nomadder

I am just about to purchase my plane tickets for trip to Switzerland. My return flight departs at 10:30 a.m. from Zurich International airport to the USA. I am staying in Appenzell with plan to take the first train I see scheduled from Appenzell at 6:33 a.m. on my day of departure to arrive by 8:15 a.m. to Zurich airport. Is this an unwise plan that is cutting it too close for my flight? If so, I would have to consider adding another day and staying the night in Zurich and flying out the following day. Also, if I get an 8 day Swiss flexipass and save my 8th day for this, would the train trip from Appenzell to Zurich be covered?

nomadder

Please disregard this question, since to have more train options available to me on my day of departure, I just successfully shifted my hotel reservations up by one day. Now I leave Appenzell to Zurich on a Friday instead of Saturday.

PalenQ

always always best IMO to stay in the departure city itself - never know when rails will be blocked by accident or a strike, etc.

PalenQ

8-day flexi - have you researched a 3-day flexipass instead as it could well be cheaper or if traveling by the end of November or in May then you can get a 2 for the price of 1 sale on 4-day Swiss Passes - either flexi or consecutive - two of those may be cheaper than an 8-day pass?

For lots on Swiss trains check out - www.swisstravelsystem.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com - all with great informative content IMO and not just the usual prices and a To Buy option.

PalenQ

why can a 3-day flexipass be better than an 8-day flexipass?

well because between the 1st and last or 3rd in this case flexipass 100% covered day you get 50% off everything that moves practically in Switzerland in between - so unless you are covering long distances on your 8 flexible travel days getting 50% off with the 3-day flexipass could well be for the average traveler a better deal.

nomadder

Palen Q -- yes, my next decision is which pass to buy. I am staying for 8 nights in Lauterbrunnen, then taking train to Appenzell. I will stay 3 nights in Appenzell, and I should get a 3 day Appenzell card from the hotel to use for local transportation in that area (commonly given by the hotels for stays of 3 nights or longer).

I have no concept of the trains and cable cars I'll need in the Lauterbrunnen area for hiking around. I am not yet familiar with the trails or which trains/cables to use and how to figure out the cost of usage in the Lauterbrunnen area. So I do have to consider what you said about the 3-day flexipass over the 8-day pass. I guess with a 3 day pass, I'd use the 3 full days for 1. train from Zurich to Lauterbrunnen, 2. train from Lauterbrunnen to Appenzell, 3. train from Appenzell to Zurich? Please stay tuned -- I know I will have more questions regarding the passes.