jane86

Thanks for suggestions, will investigate this.

PalenQ

Seriously check out the local trains - all have large enough windows to see everything - and no need fussing around with reservations, etc. Just jump on trains or boats at will except those super-duper luxurious special scenic trains - at least some of them.

jane86

A description of the special place- Lucerne by one of the experts Hambagahle

“Luzern is not only a beautiful city but very very Swiss. And a perfect base for sightseeing in central Switzerland. The old town - Altstadt - is relatively compact and it is perfectly possible to walk around it in the evening - everything is lit up.
…..

I would go to Rigi from Luzern, combining that with the lake boat to get to Weggis. Then cable car to Kaltbad and on to the top. Fabulous views of all of central Switzerland. Drop Pilatus. Then stop at Ballenberg en route from Luzern to Interlaken. You can either put your bags in a locker at the station or take them with you to the museum and put them in a locker there (plenty right next to the entrance gate). Then continue on to Zermatt late that evening via Spiez and Visp.
The mountains that surround Zermatt are the highest in the country and views from the Gornergrat are stunning. Don't miss that! The Aiguille du Midi above Chamonix is also a "must". But skip the others..”

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We would mostly follow his advice doing Rigi- Weggis - Kalbad and the mountain top on our first day, but wondering about Pilatus - it seems very popular too. What's the difference between the two?

Other than the lake boat to Weggis , do we have enough time to take a boat ride along the most scenic part -Urnersee, after rigi? or do it on the last day in Lucerne, after museum and old city, we have second day free till evening.

Thank you

jane86

only talking about the Golden pass panoramic train from Montreux to Spiez to Interlaken.

PalenQ

Oops got mixed up I guess - don't take local trains on Golden Pass as they are much slower and may require changing and there is no supplement but just an optional reservation fee for GP. Sit on south side of car IME for best views of high Alps in distance.

Adelaidean

Adelaidean

neckervd

I tried for June 14th (for Montreux dp 9.44) and proceeded up to the moment where I was asked to enter my personal dates.
https://tickets.goldenpass.ch/reservation/

jane86

Just started to understand a little bit how the combination of 4 day Swiss Travel Pass Flexy and 4 day Bernese Oberland card work, it covers the days you selected with the Flexy, could be consecutive or non-consecutive days, for example I could choose day 1. 2, 5, 6 when we'll travel a lot by train, boat and visitmuseum etc. With Bernese Oberland card the four days in the Oberland including regional train and bus to Aare Gorge, and Aare Gorge etc will be completely covered. In detain, day 1 (june 8) and 2 (june 9) arriving at ZHR to Sion, to Martigny and arriving at Chamonix by day 2 – will be covered by the Flexy. Day 3 (june 10) and 4 (june 11) will be in Chamonix, France, the gondola ride to Aiguille du Midi- Pointe Helbronner –Entreves and bus from Courmayeur to Chamonix won't be covered by any swiss card anyway – no cover. Day 5 and day 6 (june 12, june 13) will travel between Montreux and Geneva that will be covered by 4 day Flexy. Day 7 and Day 8 (june 14 and 15) won’t be covered, then Day 9, 10, 11 and 12 (june 16, 17, 18, and 19) will be covered by Bernese Oberland Card. The final 2 days ( june 20 and 21) won’t be covered. For those uncovered days will use point to point tickets. This is a difficult math! I hope it make sense.

PalenQ

Finally everything in place but where are you going <The final 2 days ( june 20 and 21) won’t be covered. For those uncovered days will use point to point tickets.>

Adelaidean

jane86

neckervd

" Just started to understand a little bit how the combination of 4 day Swiss Travel Pass Flexy and 4 day Bernese Oberland card work, "

For train passes, have a look at posts 204-220 in THIS thread.

neckervd

" I wonder if I can have some suggestions for cloudy or rainy day excursions in Lucerne."

Swiss Transport Museum"
Rosengart Museum
guided city walk
Forum of Swiss Hystory at Schwyz and Einsiedeln monastery
Hoellgrotten (caves)
Basel or Bern, with medieval city centers, cathedrals and tons of museums
Kambly factory at Trubschachen and cheese diary at Affoltern i. E.
Bellinzona and Locarno if the weather is better in Ticino than around Lucerne

dugi_otok

FYI- Todays Saver Day Pass prices

With Half-Fare Travelcard
2nd Class CHF 49 ( June 8 thru June 15) NO WHERE NEAR CHF 29
1st Class CHF 49 (June 8 and June 15)

Without Half-Fare Travelcard
2nd Class CHF 70 (June 8,9,10 ) , CHF 52 (June 11 thru June 15)
1st Class CHF 88 ( June 8 thru June 15 )

PalenQ

Bern on a rainy day - city has miles of covered walkways - miles and miles! And the vaunted bears in their new larger 'pit' will still be out. Check out some museums - free entry with Swiss Travel Pass. There is one very popular new several years ago museum devoted to some architect or artists but I forget the name but much raved about.

jane86

Thank you for your responses @ neckervd, PalenQ and dugi-otok, went back to read those posts and more, still like fresh, there're so much information and suggestions to review and ponder on, everything... ...

I think would go with Swiss travel pass basically, just for its simplicity, saver day pass needs calculation of which days, so does STP Flexy, half fare card needs to be purchased 2 months before departure... Read the next post by PalenQ

jane86

“With this, do you need to buy tickets ahead of time?

Yes with day savers to get cheap rates and they can sell out early (saver day tickets)

No for passes.

To me Swiss Travel Pass though could be tad more expensive but could turn out cheaper if travel more or go to museums, etc but allows you to just jump on any transport covered anytime.” - PalenQ

jane86

Thanks for the info, will do some research and get back to the questions.

neckervd

" half fare card needs to be purchased 2 months before departure"
You may buy it 2 months ahead. But you may also buy it later or even after arrival in Switzerland.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!
You managed it to arrive at post 500 (plus 21 posts in the highjacked thread from MRT). And that for a easy trip along the beaten path from ZRH to Chamonix - Montreux - Golden Pass - Grindelwald - Lucerne - ZRH!

But be sure that's the last time I answer your questions. As everything has been said ago and ago, I could only repeat myself. That wouldn't make sense!

The only thing that changed since your first post on February 2nd: the Saver Day Passes for 29 CHF are no longer available for your dates.