Help with Train Passes
 

I am getting so confused with which pass to buy for Switzerland. We will be there for 8 days before heading to Italy so I am thinking of buying two 4 day Swiss Pass 2 for 1 tickets as we will be there in early Oct. My question is does it make sense to also buy two of the Jungfrau passes for 3 days as we will be in BO for 4 nights. We will be using train travel the whole trip from Zurich to Luzern, Luzern to Lauterbrunnen, then Lauterbrunnen to Stresa. It seems like the Swiss Pass covers most train travel in the country with the exception of Jungfrau and a couple of the other mountain areas and then it gives you a 50% discount on those tickets. Does anyone know if the Swiss Pass covers train travel to Murren, Wengen and Grindelwald? If so not sure it makes sense to even buy the Jungfrau pass since we would just do that one day. Thanks for your help.

Why the compulsion to buy passes? Start the other way round. Calculate the point-to-point prices. Then you will have a base to compare various combos.

Compulsion could be because of the astounding 2 for the price of 1 special and Swiss Passes cover in full, 100% trains to Lauterbrunnen, Wengen and Grindelwald - after that to Jungfraujoch 25% off - but Lauterbrunnen to Grutschalp Gondola and then thrilling cliffside train to Murren and aerial cable way down to Gimmelwald and Stechelberg (one of the most awesomely thrilling aerial gondola rides anywhere!) and postal bus back to Lauterbrunnen is covered 100% by a Swiss Pass (and this loop IME is the finest day out in the whole Jungfrau Region because of its many varied aspects - from Murren Swiss Pass would get 50% off to Schilthorn and back.

So many of benefits of Jungfraubahn Pass are covered in full by Swiss Pass - enough so that I think with Swiss Pass Jungfraubahn for average traveler would be a waste of money.

for lots on Swiss trains and passes (also valid on city trams and buses and lake boats such as on the two lakes bookending Interlaken - Lake Thun on the west and Lake Brienz on the East - both of which make wonderful days out (and again 100% covered by Swiss Pass) and passes also get free entry to over 400 Swiss Museums including the very popular Ballenberg Open-Air museum overlooking Lake Brienz - anyway great sites - www.swisstravelsystem.com; http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/id3.html and www.ricksteves.com.

Be sure to check prices for Swiss Passes both in dollars if living in N America and Swiss francs - the same exact pass here the past several years I've been checking before buying my several Swiss Passes has often for some reason been cheaper here than there - sometimes significantly so - but this is not always the case - if about the same just wait to buy at any train station in Switzerland - factor in any c card % - usually about 3% on foreign transactions.

PalenQ, thx for your updates. They are helping me plan.
Question: in your following quote ... true? Thx in advance

"Lauterbrunnen to Grutschalp Gondola and then thrilling cliffside train to Murren and aerial cable way down to Gimmelwald and Stechelberg (one of the most awesomely thrilling aerial gondola rides anywhere!) and postal bus back to Lauterbrunnen is covered 100% by a Swiss Pass"

Look at the map the shows coverage of the various passes. You will have to enlarge it a bit to see the various passes at the bottom and what routes are covered (color coded).
http://www.railguide.jp/routemap/pdf/015.pdf

Actually the link above is an old map, so does not show some of the amended discounts eg Jungfrau). You should look at http://www.swisspasses.com/railpass/overviewmap_en.pdf

Here's the official website map link. Click the pdf synoptic map.

http://www.swisstravelsystem.com/en/...cfm?phrase=map

PalenQ
Question: in your following quote ... true? Thx in advance

"Lauterbrunnen to Grutschalp Gondola and then thrilling cliffside train to Murren and aerial cable way down to Gimmelwald and Stechelberg (one of the most awesomely thrilling aerial gondola rides anywhere!) and postal bus back to Lauterbrunnen is covered 100% by a Swiss Pass"

100% true that this is all 100% covered (unless changed in past few weeks!) - always has been fully covered by a Swiss Pass - these two absolutely hair-raising aerial gondolas, which seem to plunge to the valley floor thousands of feet below, are some of the few aerial gondolas covered 100% in Switzerland - most are 50% off with a Swiss Pass but these are covered in full, at least to my latest information.

Thanks to everyone for all the information. Sounds like the 2 for 1 Swiss Pass is the way to go. I am really looking forward to it!

Hard to beat that 2 for 1 deal - even a few trips and with a pass I always do more than i expect and even just not having to go to ticket windows ever is great!

Question: in your following quote ... true? Thx in advance

"Lauterbrunnen to Grutschalp Gondola and then thrilling cliffside train to Murren and aerial cable way down to Gimmelwald and Stechelberg (one of the most awesomely thrilling aerial gondola rides anywhere!) and postal bus back to Lauterbrunnen is covered 100% by a Swiss Pass">

oh about thz - I guess tickets in advance - you just show your pass on these devices - no need to get any kind of ticket - at least not when I last went. Just flash the pass - so easy!