brookwood

Make that 870 chf.

PalQ

Swiss Card $132 x 5= $660 thru Raileurope vs 870 Swiss francs in Switzereland or about $780 - save lots by buying in US before hitting Switzerland -about $120 by my reckoning. All Swiss pass, Swiss Cards are significantly cheaper for the same product when bought in the US currently!

Intrepid1

What you should be looking into is the Swiss family card..are any of the children under 16? if so, they travel for free accompanied by the parents.

AnnieGoo

This is my first time to post on a travel website... so let's see how this works...

This July I am traveling to Geneva to visit my brother with husband and two teenage boys (13 & 17). Both boys are typical active teenage boys who like outdoor activities. Neither boy has been to Europe. We are using my brother's home as a "home base" for a few days, with the idea of taking several days trips and a few overnight trips. A trip to Rome is on the agenda.

This group seems very knowledgeable about locations near Geneva. Do any of you have suggestions for day trips near Geneva and other places that teenagers might enjoy visiting. My brother has suggested a trip to Zermatt, but others seem to like the area around Interlacken better. Others suggest that a trip to Salzburg is a must(Ludwig's castle and luge rides). Can you ride the luge in Zermatt? I would appreciate comments and advice concerning these ideas....

Thanks much!

PalQ

Teens may like the Chocolate train that runs from near Geneva (Lausanne) to Broc and the nestle chocolate factory -an excursion train that runs about daily in season - great scenic rail ride from the lake up and then chocolate tasting. Willy Wonka!

AnnieGoo

PalQ-

Many thanks for the suggestion. Sounds yummy and fun!

Do you live in Geneva?

vtskihouse

I plan to travel from Geneva Airport to Verbier during the last Saturday in February. I noticed that the rail is less expensive than a private taxi. I plan to purchase a Swiss Transfer ticket for the trip. Since it is might be a busy Saturday with tourists going to the mountains, do I need to pay the additional $11 to make a seat reservation? I am also considering traveling to Zermatt and returning to Geneva Airport on my Swiss Transfer pass. Is it possible to alter destinations on the Swiss Transfer pass? Any advice will be helpful. Thank you.

PalQ

Train reservations are generally not possible on many Swiss trains, but if youy take one of the Geneva Airport-Italy trains you can - these trains go thru Brig where you want to get off for the Zermatt train, which save for Glacier Expresses, only a few a day, don't take reservations and go about hourly. I've rarely see no empty seats on Swiss trains but when you buy your Swiss Transfer ticket, not sold in Switzerland according to Swiss rail site i believe, ask about reservations. For a definitive answer to your question about mixing arrival and departure points for your Swiss ticket call Budget Europe 800-441-2387 - they will definitely give you a definite answer to that question. Perhaps if you go to Zermatt first then Verbier you could do it better as the train you would normally return on from Zermatt to Geneva goes via Martigny, a short train ride from Verbier, thus you could have a ticket showing you came from Zermatt - the place you went first and conductor may not think you joined at Martigny. But ask Budget Europe maybe you can legally mix the points.

Intrepid1

As a general rule, seat reservations for trips which occur wholly WITHIN Switzerland, are not available. The notable exception to that are seat reservations on so-called "specialty trains" such as the Glacier Express.

The rail station at the Geneva airport is an origination point meaning that trains start out from that station. One strategy you can use, even on the busiest days, is to try to ensure you get on the train as early as possible to claim a seat.

There will be more 2nd class seats than 1st class ones but 2nd inevitably fills up faster than 1st.

Whatever you do, if you can, buy an passes/tickets/transfers at the rail station at the airport (as opposed to ordering one in advance)..it will undoubtedly be cheaper and those folks can answer all your questions about ticketing, alterations, etc.

suze

Depending on their ages, I'm not sure a rental car would even be possible?

As mentioned, the train station at Geneva airport is a connected building (just follow the signs you hardly know you've left the airport).

PalQ

Re: buying pass at station. Well the Swiss Transfer ticket, according to Swiss rail web site is not available for sale in Switzerland - i believe that's what it says and if it is it's quite a bit more expensive than ones bought in US - why would one want to buy at station once there? It will not 'undoubtedbly be cheaper there' to see this fallacy compare prices on Swiss web site for all kinds of Swiss passes, cards, etc. - way more than if bought in US. The mentality that things are always cheaper there is just not true - definitely not in this case. Such statements are meant well but in your case it would cost you about $20 more to buy there. Plus again Transfer ticket is your best bet perhaps and can't be bought there. Swiss cares and passes and pt-pt can but my research has shown to be more expensive due to the fall of the dollar.

suze

For AnnieGoo's question:

I think the towns of Vevey and Montreux make great trips from Geneva (they are only ~1 hour by train along the lake).

Vevey has a festive open air farmers market with great food on Saturday mornings in the town square. There's a tram up Rocher de Nayes, you can hike part or ride the entire way out of the Montreux train station. Various boats and ferry rides out on the lake. Chateux de Chillon is a wonderful OLD castle.