Swiss Pass dilemma

Old Jul 2nd, 2013, 04:12 AM
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Swiss Pass dilemma

Well after looking and looking at Swiss Passes I thought I had made a decision.

Purchase 2 8 day 1st class passes. But purchasing them in Australia, my only option seems Rail Europe. And of course their prices are at a premium.

Our first day of use will be catching a train from Tirano after travelling from Bellagio. My question is, can I wait and purchase the ticket in Tirano about an hour before the train departure. We wanted to catch the Bernina Express to Chur and then a connecting train to Lucerne. But I never like to leave things to the last minute.

Do you think I will have time to organise the passes in time on day of departure? Is Tirano only a small station?

Or is there a better option?
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Old Jul 2nd, 2013, 05:51 AM
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Tirano is only a small station so should be no problem. But it is not an SBB or Swiss federal Railways station so check that it does sell the Swiss Pass there - I think all stations do but not sure as this is a Rhaetische Bahn - name of railway that runs over Bernina Pass to Chur - check their web site and email them to be sure.

If they do then no problem - How much more is RE Aussie than passes bought in Switzerland - if like here then RE USA is often even lower on Swiss Pass prices for some reason than the same pass bought in Europe so check both.

For lots of great stuff on Swiss trains, etc I always spotlight these IMO fine sites - www.seat61.com; http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/id3.html; www.ricksteves.com and www.swisstravelsystem.com.

BTW you leave the Tirano Italian train station and just walk across a square to the Swiss station - where you should be able to buy a pass. But if you want to catch the Bernina Express you will also need a seat reservation which can be made I think online without having a ticket or pass but not sure - if not the train may be full by the time you get to Tirano - but then the local trains go over the same route with the same scenery and you can just hop on those.
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Old Jul 2nd, 2013, 06:01 AM
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Hi Aussie
I take it you are looking at the 8 day continuous Swiss pass rather than the flexipass? So you will be using the pass everyday? I questioned my Travel agent (yes I do use one ) about using Railplus v Rail Europe. Her opinion was that she could book through Railplus as it was Aust based compared to RE which is not. I compared prices and Railplus is slighly cheaper, you can order them yourself or you could ask an agent like Flight Centre to do the work for you , have recourse and ask them any other questions you may have or reserve a seat if you need.
Goodluck
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Old Jul 2nd, 2013, 08:35 AM
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Normal folks if buying a flexipass would only order a 3-day flexipass as any more days on a flexipass would be more expensive than the base 3-day flexipass.

In between your first and last flexible travel day on a flexipass you get 50% off everything that moves practically in Switzerland - all trains, gondolas, lake boats, etc (except Wengen/Grindelwald to Jungfraujoch is 25% off - everything else 50% with maybe a few minor exceptions - thus to make a 4-day flexipass break even the 4th unlimited travel day would have to be a very expensive one as with the 3-day pass you'd get 50% off already so double that - the difference in price between a 3- and a 4-day flexipass and that is your break even point - hard to do I think so the 3-day flexipass is the only flexipass most should even consider it seems.
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Old Jul 2nd, 2013, 09:02 AM
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According to the Swiss railway tariff 673,Swiss Passes are sold at the Rhetian railway station of Tirano.
List of railway stations selling Swiss Passes (at the end of the document):
http://www.sbb.ch/en/station-service...r-journey.html
Opening hours of Tirano railway station:
http://www.sbb.ch/content/sbb/en/des...ionname=tirano

But how will you go to Bellagio? If you travel via Como (for example airport train from MXP up to Saronno, connecting train to Como and bus or boat to Bellagio), you may also buy your railpasses at Chiasso railway station (last stop of Como citybus nr 1 in direction of Chiasso(15 min ride from Como city center).
if you do a day trip from Bellagio to Lugano (highly recommended) you may also buy your railpasses there.
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Old Jul 2nd, 2013, 10:04 AM
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But Tirano is a small station with I would think no lines at ticket windows where passes are sold - but again check prices for buying in Oz vs in Switzerland - where you also have foreign exchange fees to tack on.
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Old Jul 2nd, 2013, 01:29 PM
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Actually in warm weather some of the local trains have open-air cars - flat cars with just benches - I took these once and they were fantastic - only on local trains and just hop on - when I've seen them they have never been full as most folks want proper seats inside I guess.

Official site of Rhatische Bahn indicates them I've been told. 2nd class cars.
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Old Jul 3rd, 2013, 01:47 AM
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...but aussie wants to take the Bernina Express (and to arrive therefore rather late at Lucerne), as everybody from overseas. The open air cars are added to other trains.
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Old Jul 3rd, 2013, 04:25 AM
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Unless Aussie makes an advance reservation chances are just showing up the official Bernina Express is likely to be full.
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Old Jul 3rd, 2013, 04:40 AM
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Thank you everyone for your replies.

PalenQ, thank you for the information on Tirano Station. Yes I wil be purchasing an 8 day consecutive pass. I did look at the flexi pass however I think after looking at our day trips in between it will work out very similar in costs and I like the idea of not having to purchase tickets when we decide to hop on a train, boat or bus.

travelnut, thank you for the suggestion of Rail Plus I had forgotten about them and yes they do work out a little cheaper than Rail Europe. I also found an agent based in the UK that could sell me the passes and post them out but will charge me in USdollars and at the present exchange rate it is no cheaper than Rail Plus.

neckervd thank you for the links you sent, very helpful. Yes we will also need to travel from Milan airport to Bellagio. We have not decided on the best option. Private transfer is expensive but is it worth it after 26 hours of flying? Train to lake Como? or train to Varenna?
Any suggestions?

Yes, if I didn't take the Bernina express, there are other train options over the mountains and a possibility of an earlier arrival in Lucerne. But as we will have 1st class tickets is it worth sitting in the Panorama carraiges?
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Old Jul 3rd, 2013, 05:05 AM
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Sorry PalenQ is must have been writing when you posted.

Our trip is in September and we would be catching the Bernina Express on Thursday 12 Sept. If we reserve the seats online can we choose our seats?
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Old Jul 3rd, 2013, 01:21 PM
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TRains from Varenna to Tirano run every 2 hrs and trains from Tirano over the BErnina Pass to Pontresina and from there to all other places in Switzerland run every hour.
Only the Bernina Express train with somewhat bigger windows runs only once a day.
The most scenic itinerary from Tirano to Lucerne would look like that:
Varenna dp 9.24 - Tirano 11.27 - Pontresina 14.02 - Samedan 14.17 - Reichenau 16.05 - Disentis 17.14 - Andermatt 18.28 - Goeschenen 19.08 - Lucerne ar 20.41; but there are probably too many train chaanges, if you travel with luggage.
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Old Jul 3rd, 2013, 01:27 PM
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Yes we are travelling with luggage.
I think I did look at that route but too many changes.
So I was still looking at catching the 9.24 to Tirano but if I catch the Bernina Express is it too long to spend in Tirano?
Or my other option is to catch an earlier regional train to Chur. But of course no Panorama coach.
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Old Jul 4th, 2013, 12:39 AM
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For the St. Moritz bound Bernina Express, you have to leave Varenna at 7.24; St. Moritz ar 12.17
For the Chur bound Bernina Express you have to leave Varenna at 11.24; Chur ar 18.27
Connecting trains:
St. Moritz dp 13.02 - Chur dp 15.16 - Thalwil dp 16.45 - Lucerne ar 17.25 and then every hour until St. Moritz dp 19.02 - Lucerne ar 23.25

MXP T1 dp - Bellagio ar by public transport:
8.43 - 11.07, 9.22 - 11.50, 11.00 - 13.28, 11.33 - 14.03, 12.33 - 15.04, 13.26 - 16.03, 14.26 - 16.47, 15.22 - 17.51, 16.22 - 18.55, etc....
Have a look at the timetable: http://www.muoversi.regione.lombardi...ioniViaggio.do
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Old Jul 4th, 2013, 03:01 AM
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Thank you neckervd for the link. Very very helpful!

I had a chat with DH today. He is fine with catching a local train(s) from Tirano to Lucerne. So I will research my options tomorrow.
And by the way, we spent the day in Sydney today enjoying our harbour city. It is the middle of winter and it was 22C. I checked weather in Wengen today and it is 1C. It is summer over there!

I think I have to rethink the packing! And I am trying to travel lite.
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Old Jul 4th, 2013, 04:35 AM
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Wengen is great in many ways but 1 C in July - another reason I prefer to stay at lower elevation places like Interlaken, my favorite base in the area and a city much maligned by folks who never get off the yes tacky souvenir-Schlocked main drag or Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald - at lower elevations.

It's been a really cool summer all over central and northern Europe.
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Old Jul 4th, 2013, 06:40 AM
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Yes, the whole Jungfrau area was completely in the fog this morning. Only Zermatt/Gornergrat and Ticino were really sunny.
Actual (4pm) temperatures in centigrades:
Geneva 22, Sion 26, Zermatt 20, Matterhorn Paradise 10, Locarno 30, Poschiavo 25, Scuol 22, St. Gallen 17, Lucerne 18, Pilatus 6, Jungfraujoch 2, Adelboden 12, Berne 20, Neuchatel 22, Basel 22.
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Old Jul 4th, 2013, 08:05 AM
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Aussie, you are getting advice from neckervd who is swiss and well known on travel forums for the extensive knowledge he provides on travel in Switzerland. I would trust him for answers and advice.

All I would add is that a first class pass really isn't necessary in Switzerland. Second class is perfectly comfortable. I'd also say a flexipass is usually good enough as well. Surely you don't intend to move every single day.

PalenQ, have to disagree re Interlaken as a preferred place to stay in the Bernese Oberland. Almost anywhere else is preferable to me. My own favourite is Meiringen.
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Old Jul 4th, 2013, 09:50 AM
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Improvisor: I fully agree with you concerning Meiringen as a base for
Lake Brienz/Giessbach, Brienzer Rothorn cog railway, Ballenberg, Engstlenalp-Melchsee/Frutt, Engstlenalp-Jochpass-Titlis, Trift Bridge, Steingletscher, Gelmer cablecar, Grimselpass by bus and Sidelhorn by gondola, Hasliberg-Alpen Tower, Rosenlaui - Grossse Scheidegg, Reichbachfall cablecar, Aar Gorge, Axalp - Faulhorn, Lucerne, Bern, etc. etc.

A somewhat similar alpine hub is Brig.
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Old Jul 4th, 2013, 12:10 PM
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PalenQ, have to disagree re Interlaken as a preferred place to stay in the Bernese Oberland.>

I said my preferred place to stay but I realize many others like many other places and if it were the first time I went to the area I would stay in a place like Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen or Wengen- someplace right up in the dramatic Alps - but now having stayed in those places I prefer Interlaken - I LOVE Interlaken but do not recommend it out of hand as the preferred place to stay.

Meiringen is a nice base for folks who have already explored the Alpine parts of the Jungfrau Region - I like Meiringen but it is also only about 20 minutes by train from Interlaken so Interlaken is also a good base from which to do all the myriad things neckervd sagely mentions.
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