|
Meeting Your Trip in BRIG or ZERMATT
This page offers help (concrete or informational) on reaching your trip, for riders whose trips assemble in either Brig or in Zermatt. Topics include...
- Where you Join Your Trip (see immediately below)
- Our “Access Packages,” designed to help you to do so.
- Suggestions on how to time your trip to the trip, whether you are having us arrange your travel, or doing it yourself.
- Service information regarding train travel to your trip start location.
- Suggested pre-trip visits, especially when these are not geographically obvious, but are rendered economical and convenient by direct rail connections.
- Hopefully helpful hints for those setting up their own travel to 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 Join Your Trip?
If your trip starts in Brig (“Italian Lakes,” and most trips beginning with the Italian Lakes itinerary), it assembles at the Brig railway station, on the afternoon of its start date (generally a Sunday). We meet on the west end of platform 1, between 2:30p and 4:30p.
If your trip starts in Zermatt (“Mozart and the Matterhorn,” or travellers who have opted for our Zermatt pre-trip add-on), the meet is at the Zermatt hotel on Friday evening (at no particular time).
We will send you details of meeting time and place with your final itinerary.
If you wish to make your own way to the trip (in other words, not to set up your travel arrangements through us), a couple of hints on getting there are offered at the bottom of this page.
2. Our ACCESS PACKAGES
as of February 3, 2010
The geographically closest intercontinental airport (to either Brig or Zermatt) is Milan Malpensa. But travelling from Geneva or Zurich is much easier. Trains run far more frequently, and directly from airport rail stations in each city. Furthermore, they do not require reservations, so you can just board the next departing train, without having to worry about a connection off a flight. Trains from Milan are rare, and require advance booking (though space, at least in first class, is always available on day of travel should you miss your planned train and need to take the next one).
Our “Access Package” includes an “open” rail ticket from Geneva, or a train-specific ticket from Milan or Stresa (the station closest to Malpensa). Our London “Access Package” includes a train from London to Paris, and on to Brig or Zermatt. Other options are available, from Zurich, Paris, or elsewhere, at additional cost.
Base (Starting) Access Package Price: 38€ to Brig, 61€ to Zermatt.
To see what this means in your currency, look here: http://www.bluemarble.org/CurrencyConv.html
Availability is generally reliable until about 15 days prior to trip start, or even until the last minute if you are coming from Geneva or Zurich. The biggest problem from Milan, Stresa or Paris is actually the extra cost of getting the tickets to you (at this writing, paper tickets are required in all fare codes for trains on these routes).
Within 15 days, availability from Milan or Stresa must be confirmed (though alternate local services are always available), and costs may be slightly higher (especially the costs of shipping rail tickets). Some extra-cost options have higher prices if ordered w/in 30 days.
Included:
- Train tickets to Brig or Zermatt (depending on your trip start point) from Geneva, Milan, or from Stresa (the closest rail station to Milan Malpensa airport).
The Zermatt price applies if you are going there as a pre-trip visit, before meeting your trip in Brig. A hotel in Zermatt and the train back to Brig are included as part of a package suggested below.
- A printed schedule / itinerary, highlighting any connections.
- Our “Route Sheet to the Trip,” helping you through your journey.
- A reserved seat if you are coming from Milan or Stresa.
Reservations are available on trains from Geneva and Zurich, but they are pointless, and carry an extra cost. Very few non-senior citizens make seat reservations on Swiss trains, and you will find plenty of “walk-on” space, except perhaps on Friday late-afternoon services in 2nd class.
- All taxes, booking charges, baggage charges.
In other words, the package is free of irritating add-on costs.
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.
- Tickets from Zurich or Zurich Airport: +27€ 2nd class, +58€ 1st class.
Discount 1st class tickets are sometimes available at +34€, availability is essentially dependant on total volume of rail travel.
- Tickets from Paris: +45€ 2nd class, +89€ 1st class.
Tickets include TGV supplement and reservation charge, and are not refundable or exchangeable once ordered (add 36€ in either class for tickets which can be modified until the day prior to travel, and refunded less 20%). Discount 1st class tickets are sometimes available at +59€. TGV reservation charge included.
“Ride the Bike Train Discount.” Coming from Paris? If you are willing to help move the bikes, we deputize you and offer a 29€ fare (total) from Paris to Brig, 52€ to Zermatt. Paris departure is circa 8a, with one connection. Two tickets are available per trip departure at this fare.
- First class train tickets (in lieu of 2nd class): from Geneva, +14€ discount rate, +28€ regular rate. From Milan or Stresa: 14€ (rate always available).
1st class upgrade is not valid on cog railway from Visp up to Zermatt, if that is your final destination. The ticket on the cog railway can be upgraded on board, if desired (circa 20 Swiss francs).
- Paris airport train tickets, from Charles de Gaulle or Orly to Paris center. Follow this link for details.
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)
- Tickets from London. To Brig: 139€ if you are also purchasing tickets back to London, 179€ if not, or if you prefer a changeable return (in 1st class, add 199€ or 269€; 1st class tickets include meal service on the Eurostar between London and Paris). Add 23€ for Zermatt.
- Add a further 28€ if travelling by overnight train. See “Service Information,” below, to understand why you might do this, but essentially it would be to save a hotel night.
- Upgrade on overnight train: + a further 52€ / person to double sleeping car cabin, 109€ to private single cabin.
- Alpine cog railway ticket from the valley floor to Zermatt only (no other rail or hotel nights): 28€ one way, 56€ round-trip.
3. TIMING Your Trip
Brig is a pretty, small, town, with a massive railway station (it must have more trains per capita than any place on the planet). It will not hurt you to arrive a bit early and stroll around, and there are luggage lockers at the station. An old fortified monastery is the highlight, but the whole town is pleasant. We have a “Blue Marble” hotel there, if desired (see “Individual Hotels...”).
Zermatt, a ski / hiking mecca at the foot of the Matterhorn, defies description.
4. Service Information
Schedules are approximate – exact timetables can be consulted at
http://www.raileurope.com/us/rail/point_to_point/triprequest.htm.
Best trains are mentioned. Others are slower or have multiple connections.
All travel times are to Brig. Add 80 minutes if you are connecting on the alpine train to Zermatt.
- From Milan. Trip time is 2 hours. Trains currently scheduled at 7:25a, 8:25a, 11:25a, 12:25p.
- From Stresa: trip time is one hour, trains scheduled at 9:15a, 12:15p and 1:15p
- From Geneva or Geneva Airport. Travel time is 2.5 hours, service is every half hour.
- From Zurich (airport or city center). Travel time is 2 hours (2'20" from the airport); service is hourly.
- From Paris. To Brig: depart 8a or 10:30a (same-day connections from London or from trans-Atlantic flights are not possible). This is a 6-hour trip, with one change of train, on any of three different routes. If you are travelling to Zermatt, additional trains runs at 1p and 2p.
- From London. Total trip to Brig is 9 or 10 hours, depending on connections.
This may seem a long trip, but before you run out and book a flight... flying takes 7+ hours once terminal trips are factored in (over 9 if your flight comes in at a Milan airport other than Malpensa). It is less reliable, less comfortable, and generally more expensive once connecting ground costs are factored in.
If you are meeting your trip in Brig, and travelling by train, you must depart London the day prior to the trip start, and plan on a night en route, or in Brig. There are good services to either Brig or to Zermatt at 8:30a, 9:30a and 10:30a (also 5:30a on Fridays, 6:30a on Saturdays). The last “comfortable” daylight service (to Brig only, no Zermatt connection) departs from London at 1p, and reaches Brig at midnight (with a one-hour time change en route — actual journey time is 10 hours).
If you would rather a bed on a train than a bed in a building (saves a hotel night), you can depart London (on the Eurostar for Paris) as late as 3:30p the afternoon before the date of your desired arrival in Brig or Zermatt. You then travel overnight between Paris and Milan, connecting at 7a to Brig (9a arrival in Brig, 11a arrival in Zermatt). Prices for this option are quoted, including sleeping car upgrades.
5. Suggested PRE-TRIP VISITS
(1) 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. The package price includes:
- Saturday train to Disentis from Zurich or Zurich Airport (3 hours).
Add 20€ for train from Geneva or Basel, or 26€ in first class (a sharply discounted fare, and well worth the upgrade cost for the short journey). Travel to Disentis is available from other points at an additional cost. The additional cost of travel from London is the same as the cost of travel from London to Brig, and travel time is an hour longer.
- A hotel night in Disentis.
- A buffet breakfast.
- Sunday voyage on the “Glacier Express,” in her 1st class, glass-enclosed panoramic car, to Brig, arriving in time to meet your trip.
- All taxes, booking charges, baggage charges.
Package price is 185€ / person double occupancy, 209€ single.
(2) If your trip meets in Brig, visit the nearby Alpine resort of Zermatt before you start. Glacier skiing (slopes open until early summer, and from early fall), glorious hiking, and lots of fondue, with the Matterhorn as a spectacular backdrop. We offer a package including...
- Cog railway train from the valley floor to Zermatt, and back to Brig after your stay.
Can be combined with any of the train travel listed above: use Zermatt price for initial travel.
- 2 hotel nights in Zermatt.
Our usual inn in a pleasant, family-owned property in the center of town.
- Buffet breakfast both days.
- All taxes, booking charges, baggage charges.
Package price is 149€ / person double occupancy, 209€ single.
- Two single rooms are available which share a hall shower: if you prefer one of these, the single price is 169€.
- Additional nights are available for 52€ / person double occupancy, 88€ single, 68€ single without ensuite facilities.
- A variant of the package is generally available prior to the June and August departures, including a 3-course evening meal, for only 14€ additional. This is a real bargain in Zermatt — ask if it is available. When available, the services of a Blue Marble Trip Coordinator are also included.
- Double / twin price may be available to singles willing to share: quite a few trip participants generally select this package.
(3) Combinations are also possible: start with the “Glacier Experience,” and follow with a couple of days in Zermatt....
6. Hints on TRAVELLING INDEPENDENTLY to 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 pre-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 at the nexus of the European railway network, despite being surrounded by huge Alps. Getting here is laughably easy. Bon voyage! Zermatt is 90 minutes above Brig via a fantastically expensive cog railway. If you are going there, you can order this ticket through us, but apart from saving the ticket line, there is no need to do so.
Planes. Geneva, Zurich, Milan Malpensa, and Basel are best (ranked in terms of ease of use — the cheapest ground trip is from Milan Malpensa). Milan Linate (Easyjet, many interior European flights) and Bergamo or Verona/Brescia (Ryanair) are on the wrong side of Milan vis-à-vis Brig / Zermatt, and so add about 2 hours to 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.
|
|
