Using the Swiss Train System
Ex-marine and I just returned from snow-shoing in Zermatt, Switzerland, and thought other "directionally/ language challenged " people (like us) would like to know how very easy it is to travel in Europe...especially in Switzerland.
- Train stops are usually repeated in three languages: German, French and English.
- They give you a timetable telling what platform your train leaves from and what platform your next train leaves if you are making connections.
- The conductors all speak English.
- There are tourist information offices in the stations with English-speaking personnel, maps, bus information.
- Credit cards are accepted everywhere for everything.
- Big train stations have ATM's, McDonald's, Burger King, small food stalls.
Always carry or buy water though...the water on the trains is considered "Non-Potable" or, "don't even think about drinking it"! The Europeans usually carry sandwiches, munchies, wine, etc. on trains to nosh while travelling. There are also rolling carts that come through on board selling food items, but they are more expensive. If you have a long journey, buy what you need beforehand. Take some Baggies with you.
It is impossible for any country to make it any easier to travel.
There are several ways train passes to choose from in Switzerland, and ALL passes must be bought in the U.S. before you leave.
Since we were only training to one location, Zermatt, we chose a Swiss Transfer Ticket - good for 1 month in 2nd Class at $90 US/per adult . It allows one transfer from any Swiss Airport to any Swiss destinatiion and back. We flew into Zurich and most trains leave right there from the airport which is so convenient.
You can purchase train tickets and passes through Swiss Rail Pass. You can also purchase through Swiss National Railways...either is a good choice.
On our first trip to Switzerland, we used a Swiss Pass, basing ourselves in three different locations: hopping on and off steamers in Lucerne, Lake Geneva, around Interlaken; used Postal Buses that went into little towns; took trains or Postal Buses to different areas, hiked up and over mountains down into another little valley...and then took transportation back. The Pass was good on everything! This was the first time we ever hiked, and Switzerland was the ideal spot to get our feet (or hiking boots) wet. The Pass gives you a choice of 4, 8, 15, 22 days or 1 month, unlimited travel throughout Switzerland. Explore the entire country with a Swiss Pass. They are valid on the legendary scenic routes, and also good on the public transportation systems of 37 Swiss cities. There is also a 50% discount on most mountain-top trains and cable cars, free admission to most museums in Switzerland. And, there is a further discount if two or more persons travel together, each one receives 15%. Check it out!
If you have less time, there is also a Swiss Flexipass which gives you 3 days of unlimited travel in a 1 month period. Just have to weigh the different costs and decide what's best for your situation.
And, there is a special card that children under 16 travel free with parents. Friends of ours took their 3 year old to Switzerland years ago, rented an apartment in Zermatt to base themselves and travelled all around for several weeks, child in tow. It was fun, inexpensive and EASY! Switzerland is a very child-friendly country...you can drink the tap water and there are always Chicken McNuggets in an pinch.
A MUST KNOW - on any sort of "pass", you validate upon arrival in Switzerland at the train station. It's a matter of going to the Bahnhof (train station) window, presenting your passport and pass, and they validate it for you. Simple....and the possibilities are endless.
More tomorrow...
