Help requested: Travel passes making me DIZZY!

This is where a spreadsheet will be useful. I don’t know the current costa for all these passes. The SBB app is the place to look. But keep in mind that when looking at point to point tickets on that site, the prices shown assume you already have the Half Fare Card. You need to double the price for the purpose of comparing some of the options.

Do your 8 days include your travel day from Salzburg? A STP would cover from the first station in Switzerland to Wengen if you choose to use one of your days. You would need to buy a ticket from Salzburg to that station.

So I would start listing each of your train journeys.

Then, next to each journey, create a column for each of the pass options:

STP
HFC + STP
HFC only
HFC + BO pass
BO pass only
Point to Point

In each column, you need to figure out what is covered by each pass or what the price would be.

From Wengen, it will be easier/faster to get to Jungfraujoch than Schilthorn.

Thanks. Yes, the 8 days includes getting from Lauterbrunnen to Wengen. I found a ticket from Salzburg to Lauterbrunnen already

How do I find the costs for the lifts, etc in the abO region?
I can find train tickets and double them.
Thanks again

Your itinerary is similar to ours. You don't say how long you are staying in each place. We have decided that we like the ease of the STP even if we end up paying a bit more for it. It as you probably know covers Rigi 100%. We want to see Jungfraujoch so we also plan to buy the jungfrau pass because it discounts this to 63. round trip in September when we are going.

Most have done the calculations and believe that financially, the swiss half fare card and the bernese oberland are the best bet (unless you do jungfraujoch).
It is so dizzying that in the end my time is worth more than figuring out how to save money!
Good luck! I have links to the validity of all the passes that I will post below

https://www.myswissalps.com/swisstravelpass/validity
https://www.myswissalps.com/jungfrautravelpass/validity
https://www.myswissalps.com/regionalpassberneseoberland/validity

https://cdn.jungfrau.ch/Prospekte_und_Broschueren/Jungfraubahnen_Fahrpreise_Preisliste.pdf

https://cdn.jungfrau.ch/Prospekte_und_Broschueren/Grindelwald-First_Prospekt.pdf

hope that helps!

Thank you RRice! Each of the line items listed represents one day. So we will be in Switzerland for 10 days, 5 of them are in the BO, 3 in Lucerne and 2 in Zurich.
In your calculations, how much more are you spending for the STP vs the HFC? I'm starting to lean that way

I feel like you have all the info. and you just need to make a decision and then not second guess yourself. You have 2 great options: 1) the 8-day Swiss Travel Pass (with the promotion you’ll get 10 days for the price of 8) OR 2) the half fare card and the BO Pass.

There is too much overlap with the Swiss Travel Pass the and the BO Pass. So, it does not make sense to get both.

I don’t think you have a wrong choice here. Some, like Pat and I, would go with option 1 because we like the convenience. And some, would go with option 2 because they don’t mind having to buy tickets for everything. Again, I think both will save you money over just paying full price for tickets.

If you wanted to save money, I would skip the Jungfrough. I found this to be a very unpleasant experience. You can read my trip report to see why if you’re curious. I found the Schilthorn to be a much more pleasant experience. And I love Mannlichen, even if the trail you want to take to kleine Scheidegg is not open yet.

What I like to do when making travel decisions is I will say, “OK, I’m going to do X.” and then I sleep on it for a night or two. If I wake up and I’m second guessing myself, I will do some more pondering. Once I have a decision and I’m not going back and forth, I know I have the right decision for me.

You have a great trip planned. Pick which ever option you think will work best for you. Only you can decide that.

Thanks Carrie. You are always super helpful and a great bastion of reason. I'm leaning toward the STP but have a couple more questions to confirm I have that down
So, I wouldn't need to buy the BO pass if I have the STP? I thought the STP doesn't cover much in the BO area. Does it still cover lifts, funicular etc in that region?
I am torn about Jungfrou. I think we may just relax that day and do some walking. What did you enjoy about Mannlichen. I'll start researching that. :) Can we still visit if the hike is closed?
Thanks again.

I too have spent an inordinate amount of time researching this. It appears that for us, with the STP promotion, the cost of that vs. the BO + a HFC is within a few dollars of each other. Provided that tickets on the lifts, funiculars, etc, in the BO are covered by the STP.
So to echo Brent's question, are those routes included in the STP? (I do realize that the cost of the Schilthorn is extra, regardless of which pass we purchase) Clarifications are appreciated; thanks so much!

Here’s the coverage map again:

https://cdn-doc.myswissalps.com/docs/default-source/rail-network-maps/swisstravelpass.pdf?sfvrsn=7788603a_62&_gl=1*1xpzafw*_ga*OTAwMzQ5MzE3LjE2NzEzNzA1Mjc.*_ga_CRB95SX1EF*MTY3ODA2NTc0Mi4xNS4xLjE2NzgwNjU3NTEuMC4wLjA.

Solid lines are covered 100%. Dotted lines are discounted. In the BO, the Swiss Travel Pass covers you up to Muren and Wengen. Everything above those are discounted.

Keep in mind, with either option, you will have to pay out of pocket for some things. With the Swiss Travel Pass, you pay only for the mountain excursions not covered. With the half fare card, you will be out of pocket for everything, at half price.

I’ve really said all I can on this. The decision is up to you guys. No wrong choice.

Perfect. STP for me! Thanks Carrie! Appreciate your patience. I'm sure this will be much easier when there in person.
Now I can start focusing on my Austria and Germany train tickets while I wait for the STP to go on sale. Thanks again! You are the bomb diggity. Thanks to everyone for the help!

I agree the STP is just so easy and user- friendly, and not worth more of your valuable time debating. When I'm in another country, I keep wishing those countries had the equivalent pass.

Brent. We too decided on the swiss travel pass but we are also leaning towards purchasing the jungfrau pass in addition because we are there for three days and the pass will pay for itself with the additional cable cars we plan to ride. we also will most likely go to jungfraujoch (not because I want to... my husband doesn't want to skip it).

Have fun! Give us a trip report!!

Thanks Carrie! Your response clarifies it. We will go with the STP.

What did you enjoy about Mannlichen.

There are great views up there and the cable care starts operating May 27th. There’s also a restaurant up there.

Watch the first view minutes of this video before he gets to the trail down to kleine Scheidegg, which you already know probably won’t be open yet, to see what it looks like up there. The cows most likely won’t be up there in May.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsp2XG8lPyw

I prefer the lower elevation mountains, like Mannlichen and Riggi, because it’s much more comfortable to walk around. Schilthorn and jungfraujoch you go up and take pictures, but it’s too cold to do much walking around. At least for me.

And I agree with what Pat said: When I'm in another country, I keep wishing those countries had the equivalent pass.

I leave for Italy next month and I had to buy a lot of my train tickets and seat reservations ahead of time. So, I’m committed to specific days and times. No flexibility. In Switzerland with the Pass, you can just jump on any train you want. No preplanning needed!!!

Munich to Vienna
Vienna to Salzburg
Salzburg to Halstadt and return

I can comment on these routes.

For Munich to Vienna, read this - https://www.seat61.com/international-trains/trains-from-Munich.htm#Munich-Vienna. You should buy these tickets in advance to save money.

For Vienna to Salzburg, read this - https://www.seat61.com/trains-and-routes/vienna-to-salzburg-by-train.htm. All you need to know.

For Salzburg to Hallstatt (note spelling), read this - https://www.seat61.com/international-trains/trains-from-Salzburg.htm#Salzburg-Austria

Never buy tickets from Rail Europe or third party sellers. Only buy from the companies that operate the trains.