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The public transport network in Switzerland is not only efficient, but it’s also safe. Some of the options you can use include buses, trams, taxis, and trains. There are numerous cycling routes as well. Let’s discuss some of the transportation options that you can use to navigate through different cities.
Swiss Public Transport
Switzerland has one of the most organized public transport systems complete with timetables and information available online. If you’re planning to visit Switzerland by rail, road, or air, you can be guaranteed of reaching your destination with minimal struggle.
The Swiss Rail Network
The Switzerland rail network is convenient and well organized; you’ll be able to access any destination in the country through the rail. The Swiss Federal Railways is also known in French as CFF, FFS in Italian, and SBB in German. It provides travelers with multiple options to choose from. You can choose to travel using 1st class or 2nd class tickets. The validity of your tickets often depends on the distance you’ll travel and your preferred means of transport. City tickets from Swiss Federal Railways will give you a one-day travel pass for trams or buses to your destination.
The Swiss Pass
The Swiss pass was initiated during summer in 2015. It incorporates the previous travel cards which came as a single card into one chip-based plastic card. When it was first launched, it only replaced the GA card and the Half Fare card. Today, however, the Swiss Pass incorporates various other services. Currently, the pass can be used to cover ski resort tickets and PubliBike bicycle rentals.
Understanding the SBB (Schweizerische Bundesbahnen)
The SBB.ch or the Swiss Federal Railways application is the best transportation app option you can use while in Switzerland. It’s the official app in the country that covers boats, trains, trams, cableways, and subways. It’s also the most effective app you can use to navigate through the country. Already available in an updated version, it now features advanced options to enhance your travel convenience.
Characteristics of the SBB App
The characteristics of this app include;
· A Basic and Touch Timetable
The touch timetable feature is one of the most popular among travelers within Switzerland. With this feature, you can utilize the personalized interface to switch between two locations. This will reveal the next available trains between the locations.
This option works perfectly and fast, you can choose the pencil icon located at the lower right side of the screen to personalize your locations to incorporate the destinations you frequent the most. While many destinations come with default images, you can choose and upload your preferred image from your photo library. You can also change the location and size of each destination depending on your preferences.
The standard timetable is specially designed to function accordingly. It also allows users to choose their preferred travel date where they’ll be headed to and where they’ll be coming from. Users will also be able to select their mode of transportation.
· User Experience
This app leverages your GPS to establish your location. After launching your Swiss Pass account, it becomes personalized to make it easier to use. Head on to settings and click on the edit start page. This allows you to personalize what they’ll be seeing on their app or home page. This adds to the convenience of this app. While the SBB is a standard transportation system it’s easy to use, elegant in terms of design and pays close attention to detail, which spreads through the entire app.
· Connections
As you prepare your journey, the volume of information secured in every session is essential considering the screen size assigned to each connection. Each connection in this app displays the number of connections, the duration, departure, and arrival, approximated availability in both 1st and 2nd class, the exiting platform, as well as the walking distance if any both at the beginning and the end of your journey.
Choosing an individual connection propels you to another screen that features more details. Further, it incorporates maps which you can adjust to display the walking courses between the connections. By choosing the three-dot icons located at the top right area, you can; include the connection to your trips, share the information through your preferred messaging app, and export the itinerary to the default calendar on your phone.
Finally, you can purchase your tickets easily and fast from your screen. You should first, however, configure your profile through logging to your Swiss Pass account. Further, you can choose the types of tickets you need and pay for them using your preferred payment method.
Paying for Tickets and Boarding
Public transport vehicles in Switzerland come with advanced and automatic passenger managed doors. The buttons are located along the pillar on the interior door and at the exterior door. It’s worth noting that the doors only remain open for 3 seconds unless you are either pressing the button or are standing along the footboard.
Further, you may need to know that many buses, trains, and trams don’t come with inbuilt ticket machines. This is why it’s necessary to buy a ticket in advance to avoid hefty fines. If you’re traveling through the yellow post buses, you can purchase your tickets from the driver.
Traveling in Switzerland by Rail
To get the best in Switzerland, you may want to travel by rail. Not only is rail safe and comfortable, but it’s also eco-friendly. With the Swiss Travel Pass, you can board both buses and trains without having to purchase any more tickets.
Traveling to Switzerland by Post Bus
The post bus service is also perfect when it comes to exploring Switzerland. The system comprises of the popular yellow buses which have been in use for more than 100 years, helping passengers traverse through 848 routes across mountains and lakes.
One thing that you and the entire family will enjoy about the post bus service is the comfort and modernness of the buses. Further, you’ll get an opportunity to travel in the buses that are specially designed to traverse through the sharp alpine passes. Traveling by post bus is an economical way of exploring the country.
Ensuring that Children Arrive Safely at Camp
Numerous children go camping annually unaccompanied by their parents or guardians. Still, many parents are worried about sending their children to summer camp alone. If your child will be attending the Les Elfes camping resort, you can be sure that your child will be safe.
At Les Elfes, there is a well-managed pickup service that will ensure that your children arrive at camp safely. Children are picked from the airport by experienced and qualified drivers who then take them to camp. This system is designed to give parents peace of mind, knowing that their children are safe and well taken care of.
Where do Unaccompanied Children go When after Alighting from the Plane?
There is proper management at Les Elfes to ensure that each camper receives the best treatment. Unaccompanied campers will be welcomed at the Geneva Airport arrival hall where Les Elfes has an office. Here, they’ll be met by helpful and friendly staff that will transport them to a modern private bus to the camp. Arrival time from the airport is approximately one and a half hours.
Does this mean that Parents can’t accompany their Children to Camp?
Many parents are glad to accompany their children to camp, at least so that they can have an overview of the activities they’ll be engaging in. The management at Les Elfes is always ready and happy to meet parents and guardians. If they’re driving, the parents can drop their children at the camp.
They can even choose to spend the entire night with the kids. There are no restrictions when it comes to arrival and departure times. This is because the campo receives children from diverse places across the world. The arrival time, therefore, depends on their time zone.
Whether the campers are traveling to or from the campsite, you can be guaranteed to get that they will be safe. At Les Elfes, the safety of the children comes first and this is enough to allow parents to send their children to camp with minimal worries.
When Should Children Fly Alone?
Children can be allowed to fly unaccompanied from the age of five years old. However, it’s worth mentioning that every airline has varying policies, requirements, and restrictions. Often, airlines will require the phone number and the name of the pickup person. Your child will be under the care of an attendant the moment they board the plane.
The attendant will then hand your child over to the pickup person on arrival to their destination. Assuming that the journey involves boarding a connecting flight, your child will be handed over to an airport employee or the gate agent who will then direct the child to the right gate. Your child will be under adult care always and you need not worry about their safety. Many airports have kid-friendly lounges to keep the children busy and occupied.
Finally
During the school holidays, many children from various parts of the world go camping in Switzerland. Allowing your child to travel to overseas allow them to explore the country, become independent, and view life from a different perspective.
