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hey guys, trying to figure out the best way to buy passes for the trams and trains. i was looking at doing a 5 country euro rail pass but i dont know if that will help me get to the exit points in lauterbrunen. im goint to be there for 2+ months and im looking for a long term pass that gives me access to the trams every day any time... anyone know what im looking for?

If you stay even a bit longer in LB it pays out to buy the monthly pass for the valley. It costs about 89chf for the whole valley and covers the trains up to Wengen, cable car up to Grutschalp, the connecting train between Grutcshalp - Winteregg - Murren, the cable car from Stechelberg to Murren via Gimmelwald and the post bus between Lauterbrunnen and Stechelberg. This covers all the "basic" exits in the valley and is valid for one month. You need to have a picture with you for the pass or they can also take it at the ticket office (costs maybe 2chf). You can buy the pass from the SBB (railway) ticket office in lauterbrunnen.

Hope this helps!

you can get a photo taken underneath in a photo box underneath the lauterbrunnen train station walk down the ramp and its at the bottom..

is it necessary to rent a car if you're heading to the valley, or is what you're saying that all the major jumps in Lauterbrunnen(plus the Eiger) can be accessed by a tram and then a hike all covered under this same $85 pass? I had calculated renting a car into my budget for this trip to get to and from exit point and LZ but if I am hearing you correctly then that changes everything.

Im really just trying to figure out how much this trip is going to cost me and sell enough of my possessions accordingly to pay for it .

If your plan is to go to LB only there is absolutely no need for a car. All major exitpoints in the valley (including the famous north wall with the fungus shaped exit point) are accessible by cable cars and trams. The 89CHF monthly pass covers the trams and cable cars to all basic exitpoints inside the LB valley. The famous mushroom is situated a bit outside of the actual valley but it is also reachable by tram (separate ticket needed). In general the public transportation in CH is super good, there more or less is train connection to anywhere in the country. Both major international airports (ZRH & GVA) have trainstations directly at the airport where you have very good connections for example to LB. So my recommendation is that if you only plan to jump in LB and not to tour around, don't rent a car.

Our group of 10 jumpers and 2-3 non-jumpers rented a car the last two years.

The first year it was priceless to visit a friend with a broken body part in the hospital daily... It was a 20 minute car ride each way to the hospital. We could have taken the train, but it would have added a lot of complication to a shitty situation.

The second year it came in handy for a few trips here and there for sightseeing, as it was shared with so many people the cost was worth it. We used it the week prior to travel all thru Italy, so it was used a crap ton.

If I was going solo or with one other, and I only had a BASE rig (no paraglider), and I just wanted to relax and jump in the valley, I would not rent a car. None of the BASE jumps need it, that is for sure. Plan on paying extra for the train ride to the mushroom, but the rest are on that monthly pass for the trams.

Bring a 2X2 mugshot picture of yourself from your color printer to make it easy so you don't have to get change for the photo machine next to the tram stations.

Is there a greater pass that will include the train up to eiglergletscher and grindelwald and would it be useful from ZRH as well? Like maybe the Swiss Pass or something else?

if your going to travel around Europa (5 country) nice to have rail pass, if your just going to be in swiss vally and if you landing at Zurich the train station is across the street just get a 2 class round trip ticket for the train to lauterbrunen, the swiss vally is made up of private railroad so the euro rail pass do not work,
you can buy a 2 country rail pass (swiss,italia if your planing to go Mt brento), 3day,5day.sleeper car you have to pay extra,

chalet im rohr is full, and the horner wont get back to me about if they have rooms. Would I be dumb to head across the ocean with no reservations somewhere to stay, or will there most likely be plenty of open rooms somewhere? Would love a place that I don't have to worry about getting my computer and other stuff stolen while I am out jumping all day.

There are also several other hotels and two or three campsites that have lots private cabins and rooms with details on the web. I'd be very surprised if you cant get anything sorted before you have to leave.

try google search for youth hostels in europe,I had euro rail pass and just get off from the train station walk to a internet cafe and look for hostale and made reservation (Europa has I-cafe every were) you can make reservation for the same day and it is abut half the price than just walk in try to get a room,
Lauterbrunnen they have hotel,hostel, the camp site have shower,Landry room,electricity(use adapter you can get at fry's or radio shake) cabin, you can always camp, there are safe than most places.
you can also google wengen on top of the hill, they may have cheaper place if you make reservation for week or two and share with one or two people, wengen is nice on top with a view, just go have good time

I just got back and was staying at the Schutzenbach campground. Was originally booked into the bunk house (20 CHF/night), but when I got there they said seeing I was there for a couple weeks and there were some large tour groups coming through, they'd hook me up with a caravan for half price instead.

Booked online after googling backpackers/hostels/something in LB.

The bus stops out the front or it's a bit over a 5 min walk up to the horner if you go past the minigolf course (longer along the road).

thanks guys, but I finally got in touch with the horner and snagged a room. Maybe see some of you guys out there...