MySwissAlps.com features ads, commercial and non-commercial Glacier Express sold out, what to do?
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Good point!
Thank you for your help, it’s really nice to run things by someone in the know.
Just one more question. You do have a Swiss Half-fare Card, right? Seeing you bought a half-fare 1st class Saver Day Pass.
Yes, I do, thank you for checking.
These are all things I can use by just showing the scan-code on my phone?
Affirmative. But I would make sure I had a printed copy of the Swiss Half-fare Card as backup.
Hi Pamela,
it is explained at http://www.myswissalps.com/swisshalffarecard/howtouse, how to use the Swiss Half Fare Card.
If you need information on how to use the Saver Day Pass go to http://www.myswissalps.com/saverdaypass/howtouse.
I believe that there is not ‘another train’, from St. Moritz to Sils, but a bus.
Ah, yes, thank you.
I didn’t receive any correspondence from HappyRail, but I think this (see attached) means they refunded my purchase, and I don’t have a ticket.
Attachments:
Well, I hate to say it, but that was predictable. 😞
Looks like they even had the cheek to charge you CHF1 for the privilege of misleading you. Actually I think you are pretty lucky to hear back so soon. I had visions of you waking up on the morning of the 27th still wondering if you actually had a seat.
At least you still have your Saver Day Pass, yes? And the timetable to hop on regular trains and buses to reach Sils. Enjoy.
Or, seeing you haven’t actually received any correspondence, maybe we are both interpreting what you saw on the HR website incorrectly. Check your credit card balance.
It’s only been a few hours, so I don’t see any of the charges on my account yet. Hope that’s not a bad sign! But these things usually do take a day or even two.
I will keep checking, but I think all logic points to taking the regular trains. I always say that changes and detours provide the most interesting travel opportunities, so who knows what adventure awaits on a regular train.
In fact, I would have the opportunity to get off, even spend a little time, somewhere along the way as well. Any suggestions?
A later departure also allows me to do some paragliding near the Matterhorn, before leaving Zermatt in the morning. 🙂
Hi Pamela,
That might be an option, but do take the day light hours into account. To prevent traveling on a scenic route in the dark!
Happyrail will certainly refund the money, no worries there. They will offer live seat availability checks in the future, a technical issue with the Swiss railways prevents them from doing so at the moment. I’ll check with them regarding the CHF 1 difference.
“I always say that changes and detours provide the most interesting travel opportunities, so who knows what adventure awaits on a regular train.”
That’s the spirit. 👏👏👏
Not sure if you will be able to access it in December but there is a viewing point for the Landwasser Viaduct a relatively short hike from Filisur Station. From the train you only get a brief glimpse of the structure as you approach and pass over it.
Check the timetable. Any stops along the way will most likely mean waiting an hour for the next train so are going to add to an already lengthy journey
The viaduct looks pretty amazing, I’d love to see it up close. Google maps says it’s a 34 min walk each way, so an hour between trains would be perfect to walk closer to it (maybe not all the way) and back.
I’ll just have to judge if I want to bump the remainder of the trip by an hour. Is the scenery along that last hour to St. Moritz a highlight, not to be missed by passing by in the dark?
Thank you all again for your input.
Hi Pamela,
I’m not sure how much you’ll see if you just “walk closer” to the viaduct. I’ve never been to the viewing point but it is on my bucket list. Also remember you need to allow time to stow and retrieve your luggage from lockers.
1960man rates Tiefencastel – Filisur – Preda one of the 4 “stunning” parts of the GEX route. See bit.ly/33SFze8.
So it would be good to get at least to Preda in daylight.
Where to after Sils?
I’ll take the Bernina Express to Tirano, then stay in Lecco, Italy. Then continue by train to Milan, and eventually head home to California via Stockholm.
Aah yes, I remember Lecco fro early on in this thread.
You have reservations on the BEX?
If you want to go in the morning you would need to get yourself to Pontresina to join the Chur to Tirano BEX. It doesn’t touch St Moritz. Otherwise there is a 15:11 BEX from St Moritz.
Again as with the GEX, regular trains will do the job.
Hi Pamela,
Regarding the CHF 1 difference: Happyrail did refund the full amount, and they will send you the transaction note so you can verify that. The difference is probably because of exchange rate changes that happened between payment and refund, or perhaps a banking fee on the transaction. You should be able to see that in your bank account.
I hope you’re having a great ride today!
Thank you for checking with Happy Rail about the refund difference.
So, alas, I didn’t get on the GEX, but I’m glad I didn’t! Taking the regular trains, with your suggestion of going via Andermatt, was a winner! I was able to hop off while switching trains, grab and snack, etc. Breaking up the 8 hour journey this way really worked for me. I felt comfortable with the train hopping, especially after having a couple days beforehand to get used to the Swiss train system. Which, combined with your suggestion of using the app, is nearly foolproof.
Except in one case, where there were multiple requested stops, making my arrival train a few minutes late. It was a small station, the tracks not as clearly labeled. In a rush, I hopped on the adjacent train, looked around and realized it wasn’t the right one. I continued through that train, out the other door, and onto the next one. Now it was right, and good thing, we were off immediately! But, thankfully by then, I had a better sense of how to quickly assess where a train was headed.
Also, thanks for the heads up about the Landwasser Viaduct – I was ready, and on the right side of the train, when it came zipping toward us.
Thank you all for your invaluable and timely advise! I’ve fallen in love with everything about Switzerland!
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