Hello Ajit
I finally managed to be back in front of my computer. For writing long texts, the mobile phone is not very convenient.
Firstly, my congratulations on your research and trip planning. I have rarely met someone on this platform who came up with such a detailed trip planning and in-depth knowledge. You must have read a lot of information. Usually, I keep my advice on this platform limited to train travel. However, with such a great research result, I gladly help you in fine-tuning your trip, that is why I preferred to write it from my computer 🙂
Lucerne is a lovely place where you can get to know the Swiss life. I live near Lucerne, and I am Lucerne-based with SBB, perhaps I am biased, but definitely able to give you advice as you would expect from a local 🙂
Your hotel is right; the Lucerne visitor card offers free travel on the buses in Lucerne and other discounts; yes, you could use the card and benefit from the reductions it offers, instead of purchasing the Swiss Half Fare Card.
You will most likely not need the buses in Lucerne since the city is not that big and all is well doable on foot. Your hotel is about a 15-minute walk from the train station, direction south; I do park my car next to it when my work schedule does not allow getting to work by train. Lucerne offers lovely strolls in the old town, over Kapellbrücke, but also along the lake. You could take the boat from the pier in front of Lucerne train station to reach the Museum of transport boat station. From there, you could walk back to downtown, a lovely 25-minute walk under trees, with lovely views, and accompanied by swans. This could be an evening undertake, before going for dinner; time to unwind.
I would not plan an entire day for visiting Mt. Titlis. You could do it on the day of departure; if you leave Lucerne by 4 PM for an evening flight, that’s fine. You will not need more than 3 hours on the top of Mt. Titlis, rather go early and come back in the early afternoon. On the second day, you could indeed visit Bernese Oberland, it is a complete other region, you will see it, even the houses are built differently. You could take the Lucerne Interlaken Express train from Lucerne and go as far as Brienz. From Brienz to Interlaken you could take the boat on Lake Brienz, which is one of the most picturesque lake we have in Switzerland, google for it, I am certain your wife would love it. Then from Interlaken you could go to Lauterbrunnen, or Grindelwald. On the way back, travel via Bern to Lucerne, to save some travel time. A Saver Day Pass would cover the entire trip.
Bern would be another city to see. In case the weather is not good in Lucerne, Bern could be another city trip for your last day. Check out from your hotel in Lucerne, take the train to Bern, put the baggage into a locker at the train station, explore Bern, and take a direct train to Zurich Airport in the evening - so easy thanks to our efficient public transport.
For inexpensive local food in Lucerne, you could go to Stadtkeller (they make their own beer as well). Or other restaurants (names): Rebstock, Galliker, Burgerstube, Willhelm Tell.
Also, Coop Restaurant, Migros Restaurant, or Manora Restaurant do all offer healthy, freshly prepared and inexpensive meals for lunch or an afternoon snack, starting from CHF 9.90. Or, go to the Migros or Coop store at Lucerne train station, buy some bread, some meat (if you prefer), some veggies, or cheese and make yourself a picknick on the train while watching the landscape passing by the window, isn’t that romantic? That’s what we Swiss do as well 🙂
Please let me know if you need more advice.
Kind regards,
Roland