Hello, We are a family of 6 (4 adults and 2 children under 11). We will be traveling for a week in Switzerland. I was hoping we could make this itinerary work: Day 1: (use Swiss pass) Zurich to Lauterbrunnen Day2: Lauterbrunnen valley hike (as described in book) including Schilthorn and possibly Trummelbach falls. (Use Swiss pass only to get 1/2 off tickets/ not as a travel day) Day 3: Lauterbrunnen area Day 4: Lauterbrunnen to Luzern (Get ½ off train ticket with Swiss Pass if doesn't count as a travel day) Day 5; (use Swiss pass) William tell Express to Lugano Day6: Lugano Day 7: Train to Zurich- (use Swiss pass) My questions: 1)Will the family card cover ALL my kids travel expenses even on the days we DON'T use the Swiss Pass? 2)Does using the pass for 1/2 price (either on mountain lifts or regular trains) count as a travel day? 3) Would it be more cost effective to buy a 3 day pass at $972 (vs. $1176 for the 4 day) to use for our 3 long trips (Zurich airport-Lauterbrunnen, Luzern - Lugano, Lugano-Zurich.) We would then use the Swiss pass just to get half off the trip from Lauterbrunnen to Luzern (58CHF standard ticket)
Thanks for the help! Angi
Posted by
Bainbridge Island
3287 posts
Hi Angela, to be clear, you are talking about a Flexi Pass, not a Swiss Pass which is consective days. You will get the Saver price for the adults, and the Family Card is free. Now the answers: 1. Yes. Myou will show your pass and the Family Card when you buy your tickets for the Achilthorn, train, etc. Yours will be half off and the kids are free. Sometimes they just have kids go thru the turnstile ( for lifts) and sometimes they get a ticket. For trains, they won't get a ticket, you just show the FamilyCard to the conductor when she comes around. 2. No. You choose the covered or travel days by writing the date in the little box on the pass ( there will be 3 on a 3-dayFlexi Pass). On other days, you just show your pass when you buy tickets before you board the train or lift. It doesn't use up a dayon the pass. 3. I would get a 3-day pass and use it as you outlined above.A fourth day on the pass would cost $52. You are getting the ride to Lucerne for half, or 29 CHF anyway. So you would be paying $52 for the benefit of covering the other half, or 29 CHF, which is not a good deal.
Posted by
OP
Imatra, Finland
16 posts
Thanks Sasha, you answered all my questions. Yes, I meant the Swiss Flexi Pass. Angi