eurail swiss travel pass + half fare card combo?

First of all Eurail is not associated with the Swiss Pass at all...two entirely different things. Eurail is for the older generation who grew up with it being a useful pass for several countries. Now it's just overpriced and overkill and requires extra payments for reservations on top of its purchase price.

For your very limited travels in Switzerland is best suited for the Half Fare Card as are most journeys in Switzerland. Buy it at any Swiss Train Counter in Switzerland. You'll have to purchase tickets before each of your journeys, but you'll pay only 1/2 the normal fare with your Half Fare Card.
If you want total ease with Swiss Train Travel, hopping on/off at will as many times as you want then choose a Swiss Pass product. But they can be quite expensive.

thank you tim for your quick and informative response

i was thinking about just getting the half fare card, as i mention it would be $190 cost plus the additional cost of the half fare
totaling about $300 compared to getting a 4 day flex at about $310

i still dont see the positive in getting a 4 day flexi based on my itinerary, and i wasnt sure if i use the tram in Zurich would it count toward 1 day of my flexi pass, or starts when i use it getting from Zurich to Lucern,
the flexipass mention it covers tram too, very confusing.

the list of free museums is a bonus as well though

thanks again

One caution about estimating train costs based on the numbers in the RS guide – those are full fare prices. I've not traveled in Switzerland, but in other countries you can get significant discounts by purchasing in advance. With those discounts, rail pass cost may not look as appealing. It's worth going on the web and doing the math to see what the actual cost would be for your train tickets.

Borton, Sherry,
Switzerland is one of the few countries (Belgium and the Netherlands being the other two I know of) where there is no discount for advance purchase of rail tickets. The price is the same whether you buy on the day or in advance, and tickets are valid on all trains on the date and route stated on the ticket.
It is also not necessary to book a seat, unless you are a large group wanting to sit together or you want a place in the special panoramic coaches on the few trains that have them (Glacier Express etc.)

Note, the "headline price" shown when you do a query on www.sbb.ch (Swiss Federal Railways) is the price with a half price fare card. If you go to the next page you can list all the fare options, or, if you do not have a half price fare card ("Halbtax Abo") just double the price in your head.

yes thank you sherry

i done traveling on train in Italy and France... and it is significantly cheaper if purchase advance
my train from Venice to FLorence was just $20, purchase 4 months advanced compared to $75 for same trip, when i checked it that same day
im sure it willl be the same.. hoping it would be..
if the point-point prices are cheaper...
i still dont see enough reason for me to get the 4 flexi pass base on my itinerary.... which cost at least $310 and it limit me to only 4 traveling days but when i need more. i will not work
my concern is my days in interlaken, and i know the jungfrah roundtrip price is about $200
and the eiger, schilltorn side is thinking the same.. those 2 sidetrips alone would be good for the flexipass, as it is covers the price, but beside that.. i dont see it as a good investment for me.
i think the half fare is best

The Swiss Pass does not fully cover the price of the Jungfraujoch train; it covers as far as Wengen and provides a 25% discount above that. Going to the Schilthorn, you are covered as far as Muerren, then get 50% off above that. See the list at https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation/trains/switzerland-rail-passes. Any fully covered service, including trams and museums, are only covered on your 4 counted flexipass travel days. A half-fare card gives half off all transport, but no museum discounts.

P.S. A Swiss Pass for 8 consecutive days would avoid some of this counting and strategizing, but of course costs more at $383.

thank you laura for your informative response

and the only time you can visit any museums is the day you use one of the flex day
for example, if i plan to see museum on friday in zurich, all day sightseeing, but use my 1st flexi day on saturday to go from zurich to lucerne/interlaken, it would not be allowed? only on day of traveling is museum allowed?

thanks

Borton,

Is there any reason you are using Interlaken as your starting point? Any thoughts on using Lauterbrunnen or Muerren as your starting point?

Also, have you considered a Berner Oberland Pass? I am planning my itinerary also for next summer and will be staying in Lauterbrunnen for 6 days. In my thread people recommended that I stay in Lauterbrunnen and use the BO Pass.

DB

hi DB

im using interlaken as my point cause its cheaper to stay... there are a few options in hostel where its under $50
as much as i would love to stay in Lauterbrunnen, even murren for cheaper, closer commute time and wonderful views and better swiss feel, i havent found my price range in hostel, if available.

i hear interlaken is a big hub, very touristy but the hostel in my range is cheaper than what i found in lauterbrunnen, murren.
interlaken will be my base and i will make daily day trips to lauterbrunn, murren, gimmelwald, schillthorn in one day
and jungfrah grindelwald on another day

i plan to get the swiss half fare card
what does the BO pass offer? cost?
i hear its only valid til october 2015. my plan is for february 2016...would it fit my intinerary in seeing the sites i mention? i plan to stay in area for 3 days.
that would be my plan.
any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
thanks

Affordable housing:
Lauterbrunnen - Valley Hostel
Gimmelwald - Mountain Hostel
Murren - Chalet Fontana & Gestiliboden Apartment

There are definitely options. Don't waste your precious time in this area in Interlaken when you could have the best of the best by staying in Lauterbrunnen or one of the surrounding alpine villages.

thanks tim

will consider those options and have found something in Valley hostel within my price range