[Removed user]

28 February 2017 at 0:28:51 #810923

Our family of 3 is planning to fly from US into Switzerland (Zurich?) to visit Interlaken area for 2 nights in June. We would like to make a day trip to either Jungfraujoch or Schilthorn. If the weather isn’t good, we would probably hike or, less likely, visit Bern. After that, we’re going to Paris for 3 nights with a day trip to Versailles, and then off to London. Would really appreciate suggestions for the proper rail passes we need. I’ve looked through this website and the Eurail website and am still confused. Since we’d only be in Switzerland for 2 nights/3 days, is it better to buy tickets only as needed since we might get the hotel guest card that gives discounts? Is the Eurail France-Switzerland pass the best way to get from Zurich through to Paris?

Also, this may be a better question for a different forum, but which town would a better place to stay (closer or easier to get to) if all we’re planning to do is go to Jungfraujoch or Schilthorn? Gimmelwald is supposed to be very pretty but it looks like there are several towns like Wengen.

Thank you.

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[Removed user]

28 February 2017 at 7:58:59 #859452

Hi Pluto and welcome to MySwissAlps!

As you are staying briefly in Switzerland, a Eurail Select pass for Switzerland and France may be best yes.
You can see what routes the pass covers in Switzerland here. There are good notes to read about travel to Paris as well with the Eurail pass on that page (it is no problem). It does give you discounts when traveling to Jungfraujoch or Schilthorn as well.

For visiting only Jungfraujoch and Schilthorn, Gimmelwald (at Schilthorn) can work as would Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald. You then have a quick trip to Murren to catch the cable car to Schilthorn.

Let me know if that helps!

Lucas

[Removed user]

4 March 2017 at 0:18:47 #859453

Thanks very much for the info! We’ve since decided to visit Jungfraujoch if the weather permits, so we’ll probably stay in Wengen or Lauterbrunnen to be near the train station.

More questions:

1. With this itinerary, as best I can tell, all transportation from Zurich to Paris to London (but not in London) is either included or at least discounted with the Eurail Select pass. Is this correct? Reservations as needed will cost extra.

2. There’s a possibility we may change our itinerary as follows: Paris to Interlaken to London. I realize it’s a very indirect route, but it might save a tiny bit of airfare and allow us to pick up our son in Paris first before heading to Interlaken. Is this a really bad idea compared to the first itinerary?

3. If we did change the itinerary, is traveling by train from Interlaken to London still preferable to taking the train to maybe Basel and then flying to London? The flights look very cheap.

Thanks again!

[Annika]

4 March 2017 at 14:24:33 #859454

Hi Pluto,

1. Yes, that’s correct. Note that the routes south of Interlaken (e.g. to Wengen/Lauterbrunnen and Jungfraujoch) are only 25% discounted. Further validity information can be found at myswissalps.com/eurail selectpass/validity.

2./3. This order indeed involves more traveling, but of course it all comes down to your personal preferences! When traveling from Interlaken to London by train, you’ll be backtracking your route as most connections run through France and some even via Paris. The route would take about 7 hours from Basel, which isn’t necessarily a lot more than flying if you consider time spent on waiting and check-in/check-out procedures at the airport. In any case it’s more environmentally friendly. Connections can be found through the timetable.

[Removed user]

8 March 2017 at 23:45:40 #859455

Thank you! You all are such a wonderful help. When I look at travel timetables (for example, Wengen to Paris), the websites suggest combinations with train transfer times that are very short, specifically as short as 5 mins in the Interlaken station and Basel station to switch trains. Is that really enough time for those locations?

[Arno]

9 March 2017 at 14:27:11 #859456

Hi Pluto,

Yes, short transfers are normal in Switzerland. It helps making trips quick and efficient. In Basel however, it would be a pity to miss the train to Paris as the next high speed train typically departs two hours later, and your seat reservation is only valid for the train you have booked. Any transfer the timetable suggests is doable, but if you prefer a bit more time in Basel you can of course take an earlier train.