We are 2 adults, a 10 year old and a 15 year old traveling by train . We will be in Switzerland for 5 nights. We will be Coming from Colmar, France to Lucerne, 3 nights in Lauterbrunnen a night in Bern and then traveling to Paris via Bassel.
From Lauterbrunnen we would like to take some of the train/cable rides to the different areas.
What train passes are best for us? I am having difficulty navigating the options.
Thanks.
Posted by
BROADSTAIRS, Kent, United Kingdom
120 posts
If you are taking the mountain cable cars etc then usually the Half Price Card is reckoned to be the better choice, especially if you plan to go to Jungfraujoch. With the Swiss Travel pass you will only get 25% reduction on the trip above Wengen/Grindelwald where the Half Price Pass does what is says gives you half fare all the way. The same goes for the other cable cars etc. Don't forget to ask for the Family Card for the children, if the 15 year old is under 16 when on holiday they will both travel free, even to Jungfraujoch. The cost of the one month Half price Card is 120chf and you can buy it on arrival or beforehand.
Posted by
Green Bay
20085 posts
I was going to suggest the Half Fare Cards as well. In order to get the free Family Card, you have to purchase some sort of travel product, like the Swiss Travel Pass, The Swiss Flex Pass, or the Half Fare Card.
You will be in Switzerland for 6 days and traveling every day. Right now, you have about 151 CHF worth of full fare tickets per adult just traveling to your destinations. Then 2 days in Lauterbrunnen taking cable cars and trains. The full fare round trip to Schilthorn is 105 CHF. That is fully covered by the Swiss Travel Pass. Another day trip to Kleine Scheidegg is about 62 CHF round trip. So that is 318 CHF total. The Swiss Travel Pass only comes in 3,4,8,and 15 day variety, So each adult would need an 8-day pass at 418 CHF each, and was pointed out, it does not cover all the way to Kleine Scheidegg, only to Wengen. So with the Swiss Travel Pass, it would cost you 836 CHF and then some. But with the Half Fare Card, you total outlay would be 318 CHF for tickets (318X2X0.5) and 240 CHF for 2 Half Fare Cards, resulting in an outlay of 558 CHF.
So the Half Fare Card will save you about 300 CHF over buying Swiss Travel Passes.
Posted by
OP
15 posts
Thank you. Do we buy this at the train station in Switzerland?
And, if we are traveling from France ( strasbourg, to be exact) to Lucerne, do any of these discounts apply, or is this only within Switzerland itself when we get there?
Thanks.
Posted by
Green Bay
20085 posts
It is only within Switzerland. Coming from Strasbourg, you will be on a TER to Basel and it terminates there, so you can stop and buy cards there as well as tickets for the continuing train to Luzern.
Posted by
OP
15 posts
Thanks, Sam.
So, do we not need to book the trip in advance?
Or order half price card in advance. Just purchase there?
Thank you!
Marnie
Posted by
Green Bay
20085 posts
TER trains are French regional trains, always the same price and seats are not reserved. The kids will get a discount. In Switzerland, all trains are always the same price and go very frequently. Basel to Luzern , there are 2 direct trains every hour and 3 that require connections. A ticket from Basel to Luzern is good on any train that day, and you can even hop off along the way and reboard a later train. Nobody reserves seats, although you can for 5 CHF per seat.