15481 posts
Hi Aussie01, welcome to MySwissAlps,
1./3. You can already order the pass. Go to http://www.swissrailways.com/ en/ products/ regionalberneseoberlan dpass and click “Order now”. Enter 3 adults and 2 children. Select “Full Fare Ticket” for the children. That will get you a pass for them for the same price as the Junior Card so they can travel along across the region for free (well, nearly free: CHF 30). They will send the passes 2 weeks before the start date, but if you prefer to receive them earlier you can ask for that in the “Notes” field.
2. Schedules can be found in the timetable. You may or may not have to change in Bern (depending on departure time) on your way to Basel. The train to Paris departs from Basel.
Tickets from Venice to Brig and Bern to Paris can easily be purchased online and printed at home. If you book well in advance that might be cheaper and quicker than a travel agent. As you live in Australia you may first want to check raileurope.com.au/trai n/italian-international-trains-7267. More options are here:
7567 posts
Hi Aussie01-
The attached screen grab form the timetable, as recommended by Arno, will help you understand how to use it.
Slowpoke
72625 posts
Thanks Arno and Slowpoke for your responses
Is it possible to buy Bernese Overland passes once we get to Switzerland say at Brig because for me to order via the swiss railways website i have to pay and extra 25CHF to have them posted to australia, which seems very expensive.
I have seen on the SBB ticketshop website I can order and print them from online however I can’t do this until about a week before the start date and I will already be travelling at this time.
Aussie01
15481 posts
Hi Aussie01,
You can get them locally too. Probably in Brig as well, but I’m not 100% sure. The disadvantage is that it takes some time so depending on when your train departs you may have to take the next one. One more thing: only the regional train via Kandersteg to Spiez is covered by the pass. This train is slower than the regular ones but the scenery is much better.
72625 posts
Hi,
One more query about rail passes for you 🙂
Me and my wife would be travelling to OB region towards end of July and following is our tentative itinerary:
1. Leave from Venice to MIlan. Take train from Milan to Spiez and then Spiez to Interlaken. Stay the night at Interlaken
2. Next day move to Lauterbrunner or Wengen for 3N/4 Days. Our idea is to keep 1 day for trip to Jungfrau and other days for hiking (Kleine Sheidegg and Mannlichen, Murren to Schilthorn, Lauterbrunnen to Trummelbach Falls, Boat ride in Lake Thun or Brienz etc.). Both of us are fit and moderately challenging hikes should not be an issue
3. At the end of day 4, leave from Lauterbrunner or Wengen to Lucerne and spend a day in Lucerne (I am guessing via Interlaken)
4. Leave for Paris from Lucerne
Now the questions:
1. Is Speiz – Interlaken covered under the OB regional pass?
2. Is Interlaken – Lucerne covered under the OB regional pass?
3. During hiking in the region, does one need to frequently take cable cars, lifts or short train trips to reach the starting point etc. or if you are fit and have the time, everything is doable on foot.
4. Does the answer to Question 3 change based on place of stay (Lauterbrunner or Wengen or Murren)?
Please suggest would be it be best to buy a Regional OB pass or some other pass.
Thanks a lot for your help
Regards
Bhushan
7116 posts
Welcome to MySwissAlps Bhushan!
1./2. Please see http://www.myswissalps.com/re gionalpassberneseoberl and/validity.
3. The more interesting hikes are higher up in the mountains and one usually needs some transportation, at least at one end of the hike.
4. There are hikes from each of these villages, but for variety one usually also hikes elsewhere and thus needs some transport.
Please post further questions in a new thread as this one is about Aussie01’s travel plans.
72625 posts
Thanks Annika. Will post more questions in a separate thread
Regards
Bhushan