travelhookie

Hello! We are planning to purchase a 2 country rail pass (Swiss & Austria) before leaving the states, which is soon---early May. We start our rail trip by flying into Zurich, then traveling to: Salzburg - 2 days and Vienna - 2 days...then travel to Venice-2 days.

Will a 2 country rail pass cover Vienna to Venice or do we have to buy a point-to-point? We will need to take the 0600 hour trip out of Vienna to Venice.

Next we head over to Milan (afternoon stop?) , which I believe point-to-point from Venice. From Milan afternoon stop, back to Switzerland. We really could use travel suggestions here, we should have 4 days left to explore. We like the area of Montreux and the idea of a walk to the cheese and chocolate places. Then over to Lausanne for a day and finally Geneva to fly home.

Coming from Milan, is there train to Montreux area? And again, point-to-point ticket or will our 2 country pass work?

All suggestions appreciated!

PalenQ

You may want to consider a Eurail Select Pass instead of the Swiss-Austria pass - it would cover any 4 countries - Italy included and is first class if over 25 - a big big perk IME of decades of rail travel in those areas - hop on any train anytime in Switzerland or Austria - at least the ones you preview taking.

For lots of great info on trains in that area check www.swisstravelsystem.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.rciksteves.com - and consider a straight up Swiss Pass and just buying regular tickets in other countries as perhaps your bdst bet!

The Jungfrau Region the most awesome part of Switzerland for first-time tourists IMO -

https://www.google.com/search?q=unte...=1600&bih=1075

If you've never been to Switzerland before then IMO and many others the absolute highlight is the fabulous Jungfrau Region - just south of Interlaken - glacier-girdled peaks rising thousands of feet above lush-cow dotted meadowns - spend 3-4 days there and it will be the highlight of your trip.

MmePerdu

Since rail passes are far from the terrific deal they once were, I'm wondering if you've priced advance purchase point-to-point tickets for the entire trip. You may still have time to book discounted fares so, if you haven't compared them with the passes, it would be something to do before buying.

Huggy

Use the rail sites for that particular country to calculate point to point ticket costs (Swiss- SBB, Austria - OBB and Italy - Trentalia.) You can use DB Rail for overall schedules. You might find point to point costs are less expensive and usually include the cost of the seat reservation. Early purchase allows even larger savings but you are fixed to specific times and trains.

Just returned from using rail in Germany and Italy and found point to point less expensive. Rail pass worked for me in the past but I used 37 trains in 5 different countries.

janisj

You really don't have that many rail journeys -- my guess is a rail pass is way overkill and would cost more than regular P-t-P tckets.

greg

Just add the point to point numbers.
For prices of any route starting/ending in Switzerland, www.sbb.ch.
For Austria www.oebb.at.
For Italy only portion, www.trenitalia.com.

If you use a pass on a train that crosses into non-covered country, the pass takes care of ride to the "border" station which can be at the either side of the border. You have to have a valid point-to-point ticket to cover the trip from there on.

neckervd

Some fares:
Bus from Zurich to Munich: discounted web fares start at 20 USD
Bus from Munich to Salzburg: discounted web fares start at 8 USD
train Salzburg - Vienna: discounted web fares start at 25 EUR
train Vienna - Venice: discounted web fares start at 80 USD
Venice - Montreux (direct train): discounted web fares start at 36 USD.
How to book these discounted fares:
http://www.checkmybus.com/
http://www.seat61.com/Europe-train-t...m#.VRuz_OFvDsI

Dukey1

Will a 2 country rail pass cover Vienna to Venice or do we have to buy a point-to-point?

THE answer to your question is yes.

Gretchen

As others say, your pass will probably cost a LOT more than if you did plain point to point travel.

PalenQ

Will a 2 country rail pass cover Vienna to Venice or do we have to buy a point-to-point>

No it will not if you are talking about the Switzerland-Austria pass - not sure where Dukey says so emphatically that it would - if you do not have Italy on your pass you'll have to pay from the Austrian border to Venice - buy a supplemental ticket or get a discounted Vienna-Venice ticket that could be cheaper than burning a day on a pass.

PalenQ

Coming from Milan, is there train to Montreux area? And again, point-to-point ticket or will our 2 country pass work?>

Why would you think a railpass would work in countries it is not valid for - a railpass covers trains within a country with a few obscure exceptions - buy an Italian ticket to Brig or Domodossola, bordeer stations for tarification purposes and have you Swiss Pass kick in from there. You will probably have to change at Brig - there used to be Milan to Geneva trains but I'm not sure they still run after Cisalpino died a slow death.

PalenQ

Investigate a Swiss Pass for Switzerland and point to point in other countries - Swiss Passes cover many things the 2-country Eurailpass don't - like lake boats, mountain trains, postal buses, city transports and gives free entry to 470 Swiss museums and sights.

a Swiss Pass can be surprisingly cost effective for even relatively limited travels.

PalenQ

for the 4 days you have after coming back to Switzerland I'd highly suggest going to what me and many consider to be the absolute highlight of Switzerland the Jungfrau Region around Interlaken - the awesome picture of the Swiss Alps etched in many folks' minds:

Soaring glacier-girdled peaks looming high above lush cow-dotted meadows - hotel balconies with scintillating views of it all - a myriad of toylike trains and aerial cableways going off in all directions - hiking paths for all degree of energies/difficulties - ensonce yourself in a pretty mountain town like Grindelwald or Wengen and you'll think you're in heaven.

The area is also a short train ride from Zurich.

The fabulous Jungfrau Region:

https://www.google.com/search?q=jung...=1600&bih=1075

PalenQ

and if going to the Jungfrau Region and using its many trains and gondolas, etc the two-country Eurailpass at most gives a minor discount on those trains whilst a Swiss Pass often covers them 100% - like in full to Wengen or Grindelwald whereas Eurail gives 25% discount only.

travelhookie

Thanks to all that replied, we appreciate the helpful information. I've priced it out every which way possible and probably will break it down again in the next day or so, just to check/recheck the numbers. We look forward to our journey and just want to have the rails priced right.

thanks again all!

PalenQ

check www.raileurope.com for specials on railpasses that often pop up at this time of year - like getting an extra day free, etc.

travelhookie

PalenQ -- you were right on time with the extra day comment. I continue to find the 2 countries (switz/Austria) pass - easy and now cost effective (the one day). Adding the reservation seat from Vienna to Venice and then point-to-point from Milan into Switz (Speiz/bern)and then as you said, let my pass kick-in from there. I have followed some of your (& a few others) travel replies to others regarding Switzerland and it has been beneficial. Many thanks!

PalenQ

Thank you! If not going into the Jungfrau Region much where Eurails only get discunts and a Swiss Pass covers so so much more then a Eurailpass - which the 2-country pass is - covers all trains you are likely to encouter - even the Golden Pass scenic train from Lucerne-Interlaken-Montreux.

Cheers!

PalenQ

Thanks for the thanks - and since you are doing a pass here are some ideas:

If you need to ask questions of some expert - I have been buying passes for years from Byron at www.budgeteuropetravel.com and he always knows everything and IME will answer even if not buying - pass prices are universal but handling fees can be added so always ask about that - these type passes are not sold TMK in Europe. www.ricksteves.com is also a good source for railpasses and has knowledgeable staff IME and I think they give out free Back Door guidebooks with some orders. RailEurope is the actual purveyor of passes and sets the prices for all their agents, like the two above, but again handling fees and added gifts are permitted so ask about the bottom line.

Note that Westbahn trains, which compete on main lines in Austria with the Austrian state railways do not to my knowledge honor passes yet they run a small minority of trains but do not get on them by mistake. If not on a strvation budgtet IMO go first class, especially if lugging around luggage - always IME extra seats in first class where SRO may be the rule in 2nd class though in these countries that is rarely IME the rule.

Again look for specials or ask about them - many have an expiration date to encourage early sales but let you activate the pass in Europe for several months - but not the deadlines if specials pop up.

Cheers,

Pal

neckervd

As I told you above, if you buy the cheapest point to point tickets, the journey Zurich - Salzburg - Vienna - Venice - Montreux costs about 160 USD.
I'm happy for you that you found a railpass wich is even more advantageous!