Travelforbeer

The BO pass covers Interlaken to Lucerne if that's of any interest...

swandav2000

Well, Dukey1, imo that's not a universal truth. Unless the op is using an electric car, there is s bit "wrong" with driving in countries with such great public transport. The Alps are losing their glaciers and their snow due to Global Climate Change -- so it would seem to be a good thing to help preserve that landscape and not drive.

But, yes, there is no requirement for the op to justify the decsions -- I wouldn't have said a thing if you hadn't made your comment. I generally don't speak out unless a poster asks the question.

s

PalenQ

nobody is going to dispute your judgement in terms of keeping it>

Yes we cna judge and give advice like swandav says - does not make sense environmentally or financially or even practically if going to the Jungfrau Region to go by car - once there you have to park it in a remote lot at a lot of money - if talking about staying anywhere but Interlaken. Plus the huge drop-off fee just to drive from Germany to the Jungfrau Region - dump the car in Germany and take the train is my recommendation - and yes I am being judgmental and sensible IMO in this.

All judgements are subjective but not all are bad as Dukey claims.

Dianedancer

Well I hope you will read my calculations if you haven't already. Costs as much to take the train for four people from Germany to Interlaken as renting a car (including gas fees). And our 2 friends who will be joining us at that point are flying into Zurich. Won't go into the timing of everything, but it may not work for them.

And since we are staying in Interlaken we will not need a car and will drop it off there as soon as we arrive, so no parking problems and no obviously dastardly environmental impact as we enjoy the BO.

I don't mind getting environmental advice, but I don't want to be scolded or not listened to. Do the Swiss drive? I will check everything again as I like being given alternatives by all of you, but especially the reason I wrote this question in the first place: best Pass to get.

I don't mind being td what

Dianedancer

Skip that last semi-sentence goof above.

PalenQ

Sorry dd - you are right - I did not re-read the cost of 4 folks going, etc and I was just thinking that with a Swiss Pass all trains would be covered up to wherever - but it seems that pass is not best so you are right and I am sorry for not digesting as well as I should have.

Dianedancer

Thanks for the apology Pal.

BTW - We live in NYC and do not even have a car. We take public transportation or walk. So I'm sure we are doing more for the environment than many others on this post, as this is how we live our regular daily life.

swandav2000

Dianedancer,

I didn't "scold" you; I didn't even address you. As I said, I generally don't address folks who decide to drive in countries with good public transport; I only say something if a poster asks an opinion about driving vs. trains.

My comments are directed to Dukey1 that "there's nothing wrong with having a car . . . " So I was talking about you (and posters who also drive in those countries) and the general impact of driving, but I wasn't talking to you.

I also said above that you don't need to justify your decision, and you don't. My thoughts have no impact on your plans, I'm certain.

btw, I live in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, and I also don't have a car. I use my feet, my bikes, the busses, and trains to get around town and around Europe. That's how I live my regular daily life.

s

neckervd

" but especially the reason I wrote this question in the first place: best Pass to get"
Impossible to answer as long as we don't know which trains, boats, buses, cablecars and gondolas you plan to use within the Bernese Oberland.

Drop off fees: did you check how much it would cost to drop off your car at Konstanz (Germany) and to go back from there by train to Zurich airport:
trains every 30 min, 1 hrs journey, fare 29 CHF/31 USD

Dianedancer

neck, What you say about knowing which modes of transport we will use in Switzerland in regard to best Pass is true. Will be using rails mostly, and of course some cable cars and boats as well.

I've looked again and think I might go with the BO Pass, as Travelforbeer is.

We are not going to Zurich airport from Germany, so not sure your suggestion to drop off car in Konstance and go to Zurich airport from there makes sense to me.

neckervd

"We are not going to Zurich airport from Germany, so not sure your suggestion to drop off car in Konstance and go to Zurich airport from there makes sense to me"

My question was whether it could make sense for you to drive from Zurich airport to Konstanz (45 min drive), to drop off the car there and to go back to Zurich airport by train in order to save some 100-200 USD.
But I agree that this extra journey would cost you a little more than 2 hrs extra time and therefore be rather a loss than a bargain for you.

Dianedancer

Neck...Unfortunately I am still confused. We are in Munich for a couple of days, then get a car and drive to Fussen, Germany (2 nights) and then to Bad Ragaz, Switzerland where we meet our friends and stay the night. Then all four of us drive the next day to Interlaken where we drop off the car. Four days in BO without a car and then railroad to Zurich Airport.

PalenQ

It's all very confusing to me too - dazed and confused. I think neck may have been saying go to Zurich the day before with the car and then have one person drive it the short distance to Konstanz and have that one person take the train back to Zurich - thereby saving the drop-off fee. Not saying that is what to do but I think that's what i hear neckervd saying.

Dianedancer

To add to all of this I just read a different thread from someone who got charged with a 120E fee for passing through Austria without a Vignette. They had no idea about this and were only going a couple of miles. I looked at our route from Fussen, Germany to Switzerland (Bad Ragaz) and realize we too will be passing through Austria (for a few miles along Lake Constance). Yikes! Anyone know where to get the Austrian Vignette?

PalenQ

http://www.tolltickets.com/country/a...spx?lang=en-GB

Seems you can order them online?

Dianedancer

Fantastic Pal!!! I will look more into it and if true we can order it, we will not have to drive ourselves too crazy about finding the station to purchase while in Germany. I have to see if delivered via email.

Dianedancer

OK just checked. It has to be delivered. But this great. We can also order the vignette for Switzerland this way.

Can't thank you enough.

PalenQ

I would assume at the Austrian border there must be places to buy those things - though come to think of it most Austrians have them and probably Swiss and Germans too who drive thru Austria so maybe not so easy - peace of mind is priceless.

Thanks for the thanks!

PalenQ

Austrians IME are sticklers for the law in general - only place I ever got a jay-walking ticket - on a deserted street - could not complain of course and took note. No one dares cross the street without the green go sign - I was crossing between blocks probably an even greater sin. Yup do the crime pay the fine.

neckervd

" I think neck may have been saying go to Zurich the day before with the car and then have one person drive it the short distance to Konstanz and have that one person take the train back to Zurich - thereby saving the drop-off fee. Not saying that is what to do but I think that's what i hear neckervd saying."

That's exactly what I meant!