Switzerland

[berrybug]

Travelling to Adelboden in August. We have hired a car from Zurich to Adelboden (not in a hotel). I'm struggling with information overload on Switzerland websites.

In short, what I want to find out is:

1. Given we have a car, but still want to do some cable car trips, is there any way of reducing the cost of these rather than spending a fortune on the Half Fare card?

1. Is petrol very expensive?

1. Any tips about short-medium hikes around Adelboden?

1. Any must-sees?

Thanks in advance

Is petrol very expensive?

EVERYTHING is eye wateringly expensive!

Not sure how it works with hire cars, but if you are going to drive on motorways then you need a sticker for the car. These are about 40 euros and you will have to buy one before getting onto a motorway. Maybe hire cars have this sticker anyway - they are valid for a year.

Plan your days carefully. If you plan to do a cable car, then it can sometimes work out cheaper to buy a day pass.
Or take a look at this and add in a couple of boat rides.
https://www.sbb.ch/en/tickets-offers/tickets/guests-abroad/swiss-travel-pass.html

Enjoy, but as a pp said, it is mind bendingly expensive. Think about food too, just getting a sandwich and a drink also adds up quickly.

Is there a reason you've hired a car? The Swiss train system is so brilliant. I know with Adelboden you have to take a bus for the last bit but even then the whole journey is so smooth. There are usually special deals on Swiss trains too that help reduce the cost. As pp have said there's no getting away from the cost of things in Switzerland, though if you arer self catering that will help to reduce it.

I guess because Adelboden is out on a limb a bit and not on the trainline and we were worried about missing out flight back from Zurich

What's the sticker for the car? Is that something to do with road tolls?

@berrybug Yes, it's something to do with road tolls for the motorways (and it's a horrid sticker that doesn't ever peel off!) We have only been there in our own car so I don't know how it works in a hire car. I guess they would be covered anyway as the fee covers you for a year and they can't need the car to get a new one for each person who hires it.

Are you staying in a hotel?

Some will give you a free local travel pass. We've just had a 2 week holiday in Switzerland which involved lots of trains anyway so we were using a Swiss Travel Pass (that got us free or half price for various other things in addition to all normal railways). But in st moritz the hotel gave us passes which got us free up the funiculars/cable car there.

It looks like there may be something where you're going

www.swissholidayco.com/Travel-Passes/Adelboden-Mountain-Pass

We watched some helpful YouTubes before we went, which included info on the various passes - mostly it was 'The Travelling Swiss' and 'The Aplins in the Alps'. I don't remember all the details as we had the Swiss travel pass anyway and no kids but there seemed to be quite a few options.

I live in Switzerland and the Berner Oberland is my favourite part! In terms of cable cars, we often buy a one way ticket and then find a hiking route down the mountain, which is an easy way to hike with kids too.

Its worth checking specific lifts as some offer an afternoon ticket which is cheaper. Also, just in case it’s your birthday, some offer free tickets for the birthday person (such as the Niesen which is nearby to Adelboden).

in terms of Adelboden itself, the Engstligen falls are really impressive - they are the second highest in CH. you can park at the bottom and it’s a short hike up to see them. You can also hike up to the top. There’s also a cable car which you can take to the top and there’s a really nice flat 5km circular hike at the top (but would advise hiking 1km down to see the top of the falls up close). The cable car is pretty reasonable cost wise compared to others.

Nearby is Oeschinensee which you can access from Kandersteg. There’s the choice of shorter hike down to the lake, or a longer circular loop which gives amazing views (8.5km). It is stunning but I’d advise avoiding it on a weekend day as it can get very busy.

There is also the Allmenalp cable car on the opposite side of the valley which is cheaper and also gives great views - and a choice of hikes from there too.

This is a good hike from Adelboden centre
https://adelboden-lenk-kandersteg.ch/en/activities/tour/detail/adelboden-cholerenschlucht-retour-1

Fuel is currently around 1.80/1.85chf per litre

Feel free to message me if you need any more info, happy to help if I can, I know the area pretty well

You need an autobahn vignette for the motorway. They are 40chf I think. You can get them online or in the post office. Maybe your hire car will already have one.
Stick to the speed limits. Switzerland has a lot of speed cameras- including mobile ones. Fines are expensive. It’s 120 or 100 on the motorway. Tunnels always 100.
You can’t but a half fair card unless you live in Switzerland - as far as I know.
Some cable cars are cheaper if you buy your ticket in advance from the website. Also some areas offer free cable cars/local buses etc if you stay in the area. Check the local tourist information website - so Andlelboden.
Petrol - off the motorway will be a bit cheaper.
Swiss family fun.ch is a great website. Lots of great hikes on there.

Thank-you so much for this - really useful. And thank-you for saying you'd be happy for me to message you. Once I've chatted to my partner this weekend, I might contact you.

Really useful info - thank-you!

No - we've booked a chalet flat. I wonder if they might offer this too. Need to check. Thanks