PalenQ

or 52 CHF for a whole day all over Switzerland>

Please explain -thanks! Is this a day pass or something?

neckervd

If you have a 2nd class ticket or 1-day travelpass, you can travel 1st class on one route or for one day with a class upgrade.
https://www.sbb.ch/en/travelcards-an...s-upgrade.html

PalenQ

It costs 24 CHF for the Chur - Tirano leg (OW) or 52 CHF for a whole day all over Switzerland>

Ah so that is the upgrade difference - thought at first it was the full fare and seemed so cheap - 24 francs to upgrade for that long a route is a deal and I would urge folks to consider it - especially on regional trains where there should be more empty seats so one can flit from side to side as the scenery dictates.

BTW the finest views are mainly on the west side of the train IME.

Ingo

I beg to differ. The best views are on the right side. Montebello curve (Morteratsch glacier and P. Bernina), Alp Grüm (turquoise lake and Palü glacier), views of Poschiavo valley after Sfazu, Brusio (circular viaduct).

Ingo

Sorry, replace Sfazu with Cavaglia. After Poschiavo the lake is on the left side, granted. But at Bernina pass the lakes are on the right side.

PalenQ

right side is west side, right?

Ingo

Yes.

PalenQ

BTW the finest views are mainly on the west side of the train IME.>

Which I posted

and you responded:

I beg to differ.>

We are talking about the west side of the train right - perplexed -I have ridden that route thrice and thought they Alp Grum lake, etc was on the west side - I am correct or not -I know you are as you have been more recently-just want to confirm I still know what I'm talking about (doubtful at times!)

???

Ingo

Ha, sorry Pal, my fault. I read it "left side" in the morning in a hurry and when I had trouble with the website posting (came back with "temporarily out of operation") gave up. In the evening I didn't re-read and posted that crap I thought was right.

kja

OK, guys, please be clear: Are the best views (in your opinions) from the east or west? That could be more useful to people that figuring out whether you re talking about right or left when heading north or south....

I had the advantage of a nearly empty car, and ran back and forth between sides.....

PalenQ

We both agree now - west side - right side if going south- the most awesome views.

neckervd

BEX Chur - Tirano, best views leg by leg:

Chur - Thusis - Solis: left side
Solis - Landwasser - Bravuogn - Preda: right side
Preda - Spinas (Albula Tunnel): no preference
Spinas - Bever: left side
Bever - Pontresina - Bernina - Alp Grum - Cavaglia: right side
Cavaglia - Poschiavo - Miralago: left side
Miralago - Campocologno: right side
Campocologno - Tirano: left side
Tirano - Morbegno: no preference
Morbegno - Varenna- Lecco - Calolziocorte: right side

PalenQ

One reason I like regional trains with no seat reservations -I could on them when I took them three times hop from side to side as scenery dictates - if on BEX try to sit on west side as most awesome views are from there IMO.

elnap29

One disadvantage of having a reserved seat on the BEX seems to be that you can't predict which side (east or west) that your seat will be on. I like the flexibility of the regional trains, but DH still maintains he would like the panoramic windows.

Now that I've consulted Google Earth, I can see the train from Guarda to Pontresina is the most logical route. It looks like there are 3 BEX options per day for Pontresina to Tirano?? Is this BEX station a busy one? If we have a 2nd class Swiss Travel Pass, would we upgrade to 1st class at this station?

We are not too train savvy in California. The Swiss train experience promises to be an adventure for us!

By the way, neckervd, I have enjoyed your suggestions and we do like boat trips and wonderful scenery. We will have had an uncomfortably long travel to arrive in Switzerland and will be there such a short time, that we'd like to allow time for feet on the ground each day. I am saving your scenic train suggestion for a future trip. Thanks.

PalenQ

Pontresina is hardly a 'busy' station but a small one with a few platforms.

Buy the first-class upgrade at ticket window before boarding but best to reserve seat first online in first to guarantee availability.

And yes many here like the BEX and its spiffy all-glass practically observation wagons. so even if you get on the wrong side of the train you can still see the scenery on the other side -maybe he can take BEX and you regular train?

elnap29

PalenQ, LOL!!

PalenQ

Well.....???

PalenQ

Again with three nights in Lucerne you have plenty of time to do a boat trip on to me Switzerland's loveliest lake - again my want to upgrade to 1st class as mentioned above to be able to sit in open-air front top deck -reserved IME for 1st class ticket holders and not usually that much.

Lake Como has boats too but they are small compared to the Swiss boats replete with restaurants, snack bars and much better outdoor seating.

elnap29

We are set for the Switzerland leg of the trip. Many thanks for all the advice. We'll be in Lucerne for the first 3 nights, then train to Guarda (2 nights), then train to Pontresina and BEX to Tirano. We finally chose the Swiss Travel Card for convenience and flexibility and in hopes of using it for a couple of boat tours on Lake Lucerne and at least one excursion to Titlis, Pilates, or Rigi ... or even some spur of the moment idea. Capuns and pizokles are in our future. can't wait!