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Pass and Ticket Questions for trip in August

Posted by on

Hi fellow travelers and Rick Stevesites!

My previous post won't let me add a reply, so I had to create a new post. My wife and I are heading back to Lauterbrunnen for our anniversary in August. Here's our itinerary:

Arrive on 8/15, travel from Zurich to Wegen, staying in the valley until check out on the 19th. We'll be staying in Wegen and mostly just doing some casual hiking, traveling to Grindalwald, Gimmelwald, and Murren.

Leave the valley on the 19th and head over to Zermatt.

Stay in Zermatt until the 21st, check out and head back to Zurich

Stay the night in Zurich on the 21st, then fly out of Zurich early morning on the 22nd.

We don't plan on doing any museums, just mainly relaxing and enjoying the countryside. All amounts below are USD.

Option 1: This is the cost of the Half Fare card and the Berner Oberland pass for 2 adults, 2nd class, with an 8 day regional pass (8/15-8/21, our first day in the Lauterbrunnen valley to the day we leave Zermatt for Zurich): $928

Option 2: This is the cost of the Half Fare card alone for 2 adults: $274.00
These are the approximate costs of train fair outside the BO region. First cost is full, second is with Half Fare card. Both are 2 adults 2nd class.
     zur to laut             178   89
     laut to zermatt      206   103
     zermat to zur   288   144
     Aprox. Totals:       672   336

Half Fare card and train fair total: $610

Difference between Option 1 and Option 2: $318

So my question is, with the itinerary listed, knowing that we don't plan on going to the Jungfraujoch, and while considering the additional remaining cost of any lift rights in the Lauterbrunnen area outside what the Half Fare card would cover, what would the benefit of getting the BO regional pass if any, and would that benefit be worth an additional $318?

Thanks all, I really do appreciate being able to work through this with you. 

Posted by
8136 posts

So my question is, with the itinerary listed, knowing that we don't plan on going to the Jungfraujoch, and while considering the additional remaining cost of any lift rights in the Lauterbrunnen area outside what the Half Fare card would cover, what would the benefit of getting the BO regional pass if any, and would that benefit be worth an additional $318?

Based on your set itinerary you don't need BO regional pass.
And weather permitting I think you at least want to spend roundtrip around $90 with the Half Fare card to go up to Kleine Scheideg and do this walk
https://www.maennlichen.ch/en/summer/experiences/panorama-trail.html

Sometimes one can be too tight with money and miss out on a great lifetime experience.
And the Jungfraujoch is the most overhyped attraction in the BO, and not worth it.

Posted by
11 posts

Thanks Jazz!

We were actually married up in KS, so we'll be going there. We went to the Jungfrau last trip.

Posted by
21026 posts

We'll be staying in Wegen and mostly just doing some casual hiking, traveling to Grindalwald, Gimmelwald, and Murren.

So you did not include the cost of these in your calculations. From Wengen (note spelling) you can go "over the top" via Kleinescheidegg, or the valley route via Lauterbrunnen and Zweiluetschinen. so add the cost of these trips into your calculations.
Also, your calculations are based on Lauterbrunnen, but you say you are staying in Wengen. Add the costs between Wengen and Lauterbrunnen.

Also, You don't need the regional Pass for Zermatt, just 4 days in Wengen. You can buy now Saver Day passes for August 21 at 49 CHF pp with Half Fare Cards, so that is 98 CHF ( $110) That will get you back to Zurich, plus anywhere else in Zurich (or anywhere in Switzerland) for that day.

Posted by
11 posts

Thank Sam!

Yeah, I assume we'll have some additional costs outside of what I was able to estimate here, and I do hope to take advantage of the saver fares as well. I'm coming to conclusion that even with those additional costs, I'd be better off not getting the BO regional pass.

Posted by
601 posts

The BO pass has no use to you in Zermatt since Zermatt isn't in the Berner Oberland, so the 8 day pass probably doesn't make sense. Have you priced out doing the HFC + 4 day BO pass? That would give you the enjoyment/flexibility of the pass for your time in Wengen and then you'd just use your HFC for your Zermatt/Zurich portion. That's 196 chf per person with the HFC -- so it meets your options in the middle :)

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