Glacier Express: How much? Worth it?

It is 8 hours. 153 CHF 2nd Cl, 269 CHF 1st Cl. Reservation fees vary winter to summer, 23, 33, and 43 CHF.

Worth it? De gustibus non est disputandum. If the weather is nice (it was when I went), if you want to get from Zermatt to St Moritz (or Davos in my case), and if the price does not phase you (part of a package deal when I went). If the answers are yes, then its great!

It's also covered by rail passes, aside from the reservation fee. If you have other train travel planned in Switzerland, you'd want to look at the whole picture.

Look on Youtube etc. for videos of the ride, then decide. As I posted earlier, there's a Canadian TV series called Mighty Trains and one episode features the GE. Looks pretty cool, but I'd rather do the Bernini Express. And the Golden Pass was pretty great.

The Glacier Express route, like the other scenic train routes, is best done as part of a tour round Switzerland.

The Glacier Express route has two branches, it runs from either St. Moritz or Chur to Zermatt, and vice-versa
You don't have to do the whole route if it doesn't fit in to your plans.

In factoring costs, how are you getting to St. Moritz? Are you staying there overnight? How are you getting from Zermatt (it is at the end of dead-end valley)? Are you staying there?
The answers to the above questions determine if it is better just to get tickets for the Glacier Express route, or buy a Swiss Pass or Half Price Card.

Sam: Thanks, good info! My interest here is less in transportation and more in relaxation ;) We are always on the move when in Switzerland (usually in the mountains) and the train sounds like a good way to relax in between trips into the Alps on foot.

Phred: I will do that (Youtube). The Golden Pass--I have heard of that but, usually taking a car, I don't know what it is. It looks like a specific route, is it more? I will have to compare the two routes...I would rather start in Luzern after all ;)

Chris F: I just want to know how much the train-associated costs are, ie "[H]ow much does the whole trip cost, TRAIN WISE?" and I noted the trip was from St. Moritz to Zermatt. I will get there (or rather end up there) on my own dime. The questions regarding getting to St. Moritz, whether I am staying there overnight, getting out of Zermatt (I sort of assumed that the Glacier Express just stopped in Taesch--does it actually go into Zermatt?), and whether I am staying there overnight really have no place since I am just looking for the price of this specific train travel and whether or not the folks on RS (and I assume have taken the train route) think that it is worth it. Since you mentioned them, what would be the prices for the options you suggested: 1) Glacier Express route, 2) buy a Swiss Pass, or 3) Half Price Card?

Circuitous route suggestions are welcome!

All of this being said, I plan on taking the old Regio trains. There are a couple of train changes but for us the fun will be taking the train and seeing the sights--while taking a load off of our feet and some snacks out of our backpacks. When you have little people #1 the luggage goes nuts (ie riding trains can become a huge hassle due to the luggage issue) and #2 they love trains and adventure.

Cabalist, the rail line ends at Zermatt. Täsch is where the road ends, and car drivers have to switch there to the train.
If you are travelling around Switzerland with a Swiss Pass, the (extra) cost of the Glacier Express route is zero! Hence my comments.

Zermatt is at the end of a side valley, which starts at Visp. You always have to go back to Visp to get anywhere else. If you are not staying in Zermatt, but heading somewhere else, some people choose to save time by changing trains at Visp to avoid doubling back.
A similar logic applies at the other end. If you are coming from the north, it makes sense to start at Chur, rather than going further south to St. Moritz and then coming back again.

Schedules, prices, seats - are all here:

https://www.glacierexpress.ch/en/

The Swiss Travel Pass does not cover reservation fees on the GEX.

In considering whether it is worth it, don't you have to compare to the cost of the regular unnamed trains that travel the exact same route?