Leaving Your Trip in BRIG

This page offers help (concrete or informational) on leaving your trip.  Topics include...

1. Where you leave your trip (see immediately below)
2. What are the closest airports?
3. Our “Access Packages,” designed to help you travel onwards from your trip.
4. Suggestions on how to time your ongoing travel, whether you are having us arrange it, or doing it yourself.
5. Service information regarding train travel from your trip end location.
6. Suggested post-trip visits, especially when these are not geographically obvious, but are rendered economical and convenient by direct rail connections.
7. Hopefully helpful hints for those setting up their own travel from the trip.

If you wish to arrange some or all of your travel through us, please tell us what by means of this response questionnaire, designed to collect all the information we need to be able to book your travel.


1. WHERE and WHEN Do You Leave Your Trip?

Your trip disbands on Sunday, upon arrival in Brig (generally around 1p), where we drop the bikes at the railway station after a morning ride.

If you wish to arrange your own ongoing travel (in other words, you do not want to set up any ongoing travel arrangements through us), a couple of hints regarding ongoing travel are offered at the bottom of this page.  Otherwise, see our Access Packages, below.


2. What are the CLOSEST AIRPORTS?

The closest airport is Milan’s Malpensa.  It is thus the cheapest to reach.  If you spend the night with us in Domodossola, Italy (see our Access Package), there is a Monday morning shuttle bus straight to the airport (see “Service Information,” below, for details).

Geneva’s and Zurich’s airports are almost as close in terms of travel time, and are just as convenient, since trains from Brig run straight into the airport terminals.  However, tickets to reach them cost more.

The other Milan airports, Linate, Bergamo and Verona / Brescia (served by interior European flights, and the latter two by Ryanair) all work, via a bus or train connection in central Milan.  Allow two hours by train to downtown Milan, plus the local bus or train to reach the airport.


3. Our ACCESS PACKAGES
as of March 10, 2010

If you are catching an intercontinental flight, you will not be able to do so on the Saturday on which the trip ends, as it does so too late in the day.  You thus need to spend the night somewhere, for a Sunday flight.  You could do this in Brig, but it is fun to go across the border into Italy for a night, and if you book a flight from Milan, it is on the way.  We thus offer train tickets to Domodossola, and a night there, as part of our “Access Package.”

Domodossola is an interesting town, lively and animated on a Saturday night, and home to a lovely eliptical town piazza that is one of our favorite urban spaces.  An airport shuttle bus operates direct from Domodossola to Malpensa Airport, costing circa 15€. Trains to downtown Milan (for transfer to other Milan airports) cost about the same.  And trains back to Zurich or Geneva are available at reasonable additional cost.

If you are travelling to London, it is possible to do so on Sunday evening, though you will arrive late.  See “Service Information,” below.  Otherwise, spend a night in Domodossola, and go on Monday morning.

Base (Starting) Access Package Price:  121€.
To see what this means in your currency, look here:  http://www.bluemarble.org/CurrencyConv.html

Availability is guaranteed until 35 days prior to trip start (payment received by us).  Within 35 days, availability must be confirmed, and costs may be slightly higher.  Some extra-cost options also have higher prices if ordered w/in 35 days.

Included:

• Train tickets from Brig, Switzerland, to Domodossola, Italy.
• A hotel night in Domodossola, based on shared occupancy (rate guaranteed to singles willing to share). Typically, most of your past weeks’ travelling companions will also be staying over.
• Dinner at the hotel’s restaurant in Domodossola (a 3-course meal with three choices at each course).
• Breakfast, if you have time / get up for it.
• The services of a Blue Marble Coordinator, who can help you reserve the Malpensa airport transfer, if appropriate.

Options Offered at an Extra Cost (subject to availability)
Prices are in addition to the “Base” Access Package Price.  For a general discussion of train upgrades, see here.  Topics include the relative comfort of first versus second class, and different types of accommodation available on overnight trains.

• Ongoing trains from Domodossola.  Sample prices follow.  Seat reservations are included where required (all points except Switzerland, some local services to Milan).
  To Swiss cities, they are available for an additional 10€, but are not required, nor recommended:  you will find seats on board without trouble, especially in 1st class.
  — Downtown Milan (for Milan airports other than Malpensa):  17€ 2nd cl., 25€ in 1st class.
  — Nice:  49€ 2nd class, 74€ 1st class.
  These are discount tickets, train-specific, and not refundable or exchangeable once ordered.  More flexible tickets are available at further additional cost:  see below.
  — Zurich (city or airport):  61€ 2nd class. 93€ 1st class.  75€ 1st class discount rate.
  Discount rate is based on total volume of travel, and is “open” — you may travel via any train.  However, it is not refundable once you have started your European train travel, even if your first train trip is not this one.
  — Geneva (city or airport):  48€ 2nd class. 78€ 1st class.  62€ 1st class discount rate.
  Discount rate is based on total volume of travel, and is “open” — you may travel via any train.  However, it is not refundable once you have started your European train travel, even if your first train trip is not this one.
  — Paris.  89€ 2nd class, 129€ 1st class.  Prices include seat reservations aboard the TGV.
  These are discount tickets, train-specific, and not refundable or exchangeable once ordered.  More flexible tickets are available at further additional cost:  see below.
  — Venice or Florence:  62€ 2nd class, 93€ 1st class.  Prices include seat reservations.
  These are discount tickets, train-specific, and not refundable or exchangeable once ordered.  More flexible tickets are available at additional cost:  see below.
  — Rome:  73€ 2nd cl., 105€ 1st class.  Prices include seat reservations.
  These are discount tickets, train-specific, and not refundable or exchangeable once ordered.  More flexible tickets are available at additional cost:  see below.
• Flexible tickets, modifiable prior to departure on a space-available basis, and refundable less 20% if returned to our issuing office:  +15€ 2nd class to Nice, Venice or Florence. +29€ to all other destinations in 2nd class, to all destinations in 1st class.
• Single room in Domodossola hotel:  +27€.
  

Alternate Arrangements, in lieu of our usual packages (subject to availability)
Prices are complete (in other words, they are not in addition to the “Base” Access Package Price)

• Sunday afternoon tickets to London.  157€ if you are also purchasing tickets from London at the start of your trip, 197€ if not, or if you prefer a changeable ticket (in 1st cl., 199€ or 249€; 1st class tickets include meal service between Paris and London).
  A Paris stop-over is available at no extra charge.
• Other trains from Brig on Sunday:  please refer to the prices from Domodossola, above.  Tickets to all points in Italy, and to Nice, cost an additional 5€.  Tickets to all points in Switzerland, to Paris, or to London, cost 5€ less.
• Sunday overnight train to Austria, Amsterdam, Berlin, Budapest, Copenhagen, Rome:  99€ to Rome, 139€ to all other points, including a couchette.  Sleeping car upgrades available.
  Special sleeping car upgrade prices of 45€ to “Comfort Couchette,” 59€ to private double sleeper cabin, or 99€ to a private single cabin, are generally available.
• Sunday night hotels in Brig or Geneva are available:  see our page on booking individual hotels.

4. TIMING Your Trip

If we may influence your thinking on the topic of timing... most people take us up on our “Access Package” offer, which takes you over the border to Italy for a night.  A final evening in an oh-so-different setting, just the other side of the mountain.

If you decide to travel onwards on Sunday afternoon, stress levels dictate that you book your ongoing travel after 3p.


5. Service Information
Schedules are approximate – exact timetables can be consulted at
http://www.raileurope.com/us/rail/point_to_point/triprequest.htm.
Best trains (or buses, in the case of Malpensa) are mentioned below.  Others are slower or have multiple connections.  These are times from Domodossola (the place where the “Access Package” spends the night).  For times from Brig, subtract 1 hour going to Switzerland, France except Nice, or other points north.   Add 1 hour going south to Italy or Nice.

• To Milan Malpensa airport.  Travel time 1’20”, direct Sunday morning buses at 6a, 9:30a, 1:15p... Schedules at http://www.vcoinbus.it/unico/home.html.
  Frequent trains (with equivalent travel times) are also available, via a shuttle bus (or 30€ taxi) connection in Gallarate.  Rail service starts at 5a.
  Sunday afternoon service from Brig takes 2'15", and trains run at 3p, 5p and 6p in the current timetable, via Gallarate.
• To downtown Milan.  Travel time is 2 hours from Domodossola, a half hour more from Brig, service is irregular, but the longest service gap is 2 hours.
• To Geneva or Zurich, downtown or airport.  Travel time is 3 - 3.5 hours from Domodossola.  Service is roughly hourly, though there are a couple of 90-minute gaps.
  A change of train is required to reach Zurich, or Geneva Airport.  Geneva downtown is served directly.  Monday morning service to any begins at 5:15a, but this first train takes 4 hours to Zurich Airport (3'15" to Geneva Airport).
  Sunday travel time from Brig is an hour shorter, and service is every 30 minutes to Geneva or Geneva Airport, hourly to Zurich or Zurich Airport.
• To Paris.
  — From Brig on Sunday:  hourly from 3:30p, a 6-hour trip with one connection.
  — From Domodossola on Monday:  6a (2 connections), 10a, 1p, or 2p.
  Trip from Domodossola takes a shade under 7 hours, with one connection except as noted.
  
• To Nice. A Milan stopover is permitted without additional charge.
  — From Brig on Sunday:  3p, a 7.5-hour trip with two connections.
  — From Domodossola on Monday:  9:15a, 1p, 3p.
  ± 7 hours, with two connctions.  An additional service runs at 6a, but taking an hour longer.
• To Venice, Florence or Rome.
  — From Brig on Sunday:  2:45p and 3:45p departures to all three cities.
  5'15" hours to Venice or Rome, 4 to Florence, with a connection in Milan in all cases.  Reservations required.
  — From Domodossola on Monday.  Travel time is 4.5 hours to Venice or Rome, 3.5 to Florence.
  Trains run irregularly, but every 2 hours on average, via a connection in Milan.  Reservations required.
  Direct service to Venice at 10a, arrive 2:30p, no connection required in Milan.
• To London.  Trip takes an hour longer than scheduled times, on account of one-hour time change.
  — From Brig on Sunday:  1:30p, with two connections, arrive London at 10p.
  — From Domodossola on Monday:  best services depart at 10a, arrive 7:30p; or 1p, arrive 10:30p.

6. Suggested POST-TRIP VISITS

We suggest our Glacier Experience, a trip on the famous “Glacier Express” narrow gauge train, which follows the spine of the Alps over the Furka pass.  A package price of 179€ / person double occupancy, or 199€ single includes:

• Train back to Brig from Domodossola.
• A ride in the “Glacier Express” all-1st class panoramic car to Disentis, an Alpine resort at the headwaters of the Rhine.
• A hotel night in Disentis.
• Breakfast the next morning if you have time / get up for it.
• An ongoing train to Zurich or Zurich airport (3 hours, service from 5:45a).
  Ongoing travel from Disentis is available to other points at additional cost (travel to London or Paris is at the same cost as travel from Brig to London).

7. Hints on TRAVELLING INDEPENDENTLY After the Trip
Guests subscribing to an “Access Package” need not read this section.

See also “Timing Your Trip” and “Service Information,” above, as either of these may additionally help.

We gladly provide travel consulting (schedule or routing information) concerning post-trip individual travel.  In particular, we have invested a great deal to become railway experts.  Our service fees are reasonable:  a 20€ charge for all but the most complex projects – or the most simple (for instance, only a 10€ charge applies if the service is limited to the preparation of a routine rail ticket).  You will generally find them well-justified by the time they will save you in research, standing on line, overpaying for your tickets, or all three.

But, for some, this type of research is fun.  So, here are some hints, intended to start off hardened “do-it-yourselfers.”

Trains. Schedules for all routes can be consulted on this web site:
http://www.raileurope.com/us/rail/point_to_point/triprequest.htm

Brig is a massive railway junction.  You can go anywhere.



If you wish to arrange some or all of your travel through us, please tell us what by means of this response questionnaire, designed to collect all the information we need to be able to book your travel.