Interlaken with 3yr and 1.5yr old – train/travel advice please!
Jul 28th, 2011, 05:56 AM
#21
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I have to stick up for Pal here. This info is useful to people who haven't done this before (if they sit down with a spreadsheet that is!). We had a much better deal with the Swiss Pass one time, suggested by Pal, and this past time the Half Fare Card was better than the Swiss Pass, also discussed by Pal, although as suggested above, it basically cost us the same as if we hadn't bought a pass at all. (I guess it saved us 10E which is better than nothing, but would have saved us more if I had listened to Pal and had gotten my act together in time to buy the passes before we left home.)
It is hard to figure out all the possibilities so it doesn't hurt to have some suggestions. Thanks Pal.
But yes, it is very easy to get your tickets to Interlaken and the Half Fare passes once you arrive in Zurich.
A cool thing is Zurich is that from the airport exit, you go across a little street and there's the train station. Use a luggage cart...it is designed to ride the escalators with you! No unloading luggage to go down. They look like they will fall but they don't. My kids had a great time watching other people on the escalator. Here are some pictures of the carts and first class from Zurich to Interlaken:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...162d03a&type=1
Train tickets can be bought at the bottom of the escalator on the right. The line moves fast. Don't buy those tickets from home - you never know if your flight will be late. Half Fare cards (if you don't buy them before the trip) can be bought there too. We also never had a problem getting on whatever train we wanted.
There is a good sized food store in the train station (and also little cafes and food stands which of course are more expensive) if you have time to kill and want to buy snacks/drinks for the kids for the ride to Interlaken. I think the food store is on the uppermost level. Don't forget Swiss chocolate!
If you reconsider and end up in second class, when you get on the train from Zurich to Interlaken, look on the wall above the seats to see if they are reserved. We forgot about that and got booted out of the seats we chose out of Zurich. (The good thing about that was that it gave us confidence to ask people to move out of our seats as every other train we took throughout our trip had people sitting in our reserved seats, even on trains where we were told that everyone must have reserved seats.) Moving was a pain with our luggage, but it would be worse for you with little kids, especially if they are sleeping.
Enjoy travelling while the kids are little and free! You will not have trouble storing the luggage and strollers on the train, especially in first class where, as I recall, it is way less crowded.
Look at pictures of the Jungfrau to decide whether to take a stroller. When you are outside, which for us was most of the time, you are mostly on snow so I would think that would be hard to use a stroller. Inside you can be in the ice palace - on ice - or walking from the train where you could use the stroller, or in the restaurant (expensive!). You need to balance the time using the strollers with the time outside carrying them.
Have a great trip! I think you've planned the perfect 5 days for your family!
It is hard to figure out all the possibilities so it doesn't hurt to have some suggestions. Thanks Pal.
But yes, it is very easy to get your tickets to Interlaken and the Half Fare passes once you arrive in Zurich.
A cool thing is Zurich is that from the airport exit, you go across a little street and there's the train station. Use a luggage cart...it is designed to ride the escalators with you! No unloading luggage to go down. They look like they will fall but they don't. My kids had a great time watching other people on the escalator. Here are some pictures of the carts and first class from Zurich to Interlaken:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...162d03a&type=1
Train tickets can be bought at the bottom of the escalator on the right. The line moves fast. Don't buy those tickets from home - you never know if your flight will be late. Half Fare cards (if you don't buy them before the trip) can be bought there too. We also never had a problem getting on whatever train we wanted.
There is a good sized food store in the train station (and also little cafes and food stands which of course are more expensive) if you have time to kill and want to buy snacks/drinks for the kids for the ride to Interlaken. I think the food store is on the uppermost level. Don't forget Swiss chocolate!
If you reconsider and end up in second class, when you get on the train from Zurich to Interlaken, look on the wall above the seats to see if they are reserved. We forgot about that and got booted out of the seats we chose out of Zurich. (The good thing about that was that it gave us confidence to ask people to move out of our seats as every other train we took throughout our trip had people sitting in our reserved seats, even on trains where we were told that everyone must have reserved seats.) Moving was a pain with our luggage, but it would be worse for you with little kids, especially if they are sleeping.
Enjoy travelling while the kids are little and free! You will not have trouble storing the luggage and strollers on the train, especially in first class where, as I recall, it is way less crowded.
Look at pictures of the Jungfrau to decide whether to take a stroller. When you are outside, which for us was most of the time, you are mostly on snow so I would think that would be hard to use a stroller. Inside you can be in the ice palace - on ice - or walking from the train where you could use the stroller, or in the restaurant (expensive!). You need to balance the time using the strollers with the time outside carrying them.
Have a great trip! I think you've planned the perfect 5 days for your family!
Jul 28th, 2011, 08:43 AM
#22
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mokka4 - I will apologize to you for one thing - mistaking you for someone with a very very similar screen name that I thought it was and my comments would be very relevant to that person - but I realize their is a minor difference so sorry for the mistake.
That said IMO many folks would be better of with a consecutive-day Swiss Pass if it comports to the 4-, 8, 15-day ,etc periods they come in. The flexipass is harder to figure out and may not be the best choice.
folks like p p who know exactly what they will and will not do once there are smart to buy the cheapest option - but many folks simply do not know what they will actually do say once in an Interlaken area base - day trip on rainy days to Lucerne or Bern - on a whim take a boat ride on Lake Thun, etc. they may well use the transport system more than envisioned.
Well now that the OP has all their problems solved I will take a look at how say an 8-consecutive day pass may be better for many itineraries than the Half-fare Card or perhaps the Swiss Card - anyway I will not be intimidated by the likes of mokka4!
That said IMO many folks would be better of with a consecutive-day Swiss Pass if it comports to the 4-, 8, 15-day ,etc periods they come in. The flexipass is harder to figure out and may not be the best choice.
folks like p p who know exactly what they will and will not do once there are smart to buy the cheapest option - but many folks simply do not know what they will actually do say once in an Interlaken area base - day trip on rainy days to Lucerne or Bern - on a whim take a boat ride on Lake Thun, etc. they may well use the transport system more than envisioned.
Well now that the OP has all their problems solved I will take a look at how say an 8-consecutive day pass may be better for many itineraries than the Half-fare Card or perhaps the Swiss Card - anyway I will not be intimidated by the likes of mokka4!
Jul 29th, 2011, 03:10 AM
#23
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Pal:
GRRR!
You DO carry on...!
I have been posting since 2003, first trip 1978 (should credentials be needed).
I object to the "intimidated by the likes of mokka4"!
Its simply that your posts are extremely verbose, repeating your stance again and again.
Some threads appear to be simply lifted and copied to another's query, verbatim. And often, you re-post with a continuing pass emphasis three and four times in a day!
Note that THIS thread's poster is ALREADY GONE!
To be honest, I scroll past your Swisspass-related posts because I find them a bit wearisome.
And look, no personal attack in all of this!
GRRR!
You DO carry on...!
I have been posting since 2003, first trip 1978 (should credentials be needed).
I object to the "intimidated by the likes of mokka4"!
Its simply that your posts are extremely verbose, repeating your stance again and again.
Some threads appear to be simply lifted and copied to another's query, verbatim. And often, you re-post with a continuing pass emphasis three and four times in a day!
Note that THIS thread's poster is ALREADY GONE!
To be honest, I scroll past your Swisspass-related posts because I find them a bit wearisome.
And look, no personal attack in all of this!
Jul 29th, 2011, 06:26 AM
#24
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Hey everyone - Actually, I'm still here but we are leaving tomorrow morning - so excited!!! Thanks again for all the tips.
Kwen - great tips and those photos of the couple on the escalators are hilarious! Quite a look of panic on their faces. Appears that those carts could be quite good fodder for messing with other tourists - especially if I could get my 3 year to pretend she is trying to hold it up herself!
I think we will go with 1st class at least on trains with that option for the extra space and especially the boat rides for the upper deck views!
I will report back after our trip. Thanks again!
Kwen - great tips and those photos of the couple on the escalators are hilarious! Quite a look of panic on their faces. Appears that those carts could be quite good fodder for messing with other tourists - especially if I could get my 3 year to pretend she is trying to hold it up herself!
I think we will go with 1st class at least on trains with that option for the extra space and especially the boat rides for the upper deck views!
I will report back after our trip. Thanks again!
Jul 29th, 2011, 07:52 AM
#25
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Some threads appear to be simply lifted and copied to another's query, verbatim.>
another bogus charge - ain't true except perhaps on rare occasions when I am responding same time on two threads - but simply not true. so once again a bogus accuastion.
oh well now I am considering the source!
anyways onward thru the fog and I will not be intimidated by the likes of you. expect more long verbose posts that like you say you can just skip on over.
another bogus charge - ain't true except perhaps on rare occasions when I am responding same time on two threads - but simply not true. so once again a bogus accuastion.
oh well now I am considering the source!
anyways onward thru the fog and I will not be intimidated by the likes of you. expect more long verbose posts that like you say you can just skip on over.
Jul 30th, 2011, 04:16 AM
#27
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folks who think that 2nd class may be too whatever but are not sure could always buy a 2nd class pass or ticket and then if things are crowded or whatever they could move to first class and then on the train or boat, etc simply pay the difference between the normal first and second class fare - thus you could have a 2nd class pass and on the boats sit in the first class upper deck and simply pay the difference between the normal first and second class fares to the conductor on the boat - this may be more cost effective for folks like kwren who want first class on boats but may find 2nd class OK on trains, etc.
Jul 30th, 2011, 06:32 AM
#28
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I'm not going on the boat - was just commenting - but will keep that upgrade suggestion in mind for the future. I bet most people don't realize you can do that (I didn't). I did like having more room for us and our luggage in first class in 2006 though. Too expensive for 4 on this past trip unfortunately.
Jul 30th, 2011, 08:05 AM
#29
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Swiss Card vs Half-Fare Card
folks buying the Half-Fare Card should also investigate the Swiss Card, which gives you a trip by train from any Swiss airport or border point to any town in Switzerland and then back to any airport or border point (need not be the same)
So folks could go from say Zurich or Geneva airports or any border point to say Wengen above Interlaken and back and then for the whole max one-month period between your arrival and departure you, like the Half-Off Card, get 50% off every boat, bus, train, cable car ride, etc. exactly like the Half-Off Card
and as the half Off Card costs currently about $140-145 and the Swiss Card costs in 2nd class $207 p.p. that means a difference of about $70 or so - so for $70 you can hop any train anytime from any airport or border and then go back and get all the benefits of the Half-Off Card as well - could well be cheaper than just buying the Half-off Card it seems. Cards can be bought in Switzerland but only at border stations or airport train stations and the Swiss price is significantly higher than for the same Card bought in the U.S. - anyway perhaps a cheaper option for folks buying Half-Fare Cards and taking longish train trips to destination after arrival.
folks buying the Half-Fare Card should also investigate the Swiss Card, which gives you a trip by train from any Swiss airport or border point to any town in Switzerland and then back to any airport or border point (need not be the same)
So folks could go from say Zurich or Geneva airports or any border point to say Wengen above Interlaken and back and then for the whole max one-month period between your arrival and departure you, like the Half-Off Card, get 50% off every boat, bus, train, cable car ride, etc. exactly like the Half-Off Card
and as the half Off Card costs currently about $140-145 and the Swiss Card costs in 2nd class $207 p.p. that means a difference of about $70 or so - so for $70 you can hop any train anytime from any airport or border and then go back and get all the benefits of the Half-Off Card as well - could well be cheaper than just buying the Half-off Card it seems. Cards can be bought in Switzerland but only at border stations or airport train stations and the Swiss price is significantly higher than for the same Card bought in the U.S. - anyway perhaps a cheaper option for folks buying Half-Fare Cards and taking longish train trips to destination after arrival.
Jul 30th, 2011, 10:28 AM
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Just a heads up - we bought the Half Fare card in Switzerland and bought our train tickets for our trip from Zurich to Grindlewald and also for the trip out of Switzerland into Italy at the same time. With all that going on, the agent forgot to apply the half price to the Switzerland part of the trip out of the country. If you are buying a lot at once, check and recheck to be sure you are getting all your discounts, especially if part of a trip involves another country, which makes ticketing more complicated.
We noticed the error the next day and went into a train station, where it was taken care of easily and quickly. I'm just glad we noticed!
We noticed the error the next day and went into a train station, where it was taken care of easily and quickly. I'm just glad we noticed!
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