Hello! We depart July 4th from D.C. to Geneva, with 2 days of private local tours of Geneva, MontBlanc/Chamonix and Annescey France, then we embark on a 10day group tour from Lausanne to Matterhorn, Zermatt (2 nights), Lakes Maggiore & Lugano (2 nights), St.Moritz, Jungfraujoch, Interlaken (2 nights), Bern & Lucerne (ALL transportation included in tour pkg).
Then on July 17th, we're going ON OUR OWN by train to Grindelwald for 3 days, then fly home from Zurich on 20th. In Grindelwald, we stay at Hotel Kreuz & Post and we want to see/do Glacier Canyon, Mannlichen & hike down to Kleine Scheidegg, a SCENIC RAILWAY (NO IDEA which one??) from Grindelwald to Lauterbrunnen, then see Wengen, (maybe Murren), First Grindelwald (do the cliff walk, Flyer, Mtn Carts, hike to Lake Bachalpsee), and (if time permits, go to Pfingstegg). The evening of July 19th, we'll take the train to Zurich for a one night stay at an airport hotel and fly home on the 20th!
Internet info is SOOO confusing about what public transport to use between sights and WHERE TO CATCH these gondolas, cablecars, funicular, train, bus, etc! (and when it says "train" is that the BOB, WAB, BLM, ??) Do you recommend we purchase the Berna Oberland Pass AND the Half Fare Pass? (I'm thinking ONLY the OBP since we'll only be traveling in Grindelwald & surrounding area for 3 days, other than getting there from Lucerne and getting back to Zurich to fly home).
End of trip 3 Day Plan: Arrive in Grindelwald by train from Lucerne about 11am on 17th and walk to our hotel to checkin/dropoff luggage, then catch Bus#122 (where?) and go to Gletscherschlucht for the cliff walk and net over the canyon river. Then WHERE do we walk to catch the GGM Gondola from Grindelwald to Mannlichen (is that the same as the Eiger Express?), then we'll hike 90min down to Kleine Scheidegg ... but HOW to get from there BACK to Grindelwald?? Then our 2nd day in Grindelwald, we want to take a SCENIC railway (which one/from what terminal?) from Grindelwald to Lauterbrunnen (& walk the valley floor promennade & do Trummelbach Falls). Then, WHAT TRANSPORT do we take to Wengen (& Murren, if time), and HOW do we get back to Grindelwald for dinner/night? Our last day (the 19th), we catch the (Early!) cablecar to First Grindelwald, to do the cliff walk, Flyer, Mtn Carts, hike to Lake Bachalpsee, and (if time permits, go to Pfingstegg), then back to Hotel Kreuz to collect our stored luggage and take a train (WHICH Train?) to Zurich for a short one night stay at Movenpick Hotel Zurich Airport and fly home to D.C. on the 20th! (Yes, I know that's a LOT to see/do, but we're Young, Active & will Go!Go!GO! from sunup til sundown and we want to see as much of this area that was not included in our 10-day group tour as possible!)
We've NEVER traveled internationally & I'm so afraid I won't be able to figure out train schedules & unmanned tix kiosks! Please, oh PLEASE, help us (Me!) figure out how to get between these sights and (very specifically WHERE to get on these transports! -- it seems that many of the gondola and train terminals have the same/similar names but in different locations!) As you can see, we won't have time (or energy!) to walk to the wrong terminal or departure point! And please advise on Berna Oberland Pass and whether we also need the Half Fare pass.
The more prepared/organized we are, the more relaxed we can be and the more we can see! THANK YOU for your prompt reply in helping us plan the public transit portion of our exciting Switzerland trip!
- David & LouAnn