I'm struggling to figure out the best option for rail in Switzerland in mid to late May. Here's the basic details: Will be in the Murren-Grindelwald areas for 6 nights (7days). Trip begins with a train from Paris to Mulhouse Ville (France). So then we need to take a train to Murren. Trip ends with a train from Grindelwald to Basel, where we pick up the TGV back to Paris. We will hike often, but plan to take the ride up to Schilthorn, and take the occasional funicular or train at the end of hikes back to our lodging. There is a 2 for 1 rail pass option in this time period (4 day or 4-day Flexi-Pass. What do you think is the best value rail pass option? Would the 2-for-1 FlexiiPass (4 days in one month) be the better option (I'm thinking that 2 of those days are the trip to and from the Paris trains, and then we'd have 2 additional days of travel within Murren and Grindelwald areas)? Is there a different option we'd want if we wanted to be able to board transportation on more than 4 of those days? What would you recommend then? Does coming in from Mulhouse Ville complicate it? My head is a little bit spinning from all the options. Simple, distilled thoughts are welcome, but so are more elaborate explanations. Don't want you to plan my trip for me, but am interested in thoughts of the best options for us to consider.
Thanks!!
Posted by
Nederland, CO
1530 posts
Rich, really only you can answer this question for sure. It sort of depends on if you plan on staying "in" the lauterbrunnen valley for the entire time, or if you plan on taking a trip over to Grindlewald and up to First. Actually, I would think that it would be really hard to beat the 2 for 1 deal on the swiss pass as it covers you up to Wengen and Murren, and I believe would cover you to Grindlewald via lauterbrunnen (vs. over Klein Scheidegg). You could consider the Berner Oblerland Regional Pass, but I really doubt it would be better than the 2 for 1 passes. http://www.regiopass-berneroberland.ch/price-2012/ and since you're going to be in the area so long I would think a pass would probably out do point to point. But the only way to know for sure is to price out every single trip you will take.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17432 posts
The 2-for1 Flex pass is hard to beat. In addition to the four fully covered days of travel, a Flex Pass gives you 50% off travel on other days, as long as they are between your first and last day of use (I.e., the days you travel to and from Mürren). In other words, a Flex Pass operates as a half-fare card after the first day of coverage, until the fourth day. It also covers lifts above the villages at 50% regardless whether it is a covered day or not.
Posted by
OP
The Sierra, CA
32 posts
Jill I agree. Thank you. Some clarification: We'd be 3 nights in Murren, then plan to hike to Grindelwald and stay there 3 nights. We want to go up to the Schilthorn while in Murren. That's one rail pass use. Then a hike from Grindelwald to Meiringen, and take the train back. Another rail pass use. Lastly, possibly getting a ride up to First and down again on the same day. This one I'm not sure we'll need, but we probably will choose to do it. I know snow conditions could prevent much of this, but right now it looks promising for us to do it. I'll go at it with each option, but just wondered about any tips out there from others' expertise.
Thanks again!
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17432 posts
OK, assuming you get the 4-day Flex Pass: Day 1 would be from Basel to Mürren. If you were to buy that ticket, you would pay 73.60 CHF. Day 4 would be Grindelwald back to Basel. You can use the half-fare feature of theflex pass to ride up the Schilthorn from Mürren without usiing up a day on your pass, s o you have 2 days left. You could use them as Day 2, Meiringen to Grindelwald Day 3 is still open; if you need a day off from hiking you could use it to do a daytrip to someplace else in Switzerland You do not need to use a "pass day" to get the 50% reduction on the First lift.
Posted by
OP
The Sierra, CA
32 posts
Lola Thank you. That was extremely helpful advice, especially regarding the trip up to Schilthorn and the First route.
Rich