basingstoke2

That 5 year old must be quite a traveler and hiker. At Trummelbach falls take the elevator up, perhaps then continue walking to the top and then walk down. Know that you will get wet, so dress appropriately. It is a marvelous place and well worth the effort. I assume that you know the falls is INSIDE of the mountain and on many levels.

PalenQ

Just buy either of those passes at local train stations, no reason to pre-order to my knowledge.

have_fun

Thanks again. I understand that my 5 yr old gets to travel free. How do I enable this? Do I need to get a family card, if yes, where and how can I get one?

PalenQ

You get a free Family Card I understand when you buy the passes - at least with Swiss Passes - not positive about those passes but you can for sure get a Family Card in Switzerland at many stations.

neckervd

Kids younger than 6 years travel free anyway, all over Switzerland, except on some international bus lines and domestic flights. There is no need for a family card.

PalenQ

Yes should have known that - Family Cards are for kids 15 to 6 who are traveling with at least one parent (grandparents, aunts apparently do no qualify) and then they never pay a dime for any transports I understand - even the Jungfraujoch type really expensive trains.

have_fun

sorry one more question. any advice on where to buy swiss francs? We live in Chicago Il and need to pay our apartment in swiss francs - cash

mokka4

Best rate is to withdraw CHF from any ATM in Switzerland. Increase your daily debit card withdrawal
allowance before you leave (call your bank), or take TWO debit/credit cards and split the withdrawal. Worst case, use AAA to take a small amount of CHF with you (takes about 72 hours to order and get), but at a suboptimal exchange rate.

mokka4

Every ATM that I've ever come across in Switzerland gives a choice for English directions. Don't let other people who may be in line fluster you. If you don't like the pre-set bill denominations, choose "other" for desired bills. And most usually, take your receipt in CHF, not US$, as you would likely then receive a conversion fee twice (from the Swiss bank & your bank back home)!

PalenQ

every international airport of any size will have an exchange office open to get foreign currency - if ordering in U.S. be very careful of fees - AAA may be a good one but some have minimum amounts and a sub-par exchange rate.

I always have some U S dollars with me and have found in the past (have not been the last two years however) that train stations change cash for a nominal fee - if push comes to shove.

have_fun

Thanks so much for your inputs. I will explore the option for ATM withdrawl. Do you get charged foreign transaction fees for such withdrawals?

PalenQ

No or very few - I've never seen one - ATMs in Europe charge anything for using their ATM but you do pay whatever your local bank issuing the ATM card charges for foreign transactions - often a flat $5 fee per transaction regardless of amount taken out so take out the most you think you will need - take out the equivalent of $20 and you'll pay a $5 fee, etc.

So call your bank and ask about their foreign ATM fees and also tell them you are going to Switzerland so they do not block the transaction for security reasons. I always tell them exactly what countries I am going to and say I'm going to no more - to thwart the proverbial ATM charges coming in from say Romania - a problem sometimes if someone sees your ATM card number and PIN number so be careful when putting those in.

have_fun

Thanks..couple of other queries as we lock down our trip.

Hike to Lake Bachalpsee from First

We were planning a hike from First to Lake Bachalpsee and travelling from Lauterbrunnen. When I looked up sbb.ch/en, it shows a route from Lauterbrunnen->Grindelwald; Grindelwald->Grindelwald Bahnoff(walk);Grindelwald Bahnoff->Grindelwald FirstBahn (Bus); Grindelwald FirstBahn ->Grindelwald BGF (walk) and then finally the Gondola up to First. is there a better way to get to First early in the morning? also what is the best way to get to the Bort Children's playground from either First or Grindelwald?

neckervd

Most people walk from Grindelwald railway station to the gondola station (about 15 min).
The best way to go to Bort is to take a gondola to Bort

PalenQ

There is a train stop I believe though by the Grindelwald gondola station if I recall right but if you're hiking anyone it is just a short skeddadle away.

suze

<Do you get charged foreign transaction fees for such withdrawals?>

It depends on the kind of account you have, the arrangements come from your own home bank.