A weeks walking holiday in Switzerland - Car needed?

Hi,

Four friends and I are going for a weeks walking holiday in Switzerland at the
end of June. Elsewhere, hiring a car has always been necessary to get around
rural areas, but I hear that this is not the case in Switzerland.

We will be flying into Geneva, and will be based in Zermatt and Grindelwald.
Can we rely on local buses to conveniently get us too and from walks, without
risking being stranded in the middle of nowhere for the night. Should we buy
the Swiss pass for the week, or pay for individual jouneys and cable cars,
most of which will be short. Is it best to get the pass in Switzerland, or
from here in the UK.

Thanks for your help,

Rob

Am Fri, 03 Jun 2005 11:50:16 GMT schrieb Rob:

We will be flying into Geneva, and will be based in Zermatt and Grindelwald.
Can we rely on local buses to conveniently get us too and from walks, without
risking being stranded in the middle of nowhere for the night.

Yes, no problem, as long as you don't go walking late at night. Both
Zermatt and Grindelwald are not very big, so you could always phone a taxi,
in case it get's really late, but as I said, these places are not that big
that you couldn't walk it back in most cases. And if you go hiking in the
mountains, you wouldn't do taht in the night anyway.

Should we buy
the Swiss pass for the week, or pay for individual jouneys and cable cars,
most of which will be short.

I think it's worth getting the pass, as some of the cablecars can be very
expensive. If you plan to use cablecars often, the pass is always the best
deal.

Is it best to get the pass in Switzerland, or
from here in the UK.

I would get it there on the spot, as they sometimes have different passes
available and can tell you which one is the most suitable.
In some regions they have "Punktekarte", e.g. a ticket with a number of
points on it. Like you pay 200 CHF and get a ticket with 500 points, then
for each time you use a cable-car a certain number of points is deducted
(depending on how long the ride ist). That is sometimes even better then
the Swiss Pass, if you don't go everyday. But I would ask for it on the
spot.

Regards,

Frank

In article , Frank Hucklenbroich wrote:
Am Fri, 03 Jun 2005 11:50:16 GMT schrieb Rob:

We will be flying into Geneva, and will be based in Zermatt and Grindelwald.
Can we rely on local buses to conveniently get us too and from walks, without

risking being stranded in the middle of nowhere for the night.

Yes, no problem, as long as you don't go walking late at night. Both
Zermatt and Grindelwald are not very big, so you could always phone a taxi,
in case it get's really late, but as I said, these places are not that big
that you couldn't walk it back in most cases. And if you go hiking in the
mountains, you wouldn't do taht in the night anyway.

It goes against the grain to rely on public transport, but that's just my UK
experience talking. No hire car for us then.

Should we buy
the Swiss pass for the week, or pay for individual jouneys and cable cars,
most of which will be short.

I think it's worth getting the pass, as some of the cablecars can be very
expensive. If you plan to use cablecars often, the pass is always the best
deal.

We'll probably end up using the cablecars twice a day, up at the start, down
at the end, so I suppose that's frequent enough to justify the pass.


Is it best to get the pass in Switzerland, or
from here in the UK.

I would get it there on the spot, as they sometimes have different passes
available and can tell you which one is the most suitable.
In some regions they have "Punktekarte", e.g. a ticket with a number of
points on it. Like you pay 200 CHF and get a ticket with 500 points, then
for each time you use a cable-car a certain number of points is deducted
(depending on how long the ride ist). That is sometimes even better then
the Swiss Pass, if you don't go everyday. But I would ask for it on the
spot.

I was wondering if there were different passes available abroad which
were not available locally, and which was the better bargain. From what you
say we will get the pass they recommend on arrival in Geneva.


Regards,

Frank

Rob a =E9crit :
Hi,

Four friends and I are going for a weeks walking holiday in Switzerland a=
t the
end of June. Elsewhere, hiring a car has always been necessary to get aro=
und
rural areas, but I hear that this is not the case in Switzerland.

We will be flying into Geneva, and will be based in Zermatt and Grindelwa=
ld.
Can we rely on local buses to conveniently get us too and from walks, wit=
hout
risking being stranded in the middle of nowhere for the night. Should we =
buy
the Swiss pass for the week, or pay for individual jouneys and cable cars,
most of which will be short. Is it best to get the pass in Switzerland, or
from here in the UK.

Despite of some doubts considering the fact that 5 people
are travelling together, my recommendation still would be
to use public transportation rather than a car.

Having a car for travelling to Zermatt is leaving it at
the latest in T=E4sch for the railway - and paying for parking.

Check if Swiss Pass or Swiss Flexi Pass (or Youth Pass)
fits better your requirement, details at
http://mct.sbb.ch/mct/en/reiselust/int-gaeste/sts.htm
and for planning your trips
http://www.sbb.ch/en/index.htm (for trains, postal bus
service and lake steamers)

Assuming you will one of the Swiss Pass programms, consider
a tour with some lake steamer (on your itinerary either
Lake Geneva or Lake Thoune and Lake Brienz; side-tour from
Interlaken to Lucerne via Br=FCnig is feasible).
And you can forward your luggage directly from departing
airport or from Geneva Airport railway-station to either
Zermatt or Grindelwald,
http://mct.sbb.ch/mct/en/reisemarkt/...aeck-schweiz.=
htm

Have a great trip