Transport to Konstanz

Daily Life, Swiss News and General Topics
1
So I was thinking to go to Konstanz with my family (wife and 7m.o. kid). I checked sbb, meinfernbus and db bahn sites.

SBB site says return jounrey with half-fare card would cost 31CHF per head (62 in total).

meinfernbus says 2 * (8 + 8 + 7) = 46 (how cruel they takes almost full price for even a 7m.o. kid??)

DB Bahn says with my swiss half fare card (with rail pass, since we have yearly pass so i guess rail pass means this one?), the return journey for 2 persons is 42.80 euro.

So is this true that if I purchase ticket from DB Bahn site it would cost lower even though the trains are same?

2
Probably. It wouldn't be the first time that an identical product or service is cheaper in Germany than in Switzerland.

Did you request a seat on the bus for your infant? I can't believe that Meinfernbus would charge for a baby held in the arms of a paying adult passenger. (Lugging a baby stroller on board may be a different kettle of fish, though.)

3
in the main site, i did not find any option to ask/not ask seat for kid. So I am not sure.

4
I'm looking into a mein fern bus trip as well, and I also have a baby. From what I understand, you are required to have the child in a car seat that can be secure with a 2 point harness -- thus the child is taking up a seat. Anybody have any experiences with a baby on such a bus?

5
We have gone by train. if you purchase tickets from german website it will be little bit cheaper. we preferred train because:

1.in bus,we had to pa for our baby

2. we had to pay for our stroller

But in train, we traveled with baby and stroller without extra cost. So it was overall cheaper

6
Nothing surprising with the international train. You always need to check both sides and compare abo or discount card. SNCF was always cheaper for me until i got a Swiss AG. Only issue was to get the tickets... but if you have a reliable contact there, it's ok.

One day they will have to change this, thank you Europe

7
Guys did I miss something here?

You are in Zurich and want to go to Konstanz - then you don't need DB. It is covered by SBB, just buy a ticket from the HB and usual rules apply. This means under 6 years old are free. You can even buy SBB tickets on the platform at Konstanz bahnhof if you need to.

Obviously busses aren't covered but you don't need them.

8
Unless you want to go to Konstanz by bus - like you go "I want to take a bus ride to Konstanz because I love taking the bus" - do not take the bus to Konstanz.

If you look at the DB site, you will get the fares for DB trains. The only DB trains that go through Zürich HB are the ICEs. The Germans have a slightly different system of charging for trains and the ICEs are hideously expensive on the basis of them being luxurious and superfast. In reality, they're a bit of a nightmare, seeing as the AC frequently breaks down and then it's about seventy billion degrees Kelvin in the carriage and they're constantly late. But that's not the point. Point is: They're more expensive than the regular trains.

SBB is your best best. The ride to Konstanz can be done without changing trains once and the train leaves about once an hour. Nice, eh? It's also the cheapest option because the largest part of the journey - if not all, because Konstanz and Switzerland have a bit of a weird relationship - is on Swiss rails. As soon as Swiss trains go on foreign rails, they have to pay something like rent.

There, go by train. Enjoy your day and go get an ice cream at the Lago where there's an ice-cream place where you can get three large scoops of Glacé with chocolate sauce for €3.50.

9
Try going to Kreuzlingen and walk to Konstanz. It's not really far from Bahnhof Kreuzlingen.