Palenque

I would believe the Family Pass coincides with the 8-consecutive day pass but i am not sure - again i'd call Byron at BETS 800-441-2387 (who i would call for any definitive answers like this as i mentioned above) to see what the Family Pass issued here exactly says - it perhaps is not limited to 8-days and may be the same as the HFC family pass. But at least i think buying regular tickets the kids under 15 i think automatically pay 50% in Switzerland.

Palenque

BLS Schifffahrt in the Bernese Oberland
BLS Schifffahrt in the Bernese Oberland. Spring on Lake Thun ... Day ticket for unlimited travel on Lakes Thun and Brienz Prices: 2nd cl. CHF 29.00 ...
www.bls.ch/e/schifffahrt/schifffahrt.php

this is the official website of the BLS company that runs the boats on Lakes Thun and Brienz

BLS is also a railway line that runs the Bern-Lotschberg-Brig-simplon tunnel railway

I assume HFC are good for 50% off the boats?

see_the_world7

Thanks for that link Palenque. I think the special for the full day price of CHF29 is only good in April, but the site still gives the timetables and prices I needed. Yes, the HFC says it is 50% of boats.

It's looking like the HFC is going to be a signficantly better deal for us. If it was close, then I would go with the Swiss Pass for more convenience, but I think it's a difference of about $100 per adult so we'll probably go with the HFC. I'm still trying to price a few different options for mountain days so I haven't decided for certain.

Palenque

Any way back to Lake Thun boats - they start from behind Interlaken West train station - in the center of town and serve some towns along the north side - one of the first stops is by the famous St Beatus Caves - and as boats go about hourly in season (skeletal service all winter) you can visit the caves and have another boat without waiting too long.

The BLS site gives some ideas for excursions with the Lake Thun boats. Note that Swiss Passes but not HFC cover free admission to over 400 Swiss museums and sights like this (i believe this is included) - and like the popular Ballenberg Open-air Museum that is great to include with a boat ride on Lake Brienz (bus from Brienz to the museum, in a meadow lovingly overlooking the lake) - entry there is about $20 p.p.

BLS Schifffahrt in the Bernese Oberland - Ideas for excursions: St ...
Combined ticket Lake Thun - St Beatus Caves. A walking trail leads directly from the landing stage to the St Beatus Caves with their immense stalagmites and ...
http://www.bls.ch/e/schifffahrt/ausf...mbi-beatus.php -