Seeking advice for a mid February visit!

Posted by visaap12 on 12/27/18 04:37 PM

Hello all and thank you all in advance for any advice or tips you can offer!
Me and my girlfriend will be Flying into Zurich on February 10th, 2019 and leaving on the 17th.

All we have booked so far is a hotel for 2 nights(10th and 11th) in Interlaken. We are hesitant to book any more until we figure out our transportation and that is mainly what I am seeking your advice for on this forum. We would also like to stay in Zermatt and either a third Swiss city, or Munich but are open to ideas and suggestions. I will snowboard at least 2 non consecutive days on this trip but don't have anything else definite planned. We could do without Munich if it is much of a hassle or a large time commitment.

We are having a tough time deciding between the Swiss travel pass vs. Swiss half price pass vs. Eurail 2 country pass vs Rental car.
We both would prefer a rental and use trains only when necessary, but our research seems to point us towards the public transportation and can't find too much about a rental car in the Alps during winter.
Thanks again and look forward to hearing your input.

Posted by jules m

Twin Cities of MN

12/27/18 05:01 PM

6462 posts

In Switzerland, the trains are very convenient and efficient. I think especially in February, you'd want to use a train. Most wouldn't stay in Interlaken, but further into the mountains in Lauterbrunnen, Murren or Wengen. In those cities you would have closer access to the slopes. You can't use your car beyond Lauterbrunnen and I don't believe in Zermatt either, you'd have to pay to park it. Where are you flying out of? Munich is a bit of a distance. I would suggest you stay in Luzern for a city experience. I wouldn't stay in Zurich, either, and Luzern is about an hour train ride from Zurich airport. I would suggest that you plan your itinerary and then determine which Swiss pass makes the most sense.

Posted by Edgar

Medford, OR, USA

12/27/18 05:28 PM

5837 posts

Swiss travel pass vs. Swiss half price pass vs. Eurail 2 country pass vs Rental car.

You need to decide on an itinerary then do the numbers. The Swiss rail timetable and fare webpage will give you the half-fare and full fare prices:
https://www.sbb.ch/en/buying/pages/fahrplan/fahrplan.xhtml

A rental car would be my last choice because the rail system is efficient and easy to use. Some towns (e.g. Zermatt) do not allow private car into the town.

Posted by Edgar

Medford, OR, USA

12/27/18 07:41 PM

5837 posts

I will snowboard at least 2 non consecutive days on this trip but don't have anything else definite planned.

We don't do lift assisted skiing anymore and have not tired snowboarding. (We're cross country skiers.) With that in mind, here's a best places to snowboard in Switzerland list:

https://www.worldsnowboardguide.com/articles/best-resorts/country/best-places-to-go-snowboarding-in-switzerland.html

Davos is number 2 on the list. We spent 10 days in the Davos-Klosters area for a cross country skiing event. On our rest day we took the Bernina Express from Davos to Italy for lunch and back in time for dinner. One of the scenic express train rides like the Bernina is a pleasant and scenic way to break up days on the slope.
https://www.rhb.ch/en/panoramic-trains/bernina-express

Or instead of returning to Davos, you could return from Italy to St. Moritz. Then you could snowboard at St. Moritz, then take the Glacier Express to Zermatt for a third day of snowboarding.
https://www.glacierexpress.ch/en/travel-planning/route/