How to do the train
 

I will be arriving late on the 26th of December and staying at the hotel. The next morning we need to catch a train to Sion and then the Bus to Haute Nendaz. I am traveling with 2 adults and 3 children (age 11, 8 and 4). Do we need to arrange train tickets ahead of time or can we just walk up and buy. We kind of tickets do I get. I am a bit confused with 1/2 fare etc.

Buy your tickets at the train station or at the ticket machine. No need to buy them in advance.

There are many types of Swiss Passes. Hopefully someone else can help you regarding this.

www.sbb.ch

You can buy your tickets online, but, as schuler said, it is also possible to buy them at the station.

With five people, I recommend reservations (although not mandatory).

>I am a bit confused with 1/2 fare etc.

If you ahve a 1/2 fare card (which costs 99 Fr per person for a month or 150 Fr per year) you pay half of the standard price every time you buy a ticket for yourself.
Children tickets always cost 1/2, I think your youngest child doesn´t need a ticket at all. But in this case you better simply buy your tickets on arrival - the ticket desk people will help you.

Since we don't know when and where you arrive, nor how long you stay in H.Nendaz, nor which of the roughly 15 bus stops there will be yours, nor where you go from there, we can't get more specific about the route and the cost.

But you should definitely go talk to a ticket agent, not use the automatic vending machine, because you may qualify for any number of discounts - weekend excursion, family ticket, etc.

If you arrive at Zürich airport (where there is a train station underneath) and it is not too late, before heading for the hotel go get your tickets at the SBB shop, it is in the building adjacent to the arrivals, simply follow the "To Trains" signs after exiting the green gate ("Nothing To Declare") coming out of customs. You go up and over and down and look to the far right, you see the SBB-CFF logo.

Tell the agent who travels, what dates, and from where to where - s/he'll find the best and cheapest tickets for you. Seat reservation is not required, but it costs very little extra and ensures that you'll all sit together, so I would say ask for it. Second class is plenty fine. Then when you travel, look for the carriage number and then for the seat numbers as per your reservation slip.

There is a ticket shop at Geneva airport also (where there is also a train station), I just can't remember its location offhand.

You may already see some pass options at
http://www.swisstravelsystem.ch/Tick....html?&L=2

It is probably not worth it to get the half-fare card - as explained earlier, that card is a fixed cost, then once you have it you show it every time you travel and all trips are at half-fare, what the Swiss call Halbtax. Kids pay half-fare anyway, no need for a Halbtax card for them.

i thought kids traveled free if you got the family card ( also free) at train station?? has that changed?

yes give us some more idea of the total train/bus travel you may be doing

Swiss Passes IMO are almost always the best option if doing a fairly long train ride to your and back to an airport, etc. but not always.

Kids 15 and under do get a Free Family Pass if traveling with parents (parents only - not grandparents) on a Swiss Pass.

And like lincasanova says i think you can buy for 20 SF (maybe free) a Family Pass in Switzerland - with the family pass kids 15 and under always travel free, on any devic even the gondolas to mountain tops that the Swiss Pass may only cover 50% in full.

If you are basing in one area, investigate regional or local passes sold locally. But do not neglect the Swiss Pass - three sites i always refer are: www.swisstravelsystem.com links to sbb.ch - Swiss rail site and has info on scenic trains, lake boats, buses, etc.; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com - Steves' site has a good run-down on Swiss trains and passes and the latter as well plus the free download of their European Planning & Rail Guide that has a nice chapter on Switzerland and Swiss trains and passes.

Just walk up to the window and buy your train and bus tickets. Go second class to save about 30% from the first class fare. The children will get reduced or free fare depending on age. For more than you'll need to know about train travel in Europe see http://tinyurl.com/eym5b.

We are looking to leave on the 27th around 9 -10 am. From what I see onine we can follow the schedule that requires only one transfer. With young kids and luggage that would be ideal. As far as in Haute, we are staying across from Haute Nendaz Telecabine bus stop. Does that help?

"We are looking to leave on the 27th'

From WHERE?

TO WHERE?

We know WHERE they are going, to Haute Nendaz, but we still don't know if they fly in, and if so into which airport, or where they come from.

Geneva would be the closest airport i think and straight forward hourly direct trains i believe from airport to Sion.

From Zurich longer via Bern, Brig, change there probably to Sion

At Sion many buses leave right from opposite the train station to all points around.