Atticus10

Hello, I'm planning to travel from Interlaken to Milan by train on August 25. anyone here who has done the same trip? s any tips on how to do this? should I book in advance?

Before that I' will be in interlaken for 3 days exploring the area and if weather permitting visit jungfraujoch. whould i get a swiss pass or a swiss flexi pass?

Thanks.

stevewith

Yes, I have done it and it is really very simple. The train I took required a very easy train change in the town of Spiez, but there may be other options. The ride is pleasant and largely scenic. The train might stop for passport checks crossing the border, or might not. I'm not sure the rules get observed all the time, one way or the other. But be prepared to show valid documents.

For August 25, I most definitely would book in advance. You are hitting the absolute peak of the travel season for that area.

I can't answer your questions about the pass options.

Atticus10

thanks for your reply. Just want to ask what website did you book your trip? I'm currently looking at sbb.ch and its giving me trip options with 2-4 changes all at 112 CHF. while in rail europe I found one for 81 Euros with just 1 change. are there other websites which i should check? I've been advised not to use the rail europe website since its usually more expensive so im wondering if i could find cheaper fares for this trip.

stevewith

I was traveling off season so I just bought my tickets same day in the stations.

If you don't get a comprehensive answer here, you can post your questions on the discussion board on Frommer's, which has some very experienced train travelers for Switzerland who know all about the passes.

PalenQ

The only Swiss Pass you would consider is trhe 4-consecutive-day Swiss Pass which would covers most trains in the Interlaken area in full and then use it to Domodossola, Italy - border station and then buy a ticket Domodossola to Milan on www.trenitalia.com.

For lots of great info on Swiss and European trains check out www.swisstravelsystem.com; http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/id3.html and www.ricksteves.com.

Yes from Interlaken you take a local train to Spiez to join the main rail line to Milan.

Dukey1

First of all, you can book the Milan trip about 30 days in advance on the internet at the SwissRail site:

www.sbb.ch/en

You may have to change more than once traveling from Interlaken depending on the timing: probably at Spiez and perhaps again at Brig. Right now, the 0729 timing leaving from Interlaken Ost requires only one change in Spiez.

You can print the ticket out on your home computer and it will be specific for you so machine validation is not required on the platform.

Be aware that the railroad covering the trip up to the Jungfraujoch is the Berner Oberland Bahn and if you get a pass you will get a discount only on the trips up. You could consider getting one of the Jungfrau area rail passes which would be good for most all the rail trips in the area and SOME of the cableways.

kybourbon

>>>sbb.ch and its giving me trip options with 2-4 changes all at 112 CHF. while in rail europe I found one for 81 Euros with just 1 change.<<<

Sbb.ch is the Swiss rail system so that is where you would price/buy. RailEurope can't offer a discount that doesn't exist on sbb.ch as sbb sets the prices. Not sure why you aren't finding the same 1 change routes on sbb because they are there. Perhaps it has to do with the departure station you are selecting in Interlaken (East? West?). You should find R trains Interlaken/Speiz and EC trains Speiz/Milan by entering Interlaken/Milan on SBB. RailEurope prices are usually in USD, not EUR so I'm surprised you quoted EUR from them. For Interlaken/Milan with one change on SBB, I'm seeing a price of 86chf. At today's exchange rates 86chf = 90usd.

Improviser

1. A pass for 3 days makes little sense to me. A regional only pass perhaps as Dukey suggests. None will get you up to Jungfraujoch included, only a discount as noted.
2. There are places other than Interlaken to stay in the area which most consider a better choice.
3. Look for a poster named neckervd to respond on this thread. If he does, you can take anything he has to say to the bank. He is the most knowledgeable Swiss poster on any travel forum.

Dukey1

If where to stay is an issue, ask away. I just came from a 3-night stay in Grindelwald; there are NUMEROUS possibilities and while Interlaken is fine it may not be the most convenient place for visiting the various towns "above" such as Murren and Wengen or for getting to the Jungfraujoch.

BUT, if you are going to be doing things BESIDES what I have mentioned above such as visiting or sailing on the two nearby lakes then Interlaken may in fact be a better choice.

PalenQ

Grindelwald; there are NUMEROUS possibilities and while Interlaken is fine it may not be the most convenient place for visiting the various towns "above" such as Murren and Wengen or for getting to the Jungfraujoch.>

well the opposite in fact is true - it is at least as quick if not quicker I think to go from Interlaken to Murren or Wengen than it is from Interlaken by train that is - you stay up in the hills for the atmosphere and views from your hotel balcony but Interlaken is far more centrally located for every major site than Grindelwald except perhaps the Jungfraujoch train.

PalenQ

A pass for 3 days makes little sense to me. A regional only pass perhaps as Dukey suggests. None will get you up to Jungfraujoch included, only a discount as noted>

Does not the Jungfraubahn Pass cover a trip to Jungraujoch in full - not sure just asking if you are sure of that - again I'm not saying it doesn't but was under the impression it did.

Atticus10

Hello, I really appreciate your suggestions and replies.

I think I read somewhere that Interlaken is indeed not as popular or as scenic as the other areas. I chose Interlaken because I was under the impression that in case of bad weather and I don't get to go up the Jungfraujoch I'll have more activities to choose from in Interlaken like ice climbing, glacier hikes, via ferratas, bungee jumping or canyoning. and since I'll be travelling solo (and I don't cook) I assumed that Interlaken being a city would have more choices of places to eat and maybe cheaply if possible.

But I'm still not 100% sure of going to Interlaken so if you have other suggestions, fire away. if there are other place where i can do those kind of activities in case i dont get up the jungfraujoch then that would be great. is there a day hike similar to the breithorn hike in this area? a hike in snow, scenic and can be done in 1 day?

Thanks!

Improviser

I was referring to a Swiss Pass,Flexipass or half-fare card PalenQ, not a Jungfraubahn Pass which is of course limited to the Jungfraubahn.

In August, the only 'weather' likely to stop you going up to Jungfraujoch is cloud Atticus. It isn't rain or snow you need to worry about. There is no point being on top of a mountain if you are standing inside a cloud. ;-)

This is where a lot of people get tripped up. They assume that the one day they plan to be there will be ok. I've been in the Zermatt area for example in July/August and seen the top of the Matterhorn in cloud for 5 days in a row. So much for the expected photos of the Matterhorn.

So if there is cloud you don't go up that day but it doesn't mean the weather will be 'bad' for everything else. You can hike or parasail or do many other activities as you say, whether there is cloud up high or not.

One alternative not far from Interlaken is Meiringen which while it still gets tourists is not really a tourist town to the same degree as Interlaken, Murren, Wengen, Grindelwald et al. It's an easy train ride to Interlaken though and everywhere else.

Above Meiringen is the Hasli which has lots of great hiking but not nearly as well known as around Wengen, Grindelwald, Murren, etc. I once stayed up there at a small family run hotel called the Gletscherblick. That translates as Glacier view. I wondered why it was called that. Our room had a big picture window with a great view across the valley to the mountains on the other side. It was only after about 4 days that the clouds on the other side went away and we could see we had a picture postcard view of the glacier across the valley.
http://www.gletscherblick.ch/index.p...kommen&lang=en

Really, there is no right or wrong place to stay in the area, they all have some merits, it just depends on what interests you. Everywhere is relatively close and if the cloud is obscuring one side of a valley then just hop on a train/bus and go to the other side. You can cross the entire country in half a day.

PalenQ

I was referring to a Swiss Pass,Flexipass or half-fare card PalenQ, not a Jungfraubahn Pass which is of course limited to the Jungfraubah>

I believe the Jungfraubahn Pass covers more than the Jungfraubahn - I believe it fully covers travel to the Schilthorn and other places not served by the Jungfraubahn.

PalenQ

http://www.jungfrau.ch/nc/en/tourism...ilways-pass_15

Map of coverage of Jungfraubahn Pass - covers nearly every conveyance in the whole Jungfrau area.