8889 posts
Hello Stickmanfob and Welcome to MySwissAlps
How old are “the kids”? Has a bearing on whether the Swiss Family Card (http://www.myswissalps.com/sw issfamilycard) will benefit you. If kids < 16 then 3-day Swiss Travel Pass (http://www.myswissalps.com/sw isstravelpass) might work. Depends what other things you plan to do in Interlaken.
72625 posts
Wow…thank you for the quick response back. That is extremely kind of you. I say kids but they are both college students. 21 years old and 19 years old. I believe the 24th would be spent all day in Interlaken. Apparently there is somewhere nearby where you can go skydiving? Most likely to a nearby family friends house for Christmas and then back to the airport on the 26th.
Is it any cheaper to buy the train ticket now if the Swiss Family Card doesn’t make any sense or should I just buy when I land at the airport?
8889 posts
Train ticket prices don’t change if bought in advance versus at station except if you chance upon Super Saver tickets for the route you plan to take. But SS tickets are tied to specific train departure time.
You can use the Swiss Train Timetable (http://www.myswissalps.com/ti metable) to work out the fares for any trip. When you go to buy a ticket the fare you see on the right hand side of the page will normally be the half-fare price. Double it to get full fare.
Have a look at the Saver Day Pass (http://www.myswissalps.com/sa verdaypass and bit.ly/2rkekat) to reduce cost of Zurich to Interlaken return. Price of that pass does increase closer to travel time.
72625 posts
I think with the limited time you have available and the variables that naturally occur with air travel (you might arrive late…) , getting specific train cheap tickets might be difficult.
I see that skydiving is an extremely expensive passtime!
I assume the skydiving you heard about might be this one
http://www.skydiveinterlaken. ch/index.php/en/prices -en
7567 posts
Hi Stickmanfob –
From your diction, it seems possible that you might be flying in from the USA. In any case, if you have a trip through multiple time zones, you, but not your kids, may suffer the effects of jet-lag. Actually, they might, as well, but they won’t admit it. If you are coming from elsewhere in Europe, please ignore my cautious comments.
That plan assumes no jet-lag. It also demonstrates the enthusiasm of youth. Possibly of youth who have plenty of enthusiasm and limited experience with intercontinental travel. I am lot older than you, so my perspective is likely different. That said, I’d never go sky diving while jet-lagged. Quick decisions and good judgement are likely required. Personally, I’d like to avoid the risk of death from misjudgement, until I had been on the clock for about 3 days.
Just my opinion. Your friends may offer a better perspective.
Slowpoke
PS – lots tourist service will be shut down for Christmas, but, less so as you go to the ski resorts towns. Nonetheless, every Swiss citizen who can ski will be in that region trying to do so on Christmas day…if there is enough snow on high.
72625 posts
Coming in from Italy (more specifically Venice). Not rich but figure if it’s on the kids bucket list and we are in Europe why not try and do something adventerous? Still on a budget and would like to find the best way to get there.
7567 posts
<<“Still on a budget and would like to find the best way to get there.”>>
Glad there will be no jet lag.
Take the train, as discussed above.
Use this to figure out schedules:
http://www.myswissalps.com/tr avel/inswitzerland
Check this, too:
http://www.myswissalps.com/tr avel/toswitzerland
Slowpoke
72625 posts
Hi stickmanfob,
IF you haven’t looked into skydiving yet you should – I’d be rather surprised if they are operating between the 24th and 26th of December. But perhaps they are popular over holidays!
I’d look at a Saver Day Pass for the 24th and 26th (especially if you have no mountain trips those days or any others). http://www.myswissalps.com/sa verdaypass
If you are planning on traveling on public transport on the 25th as well then a Swiss Half Fare Card is worth a look or a 3 day Swiss Travel Pass if you have a multiple mountain trips planned over the 3 days.