do I need a swiss family card for my 15 year old son to travel free on trains in Switzerland? is it possible to stay at a hotel in Lausanne and get to the Geneva airport for a 9 am flight? if not can you recommend a cheap hotel in a good location in Geneva for the night before we fly out? can you recommend a good hotel in Lausanne? what should we see and do while we are there? also for bern. thank you very much
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
Yes, your 15-year-old son only travels free with the Swiss Family Card, when he is accompanying you, and when you are using a Swiss ticket or [Swiss pass[(http://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation/trains/switzerland-rail-passes) (but not a multi-country railpass). Otherwise, he would have to buy a ticket at half the adult rate.
Direct trains from Lausanne to Geneve airport depart as early as 4:00 a.m., if you can get a teenager up at that time, and take one hour. How to Look Up Train Schedules Online gives you the DB train schedule link and tips for using it, or the SBB site works similarly.
Posted by
OP
12 posts
thank you . how do I get the swiss family card to allow my 15 son to travel free in Switzerland? am I better of buying a 3 day swiss flexi pass or half fare card. we will be traveling from Innsbruck Austria to bern Switzerland and than onto either lucern or Lausanne with a total of 6 nights in Switzerland. will we need train reservations ahead if I buy the swiss flexipass or do we just get on any train in switzerland? if I am able to buy it in US before we leave in july? is it refundable if for some reason we do not go?when we leave Austria if I buy my ticket in Innsbruck will I get 1/2 off for the swiss portion and is my son free on the way to bern? thank you