The Swiss Card Revisited
Sep 21st, 2004, 05:55 AM
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The Swiss Card Revisited
About a month ago, we had something of a discussion about the Swiss Card and how to use it ethically and cost effectively I just returned from Switzerland, where I used my Swiss Card extensively.
First, on the issue of initiating the card.
It IS indeed self initiated. YOU write in the first and last dates. Then, the conductor of the first train you ride stamps the card with the initial. On the final outbound jorney, the conductor of the last train stamps the card with the terminal date.
The inward and outward trips, if concluded in a day, are part of the cost of the card.
Secondly, you are not obligated to start the effective period of the card immediately upon arrival in Switzerland. I posed a question to the Swiss rail authorities on this very issue. I cited the hypothetical case of a late arrival in Zürich where I spent a night in a hotel before continuing to my first detination. I was told that I could start the effective date of the card the following day. Such a procedure is common and permissable.
Third, when leaving or entering the country via rail with a Swiss card, the free portion of your inward and outward journey starts/terminates at the Swiss border. For ease of use, I suggest buying your inbound ticket from the Swiss Federal Rail agency in advance. It will issue the correct tickets. For example, if you originated in Munich like I did last year, the Swiss folks sold me the correct set of tickets and I was properly ticketed when I got on the train in Munich.
While I was in Switzerland, the Card got me 50% off just about everything involving bus, train, and boat trips. In the Berner Oberland, the 50% discount continued to apply on the trips I took. (The cable lift from Grindelwald to Pfingstegg is only 25% off, but it is a short trip.)
Some people have figured the normal half fare general cardd is a better buy because they are not going to take a long train ride in and out of the country. Hence they would not recover the built-in cost of the Swiss Card that is allocated for the inward and outward journeys.
One final suggetion. If you are going to the Berner Oberland, and have no interest in the Schilthorn, the Jungfraubahnen Pass is good for 6 days of free travel, with one exception. You never get the Eigergletscher - Jungfraujoch section free; you pay half the cost. Considering your own set of circumstances, and your interests, that particular travel pass may well be worth what you pay for it.
Having just returned, and having just done most of what I describe, I think it is accurate.
I don't want to open a running sore, but I do feel that those of you who impunged my ethics, my accuracy, and my honesty need to reconsider your allegations in light of the truth. The comments were somewhat insulting to my integrity and none of them have any validity to them.
If you want to email me directly to continue the discussion, please do so. I see no reason to engage in diatribes on this forum.
Under the circumstances, I have no other way to reply to my critics because they hid behind the bravado-inducing cloak of anonymity. But the nature of the original comments demand a response.
First, on the issue of initiating the card.
It IS indeed self initiated. YOU write in the first and last dates. Then, the conductor of the first train you ride stamps the card with the initial. On the final outbound jorney, the conductor of the last train stamps the card with the terminal date.
The inward and outward trips, if concluded in a day, are part of the cost of the card.
Secondly, you are not obligated to start the effective period of the card immediately upon arrival in Switzerland. I posed a question to the Swiss rail authorities on this very issue. I cited the hypothetical case of a late arrival in Zürich where I spent a night in a hotel before continuing to my first detination. I was told that I could start the effective date of the card the following day. Such a procedure is common and permissable.
Third, when leaving or entering the country via rail with a Swiss card, the free portion of your inward and outward journey starts/terminates at the Swiss border. For ease of use, I suggest buying your inbound ticket from the Swiss Federal Rail agency in advance. It will issue the correct tickets. For example, if you originated in Munich like I did last year, the Swiss folks sold me the correct set of tickets and I was properly ticketed when I got on the train in Munich.
While I was in Switzerland, the Card got me 50% off just about everything involving bus, train, and boat trips. In the Berner Oberland, the 50% discount continued to apply on the trips I took. (The cable lift from Grindelwald to Pfingstegg is only 25% off, but it is a short trip.)
Some people have figured the normal half fare general cardd is a better buy because they are not going to take a long train ride in and out of the country. Hence they would not recover the built-in cost of the Swiss Card that is allocated for the inward and outward journeys.
One final suggetion. If you are going to the Berner Oberland, and have no interest in the Schilthorn, the Jungfraubahnen Pass is good for 6 days of free travel, with one exception. You never get the Eigergletscher - Jungfraujoch section free; you pay half the cost. Considering your own set of circumstances, and your interests, that particular travel pass may well be worth what you pay for it.
Having just returned, and having just done most of what I describe, I think it is accurate.
I don't want to open a running sore, but I do feel that those of you who impunged my ethics, my accuracy, and my honesty need to reconsider your allegations in light of the truth. The comments were somewhat insulting to my integrity and none of them have any validity to them.
If you want to email me directly to continue the discussion, please do so. I see no reason to engage in diatribes on this forum.
Under the circumstances, I have no other way to reply to my critics because they hid behind the bravado-inducing cloak of anonymity. But the nature of the original comments demand a response.
Sep 21st, 2004, 01:29 PM
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Bob---following your advise we purchased the Swiss Card and you were right, it worked great and saved us money over a Swiss Pass. The savings on the Jungfraujoch were the real deal. Thank you SO much for your help.
Sep 23rd, 2004, 05:04 AM
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Thank you, vielen dank Bob! We returned yesterday from our two week Swiss trip and your analysis of the different passes was invaluable information. Also many, many thanks to Ingo (and others) who responded to questions regarding the passes.
Based on all that info we chose the Half Fare Card and it turned out to be the right choice for us. I could definitely see the advantage of the Swiss Card (or one of the Berner Oberland passes) if our itinerary (and weather) had been different.
The travel agents (thanks for that advice Ingo) in the Zürich airport train station were also very helpful and since we didn't buy advance passes we were able to take care of buying our Card and tickets in just a few minutes after our plane landed. Of course, we waited to buy train, tram, cable car tickets (including Schilthorn and Jungfraujoch) on as as needed daily basis once we got to Mürren which was very simple at the local train stations, we simply showed our Half Fare Card and purchased those tickets at half price also.
I will post a trip report when I've had a chance to download the photos.
Based on all that info we chose the Half Fare Card and it turned out to be the right choice for us. I could definitely see the advantage of the Swiss Card (or one of the Berner Oberland passes) if our itinerary (and weather) had been different.
The travel agents (thanks for that advice Ingo) in the Zürich airport train station were also very helpful and since we didn't buy advance passes we were able to take care of buying our Card and tickets in just a few minutes after our plane landed. Of course, we waited to buy train, tram, cable car tickets (including Schilthorn and Jungfraujoch) on as as needed daily basis once we got to Mürren which was very simple at the local train stations, we simply showed our Half Fare Card and purchased those tickets at half price also.
I will post a trip report when I've had a chance to download the photos.
Sep 23rd, 2004, 05:12 AM
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Thank you Bob for the information! My husband and I are planning a trip to Switzerland for next year and have been thoroughly confused (to say the least) about the various options of Swiss passes there seems to be. Your information definitely helps, and I am printing this out.
Thanks!
Tracy
Thanks!
Tracy
Sep 28th, 2004, 07:19 AM
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Hi Bob,
You mentioned that it is not worthwhile for the Swiss Pass unless long train ride in and out of the country are taken. I'm planning to travel from Basel to Vienna then from Innsbruck to a Switzerland city. Any idea would the Swiss Pass be valid for the journey?
Thanks in advance!
You mentioned that it is not worthwhile for the Swiss Pass unless long train ride in and out of the country are taken. I'm planning to travel from Basel to Vienna then from Innsbruck to a Switzerland city. Any idea would the Swiss Pass be valid for the journey?
Thanks in advance!
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