smm_18

It does seem as though the Swiss Card is 50% off, and Swiss Pass 25%.

Are we to read 'Half Fare Card' as being included under general 'Swiss Card' ? There is no specific mention of the HFC on the map of validity.

You'd think 'Half Fare' would mean exactly that, unless there are exceptions.

Hear, hear Toucan!

PalenQ

PQ -- Not sure why you are interpreting it that way. It shows a dotted line that says it is available for 50% off. The note (1) applies to the pass, not the card.>

I mis wrote - I was saying that the info and link you gave proved the Half-Fare Card got 50% off - I was agreeing with you. Sorry for misspeaking.

PalenQ

Looking right now at a Swiss Pass map from SwissTravelSystem and it clearly says 50% off with Half-Fare Card like indy dad proved and also 50% off with Swiss Card but only 25% off with Swiss Pass - thus Swiss Card 50% matches exactly the Half-Fare Card.

smm_18

Whoopee!!

Thank you both so much for sorting this out. You're legends. I think the HFC is the one for us.

Such a relief to have made a decision.

PalenQ

Half-Fare Card costs 120 CHF = about $132 with all charges in foreign exchange, etc.

Swiss ?Card $221

$221-
$132

$81

$81 = 73 CH F

So I think it depends on where you ticket from France lets you off - if in Bern then yes to Half-Fare Card but if you can get a deeper discount by saying going to Basel or Geneva or Lausanne from Paris - often possible as they have many more seats serving those towns.

So if you pay more than 73 CH Francs to get to Grindelwald from your arrival point the Half-Fare Card would work better - if not half-Fare - very simple and you have apparently made the calculations - but just to note that you may have to go from Basel, Geneva, etc for a cheaper rate from www.voyages-sncf.com.

smm_18

Thanks, PalenQ.

I think we will be taking the Paris-Basel route. From my notes it was 34.40CHF to Grindelwald from Basel. So Half Fare is approx 17CHF. And of course the kids will go free with the Family Card.

Is this what you mean?

PalenQ

I'm not sure what I meant - rather flummoxing but I'll give another try later. Half-Fare Card is great for those who know exactly what they will be doing and no more or less and pretty much staying in one place. And you can buy it upon arrival - at any train station.

PalenQ

Yes I mean that if the two train trips to and from Grindelwald cost a total of more than 73 francs the Half-Fare Card is better - if they cost more than the Swiss Card is better - each one otherwise gives the exact same benefits.

So yes Half-Fare Card sounds better.

neckervd

A full fare OW ticket from Basel SBB to Grindelwald costs 68.80 CHF (via Berne or via Lucerne)

PalenQ

So if they do only 5 francs worth of travel going out of Grindelwald the Swiss Card is a better deal - if they pay full fare. I assume they have some kind of discount lined up?

smm_18

Oh. I stopped on the sbb site after I read 'from 34.40'! Just assumed that was the fare.

Yes, it is 68.80, 34.40 half fare! My fault.

Damn. Need to look at this again.

Just when I thought...

indy_dad

smm_18 -- this part really isn't that difficult

The premium for the Swiss Card vs. the Half-Fare card is 75 chf.

Look at your inbound and outbound legs(in Switzerland). If the Half-Fare price for both combined is greater than 75 chf, then you would save money by getting the Swiss Card. [use the half fare price because you will get that anyway with the Half fare card, i.e. your baseline option]

First leg is 34 chf. What about the second? is it more than 41 chf? Either way, it doesn't sound like a big difference. Not enough to stress about, for sure. You are probably safe just getting the Half Fare Card.

smm_18

Thanks for your clear logic, indy_dad!

Second leg, i.e. Grindelwald to Domodossola, is 89.80, or 45CHF half fare.

So...
34 + 45 = 79

Not a huge difference, as you say. Not to stress about, anyway.

Unless there are any other differences between the cards that I haven't noticed, they're pretty much on par.

Would you agree? Hope so!

Thanks very much.

PalenQ

As you can buy a Swiss Card in Switzerland at the same place you'd buy the Half-Fare Card why pay even 6 more francs as the Swiss Card after the two train trips has the exact same benefit as the half-Fare card - to me a no-brainer to buuy the excat same product and save 6y francs - I can't see why anyone would pay 6 france more for the Half-Fare Card once in Switzerland.

smm_18

Yes, that's right. I wasn't going to buy the HFC simply because there's not much of a difference. That would be plain silly. Just saying no need to stress any further about calculations. I will get the Swiss Card.

Thanks so much for taking me to the end of this decision-making road. It has had many twists and turns, but very satisfying to arrive!