I have posted before but am getting closer with all your help.
Really looking for some travel pass guidance in Switzerland. Have been reading and comparing and everytime I think I am getting a handle on it something else comes up. There will 6 six of us traveling to Switzerland in October 4 will arrive on Oct. 5 and 2 will arrive on Oct 6. We will stay in Switz, Wengen area from Oct 5-departing to Italy on Oct 12. We arrive and depart from Zurich. Home base in Switz will be Wengen. So we will take take on arrival to Wengen. Then day trips to Lucerne, Interlocken, Thun Jungfrau, Glacier Express, possibly Chocolate Train, Guryere, Mt. Pilatus Golden Trip. Basically as much as we can fit it. Then on Oct 18 we will depart Cinque Terre area for Swiss Border to travel to Zurich for our flight on Oct 19. It seems the 2 for 1 is a great deal and was thinking we could each buy 2 that would cover us for all travel (except Jungfra) while there. Then Italy for return we can buy the discount one way trip from Border to Switz. Does this seem to make sense and would it be cost effective? Other thought was to purchase each 2 for 1 and then a regional pass such as the Bernese Oberland pass. So many options makes for confusion. Any input would be appreciated.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17432 posts
The Berner Oberland pass is also 2for 1 in October but it will not cover travel all the way to Luzern, nor the Glacier Express, Mt. Pilatus, or Chocolate Train. You probably won't do ALL of that in your week, but the 4 day Flex pass will give you the most coverage. The trick is to use it right. You get 4 fully covered day and the rest is 50%. So use the covered days for your first, last, and two other most expensive. It will only cover at 100% travelmon train, boats or lifts as far as a village ( like Wengen). Neither the Flex Pass not the Berner Oberland pass will cover more than50% your rides on lifts above the village, such as the Schilthorn above Mürren, or the Jungfrau above Wengen. ( the Flex Pass only gives you 25% on that past). Part of the Mt. Pilatus trip is fully covered ( train and boat) and part should be 50% but you need to confirm that on the Pilatus website. The last day on your Flex pass will take you into Italy as far as Domodossola. You need seat reservations on the train crossing the border from Spiez or Brig. The Swiss ticket agent can take care of that and adjust the price of the ticket to Milan to take your passes into account. For your return from CT, buy a discount ticket from Milan to Zurich in advance on SBB and be sure to pick it up in Switzerland before you leave. Or you can buy a Smart Fare on Trenitalia and pick that ticket in Italy. A few people have reported problems with confirmation emails with the Trenitalia site.