[The_Fizz]

30 January 2020 at 13:53:12 #825044

Hi, I’ve just joined this forum today.

I’m struggling to work out if any of the travel passes are worth getting for our two weeks in Switzerland in July.

We will be travelling by car (2 adults & 1 ten year old) and we hope to go (weather permitting) on the following trains, cable cars, boats etc.

Grindelwald to First cable car (return)

Grindelwald to Jungfraujock train (return)

Pfingstegg to Stieregg cable car (return)

Tasch to Zermatt train return

Sunnegga Express (one way)

Klein Matterhorn cable car (return)

Gornergrat Bahn (return)

Betten – Bettmeralp lift (return)

Riederalp – Moosfluh lift (return

Bettmeralp – Bettmergat lift (return)

Fieshcheralp – Eggishorn lift (return)

Boat trip on lake Lucerne

Any advice would be appreciated.

Peter

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[Removed user]

30 January 2020 at 14:07:17 #929035

Hi Peter and welcome to MySwissAlps!

Great that you’ve joined the forum. Is there a specific reason you are planning to travel by car in Switzerland? I am asking because I recommend trains over cars as the Swiss train network is amazing. It is safe, comfortable, reliable and also eco-friendly: http://www.myswissalps.com/carversustrain.

You can calculate and compare the costs using this guide and spreadsheet: http://www.myswissalps.com/forum/topic/compare-train-and-car-costs-of-a-switzerland-trip and http://www.myswissalps.com/train/ticketspasses/practical/chooserailpass.

For car trips usually we recommend the Swiss Half Fare Card, you can get to learn about it at http://www.myswissalps.com/swisshalffarecard. For your 10-years old you can get the http://www.myswissalps.com/swissfamilycard, if you buy the Swiss Half Fare Card.

You might find these pages useful too:

• Weather: http://www.myswissalps.com/weather and http://www.myswissalps.com/weather/forecast
• How to drive in the Swiss mountains: http://www.myswissalps.com/car/drivinginthemountains
• CO2 compensation opportunities: http://www.myswissalps.com/co2compensation
• Jungfrau region: http://www.myswissalps.com/jungfrauregion/activities
• Grindelwald: http://www.myswissalps.com/grindelwald
• Zermatt: http://www.myswissalps.com/zermatt
• Klein Matterhorn: http://www.myswissalps.com/kleinmatterhorn/gettingthere
• Gornergrat: http://www.myswissalps.com/gornergrat/gettingthere
• Lake Lucerne area: http://www.myswissalps.com/lakelucerne
• Boat trips on Lake Lucerne: http://www.myswissalps.com/boatlakelucerne

Ildiko

[The_Fizz]

30 January 2020 at 14:44:13 #929036

Thanks for the information Ildiko. We usually drive when travelling so we can go to different placces and stop wherever and whenever we wish. I understand the train network is great in Switzerland but I paid up front for the car hire so will have to stick with it.

[Removed user]

30 January 2020 at 18:21:49 #929037

I see. Maybe next time if you come to Switzerland 😉

If you have more questions or need any advice do not hesitate to write.

Ildiko

[Wayne]

30 January 2020 at 22:07:26 #929038

And of course, you just can’t drive the mountain passes on a train. That’s my reason.

[Anna]

31 January 2020 at 8:20:34 #929039

Hi Peter,

As per Ildiko’s suggestion, I would strongly consider getting the Swiss Half Fare Card. It does seem costly at CHF120 per adult but as you will be doing a lot of mountain trips, you’ll find that the card can quickly pay for itself after only a few journeys.

For example, the full train fare from Grindelwald to Jungfraujoch is CHF95 one-way. With the Swiss Half Fare Card, you pay only half of that. And your son travels for free with the Swiss Family Card (which is given complimentary with any Swiss Travel System railpass). For more details here: http://www.myswissalps.com/swissfamilycard

Here’s the link again to the Swiss Half Fare Card: http://www.myswissalps.com/swisshalffarecard/price

Regards,

Anna

[The_Fizz]

6 February 2020 at 14:50:56 #929040

Thanks everyone for the advice, I have looked into the half fare card and see it is very worth getting, considering what we plan to do.

[Removed user]

6 February 2020 at 18:31:03 #929041

That is great. Swiss Half Fare Card is really useful if you travel by car. You can buy it here: http://www.myswissalps.com/swisshalffarecard/price and read about how to use it at http://www.myswissalps.com/swisshalffarecard/howtouse.

Ildiko

[Peterli]

6 February 2020 at 22:53:24 #929042

I agree 100%.

I prefer the pace of driving by car, and it goes way beyond the mountain passes. I gives me total flexibility on where I go and where I stop. I am in pretty well total control and as a photographer, there is no end to the times when I see a photo, and it just doesn’t work through a bus or train window. Of course, you can’t just stop and park on a dime in all places, but most of the time you don’t have that many problems.

When I was a teenager, I covered the length and breadth of Switzerland by train, and for a first-time visitor with little time to linger and who wants to glimpse places all over, I can see using the train. If one plans to do all kinds of mountain ascents and lake cruises, I agree that a half-fare card is the way to go.