrying about tickets, buy a four-day or eight-day Swiss Pass. If you want to save 56.40 CHF, buy the 7-day Regional Pass. But you may end up scurrying around the mountaintops to fit it all into two or three days to save the money . . . It's all a trade-off.<BR><BR>Well, if you want details of my estimates, feel free to e-mail me. Have a great time.<BR><BR>s

Thank you "s" for posting this. I saw this question this morning and was thinking of taking the time to work out the calculations. Just checked back here and was glad to see someone else had already gone to the trouble and saved me the time. This is pretty much what I would have expected!<BR>The one other thing to think about, however, is that in June if you want or have the time to do any of the lake boat trips, the Swiss pass will include those boats for free. But looking at your plans, I'm not sure if you'll have much time for that.

Gilberto, swandav and Patrick:<BR><BR>I saw this question this morning, too, and I DID the calculation. If I had known that you, swandav, did the same, I had left it. But at the end, my result is different!<BR><BR>The Swiss Pass for 4 days is not useful, because you are travelling 7 days.<BR><BR>The calculation with the Swiss Pass for 8 days:<BR><BR>340 Sfr. standard price<BR>You get 15% off while 2 or more persons travelling together:<BR>289,00 Sfr.<BR>To my mind the Swiss Pass offers only 25% discount on the fares of mountain railways, f.e. Schilthorn, Schynige Platte and Kleine Scheidegg. I checked it once again, and it is the latest information I could get. So you have to pay in addition to your Swiss Pass:<BR>37,50 Sfr Wilderswil-Schynige Platte<BR>45,15 Sfr M&uuml;rren-Schilthorn<BR>26,25 Wengen-Kleine Scheidegg<BR><BR>Total: 397,90 Sfr.<BR>The advantage is that the Swiss Pass includes tram and city buses in Z&uuml;rich and Luzern. If you want to do a boat trip it is also free, but I don't think you will have the time for it.<BR><BR>So I recommend a different thing:<BR>Buy the Swiss Half Fare Card! It costs 99,00 Sfr. and you can get it only in Switzerland, f.e. at the airport.<BR><BR>This card offers you 50% off on all fares: railways, buses, boats or mountain railways! The calculation:<BR>99,00 Sfr SHFC<BR>11,00 Sfr Z&uuml;rich-Luzern<BR>22,30 Sfr Luzern-M&uuml;rren<BR>30,10 Sfr M&uuml;rren-Schilthorn and back<BR>32,50 Sfr M&uuml;rren-Kleine Scheidegg and back<BR>39,40 Sfr M&uuml;rren-Schynige Platte and back<BR>32,80 M&uuml;rren-Z&uuml;rich<BR><BR>Total: 267,10 Sfr.<BR><BR>Or you can buy the "Jungfraubahnenpass" in addition to the SHFC. It costs 90,00 Sfr. and gives you 5 days free travelling on the most mountain railways in the Jungfrau area (around M&uuml;rren-Interlaken). You should buy it latest on the railway station in Interlaken Ost, where you have to change the train from Luzern to M&uuml;rren.<BR><BR>The calculation:<BR>99,00 Sfr SHFC<BR>90,00 Sfr Jungfraubahnenpass<BR>11,00 Sfr Z&uuml;rich-Luzern<BR>14,50 Sfr Luzern-Interlaken (-M&uuml;rren free)<BR>30,10 Sfr Schilthorn (50% off with SHFC)<BR>free Kleine Scheidegg<BR>free Schynige Platte<BR>24,00 Sfr (free M&uuml;rren-)Interlaken-Z&uuml;rich<BR><BR>Total: 268,60 Sfr.<BR>This offers you the advantage to do the trip to Kleine Scheidegg from M&uuml;rren via Wengen and back via Grindelwald without any surcharge! Or you can take the gondola to Grindelwald after a little hiking from Scheidegg to M&auml;nnlichen. <BR><BR>Swandav's version with the Berner Oberland Regionalpass is in my calculation 290,90 Sfr.<BR><BR>So I recommend the version with SHFC and Jungfraubahnenpass. <BR>Don't hesitate to contact me for additional information. I have got the map for validity of this Pass as .gif and the validity of the Berner Oberland Pass as .htm File.<BR><BR>Wish you a wonderful vacation!<BR><BR>Ingo

I ask you, where else in the world would you find people who take this much time to work out such helpful advice for free? Fodorites are really wonderful.

G. Torres, Patrick, & Ingo:<BR><BR>This is almost as much fun as the actual journeys, eh? Almost.<BR><BR>Ingo: Thank you for supplying the vital missing links! I didn't even consider the half-fare card or the Jungfraubahnenpass. I assume from your e-mail address that you're writing from Germany, so I appreciate your more accurate and more complete additions.<BR><BR>G. Torres: As you can see, the Swiss transport system offers you so many options, it's like trying to pick the best chocolate from a whole box of best-chocolates. You really can't go wrong. I think I would follow Ingo's choice (Swiss Half Fare Card & the Jungfraubahnen Pass) for convenience, for economy, and for simplicity.<BR><BR>Patrick: This great community continues despite all of its faults & detractors. Some members, like you, the late & respected Ed, & many, many other reliable regulars keep me coming back. I love "travelling" with all of y'all!<BR><BR>s

Consider getting the Berner Oberland Pass. You'll get more bang for your buck. The thing to consider is that the Swiss Pass is free only on the National Rail System. Many of the Mountain Transport you have mentioned are private and only offer a 25-50% reduction (some 0%) with the Swiss Pass anyway. For where you want to go here is how the costs break down.<BR><BR>http://www.regiopass-berneroberland.ch/<BR><BR>Reg. Prices<BR>ZRH Airport-Zurich Hofbahn 6.20<BR>Zurich Hofbahn-Luzern 22.00<BR>Luzern-Lauterbrunnen 35.20<BR>Lauterbrunnen-Muerren<BR>Muerren-Lauterbrunnen-Wengen-Kleine Scheidegg Return 65.00<BR>Muerren-Schilthorn 80<BR>Lauterbrunnen-Wilderswil-Schynige Platte& Return 72.00<BR>Total Reg. Price approx. 300sfr.<BR><BR>with 7 day Berner Oberland Reg. Pass 180sfr.<BR>ZRH Apt.-ZRH HB 6.20<BR>ZRH HB-Luzern Return Trip! 38.00<BR>Luzern-Lauterbrunnen-Muerren (day 1 of Pass using 1/2 day #1) approx. 23.60<BR>Muerren-Lauterbrunnen-Wengen-Kleine Scheidegg (Day 2 of Pass using free day #1) 0.00<BR>Muerren-Schilthorn (Day 3 of Pass using 1/2 price day #2) 40.00<BR>Muerren-Lauterbrunnen-Wilderswil-Schynige Platte (Day 4 of Pass using free day #2) 0<BR>Muerren-Grindelwald-First (or other free excursion) (Day 5 of Pass using free day #3) 0.00<BR>Muerren-ZRH HB via Luzern (cheaper then Bern) (Day 6 or Pass using 1/2 day #3) 1/2 price Muerren-Luzern 17.60<BR>Leaves 1 1/2 price day left at your discretion.<BR>Total Price with BO Regional Pass approx. 300sfr<BR><BR>The area covered by the Berner Oberland Pass is enoromous (as far as Bern, Gstaad, Engelberg, and Zermatt). You could really pack in a lot more for your money.<BR><BR>Also, if any of the people in your group are 16 or youngerthey travel for free (or substantial discounts) with the Junior Card on just about ALL the routes. http://www.sbb.ch/pv/juniorkarte_e.htm<BR><BR>Also keep in mind that early June is considered off-season and all the cable cars, etc. may not be running on full schedule.<BR><BR>

ha- we all did the calculation and came to pretty much the same conclusion. Teach me to not refresh before posting

P.S. the Swiss Half Fare Card is 150sfr and is good for 1-year. http://www.sbb.ch/pv/halbtax2_e.htm

The schedule of prices here is seemingly accurate, but there are several questions that need to be resolved.<BR>I have bought several of those passes and here is my experience.<BR>1. The Swiss Card, available for 1 month at 160 chf, gives half off of most trips AND it gives a free trip from the entry point to the destination and return.<BR>2. The Berner Oberland Regional pass covers a very wide area considering it is labelled as "regional". The region for small discounts is as far as Bern and Zermatt. <BR>3. The last leg of the trip to the Jungfraujoch, from Kleine Scheidegg, is never free regardless of the pass that you hold; it is at best 50% off the normal price.<BR>It is the most expensive leg of the trip, which at face value is quite expensive.<BR>4. The last leg of the trip to the Schilthorn, from M&uuml;rren to the top, is also never free. At best it, too, is 50% off.<BR><BR>Knowing which pass to buy and figuring the breakeven point for any of them is a fuction of how well you can predict what you are going to do. I personally would not buy a Berner Oberland Regional Pass until I was on the scene and could get a first hand weather report. A ride to the top of the Schilthorn when it is socked in solidly with clouds is not a bargain at any cost; nor is a ride to the the Jungfraujoch. Clouds and fog are murky regardless of where you see them.<BR>

s: yes, I live in Germany. That's why it is quite easy for me to travel Switzerland a few times a year.<BR><BR>chris: The Swiss Half Fare Card (SHFC) is 99,00 Sfr. next year. It is valid for one month and only for people who DO NOT LIVE IN SWITZERLAND. It is not the same as your Halbtax-Abo, which is 150 Sfr. for one year or 220 for two years! www.sbb.ch/pv/files/sts2002_d.pdf (I had a look at the german version)<BR><BR>I am very sorry. I forgot the fare from Z&uuml;rich Airport to Z&uuml;rich Central Station. + 3,10 Sfr one way with SHFC<BR><BR>Bob Brown:<BR>1. I considered the Swiss Card, too. But there is one problem: The first night is spent in Z&uuml;rich, so the Swiss Card saves only the fare from Z&uuml;rich Airport to Z&uuml;rich Central Station as entry trip. This is the reason that the SHFC gives more value in this case.<BR><BR>3.+4. Gilberto wrote he wants to visit Kleine Scheidegg - not Jungfraujoch. The reduced fares were taken into my calculation.<BR><BR>I agree that the weather must be good for the excursions Gilberto is planning. That's why I recommend the SHFC and the Jungfraubahnenpass. So he can decide if he wants to go to Schilthorn and Kleine Scheidegg etc. and buy reduced tickets. But to my mind these 2 passes are really useful - I don't think he wants to stay for 4 days in his hotel in M&uuml;rren???!!!<BR>

Hmm. That is a bummer getting a free ride only from the Zurich airport to town. What would happen if you bought the card in Switzerland, after you went into town and the next day went back to the airport and bought the pass?<BR>I had mine when I arrived, so I don't know. If the agent asked to see your airplane ticket, I guess the jig is up at that point.<BR><BR>I am not sure that someone can stand in the cafes in Kleine Scheidegg on a beautiful day and look up at the Jungfrau and not be strongly tempted to ride the final leg of the journey.<BR>Hundreds of others are doing it, so the herd mentality starts to work on you.<BR>I know it did on me in the summer of 2000. I resisted, but only because my wife has a stronger will than I do.<BR>We settled for First, Schynige Platte, M&auml;nnlichen, the Schilthorn, and that long, long gondola ride from the M&auml;nnlichen ridge down to Grindelwaldgrund.<BR>One trip many people fail to make that is really spectacular is the ride up to Pfingstegg and Stieregg. The trail from the restaurant traverses a gully cut through a lateral moraine, and then ascends steeply to the base of some cliffs known as the Rots Gufer. The ascent then takes to ladders and cables. That is where I decided my arthritic joints had gone far enough. At 45 I might have tried it, but not at 65. <BR>Discretion in this case was not only the better part of valor, but also the key to a longer life!!<BR><BR>

Bob Brown:<BR>I am not sure if it works to buy the Swiss Card next day at the airport. I suppose it does not.<BR><BR>I totally agree with you concerning the herd mentality and the ride to the Jungfraujoch. In 1998 I took the cable car from Wengen to M&auml;nnlichen and hiked to Kleine Scheidegg, when it happened to me. I intended to hike down to Grindelwald, but finally I did the ride to Jungfraujoch.<BR><BR>The trip to Pfingstegg and Stieregg is really fantastic. I enjoyed the scenery.