Mountain Rail Passes
 

I wish to visit Switzerland for 2 weeks and would like to do the mountain excursions like Jungfrau/Titlis/Pilatus. <BR>Are there any special excursion/concessional passes which one can avail of.Internally I will be travelling on a Swiss Travel Pass. <BR>Please Advise. <BR> <BR>Rgds, <BR>Manoj

We were in Switzerland for 2 weeks last summer. I opted for the Swiss CARD, not the pass because it gave better discounts on the mountain cable and train systems. It includes a ride from your point of entry to your first destination and baci. We flew to Zurich and the trip to Lauterbrunnen was included in the price of the pass, as was the return journey. Everything else on a train was 50% off, even the Jungfrau ride, which is pricey. <BR>The discounts on gondolas and various telepheriques, gondalbahns etc were 25% or so. I did some calculations given that we rode a lot of mountain cable ways and decided I got my money's worth out of it. <BR>

This question is for Bob about the swiss card. <BR>Hey Bob <BR>Will that 50% off cover for other mountain excursion (like the Titlis) other than the Jungfrau?. Also where did you purchase that card. Can you buy here in advance here in US or is it better to buy it there. I did do some calculations myself and it does look like a very good option and not a lot of people know about it. Thanks for all the information you provide it is very helpful.

If you are going to be in Luzern, the pass will also cover lake steamers.

For Waheed. <BR>Oops. I used that Swiss Card so much that I do not recall exactly what discounts I got on the various gondolas, cable lifts etc. I know it was not 50% like it was on train tickets, but I do know that I presented my Swiss Card every time I rode a cable-dangled contraption and got a discount. It was usually 25%, but sometimes only 15%. <BR>I did not go to Pilatus, so I cannot answer. <BR>However, I am not sure that the instrument is available this year!! <BR>I just checked the SBB webpage and what I found was not the same animal I bought last year. I will check RailEurope and get back to you. The present deal is to pay 150 francs, about $100 and the pass is good all year. You need a photo to get it. But that is not what I did. <BR>I had no photo, just a ticket-like voucher with my name on it. It was good for a limited period, much less than a year. <BR> <BR>My travel agent got it for me. But I think you can get them from Rail Europe.

The Swiss Card is listed as being available at Rail Europe for $128. <BR>The price quoted by the SBB on their website is a better deal at the current rate of exchange, which is about 70 cents US for 1 Swiss franc. I presume that non Swiss citizesn can buy them in <BR>Switzerland. I will need to find out more. Sounds like they could be $25 to $30 cheaper.