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Travel Insurance & Seat Reservations on panaromic Trains

Posted by on

Hello everyone,

Based on the forums and what suggestions I have received, it seems Half Fare card and BO pass work best for our itinerary.
Questions:
1. Is the seat reservation from Interlaken-Luzern mandatory. or can I just hop on the train I get the tickets for?
2. Same question for Interlaken- Gstaad on Golden Pass panaromic. I will use the BO Pass. Is seat reservation mandatory or can we hop on any train based on that days schedule. given my schedule for those days can change based on the weather in the mountains how can i get the seta reservation?
3. 4 of us are travelling from California and we have Kaiser insurance locally here, Do I need travel insurance?

13th June: Arrive to Geneva from Paris by train at 10am (Sightseeing for a few hours and take the train to Zermatt at 2:29pm(Super Saver Ticket bought)- Overnight at Zermatt
14th June: Gornergrat ( Gorner Glacier, Hike from Rotenbodenn to Riffleberg then back to Zermatt. stroll around Zermatt -Overnight at Zermatt
15th June: Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, Hike from Trockener Steg to Schwarzsee and then cable car down to Zermatt -Overnight at Zermatt
16th June: (We bought the Saver Day pass) train to Interlaken - boat ride on Brienz and explore Iseltwald and Giessbach. Overnight at Interlaken
We plan to buy BO pass for next 4 days
17th June: Based on weather, head to Grindlewald First for activities(maybe Bachalpsee hike), Hike the Mannlichen-Klein Scheddeg - Spend time in Wengen. Overnight at Interlaken
18th June- Based on weather Head to Jungfrau, evening spend time exploring Lauterbrunnen, Trummelbach, StaubbachFall falls -Overnight at Interlaken
19th June-Brienz Rothorn Bahn & explore Gstaad or Oeschinen Lake(Are all 3 doable? of course not all only folks who want to hike)
20th June - Paragliding, Explore Murren/Gimmelwad- Take the Harder Kulm to see sunset

What is the best way to commute for this leg of the journey
21th June- Take the scenic train from Interlaken to Lucerne Lucerne Sightseeing and relax Overnight in Lucerne
22nd June- Mt Pilatus Toboggan -Overnight in Lucerne
23rd June- Lucerne to Zurich train check-in to the hotel (Lindt Chocolate Factory, Rhine Falls) -Overnight at Zurich
24th June- Free day please suggest what can be done-overnight at Zurich
25th June- early morning flight home

Posted by
3280 posts

You need to ask Kaiser about what they cover when you are traveling out of the US.

Posted by
3057 posts

Haven't been to Switzerland so can't help you there.

There are lots of threads about travel insurance. Start looking in search feature. Here's the link for the past 6 months https://search.ricksteves.com/?button=&date_range=6m&filter=Travel+Forum&query=travel+insurance&utf8=%E2%9C%93
How much risk are you willing to take? Does Kaiser covers you outside of the US? What if you get hurt/sick and need to be evacuated home; do you have a spare $100,000 to pay for it?

Posted by
5407 posts

we have Kaiser insurance locally here, Do I need travel insurance?

I will let our Swiss and train experts answer your train questions. As for travel insurance- you will have to check your policy or phone your insurance agent to see what type of out of country coverage you have. But I'm sure you are aware that "travel insurance" is an umbrella term, which includes specific types of insurance like : cancellation, interruption, lost luggage, medical, evacuation, and repatriation insurance. Are you looking for comprehensive coverage, or only medical?

Posted by
11 posts

  1. Is the seat reservation from Interlaken-Luzern mandatory. or can I just hop on the train I get the tickets for?

    No seat reservation needed. Just hop on the train that works with your valid half fare Point to Point ticket, Saver Day Pass, etc. I would likely book the saver day pass as far in advance as possible so you can also package in a lakesteamer ride and connect up to Rigi Kaltbad (love the thermal baths!).

  2. Same question for Interlaken- Gstaad on Golden Pass panaromic. I will use the BO Pass. Is seat reservation mandatory or can we hop on any train based on that days schedule. given my schedule for those days can change based on the weather in the mountains how can i get the seta reservation?

    Technically a seat reservation is not required, however it is recommened. If you are taking the non-stop Panorma Express I would book it so you know your party can sit together. If you are taking one of the connecting itineraries you'll prob. be fine.

  3. 4 of us are travelling from California and we have Kaiser insurance locally here, Do I need travel insurance?

    This is a question for your insurance company. I personally have some protection via my credit card ($2,500 and medical evacuation). I've never had travel health insurance before but I am also considering it for my summer trip.

Posted by
1037 posts

When it comes to insurance you need to figure out what you want covered....

Lets say you are unfortunate and have an accident in the mountains:
- You need to be air lifted out to the nearest hospital by most likely REGA, the bill will be some where north of CHF 50K
- You need to spend a couple of weeks in a Swiss hospital, which without meds and treatment comes to around CHF 2K per day
- After that there is a period where you can't fly so need to spend a month in Switzerland at your expense
- Alternative perhaps you want to be repatriated, which again is usually done by REGA, so the cost will be somewhere north of 150K for the States
- Perhaps you'd like some family members to stay with you, that again is an expense you'll have to cover

Now this did happen to the father-in-law of a friend of mine here in Switzerland when he was visiting from Japan. The total bill came to over CHF 700K, luck for him he had insurance.

I also know of a case where a man visiting his daughter from Brazil had a cardiac issue and ended up being unable to fly home for almost 6 months. The medical part cost over CHF 500K and I have no idea what his out of pocket expenses were, but probably not too high as he could stay on with his daughter.

We all hope bad things will not happen, but some times they do. You need to figure out what cover you want to have, what expenses you can afford to carry and then check your insurances if your are covered or need additional cover.

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