brubenow

It's too early for me to book my train tickets yet, but I was searching just to get an idea of fares and time tables.

I need to go from Paris to Bern via Basel. SNCF allows me to do this with one change in Basel. The train I want leaves Paris at 10:23. Perfect. However, everyone on this site says to use Captain Train because it's cheaper, easier to use, takes more credit cards, etc.

So.... I go to Captain Train, but the only train they have available from Paris to Bern leaves at 18:23, which is way too late. I need to leave in the morning. So I try searching Paris to Basel. They have the train I want from Paris to Basel leaving at 10:23. Great Now I look for a train from Basel to Bern, but the site says that they are sorry, but they do not offer any trains for the route from Basel to Bern.

I thought everyone has always said that Captain Train has the exact same routes as voyages-SNCF? But as far as I can tell, they don't.

So I guess I am required to use SNCF when it's time to book? Will they take my US Mastercard?

Thanks for any help!

nytraveler

Capitainetrain serves France, Germany and Italy - but apparently not Switz. And the 2nd train is within Switz.

Seems silly to me but perhaps you have to buy a separate ticket for that leg.

nytraveler

Sorry - how long will you be in Switz and how many trips will you take? Perhaps a Swiss pass - that covers way more than trains - would work for you.

brubenow

Thanks NYtraveler. I didn't know it didn't cover Switzerland. But even when I try to book Paris to Bern, there is only the one train at 18:23.

So I guess I'll use SNCF, hoping they will take my MasterCard.

As for your question, I'm buying a BO regional pass, which will cover my trains from Bern to Wengen. But I need to purchase the ticket(s) from Paris to Bern.

Man_in_seat_61

Easy to explain.

Captaintrain can e-ticket the 18:23 direct train, but cannot book journeys involving a change in Basel as they can't sell Swiss domestic tickets.

Voyages-sncf can sell Swiss domestic tickets, so can do journeys involving a Basel-Bern Swiss domestic leg.

Use voyages-sncf if you like - avoiding redirection to Rail Europe and hoping it accepts your credit card.

Or use Captaintrain.com for Paris-Basel then use Swiss Railways www.sbb.ch for Basel-Bern, or buy at the station in Basel, no reservation needed and no advantage in pre-booking for Swiss domestic trains.

StCirq

<<everyone on this site says to use Captain Train because it's cheaper, easier to use, takes more credit cards, etc.>>

I don't think anyone on this site has ever said it's cheaper, because it isn't. It's the same prices as SNCF. It is easier to use for anglophones, I guess, and it does take U.S. credit cards, which SNCF sometimes has problems with.

Christina

Who said it was cheaper? Never heard of that, that doesn't make sense as they'd lose money if they sold tickets cheaper than SNCF.

If it doesn't include your route, good luck on that one, as I've had trouble with my credit cards of all kinds the last few years on SNCF, they wouldn't take any of them. Not sure if I tried my Amex, surprisingly, I can use it on some foreign websites who won't take my Visa or MC, and once I had to use it with SNCF in Paris as they rejected my Mastercard (this was in an actual office, not online, also).

brubenow

Thank you Maninseat61, that's helpful. I hadn't thought about sbb.ch

Appreciate the help!

fuzzbucket

Your credit card might be rejected if your bank thinks it's a fraudulent charge, so better call them first to make sure they ok the transaction. And about 2 weeks ahead of your trip, make sure to contact all credit/debit card companies and give them the dates and locations of your trip - give them two extra days on either end, to be certain they have confirmed the travel plans.

PalenQ

A Swiss Pass also covers trains to Wengen (and Murren) in full and you can use it from Basel to Wengen - all in all check vs BernerOberland to see what covers the most - 100% or discounts - Swiss Pass is valid on lake boats and gives free admission to about 500 Swiss sights and museums - anyways for loads of great info on Swiss trains and especially those in the Berner Oberland check www.swisstravelsystem.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com - in addition to ManinSeat61's commercial site www.seat61.com.

PalenQ

In any case unless you get one of the relatively rare discounted Basel to Wengen tickets it will be the same price whether you order it in advance or not - you can just buy that in Basel if a hassle buying online - a full-fare ticket can be used on any of the component trains that day. You may also want to investigate the Swiss Transfer Ticket that could be overall the best deal for you - see last two sites I mention above for info or www.raileurope.com.

apersuader65

The "its cheaper" comments concern NOT SNCF, but Raileurope for North American users. Every site I've ever seen is cheaper than Raileurope, which allows NA credit cards.

brubenow

Thanks PalenQ, but the BO pass works best for us. I've already done the math. Appreciate the suggestion though!

And thanks, Fuzzbucket, for the heads up about the bank.

ssander

...and don't forget to take multiple caredit and ATM cards as backup...and write down the card numbers and bank telephone nos, in case you lose a card or have an issue with the card working.

ssander

PalenQ

and when using ATMs be sure no one is looking over your shoulder to get your credit card/ATM number and code - does happen at times - even hidden cameras have been found - best IMO not to use one in the busiest of areas where folks may line up behind you or if possible use the ATMs inside banks.

Inform you card/ATM-issuing company that you are planning on using it in the countries you'll be in and NO other country - sometimes charges coming in from Romanian banks, etc have been reported.

Sassafrass

Bookmarking

brubenow

Will do, PalenQ. Thx!

PalenQ

Thx for the thx!

One more thing - make sure your cards are in pristine condtion for their strip on the back - I've had ones that worked well at home but the same card did not work in some European ATMs because I suspect the strip was too worn - it worked in many but did not in others. I now always make sure my card's strip is in good condition - especially if depending on it for all your needs.

Call your banks and see what their charges are - TMK few ATMs ion Europe charge you anything and it's all up to your local bank for foreign transactions - many just have a $5 flat fee - meaning not a good idea to say get out $50 at time five times than one $250 time - and call your credit card companies too about their fees - standard is usually 3% of the charge - not a flat fee - others have less and some none - therefore it may be better to use a charge card whenever possible than an ATM depending on the fees.

Cheers!