PalenQ...I did not have time to read this whole thread, but I plan to. Quickly, though, with 3 days in Interlaken and 3 in Lausanne, what postal bus rides would you recommend? This sounds like a treat!

I do not know of any really scenic bus rides in the Lucerne area (though neckervd, a Swiss who made valuable contributions to this thread probably does)

And in the Interlaken area with just three days I would put other priorities above say the three pass bus rides because that consumes a whole day.

One neat bus ride in the Interlaken area though is the Grindelwald bus (not a postal bus - not operated by the post office) - take this from Grindelwald up to Grosse Scheidegg and hike back down or keep going by bus to Schwaderalp - down another valley towards Meiringen.

But the Grindelwald bus - a tiny bus so it can navigate numerous hairpin curves - is a thrill and there are many nice walks from it, like the popular one to First (from which you can take an aerial cable way back down.

http://www.grindelwaldbus.ch/en>

Check out the lines of the Grindelwald bus - some novel routes and a thrill to ride in on the sinuous tiny one lane roads with passing points!

Talking about passes being blocked by snow as many higher ones are for much of the year but the Simplon Pass postal bus goes all year so even in winter there is one dramatic high Alpine road crossing by bus always available and one of the finest postal bus rides too!

ttt

Hi we are a family of four planning to take the afternoon Susten-Furka-Grimsel pass trip with Postbus(on our own not guided).

My confusion is with using of swiss travel pass. We will buy swiss travel pass. Our plan is as follows:
-Transfer from Basel to Brienz(use swiss travel pass; we will be staying in Brienz for our holiday)
-Then take a train to Meiringen(use swiss travel pass)
-From Meiringen do the three pass route with post bus.
-Back from Meiringen to Brienz in train

I read that one day of swiss travel pass will be used for this three pass trip.

1. Should I buy full fare ticket for going back to Brienz from Meiringen after the bus trip?
2. I already would have used the swiss pass to travel to Meiringen. Will I get free trip on pass route or do I have to pay more?

Your answer will help us a lot. Thanks!

We took a PostBus from Schilthornbahn cable-car station near Stechelberg to Lauterbrunnen and the ride was 100% covered by Swiss Pass.

Nearly all postal buses are covered 100% - and if you do the 3 Pass tour (as I have done) yes you use a day on the pass but you have nunlimited travel throughout Switzerland that day so the train back to Brienz is 100% covered - and only a few Swiss francs in any case. You could use the pass to go into Interlaken that night say to the fancy Casino or for more dining opportunities than in Brienz.

2. I already would have used the swiss pass to travel to Meiringen. Will I get free trip on pass route or do I have to pay more?> Just to be clear you don't have to pay more - it's covered buy your pass.

If you have questions like these and want to talk to a veteran Swiss train expert cll Byron at www.budgeteuropetravel.com - I've bought various types of passes from him for years - he will expertly answer questions like these without any pressure to buy anything IME!) - www.ricksteves.com folks also are knowledgeable.

Wondering if there's still much of the Grindelwald Gletscher to see once you've gotten up there, via post bus and steps.

Hey thanks a lot for the reply! I will contact them

-From Meiringen do the three pass route with post bus.>

Thanks for the thanks - when I did the 3 pass tour I was told to make a free reservation at the Interalekn post office or I guess any post office - not sure they are needed anymore but ask the tourist offices or any post office. And mine was in mid-Sept and an early snowed blocked the passes for one day - so not sure when you're going but keep posted on the conditions of the passes.

Cheers!

Formerly I had to pay a 10 franc Alpine surcharge for using my pass on those buses - one day fee not per bus but someone said that is no longer the case - no surcharge - report back if there is one - heck report back anyway!

I read that one day of swiss travel pass will be used for this three pass trip.

1. Should I buy full fare ticket for going back to Brienz from Meiringen after the bus trip?
2. I already would have used the swiss pass to travel to Meiringen. Will I get free trip on pass route or do I have to pay more?>

To clarify better everything is covered by one day on your Swiss Pass - everything - no need to buy anything but go to bus station ticket window and show pass - trains and boats just hop on. You are advised to reserve buses for the Three Pass trip - go to the post office in Interlaken or Meiringen or anywhere and ask at least.

cheers!

anyone know if there is a 10 franc or so Alpine Surcharge still for using postal buses on Alpine pass routes?

And are reservations even needed on the Alpine pass runs anymore?

Thanks!

"anyone know if there is a 10 franc or so Alpine Surcharge still for using postal buses on Alpine pass routes?"
abolished last year or so (except Bernina Express bus)

"And are reservations even needed on the Alpine pass runs anymore?"

Yes, but not on popular lines.
reservations are needed on some local lines with small buses only;
for some (terminal) legs of local lines where the bus doesn't run if there are no people announced;
for the Post Bus to Stelvio Pass - Tirano

Examples:
bus from Sfazu to Alp Camp (tiny bus);
local bus from Simplon Dorf to Iselle railway station (tiny bus)
last evening buses from Cruina and from Ulrichen to Nufenenpass and back (no settlement in the area, bus stops only for hikers);
last evening bus between St. Martin and Eison (stays over night at St. Martin anyway because the driver lives there).

Another exeption is the Bernina Express bus Lugano - Tirano which is part of the Bernina Expess System (surcharge and reservation compulsory).

AS to the Martigny - Aosta bus, you may have a look at my post above (from May 2014).