Switzerland, Paris and Amsterdam
Jun 10th, 2018, 05:27 AM
#41
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Lucerne makes a perfect first stop after all-night plane trip -just a short train ride from Zurich Airport - just relax and maybe take a boat ride and lay back on board. And then you can enjoy one of Switzerland's classic scenic trains - the Golden Pass from Lucerne to Interlaken up and over the Brunig Pass - going Zurich to Wengen would not involve this route.
Jun 11th, 2018, 08:05 PM
#42
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Train booking
Hi palenq
thank you for the suggestions. We are going to exactly break up the trip like you suggested . Lucerne, Wengen and Montreux.
i suppose it makes sense for us to buy the Swiss travel pass . Will it include all the trains that we take . Do you have suggestions for us to make our bookings.
Lots of different train sites have been suggested and it is very confusing .
thank you for the suggestions. We are going to exactly break up the trip like you suggested . Lucerne, Wengen and Montreux.
i suppose it makes sense for us to buy the Swiss travel pass . Will it include all the trains that we take . Do you have suggestions for us to make our bookings.
Lots of different train sites have been suggested and it is very confusing .
Jun 12th, 2018, 06:17 AM
#43
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" i suppose it makes sense for us to buy the Swiss travel pass . Will it include all the trains that we take . Do you have suggestions for us to make our bookings. "
Impossible to answer. You never told us which trains, boats, buses and cableways you plan to take.
A Swiss Travel Pass would certainly not be the best solution for a train ride from Zurich airport to Lucerne - Bruenig - Interlaken - Wengen - Interlaken - Gstaad - Montreux - Lausanne - Zurich.
But things will change rapidly if you add side trips by mountain railways, cableways, Swiss Postbuses, Lake and river boats.
Check the fares at
https://www.sbb.ch/en/ and compare them with Swiss Travel Passes, REgional Passses and half Fare Cards.
https://www.sbb.ch/en/leisure-holida...al-guests.html
https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-ch/...om-abroad.html
Impossible to answer. You never told us which trains, boats, buses and cableways you plan to take.
A Swiss Travel Pass would certainly not be the best solution for a train ride from Zurich airport to Lucerne - Bruenig - Interlaken - Wengen - Interlaken - Gstaad - Montreux - Lausanne - Zurich.
But things will change rapidly if you add side trips by mountain railways, cableways, Swiss Postbuses, Lake and river boats.
Check the fares at
https://www.sbb.ch/en/ and compare them with Swiss Travel Passes, REgional Passses and half Fare Cards.
https://www.sbb.ch/en/leisure-holida...al-guests.html
https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-ch/...om-abroad.html
Jun 12th, 2018, 02:03 PM
#44
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But things will change rapidly if you add side trips by mountain railways, cableways, Swiss Postbuses, Lake and river boats>
and most would - travel to Wengen 100% covered by pass and if basing there could add up and foul weather in mountains easy to day trip out to say Bern or other place more tolerable in wet weather. Most mountain lifts and trains to mountain tops would be 50% or less covered with some notable exceptions - like Lauterbrunnen-Murren-Gimmelwald-Stechelberg-Lauterbrunnen fully covered. And those lakes beg to be explored by boat.
Half-Fare Cards great for folks who know exactly what they will be doing and little more - then it's easy to do the maths.
and most would - travel to Wengen 100% covered by pass and if basing there could add up and foul weather in mountains easy to day trip out to say Bern or other place more tolerable in wet weather. Most mountain lifts and trains to mountain tops would be 50% or less covered with some notable exceptions - like Lauterbrunnen-Murren-Gimmelwald-Stechelberg-Lauterbrunnen fully covered. And those lakes beg to be explored by boat.
Half-Fare Cards great for folks who know exactly what they will be doing and little more - then it's easy to do the maths.
Jun 13th, 2018, 06:24 AM
#45
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Hi Itally, again you need to go to the Swiss Rail Pass site, noted above by others, and check out the 2 day or 3 day or whatever day passes you need. write to the Railroad and ask them, give them your itinerary. We were a week in Switzerland, traveling on 4 days, but it was less expensive to get the 3 day pass as one day was much less by paying cash for a short trip.....you have to check it out. However, the Swiss Rail Pass will get you discounts on many things, like mtn lifts, mtn trains, some boats, etc, but often a percentage off. You have to do the seach for this information, as SWISS RAIL about it, they have a website and you can write directly to them. i got pass ahead thru the mail but most here say that is not necessary. Compare costs to the suggestions given by others above. also the hotel in Wengen has a discount for the lift in Wengen, which you will want to do while there, ask for it.
Jun 13th, 2018, 12:20 PM
#46
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Swiss Travel Passes are fully valid on any conveyance that links two actual inhabited places - not to mountain tops -those only 50% off ususally. Again hard to have firm itineraries for many but if you know exactly what you're going to do and no more then it's just a do the maths which you can do on your own.
Jun 13th, 2018, 01:25 PM
#47
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Email ?
Hi PalenQ
we have narrowed down on the places you suggested , is it possible to email you ? So communication. Can be easier?
Swiss trains and places are very confusing and hard to gauge
we have narrowed down on the places you suggested , is it possible to email you ? So communication. Can be easier?
Swiss trains and places are very confusing and hard to gauge
Jun 13th, 2018, 03:33 PM
#48
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Well please post here - others can comment too and others can learn from your conundrum; neckervd's takes on fares and Swiss trains especially is much better than mine - she/he is Swiss and just knows a wealth of info and his/her advice always right on IME.
First just give us a quick rundown on planned train/boat, etc trips - sometimes just that is enough. And when looking at Swiss Travel Passes look for specials on the U.S. end and always compare prices in U.S.or Canuck $s and compare with those at www.sbb.ch (which also can have specials). If about same there just buy it there at any train station, including airport ones.
First just give us a quick rundown on planned train/boat, etc trips - sometimes just that is enough. And when looking at Swiss Travel Passes look for specials on the U.S. end and always compare prices in U.S.or Canuck $s and compare with those at www.sbb.ch (which also can have specials). If about same there just buy it there at any train station, including airport ones.
Jun 14th, 2018, 05:39 AM
#50
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Itally, have you even looked at the Swiss Rail sites? I doubt the Swiss Rail Pass will cover outside of Switzerland, but the train is pretty expensive in Switzerland, so it made sense for us to get the pass for the number of days we were traveling just in Switzerland. Remember it can be used on boats, some mountain lifts, AGain if you submit your itinerary to Swiss Rail via an email they will give you an idea of how to do it, and cost, but then it might be best to buy at train station after checking. There is a cost little map on the Swiss Rail site, in US and Swiss francs as I recall to compare the cost from swiss city to city, in lieu of getting a day pass for a certain day. ON short train rides it might make more sense to just buy the short ride, and not get the day pass. You have to do some checking on this over the Internet. We were in Switzerland the last time for a week, but bought only a 3 day pass,but traveled on a fourth day, but it was less expensive to just buy a short ride in cash from BAsel to Zurich. Research it now, get the info and then buy it at train station, to be prepared for the cost.
Jun 14th, 2018, 07:11 AM
#51
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No Swiss Pass only covers Switzerland - book cheap fares for Switzerland to Paris at www.oui.sncf - can be really cheap is book early enough to get those limited in number discounted discounts - does not use a day on Swiss Pass but can book from about any large city in Switzerland to Paris.
Jun 14th, 2018, 12:32 PM
#52
No the Swiss Pass for the train will not cover Paris... it is for Switzerland.
You may not need any pass at all. You can always just go to the train station and purchase a 2nd class (or 1st class) ticket the day before or day of travel in most situations. It is not required to book online or in advance. You would have to know exactly where you are going, to do the math to see if it would be a significant savings.
I think Montreux is as good of a destination as anywhere with a 4 year old. There's a pretty quai (lakeside promonade) that is good to stroll along. The Friday morning farmers market under the pergola would be interesting if you are in town that day.
You may not need any pass at all. You can always just go to the train station and purchase a 2nd class (or 1st class) ticket the day before or day of travel in most situations. It is not required to book online or in advance. You would have to know exactly where you are going, to do the math to see if it would be a significant savings.
I think Montreux is as good of a destination as anywhere with a 4 year old. There's a pretty quai (lakeside promonade) that is good to stroll along. The Friday morning farmers market under the pergola would be interesting if you are in town that day.
Jun 14th, 2018, 01:50 PM
#53
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You can always buy a ticket on day of travel but best yes to check www.oui.sncf site for cheaper fares by booking very early and there are separate TGV services to Paris - one from Geneva, one from Lausanne and one from Zurich/Basel and tickets yes will include going from your city to one of these TGV gateways. everyone loves Montreux and TGVs to Paris leave from next door Lausanne.
Jun 14th, 2018, 05:45 PM
#54
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How many days Swiss pass ?
We plan to do the above towns as suggested , 3- days in Lucerne then Wengen and then Montreux.
Palenq - you are much more well versed and well educated on the areas . We are travellung with a 4 year old and would definitely be out and about .
In your opinion how should we fill up the itinerary?
mt Titlis or Mt Pilatus or my Rigi ?
Palenq - you are much more well versed and well educated on the areas . We are travellung with a 4 year old and would definitely be out and about .
In your opinion how should we fill up the itinerary?
mt Titlis or Mt Pilatus or my Rigi ?
Jun 14th, 2018, 07:07 PM
#56
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HI Itally, this of course depends on your budget. Did you say you are going in July, if so you may have some trouble finding accomodations this late. In Wengen, I found the Schonegg Hotel very very nice, with full or half fare included, breakfast or BF and dinner. It is right in the little village, they pick up at the train if you call them on arrival. it is a short down hill walk to the lift up to the Mannlichen, which is awesome. Excellent meals, but it may be over budget. Rooms were typical Swiss and lovely, with view of the Jungfrau and Monch right out the window, ask for that. They have a coupon for disount on lift too. If this is too expensive ask others for ideas, but do it asap if this July. google Schonegg Hotel in WEngen and check out the prices.
