Hello, my friend and are spending 10 days in Switzerland next month (Sept.). We arrive and depart from Zurich. We are interested in travelling right away to Lausanne, setting up camp so to speak for 2 nights, and checking out Lausanne and Geneva from that home base. On the 3rd day, we would like to take the Golden Rail, 1st class with seat reservations if possible, to Interlaken. We will then travel to Wengen where we will stay for 6 nights, hiking in the Berner Oberland area and using the regional travel system (trains, trams, cable, etc.). ON day 9 we will descend to Interlaken to travel to possibly Lucern for one night or all the way into Zurich to explore before we depart on day 11. I have looked at the different passes quite alot however given that we are using the regional system only for 6 days, am unsure then if a swiss pass or other type of pass is worthwhile. Can anyone provide any assistance with this decision making? Our trip is coming up soon and I hear it is cheaper to buy things from abroad but am also unsure if we have enough time to have things mailed to us, etc., or if there is an eprint option or pick up option (ie. Zurich airport). Any assistance would be GREATLY appreciated,
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17249 posts
Since the Flex Pass acts as a Half-Fare card between the first and last days of use, it provides coverage on the lifts (50%) that is the same as would be provided by a consecutive-day Swiss Pass. The itinerary Lynn describes is a good example of one that would be well-served by a 4-day Flex Pass, as there are few long train days which need full coverage (Zurich to Lausanne, Lausanne to Wengen, and Wengen to Luzern or Zurich) They still have a fully covered day for a daytrip from Wengen, plus the 50% provision for riding lifts around the Berner Oberland on all other days. The 2-for-1 is a great deal, especially with the Flex pass. No need to stack three consecutive-day passes, which would cost a lot more, to get 11 days of coverage.
Posted by
Bainbridge Island
3260 posts
Some Swiss passes are two for one in September. This includes the 4-Day Flex pass which would work for you. Use the 4 days for your first and last day of travel, plus two other longest ones. Everything else is 50% off, except the last part of the Jungfrau trip which is 25%. Reservation fee on the Golden Pass train is extra.
Posted by
white plains, ny, usa
4160 posts
As Sasha says, there are several configurations for using the swiss passes . Ithink you have to cost out your point to point trips and then compare the total to what the pass would cost. As an example; we will be traveling in the area for eight days in september and october . After costing everything out , the best deal for us was two 4 day 2 for 1 passes to use consecutively . This might not be a plan that would work for everyone . One other suggestion ; look for a post from Larry in Elk Grove CA and pm him . He is very well versed in this , and would be a very good source of reliable information . Have a great trip !