Swiss Postbus reservations
 

We have a week in Scuol booked (from 22 June) and one of our daytrips is Scuol to Zernez, then Postbus loop on this route https://www.postauto.ch/en/excursion...-nauders-scuol

I want to stop in Müstair and Glurns each for a few hours.

Reservations are mandatory on this particular route. How do I reserve seats without committing to a time? (Hikers and visitors must ‘hop on, hop off’ in a day, but this doesn’t seem to offer a ‘day ticket’)
Am going to check at the TI beforehand, but like to know logistics while I’m in planning mode.

I recall needing to reserve seats on the Palm Express, too, and that was full, so assume that, unlike trains, once full, no more passengers allowed to board.

Thanks for any help.

How do I reserve seats without committing to a time?<

Seems like an oxymoron to me -reserved seats are on a bus for a specific time and IME no standees - maybe make a few reservations and then just don't use one= that is if you can reserve seat separately as you can say with a Swiss Pass or any pass. Palm Express may be in more demand because it only runs few times a day and is a favorite with tour groups. In Switzerland I reserved Palm Express at Lugano train station - or at a post office if not online.

Where's neckervd or Hoogmanye

Reservation is mandatory for the Zernez dp 9.34 Express bus only. Free access to all other buses.
The train from Scuol arrives at Zernez at 9.04 and you can board the connecting Zernez dp 9.15 bus to Mustair Clostra San Jon without any problem (and without any reservation).

In all our visits to Switzerland we've never booked a Post bus. An intercity bus, yes.

Curious why that particular bus needs a reservation neckervd - because it's an Express? Or because it's high season?

Currently in Zuoz and enjoying the snow!

Ha, Mel, just got back from Perth, and the heat (although it is heading to Adelaide..)
I noticed only a few routes require reserving, Mel, and the driver did check our reservation slip.

Great neckervd, the first leg is plannable, but wanting to be flexible with my day, so that is good to know.

I don't know, but was also curious and so checked the website to which Adelaidean first directed us. I think the issue is that the buses that require reservations cross international borders. (The one Adelaidean is looking at goes into Italy -- I think.) I could easily be wrong!

I trust you are savoring some Pizoccals for me!

For you kja - https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...91a3b5f070.jpg

And you Adelaidean - https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...8be05f0cc3.jpg

Wonderful, Mel, look forward to the rest of your photos.....and your report....

@ Melnq8: OMG, that looks wonderful! BTW, you must be triggering some thoughts -- I woke up this morning thinking of the nettle soup I had while in Guarda. Or at least, I think that's what it was: It was delicious, and when I asked what it was, staff conferred with the only other English-speaking people at the restaurant that evening, who said it was nettle.

@ Adelaidean: I trust you don't mind these off-topic discussions. :worry: (If you do, please tell me!) Maybe topping the thread will get you more information about your actual question?

kja -

I saw hay soup on a few menus when I was researching this trip, but have yet to run across nettle. Last year I tried chestnut soup for the first time in Germany and I still have fond memories of some white wine soup I had in Chur a few years ago. It was divine!

I'm feeling the need to say HUSH as loudly as I can!!! ;) I found the Engadine to be wondrous for so many reasons, and the cuisine was among them. And yet it doesn't seem to ring that bell for any but a few of us! I'm mystified, but also don't want to see this wonderful corner of the earth overrun by food tourism. I've never had chestnut soup, but oh, the taste and scent of fresh chestnuts are memorable, aren't they? And I don't think I've had wine soup yet -- but am contemplating heating up a cup, adding some herbs.... Sounds much healthier than simply having another glass of wine. :devil:

Thanks for the vicarious treats, Melnq8! :)

Ha, kja, I love these discussions!

And, it reminded me to ask (as Mel mentioned Chur), that I was thinking off stopping there for a few hours on one of our train rides past... looks like an interesting place for a wander...(and maybe some white wine soup ;) ) - the old town, the church, would you agree?

Thanks for the reassurance, Adelaidean!

I was sorry to skip Chur. Someone had written a trip report a year or two (or three....) before my trip (2013) that made it sound quite enticing. Unfortunately, I don't remember who and couldn't find it just now with our new (and nearly useless, IMO) search function. :( But I'm sure Melnq8 or others will have better advice. :)

Am pretty sure Ingo recommended at least a visit to the church, and Engadiner over on TA, it's an easy visit for us, so maybe I'll include it.

" Curious why that particular bus needs a reservation neckervd - because it's an Express? Or because it's high season? "

"Normal" buses leave Zernez every hr from 7.15 until 19.15 and stop at every interesting place (for example starting point of a hiking trail) along the itinerary. The majority of passengers are people who visit the Swiss National Park. These buses may get crowded at departure, but there are usually enough free seats after a few stops. Local people use these buses often fort short distances. At peak hours in high season, there are often 2 buses at the same time.
The 9.34 bus is a leg of the Zurich dp 7.02 - Merano/Meran ar 12.13 - Bolzano/Bozen ar 12.59 connection. The bus doesn't stop within the National Park and most passengers are in transit (with more luggage than day trippers). For these travellers, weather isn't an issue. For the Post Bus company, it's almost impossible to know in advance how many people will arrive at Zernez. Therefore they ask to phone them the evening before or at least around 8am on the day of departure. That enables them to organize a second or third bus in the case there are too may persons for only one bus.

The bus from Val Mustair to Stelvio - Tirano (direct connection to/from Bernina Express bus to Lugano and train to Pontresina) must also be booked in advance, for similar reasons.

I'm not a fan of Chur, which feels like a big city compared to the lovely villages around it, but then I've only visited in winter, when it was rather dark and cold (sort of like wandering along St Georges Terrace wind tunnel in Perth in July).

Thank you for the clarification neckervd.

FWIW - we took the Bernina Express (via Regio trains) today from Zuoz to Tirano, Italy. As with our previous trip in December of 2015, we had an entire train carriage to ourselves. I so love traveling off season, no reservations, no worries. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...9b962dd36b.jpg

Bernina Express Zuoz to Tirano, Italy, December 5, 2018

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...d8b79c52cc.jpg

Aboard the Bernina Express (Regio train) from Tirano, Italy to Pontresina

neckervd, helpful explanation, thank you.

Mel, wow, we will do that route too, missed it last time, due to a rail track issue.

I agree Chur didn't look appealing from the train, but photos online show an interesting historic old town, oldest in Switzerland I read somewhere. So I hope to stop by. There's a Saturday morning market, too, so may get to that. Always love the vibe of a market.

Oh, the Bernina Express goes through some absolutely breathtaking scenery! I hope you take that journey one day.

Yes, kja, we have 5 nights in Sils Maria, definitely on my list!
Mel, 39C here today 😬

I stayed in Chur once and thought it a nice nice regional market town nice town but nothing awesome but it seems like a type of town OP is looking for. It could be a good base for taking a short scenic mountain train up to Arosa.

Yikes Adelaidean! Time for the cold sparkling Shiraz. It's snowing here this morning, sun not completely up yet (assuming it will even make an appearance).

And regarding that Bernina Express regio train - we had an entire carriage to ourselves. One of the many perks of traveling off season.

Regular Bernina Pass rail trains IME are in some ways nicer than the official Bernina Express - often filled with tour groups even in off season. Same scenery and as melnq8 says local trains often not that full and can hop from side to side as scenery dictates vs being stuck in seat on Bernina Express trains if as often they are full. Plus regular trains you can get on and off - BEX you need seat reservations to board.

...and regular Bernina trains are faster than most Bernina Express trains. Only regular Bernina Express trains enable good connections at Tirano (to Sondrio - Colico - Chiavenna as well as - Bellano - Varenna - Lecco - Monza - Milano) and at Pontresina (to Scuol - Landeck - Innsbruck; to Zernez - Merano/Meran - Bolzano/Bozen; to Klosters - Landquart - Zurich; to Bravuogn - Chur - Zurich.

Thanks all....

Have Googled all the little places on my train route options and think we might stop in Bergün and Preda (walk to lake) instead if weather is nice. If not, Chur might stay on the list. Lots of options.


Also, definitely going regional trains on Bernina line, stopping in Poschiavo and walk between Miralago / Le Prese, maybe Lago Bianco, or Alp Grüm.

The hike from Preda railway station (some luggage lockers) to lake Palpuegna is nice, but rather short (less than 2 miles OW).
I hope you will not be disapointed after all the mountain lakes you may have seen before, between Val Fex - Fuorcla Surlei - St. Moritz/Val Roseg.

“The hike from Preda railway station (some luggage lockers)...”

neckervd, I thought there was no luggage locker facility at Preda? https://www.rhb.ch/en/service-souven...eda#highlights
maybe the website is not updated?

We stayed just one night in Chur five years ago in May after travelling on the Bernina Express and before catching the Glacier Express. We stayed in the Old Town and wandered about looking at the churches and painted buildings in the evening and the next morning. I thought it was a lovely old place.

Preda:
You are right, Adelaidean. I misinterpreted the SBB site
https://www.sbb.ch/en/station-servic...198.preda.html
I'm very sorry, indeed!

Thanks for your opinion, jacooper, the photos I have seen certainly show a historic old town of great charm, glad you chimed in :)
neckervd, I read the website as you did at first, too, easy to misunderstand.

Noiseless busPlease, be notice. Somebus may be noiseless. It's not allowed loud speaking.>

What bus is a "quiet bus" where folks can't talk into phones and even to othersPlease explain further!