Rome to Interlaken

Rome to Interlaken is a 6.5 hour journey with changes in Milan and Spiez. The Italian Rail site doesn't accept US credit cards, and the Swiss Rail site charges $45 dollar to ship tickets to the US. But you shouldn't have problems securing the tickets once you arrive in Italy. Standard fare is 200 CHF, restricted discount fares is 150. Check schedules at the Swiss Rail site: http://rail.ch For Switzerland it's essential to have one of the various Swiss Passes which will cover all your transport needs; intra-city, and inter-city. They also include steep discounts on the the high mountain train/cable cars. Click the "railpasses" tab above for all the details.

David, I have a few comments to add to the great comments from Michael. The travel time from Rome to Interlaken will vary depending on which train you choose. The route mentioned in the first reply is the one I'd use as it's about the shortest, and it you'll get to Interlaken in early afternoon (just about the right time to check into your Hotel). Using one of the Swiss Passes would probably be a good idea, as you'll be in the area for nine days. However, I didn't check the various Passes as you didn't specify what activities you'd be doing in that area. If you'll be using a lot of the Cable Cars, etc. (usually expensive), a Pass could be a good value. Happy travels!

Hopefully you're just passing through Interlaken on your way up into the Swiss Alps...don't waste your vacation time in Interlaken when so much awaits you just 20 minutes away in the Lauterbrunnen Valley and surrounding alpine villages of Mürren, Gimmelwald and Wengen.

The choice of a pass for Switzerland depends on what you plan to do while there. Since you are planning to travel to one spot and stay there for 9 days, you probably want something to reduce the cost of daytrips in the region, including boats, high mountain trains, and cablecars. If you definitely know you are going up the Jungfraujoch, you might consider either a Half Fare Card (which you buy in Switzerland) or a Swiss Card (which you buy in advance). The Swiss Card gives you 2 days of travel (your first and last) and functions as a Half Fare Card the rest of the time. These are the only passes that give you a full 50% off the very expensive Jungfraujoch trip. The other passes-Swiss Pass, Flexi Pass, Berner Oberland Pass, etc. can be used to cover either fully or at 50% most of the trains, lifts, etc. but will give you only 25% off the Jungfraujoch trip (above the last village). And I heartily agrree with Tim that your base in the Berner Oberland should not be Interlaken but instead should be Lauterbrunnen or one of the higher villages. Lauterbrunnen is only a short hop from the transpportation hub of Interlaken and still convenient for travel around the region, but is a world apart from Interlaken in terms of ambiance and scenery. The Lauterbrunnen Valley is often compared to Yosemite in scenic value. Staying in Interlaken to enjoy the Berner Oberland is like staying in Merced to visit Yosemite.