Hello, we are traveling in the end of August, to Germany, Switzerland, Austria and France. We bought some of our point to point train tickets already.
For Switzerland, when we arrive in Zurich, we will buy the Swiss half fare card and BO pass for our time in Lauterbrunen & Lucerne.
We will need a train from Lucerne to Interlaken, continuing to Lauterbrunen (hotel here). Should I purchase these tickets now before we arrive or wait until we buy the Half-fare card in order to get a discount ? Same question for our train route from Zurich to Lucerne. Really appreciate your guidance!
Posted by
Wengen
2493 posts
There is no need to buy train tickets in advance in Switzerland. Since you plan on buying the HFC and the BO pass you can buy your ticket to Lucerne at the same time. Note that the BO pass covers you from Luzern to Interlaken if you make it start on your travel day already. If you choose to have it start the next day you will need a ticket Luzern - Lauterbrunnen, not Luzern - Interlaken.
Trains in Switzerland are mass transit. You just buy a ticket and hop on a train. Tickets are valid for all services on a route on the day the ticket is valid (except if you buy a supersaver ticket).
Posted by
OP
9 posts
Thanks so much! That is exactly what I needed!
Posted by
OP
9 posts
One more question: We are leaving from Lauterbrunen to Colmar, France. Do I get a discount on train tickets for this leg of the journey with the Half fare card or should I book now using via snf-connect?
Posted by
Wengen
2493 posts
You will get half price on the Lauterbrunnen - Basel part. The Basel - Colmar part is on TER trains, which are also mass-transit-fixed price-buy-a-ticket-and-hop-on trains. Easiest for you will be to just buy a ticket Lauterbrunnen - Colmar at the Lauterbrunnen station, where they will know how to apply the 50% reduction (and you will ge another 8% reduction because international tickets are VAT free...)
Note that a Lauterbrunnen - Colmar ticket will be valid on all Basel - Colmar TER trains, so you can at your own discretion break the journey in Basel to have a look at the city there.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33818 posts
If your BO is still valid on your travel day it will get you as far as Bern for free. So only will need a half price from Bern... if it isn't, then as above for half price Lauterbrunnen-Basel.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33818 posts
are you arriving into Zurich by plane? Or some other way?
Posted by
OP
9 posts
Coming from the USA flying into Munich - then flying out of France. So excited - this is a huge trip for us!
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33818 posts
so from Munich to Zurich by train?
Posted by
Wengen
2493 posts
If you plan on doing Munich - Luzern by train then buy a ticket Munich - Luzern, not separate tickets Munich - Zurich and Zurich - Luzern...
Posted by
OP
9 posts
We are going from Munich to Zurich (staying in Zurich), then Zurich to Lucerne (staying in Lucerne), then Lucerne to Lauterbrunen. We probably have too many stops but it's all booked now so will make it work!