Switzerland - Which rail pass?
 

We are going to be in the Bernese Oberland area for 5-6 days with Lauterbrunnen as base and trips planned to Grindelwald, Wengen, Murren, Schilthorn, Jungfrau and the surrounding areas. I will appreciate advice on whether to go for the Swiss Half fare card or the Jungfrau rail pass. I had read somewhere that Schilthorn is not covered with the Jungfrau pass and one has to pay full fare..

Thanks in advance

The only way to figure out which is the better value for you is to add up the cost using both, with the help of sbb.ch/en. That means that you have to have some idea of where you might want to visit, of course. We've used the half fare card a couple of times but that doesn't mean it's the best for you.

I agree you have to do the math.

Go to WWW.SBB.CH and plug in your itinerary to get an idea of what train excursions will cost.

Don't forget about gondolas, too.

In September, 2011, the Wengen to Mannlichen gondola was 21 CHF for example.

Thin

http://www.swisspasses.com/railpass/...rau-unlimited/

No Schilthorn is not covered and no discount either.

Half-Fare Card costs about $130-140 to buy and then half-off - I think for your plans the Jungfraubahn Pass may be best - covering nearly everything else in the area including boats on both lakes bookending Interlaken - virtually all trains and cable ways in the area - 50% off only on Jungfraubahn however.

For lots of great info on Swiss trains and the Jungfrau Region in particular check these IMO superb sites: www.swisstravelsytem.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetrvel.com.

Half-Fare Card you have to know exactly what you will be doing to figure if it is better - with an unlimited travel pass you just can do anything you want anytime without worrying about costs.

All depends on how you go to Lauterbrunnen:
car?
train?
Plane to Berne, Basle, Zurich, Geneva or Malpensa plus train?

. I had read somewhere that Schilthorn is not covered with the Jungfrau pass and one has to pay full fare..>

Are you into any hiking/walking - if so you can easily do about half of the Murren-Schilthorn trek on foot, especially coming down from its half-way station - Burg or Berg or something like that. A sweet walk with the Jungfraujoch in full view the whole way down - you can't get lost as you can see Murren far below - these trails zigzag so are not that steep. Can cut costs and do a sweet ramble.