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Hi all.
I would like your opinion and advice on the following please.
Should we purchase a first class or second class Swiss Travel Pass to complete the following.
We will both have one large suitcase and one small (carry on) suit case when traveling.
My wife and I are both 57 years old, reasonably fit, healthy and don’t mind walking for 3 to 5 hour each day. with this being our first trip to Europe and may be the only trip we are able to make to Europe so we would like it to be special.
We will be arriving in Zurich on Friday 28th August 2020 at 18:20 hours and will be spending six nights in Switzerland before traveling by train to Venice.
On the night that we arrive in Zurich should we book a hotel and spend the night in Zurich as it will be dark and my thoughts would be to start early the next morning catching a scenic train (Golden Pass Train) from Zurich to Lucerne to Interlaken and staying in Wengen for three nights. I need advice if we should catch the train in the morning to see the scenery or are we better to just head straight to Wengen when we arrive and get an early start the next morning to explore more around the region we will be staying in.
No accommodation is booked so we would be able to stay in a village you recommend including Wengen, Murren, Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen etc but would need your advice on the best location for exploring, walking and cable cars etc.
Day 1. Visit Lauterbrunnen valley waterfalls, Schilthorn, Murren and cable car to summit. We are happy to visit Schilthorn and not Jungfraujoch after reading several post on this site stating Jungfraujoch can be extremely busy and quiet expensive some reports state.
Day 2. Interlaken Lakes by boat getting on and off to explore any of the must see sights around the lakes although we prefer scenary and little villages more than exploring museums.
Day 3. Open to ideas of where we should explore to see waterfalls, nice little alpine villages or anything you think is a highlight in this area or what is a must see.
Day 4. Wengen to Interlaken to Brig on the Glacier Express Train staying one night in Chur. Explore a little of Chur that afternoon.
Day 5. Chur to Tirano on the Bernina Express Train then Tirano to Lugano on the bus spending one night in Lugano. Explore a little of Lugano in the afternoon.
Day 6. Lugano to Venice by train and do you have any advice on a train to Venice being a ? scenic train or do we just catch a normal train which I believes takes around 3 hours and 55 mins looking at some of the sites.
We live in Australia with my plan being to purchase the 8 day Swiss travel pass even though we will only use it for 6 days but believe it may be the easiest and simplest way to travel. Should I wait until we arrive at the Zurich airport to purchase the Swiss Travel Pass or should I purchase it in advance prior to departing Australia on Friday 28th August 2020.
Once again do you believe we would be better with a first class Swiss Travel Pass or the Second Class taking into consideration the luggage we need to transport from Zurich to Venice.
Thank you all for any advice it will be greatly appreciated.
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Personal opinion but 2nd class is fine.
If you are travelling with a 2nd Class Swiss Travel Pass but want to travel 1st Class on any particular trip you can buy a Class upgrade at any SBB station or using the SBB Mobile App or here bit.ly/2rZEIXh. You need to buy a route specific upgrade.
If you buy on line you need to nominate a Half-fare Card reduction to get the correct price (using either website of SBB app). An upgrade will cost half the difference between 1st and 2nd class full-fares.
Hello M Day5051:
It is so exciting to hear you will be visiting Switzerland for the first time. My husband and I are your age and we travel in the region you will be traveling. As a suggestion, we stay in Traveler’s Hotel in the Zurich airport. It is a low fee, and very clean. Wake up early the next morning and catch the train at the airport for your journey. The bathrooms are down the hall, however. I highly suggest you stay in Zurich after your flight that arrives at night. You will not want to miss one minute of Switzerland’s beauty.
We travel exclusively by train and go First class. It is less crowded. Our passes allow for this. The bags you carry will be able (at times) to be at your feet this way, instead of trying to lift them over your head at certain legs of the trip. If they are heavy and large, this might be an issue.
We stay in Lauterbrunnen.
Hello M day5051,
I agree that it is actually not necessary to purchase a first class Swiss Travel Pass, as you can always upgrade for certain journeys, but then again, you’re on a holiday and might want to treat yourselves to a first class trip overall. Make sure you read:
– http://www.myswissalps.com/tr ain/practical/2nd1stcl assFind inspiration what else to do in the region of Interlaken of your 3rd day below as well as links to the boat rides you’re planning on day 2.
– http://www.myswissalps.com/be rneseoberland/activiti es
– http://www.myswissalps.com/on edayjungfrauregion
– http://www.myswissalps.com/bo atlakebrienz
– http://www.myswissalps.com/bo atlakethunFor input on the two panoramic trains your planning to take as well as your departure to Italy see:
– http://www.myswissalps.com/gl acierexpress
– http://www.myswissalps.com/be rninaexpress
– http://www.myswissalps.com/tr aintickets/italyAnd finally, for detailed validity of the Swiss Travel Pass, 1st or 2nd class, make sure you check the following link, especially the pdf map will be very helpful.
– http://www.myswissalps.com/sw isstravelpass/validityBest,
Steph
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