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[Removed user]

4 November 2019 at 0:32:29 #924289

Good to know. Thank you Suzanne.

[rockoyster]

4 November 2019 at 6:25:15 #924290

See attached. Not sure if you can read the fine print on the yellow sign (this one was at Interlaken Ost but they are now all over the country) but it basically says if you don’t have a valid ticket you have to buy a full-fare ticket and they will add a CHF90 surcharge on top.

Attachments:

1. 

   3f8a641e-e57a-4679-8105-be0642a43d25.jpg
   

[Removed user]

6 November 2019 at 2:48:18 #924291

So…. back to best scenario for train costs. It would be so so nice to just have the Swiss Pass for 8 days but, I think it probably isn’t less expensive. Swiss Passes will cost $1,907. As long as I am correct that most places we stay will have included local busses and local transport around the towns/cities.

Current route I am trying to solidify is this… (there are 5 of us that are considered adults that I am responsible for paying for.)

Geneva Airport direct to Montreux (175.00)

Montreux to Interlaken or Thun- (approx. 265.00)

Day trips from either above (cost seems to vary by a small amount)- Grindlewald, Lauterbrunnen, Bern (498.00)

If I had the Swiss Pass I might consider boat rides and a trip to Luzern for the day, but without them, I likely will not.

Interlaken/Thun to Geneva- (360.00)

$1,298.00 total

If I buy the half cards for 5, at about $625 and that makes the trips $649, then, I am pretty close in costs so, I am assuming the 1/2 cards are worth it in case we add trips.

The only things I can think I would add to this are:

Luzern, local alp recommendations, maybe the Jungfraujoch if the weather is great…

Can anyone just tell me if “maybe” my math and calculations are correct? I am so worried that I am going to screw this up. 🙂 I can really not afford to be out an extra $1.,000 or more than I am planning.

Also, if I were to prefer to stay in Thun over Interlaken, does anyone have any recommendations for lodging that is on the more basic/budget side? Is Spiez worth a glance? Is Brienz totally asleep in late November?

I am just about done with any deliberations… just need to make sure that I am not messing up things with my pocketbook if I can help it!

[Removed user]

6 November 2019 at 14:35:04 #924292

Hi Marsi,

I do not understand this one: “Day trips from either above (cost seems to vary by a small amount)- Grindlewald, Lauterbrunnen, Bern (498.00)” Do you mean a day trip as Interlaken – Grindelwald – Lauterbrunnen – Bern?

I have checked the full fares, the numbers before this sentence and they seemed good to me.

Have you tried to use the spreadsheet at http://www.myswissalps.com/tr ain/ticketspasses/prac tical/chooserailpass?

You can find the best budget hotels at http://www.myswissalps.com/ho tels/budget, use the filter to narrow your search.

Also have a look at these:

• Brienz: http://www.myswissalps.com/br ienz
• Thun: http://www.myswissalps.com/th un
• Interlaken: http://www.myswissalps.com/in terlaken

[Removed user]

6 November 2019 at 15:50:18 #924293

Hi Lldiko,

By this “Day trips from either above (cost seems to vary by a small amount)- Grindlewald, Lauterbrunnen, Bern (498.00)” I calculated the cost of RT for all of the following: to/from Interlaken and Grindelwald, Interlaken and Lauterbrunnen and Interlaken to Bern.

I will try the spreadsheet again. I got a bit confused cutting and pasting into it.

Is it true that within the towns the busses will be free with a stay there? Also, is there anywhere that I can look to find out the costs of the boat rides on Lake Geneva, and from Interlaken to Brienz or Thun?

[Removed user]

7 November 2019 at 13:48:05 #924294

Hi Marsi,

First of all have a look at:

• http://www.myswissalps.com/bo atlakegeneva for Lake Geneva,
• http://www.myswissalps.com/bo atlakethun for Lake Thun and
• http://www.myswissalps.com/bo atlakebrienz for Lake Brienz.

On those pages scroll down to the “More on other websites” part, there you will find the prices and timetables for all of the available routes.With Swiss Travel Pass they are all for free.

Also city transport is for free with Swiss Travel Pass. Usually you get a free city transport card if you stay in a hotel, but not always. For example you get it in Montreux (http://www.myswissalps.com/mo ntreux/hotels), in Bern (http://www.myswissalps.com/be rn/travel), Lauterbrunnen (http://www.myswissalps.com/la uterbrunnen/hotels), also in Interlaken (http://www.myswissalps.com/in terlaken/hotels) and Lucerne (http://www.myswissalps.com/lu cerne/travel), but not in Zurich (http://www.myswissalps.com/zu rich/travel).

Having the Swiss Travel Pass is also good for museums, as it gives you free or discounted entry to many-many museums and castles: http://www.myswissalps.com/sw isstravelpass/details. They are not free with the Swiss Half Fare Card.

If there is only a small difference in the cost of the Swiss Travel Pass or traveling with the Swiss Half Fare Card I definitely suggest to buy the Swiss Travel Pass to have the flexibility and ticketless traveling.

How are you doing with your spreadsheet? I haven’t checked all the numbers, but your previous calculations seem quite fair for me.