[Removed user]

15 May 2011 at 14:23:53 #804318

We are 2 people, travelling to Switzerland for a week in June.
Our itinerary:
1) Zurich Airport to Kuenten (between Baden & Bremgarten)
2) From Kuenten to Grindelwald
3) Grindelwald to Wengen or Muerren (day trip)
4) Grindelwald to Zurich (will be using trams in Zurich)
5) Zurich Station to Zurich Airport.
Is it worth buying a pass (eg Saver Flexi Pass)? Is there any way we can get discounts on trains? If we buy single tickets, is it of benefit to buy in advance? We would be grateful for any advice. Thank you.

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[Annika]

16 May 2011 at 15:47:04 #832909

Hi cassie1, and welcome to this forum! Whether a Swiss rail pass is cheaper than buying regular tickets, depends on your exact travel plans. In your case, the difference between both options isn’t that big (not even CHF 20,-, and that’s without the costs of public transport in Zurich). If you’d opt for a rail pass, the Swiss Half Fare Card would be your best choice.

For example: if you want to make a day trip from Grindelwald to Mürren via the cheapest route (Zweilütschinen-Lauterbrunnen), you’re better off buying regular tickets. But if you pick the scenic route (via Kleine Scheidegg and Wengen), a Swiss Half Fare Card is already cost effective. This goes for all more expensive alternatives/detours/extra trips you didn’t mention in your list. So if you want to be able to adapt your plans and include last minute trips or scenic routes, I would advise to use the Swiss Half Fare Card.

[Removed user]

17 May 2011 at 16:48:15 #832910

Thank you for your help Annika. We intend to order the Half Fare Cards – can this be done any time before we go to Switzerland? Also, are the fares to and from Grindelwald cheaper if we book them in advance? Would it be the same if we wait until we arrive in Switzerland? Thank you.

[Annika]

18 May 2011 at 1:35:20 #832911

Hi cassie1,

The purchase options (including delivery times, etc.) can be found on the right hand side of the page I mentioned. The (half) fares to and from Grindelwald are the same locally or in advance.

[Removed user]

21 May 2011 at 2:28:03 #832912

Thanks – if we order tickets to and from Grindelwald in advance, do we have to use the specific, chosen train? Would the tickets be valid for any train that day?

[Annika]

22 May 2011 at 5:59:22 #832913

Hi cassie1. If you pre-book your tickets to and from Grindelwald, it doesn’t matter for which trains you use it, as there are no seat reservations attached to these tickets. However, there’s no need to order your tickets in advance. You can easily buy them at the railway stations, and not buying your tickets in advance allows you to change your travel plans if weather is bad.