Itinerary below . Spent a lot of time researching the rail pass options. Advice is appreciated. 4 Adults Fly to Frankfurt Day 1 : Rent car,southern Germany Day 2 : Neuschwanstein area, then travel to Interlaken Option 1: Drive to Interlaken and turn in car there Option 2: Turn the car in at Zurich and take train to Interlaken After Interlaken, train to Wengen for 4 nights Day 3, 4, 5, 6 Jungfrau region Lauterbrunnen Grindelwald Kleine Scheidegg Murren Schilthorn Jungfraujoch Trümmelbach Falls Hiking Day 6 Night: Train to Rome Interlaken/Domodossola/Milan/Rome Observations: Swiss Saver (200 youth, 225 Adult) This would cover the Day 2 trip from Zurich to Interlaken if we wanted. It would also cover the Swiss leg of the Day 6 trip to Rome. In the Jungfrau region we get 50% off Shilthorn and 25% off Jungfraujoch and Kleine Scheidegg. I think all other destinations are valid. Jungfrau Centenary Pass (225 per ) This seems to go everywhere we want in the Jungfrau Region, but only good for 3 days. Jungfraujoch is included in this. Shilthorn is excluded , no discounts. We would pay full fare on the Swiss leg of our trip to Rome. Jungfrau Unlimited Railways Pass (235 per) 6 Days unlimited travel. 50% off Jungfraujoch. No discount for Schilthorn. Similar to the Centenary Pass, we would pay full fare on the Swiss leg of our trip to Rome. Swiss Half Fare Pass (110 per )
I just recently found this pass, and my already overwhelmed from the other 3. Are there exceptions, or is it exactly what it says: 1/2 fare on everythng? (Jungfraujoch, Schilthorn) Based on this, do any of these 4 passes jump out as being the best ? Or are they going to end up being pretty close in price? thank you!
Posted by
OP
Chicago
3 posts
Thanks Je. I tried earlier to find a company that would allow a return in Konstanz but couldn't find one. Tried Hertz, and what do your know, great price with low drop off fee. The drop off fees out of country are very high. Any advice on the passes? Thanks again.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17432 posts
My son did something similar (rented a car in Germany, then met me in Switzerland). They returned it in Freiburg (im Breisgau) with no drop fee. I'll bet that Hertz rate has built in something to substitute for a drop fee. Also, there is some kind of sticker (vignette) you need to drive in Switzerland so you'll have to add that cost. Train from Freiburg to Interlaken is 3 hours. A bit longer than the train from Zurich, but it saves you driving to Zurich. On th epasses, yes the Holf-Fare card really does give you 50% off everything, including the Jungfraujoch. You can compare coverage of the Half-Fare card and Swiss Pass on this synoptic map: http://www.myswissalps.com/fb/maps/sts-gb-m-11-en-web.pdf If you are certain you are going up the Jungfraujoch, the Half-Fare card gives you the best discount on that. And it will cover the Schilthorn, unlike the Jungfrau pass. Just to confuse things, there is another option you haven't mentioned: the Swiss Card (not pass) This is a Half Fare Card with 2 free trips included, one from the border to your first destination (Basel or Zurich to Mürren) and one from there back to the border when you depart (Mürren to Domodossola). It costs $201, compared to the Half-Fare card which costs 120 CHF (plus foreign transaction fee if your credit card charges that). I didn't add up the cost of your inbound and outbound trips, but I'm pretty sure it is more than the $82 difference between Half-Fare Card and Swiss Card.
Posted by
OP
Chicago
3 posts
Thanks Lola. I had thought about the Swiss Card but for some reason I thought inbound and outbound had to start and return to the same location. If I can do inbound from Frieburg/Konstanz -> Wengen, and outbound from Wengen -> Domodossola, then yes, that is another option.
Posted by
BROADSTAIRS, Kent, United Kingdom
120 posts
Looking at what you're planning while you are in the Interlaken area I would go for the half fare pass. You may want to go on the boats on either Lake Thun or Lake Brienz. Certainly I would leave the car in Germany or near the border and use the trains. Train website www.sbb.ch/en is fantastic for train times. To answer your last question, yes! it does mean any public transport other than buses and trams in the large towns. You may also find your accommodation gives you a local guest card "Gastekarte" in Interlaken which gives you free travel in and around Interlaken on the buses and I think the train between Interlaken Ost and West.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17432 posts
The two free trips on the Swiss Card do not have to be to and from the same place. You can enter at one border or airport, and leave from another, no problem. The one restriction is you must travel by a direct route--- no riding around on trains all day before you head to your destination. But as I said above, it is not clear that you are better off with the Swiss Card over Half Fare Card, as I did not price your inbound and outbound journeys. It reallynis tough to figure out, and involves some prediction as tom what you will be doing. In four separate two-weekmtrips to Switzerland, I have chosen a different pass option each time, depending on the circumstances of our visit. Never felt I made the wrong choice, but I never added it up be sure I made the right one either.
Posted by
Rochelle, IL
263 posts
On my last trip I did keep track of what I spent on trains and the 1/2 price card (1 month version) saved me about $30....not a lot, but enough to make it worthwhile. Since I spend most of my time in Switzerland, the card comes in handy for trips and also for funiculars where I stay. I did price things out ahead of time, and I did keep track just to verify the savings for me. And the card was flexible ... did not have to travel a specific number of days. Just my thoughts.