Larisa

In a week we are heading to Switzerland, I am doing my homework, downloading train schedules to the places we want to visit. <BR>Practically we will travel every day. <BR>I looked thru the menu of the Swiss passes, and I have several questions. <BR>Question 1: is it true that the price of the train trip between the airport & Zurich is not included into the Flexipass. <BR>Question 2: where is it better to buy the pass, now via Internet or in the Zurich airport (Travel Center)? <BR>Question 3: What is the aproximate price of the train from the airport vs cost of a taxi? <BR>Thank everyone who answers.

richard j vicek

Good afternoon Larisa <BR>go into ww.raileurope.com/us/rail/passes/swiss pass. htm. for fairly detailed information on the Swiss Pass.. <BR>Upon arrival in Kloten, Zurich, we have <BR>gone down to the railroad ticket office <BR>in the lower level to purchase our <BR>Swiss Passes. they were goodfor the trip from Kloten to Zurich HB. <BR>Taxi fare would be approx. CHF 45 which includes the tip., train about CHF 3.. <BR>On nice thing about Kloten is that the <BR>luggage trolleys can be taken down the <BR>escolators to the lower levels of the <BR>train station...There was also something <BR>recently in a newletter from Switzerland <BR>Tourism that an extra day has been added <BR>free to the Swiss Pass. <BR>Richard of LaGrange Park, IL&gt;

Larisa

Thanks, Richard. <BR>I got several links to SBB and they were somewhat different, so it took me some time to understand the differences between passes. <BR>Somehow I got the impression that transfer from the airport costs 76CHF, but it was something different. <BR>Still, I summed up several prices of the trips that interest me and the total is much less than the Savers Flexipass, which is in my case the 6-days pass per person for a group of 2 people (289 CHF). <BR>Looks like buying return trips is less money. Haven't finished my research though. Do I miss anything?

Bob Brown

I checked the figures on the SBB website, and the 289 chf cost figure is what I find, also. So you have not missed anything that I can see. <BR>As far as I know there is no reason that you cannot descend the stairs to the Zurich airport train station, buy a ticket to the Zurich main train station (Hauptbahnhof), and ride into town. <BR>The one way cost is 6.20 CHF. <BR> <BR>I know of no restriction on riding the train with a pass. The pass is good on the entire federal train system. The conductor looks at the pass and keeps on going as far as I know. He probably checks the date because you have a limited time in which to use your alloted days. <BR> <BR>I bought the Swiss Card one year, which gave me half off of almost everything, including the rides around the Berner Oberland on the private lines. <BR>Each time we rode, we had to show our Swiss Cards and our tickets to the conductor. And I think one even asked to see my passport. I do not know why. <BR> <BR>My choice was a little easier because the discount for two people traveling together on a Swiss Pass was not offered when I made my decision. <BR>In my case we went to Lauterbrunnen (free ride) and stayed there for a week riding the regional train system at half fare for everything, even the Jungfrau trip. <BR> <BR>On the 6 day pass you describe, you could ride round trip to Geneve from Zurich twice before you reached the break even point. Or if you went to Zermatt and back from Zurich, you would save money by a considerable margin: <BR>289 for the pass versus 397 for one point to point round trip ticket. The reduced fare for two people together using the Flex pass is hard to beat. <BR> <BR>I am assuming that you checked this site: http://www.sbb.ch:80/pv/sts_e.htm <BR>It is in English and has the facts and figures. <BR> <BR>

Larisa

Yes, I checked several various links to that site. I believe that my mistake was in assuming that the price they give is both ways, but upon looking deeper, I think it is one way price for both ways trip. <BR>I do not plan to use the pass on my arrival-departure days, where the trip to the airport is 6CHF, therefore it leaves me 6 days for trips. <BR> <BR>I am still contemplating going to Montreaux-Vevier-Geneva for one day only, or visiting some smaller towns and villages around Zurich, and leaving Geneva and it's area for the next trip. <BR> <BR>BTW is the train from Zurich to Montreaux doing stops only, or do I have to switch from one train to another?

Ursula

Larisa: Quickest trip Zurich-Montreux takes about 2h 50 min. Stops in Berne and Fribourg. <BR> <BR>Be at the train early. If you travel in the morning, trains are very crowded with business people heading for meetings in Berne. <BR> <BR>Change train in Lausanne. <BR> <BR>If you are still not sure what to do: Get some brochures at the Tourist Board in the main hall of Zurich's train station. They are open everyday (www.zurichtourism.ch) and do have material from all over Switzerland.

Larisa

Ursula, thanks for tips. <BR>I have the info on all these places. <BR>The problem is - I want to visit more places than time allowes and I want to see them all, but I have to eliminate some from my list, and it is so difficult to do. Considering that I am so much in love with Switzerland, that I spend all my free time at the computer extracting, reading, compiling my mini-guides. <BR>I definitely plan to spend a day in Lucern (Pilatus). <BR>I think Bern, Basel, Baden could be combined with some other places to spend another day in each. <BR>I also plan to spend a day in Zurich surroundings: Utilberg, Ra...(long name). <BR>La Chaux-de-Fonds / Fribourg / Murten / Neuchâtel would make another day if possible to combine 2-3 of them. <BR>I have one more week to come up with more or less exact itineraries for each day.

Ursula

Larisa hello: Just couldn't resist to check the board. <BR>Skip La-Chaux-de-Fonds, unless you have a specific reason to go there. <BR>Yes, Uetliberg is nice. Great view over Zurich and the bay. <BR>Yes, Rapperswil is lovely, too. Have lunch there and not on the boat. <BR> <BR>Please, take your time and do not rush from A-B. Basel and Berne deserve a whole day, IMHO. <BR>Incidentally, I'll have to go to Berne tomorrow, but for business. Oh, I'll love the crowded train tomorrow morning. LOL

larisa

Ok, great tips, helps to set the itinerary: <BR>Day1, Sat: arrival, check-in, Zurich overview. <BR>Day2, Sun: Uetliberg,then Rapperswil, (or in reverse order?). <BR>Day3, Mon: Baden, I would like to take some spa procedures, go to Roman bath. <BR>Could I fit anything else into this days program? <BR>Day4, Tue: Bern, full day <BR>Day5, Wed: Lucerne (Pilatus), full day <BR>Day6, Thu: Basel, full day <BR>Day7, Fri:Fribourg/Murten/Neuchâtel??? <BR> or Stein-am-Rhein & Schaffhausen?? <BR>Day8, Sat:Check-out,Zurich, Airport Flight at 6.30, Could I fit anything else here?? <BR>Ursula, this is a tentative itinerary, and if you think we could add something to any of those days, I would appreciate your valuable tips. <BR> Could I fit

jw

Hello, Larisa, I've just got to barge in. Your itineray sounds like a blur to me. However, I'm so thrilled to read that someone else is in love with Switzerland that I won't scold you for trying to see so much. The biggest problem is that: in Rapperswil you'll want to stay forever, in Murten you'll want to stay forever, in Berne you'll want to stay forever, in Lucerne you'll want to stay forever -- get the picture? Thank goodness you've not included lakes Thun and Brienz, Lago Maggiore and the Lavaux shore of Lac Leman and Lausanne and Appenzell . . . . those are places that tug at your sleeve and stay in your heart. Believe me, after your first trip, you'll be so addicted to Switzerland that you will return again and again, and when you cannot you will enjoy it vicariously at sites like this. sigh. Enjoy geschnetzelts mit rosti for me in Rapperswil(Apologies to Ursula for the spelling), and buy one of those croissant-like rolls with chocolate chips inside at the train stations in the French-speaking cantons. I'm spinning out of control; I should be writing lesson plans now that school is back in session. Bon voyage!

jwtypingtoofast

oops, I do know how to spell itinerary -- a typo in the very first line is humbling for a teacher. There are probably more. Here's your chance to get even with teachers who circle stuff in red all over your creative writing. Actually I don't.

Larisa

Don't worry about typo's. Everyone could do it when in a hurry, considering the window for test is small and you don't see the full text. <BR>It's the content that matters. <BR>My itinerary was in works until recently when I researched all (almost all) places that interest me and travel times. I came to the conclusion that I need to explore each region separately, I don't want to jump from one place to another without actually enjoying it. <BR>Therefore I set the Geneva Lake region and Italian south region for another trip. This time we dedicate our 8 days to Zurich, it's surroundings, Bern, Basel, Lucern, Baden. <BR>Some people said that each Swiss city is enough for half-day. I strongly disagree with such approach. My goal is not puting checks against as many places as possible, we want to learn and digest the information and impressions, culture and nature. <BR>And I appreciate every piece of advice I received while doing research.

Larisa

Well, I don't know how I could miss it originally, but only now I compared prices for Swiss Saver and FlexiSaver, and noticed that SwissSaver for 8 days + 1 day (that I don't need) beats the Flexipass for 5 days. <BR>Shame on me for such omission. Maybe this tip will help someone else.