1st part: We are having a hard time deciding what passes we should purchase for Germany/Switzerland. We were thinking about the 2-country Saver pass 5days in 2 months (5 real travel days). I read you have to buy a separate ticket if you travel across a country that's not on your pass. We will be traveling from Interlaken to Fussen. Will we be passing through Austria? For travel within the cities should we just purchase point-to-point tickets? It will be my first time in Europe. 2nd part: We will be staying in Murren. The railpass gives 25% off Shlithorn and a few others trams/trains. We want to do both Jungfraujock & Schlithorn plus we will be using trams around Murren. Should we purchase a Swiss pass, half-fare card or a Berner Oberland Pass in addition to our 2-country pass to receive additional discounts? I can't find how much the rides are around Murren (the Shilthorn & Jungfraujock are a lot of $$). I read some other posts on this topic but the responses were not clear. Thanks for the help.
Jen
Posted by
San Clemente, Ca.
408 posts
Jennifer, I bought a 4 day swiss flexi pass when we went to Switzerland a few years ago. I bought it on Rick Steves website. As I recall you can use it for free travel one day and the next day you got 1/2 off. I should of bought the three day pass because that is all we used. It was a great savings but it is confusing trying to figure out which one to buy. We were primarily in the Berner Oberland area. As I recall the lower trains were all covered but the high mountain lifts were extra but we did get a discount with the pass. Good luck, Switzerland is Beautiful!
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17572 posts
Jennifer, a 2-country pass does not give you the best discounts in Switzerland like a 'pure" Swiss pass would. I suggest you skip the 2-country pass and look into P2P tickets for Germany---there are many deals available for those. Then get the Swiss pass that gets you the maximum discount on the expensive trips like Jungfraujoch and Schilthorn. The Half-Fare Card will do that (full 50% off the Jungfraujoch).
Posted by
OP
Sarasota, Fl, USA
6 posts
Thanks for the replies. Lola I looked into P2P.. still have a few questions. A Swiss saver pass 3 travel days/1 months is $342 each ($684). Would this cover our ride from Interlaken (Murren) to Fussen? I looked at P2P travel and they had a saver and regular prices listed under 2nd class. Is this just refundable tickets or not refundable? If Interlaken to Fussen wasn't covered under the Swiss pass it is 189e. (All prices list here are for 2 people) Fussen to Munich 29e or 46e (saver or not) Munich to Hannover 109e or 238e Hannover to Berlin 79 ot 124e Total $568 (saver) or $835.80 (regular) counting Interlaken to Fussen. A 2 country pass 5 travel days in a month is $406 ($812). I am having a part time comparing the rates, not knowing if the Interlaken to Fussen would be covered under the Swiss pass. I also read somewhere if you pass through a country that isn't on your 2-country pass you have to pay extra. It looks like from Interlaken to Fussen we would go through part of Austria. Do you know? Hard to decide. Rick suggests not going to Jung. or Shilth. if it is cloudy. If that happens the Swiss pass wouldn't make as much sense. Wish this wasn't so confusing. Any advice?? Thank you,
Jen
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
34153 posts
not knowing if the Interlaken to Fussen would be covered under the Swiss pass. No, everything from Bregenz (Austria) onwards (Germany) is not Switzerland so a Switzerland only pass would not be valid after the previous station to Bregenz (unless the SBB allow Bregenz as a border station). It looks like from Interlaken to Fussen we would go through part of Austria. Do you know? Every reasonably fast route goes through Bregenz. You'd most likely need a cheap Austrian ticket for the very few Austrian miles. Rick suggests not going to Jung. or Shilth. if it is cloudy.
I'd never seen the abbreviation Shilth. but I get your drift. What he actually says is watch the weather and go when it is getting right. When one mountain is in cloud, rain, or fog you can often find that the other is in better shape. We've been to Almendhubel and delighted in watching the clouds move around the mountains and we were in perfect sunshine eating our Racklette out on the picnic table listening to the Alphorn.