I'm having trouble deciphering what to do in regards to rail passes, half fare cards, point to point tickets, etc. Here's our plan: Land in Geneva (from London) via air, then take the train (with connections) into Interlaken/Lauterbrunnen and train or lift to Murren, our destination. Spending 4 days in the Alps so will have some lifts (including Shilthorn) exploring nearby areas. When it's time to leave, train over to Zurich for next flight. Would you show up and purchase tickets when you need them, or is there a better way to view/handle this package as a whole? Thanks!
Posted by
Paris
6883 posts
Hi,
I see two options.
1/ For a 6-day trip, it looks like a half fare card works best, for 120 CHF. You then purchase point to point tickets (about 45 CHF for Geneva-Mürren and the same for Mürren-Zürich) and reduced price mountain ride tickets as needed with the half fare discount. Schilthorn alone is enough to make the Half fare card worthwhile.
2/ If you plan a lot of mountain rides and excursions, look into the Bernese Oberland Pass for your time in Mürren (200 CHF+ depending on duration) plus Saver Day Passes for the first day and the final day (buy them 60 days in advance, for 52 CHF on a weekday and 70 on a weekend, price rises as date gets nearer). But Schilthorn alone definitely doesn't make it worth it.
Posted by
OP
Nashport, OH
12 posts
I did some hypothetical point-to-point tickets on the SBB website (there will be two of us):
Geneva Airport-Bern-Interlaken Ost-Lauterbrunnen-Gruschalp-Murren: $185 CHF
Murren-Schilthorn roundtrip: $165CHF
Murren-Wengen roundtrip: $72CHF
Murren-Lauterbrunnen-Interlaken Ost-Bern-Olten-Zurich Flughafen: $185CHF
total $607 CHF ($618 USD as of today).
May have a random post bus ride or another spontaneous lift or two, but this is the plan.
So if two Half Fare Cards would total $240CHF, the above fares would drop to $303.50CHF, makes the total $543.50CHF saving $63.50CHF--am I looking at this right?
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
Sounds right. Is your trip actually spread over 4, 5, or 6 calendar days? If it all fits into 4 days, then the Swiss Travel Pass for that period is only about $280, covering everything you're listed and more. If it's as many as 6 days, then you might have more than just a random post bus to add to the mix. But you know at least that the Half-Fare Card is saving some money, and will continue to save the more transport you use.
Posted by
Chicago
7811 posts
Go with the Swiss Travel Pass 4 day.
Posted by
OP
Nashport, OH
12 posts
Laura-
we arrive Friday evening 9/13, and leave Murren Tuesday late afternoon 9/17 for Zurich. 4 days not counting the trip from Geneva to Murren basically...
Posted by
Paris
6883 posts
On second thought you could go with the Flex version of the Swiss Travel Pass, with 4 days in a set period, but it won't include Schilthorn anymore in 2020 (only a discount), so the economics depend on when your trip takes place. You might also value the convenience of not buying tickets for trains.