Hi looking to compare the price of travelling by train versus by Car. I researched point to point tickets, and right now leaning towards renting a car, but maybe there regional pass available that I am not aware of.
All travel will be for 4 adults and one 18 month old. All travel will be from April 20th to 27th 2022.
Vallorcine to Zermatt
Zermatt to Launterbrunnen
Launterbrunnen to Zurich
Thanks!
You can't drive into Zermatt you have to take a train from Täsch where you would park. But a car will work for Launterbrunnen to Zurich. In Lauterbrunnen there is parking. Either way you need a pass or to buy tickets if you go into the mountain resorts villages and up to summits. You might look into a Swiss Half Fare Card. https://www.sbb.ch/en/travelcards-and-tickets/railpasses/half-fare-travelcard.html which gives you 50% off on trips you want to make that can only be done by lift or train.
The kind of pass depends on what you plan to see. I usually get the Swiss Travel Pass which covers all general rail, bus and boat travel and gives you discounts on other privately run mountain lifts.
The trouble is that 4 adults + a baby need a full-sized minivan; a regular 5-seater car won't cut it due to the bulk of the child seat. Have you checked rental rates for those? Also, starting in Vallorcine, where would you rent the car: Martigny? Sion? And Zermatt to Lauterbrunnen has to factor in the cost of the Lötschberg train shuttle, there is no direct road.
I believe a Half Fare Card would noodle out for you financially. Plus you'll get discounts on any lifts or mountain trains you want to take. There are passes in the Berner Oberland (Lauterbrunnen) and Valais (Zermatt) that might make sense whether you get a HFC or not.
BTW, to the cost of the car consider also crazy gas prices and parking. Your car will remain parked almost 100% of the time in Lauterbrunnen as well as while you are in Zermatt.
I am trying to avoid the car, i know it will be parked most of the time on not travel day.
we would rent the car in Geneva since we are starting this trip in Annecy, then Chamonix etc.
Yes a van is what I am looking at, price are ridiculous, and that is not counting gas and tolls.
I will look at the suggested pass mentionned aboved. And calculate point to point tickets. Thanks for input!
Hi Martine,
I’m guesstimating your train ticket prices per adult will run about CAN$190-$230. While that is pricey, I would definitely opt for train travel. Check out your options on the Swiss National Train’s website: SBB..ch
There are discounts for families, discounts for groups traveling together etc. Essentially you only are traveling three days by train so it’s likely a half-fare card might be the way to go over point-to-point tickets.
Traveling by car will be very frustrating trying to find parking in any towns you might want to stop in en route to Lauterbrunnen . Parking is difficult to find, and pricey when you do find it. Keep in mind with a car rental the driver will not be able to enjoy the magnificent scenery as they are able to when traveling by train.
Enjoy your trip!
