[TMKA]

10 September 2019 at 13:44:50 #823807

Hi, Planning a trip for Sept. 2020 for 15 days in Switzerland. Planned itinerary:Geneva (2nights), Montreaux (1 night), Lucerne (2), Lauterbrenner (2), Lucerne (2) Zermatt (2) St Moritz (3), Lugano (3) & then Munich (2) Salzburg (3)

1. Is this itinerary too much?

2. Do I need to make reservations for a trips such as Geneva to Montrreaux OR do we just get on the train?

3. Do I need to make reservations for Glacier Express trip to top of Jungfraujoch? Is there a discount for these?

4. I will not have access to a printer-how do I use the e-ticket? Thank You!

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[Removed user]

10 September 2019 at 18:01:22 #922018

Hello TMKA and Welcome to MySwissAlps,

The overall general answer to your question is NO, you don’t need reservation for most train journeys in Switzerland. You can simply board the train with a valid ticket or rail pass.
– http://www.myswissalps.com/tr ain/reservations
– http://www.myswissalps.com/tr ain/practical/howtotra vel

However, for some panoramic trains, like the Glacier Express you will need mandatory seat reservation, not mandatory for the Jungfraujoch, however. Find details below:
– http://www.myswissalps.com/gl acierexpress
– http://www.myswissalps.com/ju ngfraujoch

I would recommend you print your e-ticket once or twice before departure and then use your e-ticket using the hard copy as a back up. In a worst case printers will be available “somewhere” for you to re-print your ticket.

Hope this helps.

Best,
Steph

[rockoyster]

10 September 2019 at 22:55:42 #922019

Hello TMKA

You are doing a lot of hotel swapping and zig-zagging.

Can I suggest this (in Switzerland) order as more sensible:

• Geneva/Montreux
• Lauterbrunnen(Golden Pass)
• Zermatt(Glacier Express)
• St Moritz (Bernina Express)
• Lugano(Gotthard Panorama Express)
• Luzern

[TMKA]

11 September 2019 at 0:22:23 #922020

Hi! Thank you so much. Your suggestion sounds great.( I did put Lucerne into my itinerary twice by mistake though)

In total, we would like to spend a total of 19 days in Switzerland & Austria.

Question:

1. How many days would you suggest in these towns/cities? Our goal is to embrace the countryside and scenery. Cities, museums and castles are not important to us.

We also want to leave time to visit Munich for 2 days & Salzburg for a 2 days at least.( I have my heart set on visiting Halstatt after seeing it on a calendar many years ago!!)

Thank You . All the best.

[rockoyster]

11 September 2019 at 2:50:26 #922021

“How many days would you suggest in these towns/cities?“

That’s difficult to answer and I think something only you can decide.

If it was me I think I would go direct to Lauterbrunnen via Montreux for 4 nights, Zermatt for 2 then hop off Glacier Express at Chur and take the Bernina Express to Lugano the next day. 4 nights in Lugano and 4 in Luzern gives you a total of 15 nights which is ideal for a 15 day Swiss Travel Pass.

Also have a look at the Railjet Zurich to Salzburg and go to Munich from there (assuming you don’t already have flights booked out of Salzburg).

See:

• http://www.myswissalps.com/tr aintickets/austria
• http://www.myswissalps.com/tr aintickets/germany

[TMKA]

11 September 2019 at 11:31:06 #922022

Thank You for your suggestions on the itinerary. I do have a question on Glacier & Bernina reservations.For example, 2 months before my trip I will purchase the 15 day travel pass. After purchasing them….

1 .How do I make reservations for the Glacier & Bernina Express so that I wont be charged because I have the pass?

2. Will I have an account with a password that I log into when making reservations that will indicate that I have a swissalp pass?

3. How can I guarantee I get on the railjet to go to Zurich to Salzburg & not another train that makes many stops?

4. Is myswissalps/timetable the best way to view all the train schedules?

Thank you! You all have been very helpful. I

[Removed user]

11 September 2019 at 19:41:23 #922023

Hi TMKA,

1, If you have the Swiss Travel Pass you do not need to buy tickets for Glacier Express or Bernina Express, but you need to reserve your seat. You can do that for the Glacier Express at http://www.myswissalps.com/gl acierexpress/packages and for the Bernina Express at http://www.myswissalps.com/be rninaexpress/packages. You can book seats 3 months ahead of time.

2. No, that is not how Swiss Travel Pass works. You’ll find an explanation how Swiss Travel Pass works here: http://www.myswissalps.com/sw isstravelpass/howtouse.

3. You can check in the timetable (http://www.myswissalps.com/ti metable) which trains you would like to take. You will see also where it leaves from (platform number), so you cannot miss it. More about traveling to Austria from Switzerland by train: http://www.myswissalps.com/tr aintickets/austria

4. I believe yes, I use this too 🙂 If you use the advanced timetable on the right side, you will find everything. To be sure to travel via the Glacier Express route, enter the via-station Andermatt. Trains labeled PE are the Panorama Express.

[rockoyster]

11 September 2019 at 21:25:26 #922024

By far the best way to check timetables is using the SBB Mobile app (bit.ly/2ICIUHi). In the unlikely event you don’t have a device capable of running the app then you can use the timetable on the SBB website (bit.ly/2HH1U7B). If you are not familiar with using the timetable it will pay to first read the instructions on this page – http://www.myswissalps.com/ti metable.

You don’t need to purchase your Swiss Travel Pass before making reservations. During the reservation process you just nominate you intend to use the pass when travelling.