Gary0144

My friend and I are traveling to Europe this summer. We are traveling around Italy, Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. Our itinerary is:
Fly into Milan, train to Venice
Venice (2 days)
Innsbruck (2 days)
Munich (2 days)
Bern (1 day)
Berner Oberland Region (3 days)
Montreux (2 days)
Milan (1 day), Fly out Milan

We are two youths traveling second class. So I was wondering what you think is the best deal for train travel with this itinerary? In Switzerland, there seem to be multiple passes to choose from and I am not sure which one is best. In the BO region we will probably stay in Murren and take a trip to the Jungfrau which I read adds extra costs. We will also be taken the Golden Pass train. From my calculation, it seems like the Eurail 15 day continuous Global Pass is the best deal. Does that include most travel we would be doing? I know there will be extra fees for the BO region to travel to the alps. Thank you.

Melnq8

According to their website, the Eurail Global Pass covers transportation on SBB, the national rail company of Switzerland as well as some private transport companies.

However, there are many private railways in Switzerland too, including many in the areas you plan to visit. The Eurail Global Pass offers discounts of 25-50% on these lines.

The ones that jump out at me as affecting your particular plans are:

BLM Lauterbrunnen - Grütschalp - Mürren
BOB Berner Oberland - Bahnen
JB Jungfraubahn
WAB Wengeralpbahn

Per the Golden Pass website, they accept Eurail Passes (Zentralbahn-trains).

Given your varied itinerary, at quick look at the Eurail Global Pass looks like a pretty good deal to me.

I really doubt that buying an additional pass for Switzerland would be cost effective, given your limited time there, but the only way to know for sure is to crunch the numbers.

nytraveler

Can't comment on specific rail passes - but do feel I need to mention that this is a really mad dash through these countries unless you have been to many of these places before. You do not appear to have allowed any time for getting from one place to another - so you will end up with one day - or even only part of a day - in many places.

I would lay this out on paper, including for each day where you will wake what you will see/do or travel to that day and where you will sleep. Check bahn.de for realistic train times and I think you will find you are spending a very large proportion of you vacation just getting from one place to another rather than actually seeing/doing anything (unless you just love riding trains).

Gary0144

Melnq8-thank you for your response. I will spend some time crunching the numbers to make sure the global pass is the cheapest pass.

nytraveler-Thank you for your feedback. I am aware that this is somewhat rushed itinerary. This is my friend's first time to these countries and she wants to see as much as possible. I have been to a few of these cities before but not all. I should also mention that I probably should have wrote nights instead of days so we will at least have one full day in each city. I did calculate the amount of travel and it will be around 22 hours (including the scenic Golden Pass train) for the 14 day trip.

neckervd

Switzerland:
all depends on the places you plan to visit there.
Standard fares:
Munich - Zurich by fernbus: 15 EUR
Zurich - Berne: 52 EUR
Berne - Muerren: 49 EUR
Muerren - Jungfraujoch roundtrip: 210 EUR (goodmorning ticket 150 EUR)
Muerren - Golden Pass - Montreux: 73 EUR
Montreux - Domodossola (Swiss/Italian border): 52 EUR
Total train fares in Switzerland: 436 EUR

Swiss Half Fare Card: 345 EUR (125 EUR for the card plus 218 EUR for tickets);
Swiss Flexipass with 3 free day: 355 EUR (245 EUR for the Pass plus 110 EUR for tickets) if you travel the same day from Zurich up to Muerren, otherwise 380 EUR;
Bernese Oberland Pass: 432 EUR (250 EUR for the Pass plus 182 EUR for tickets).
The Bernese Oberland Pass seems to be the most expensive solution, but things would change dramatically if you would do some more day trips from Muerren, like Brienzer Rothorn, Schynige Platte, First or Loetschental and if you would reach Muerren via Lucerne and visit Berne in a day trip from there.
http://www.regiopass-berneroberland.ch/offer-2015/

BTW: if you would visit Milan after arrival (and not the last day of your trip), you could go directly from Montreux to Milan Malpensa airport:
Montreux dp 06.36 - train - Domodossola 08.12/08.35 - airport bus - Milan Malpensa ar 9.55
Montreux dp 07.05 - train - Domodossola 09.12/09.35 - airport bus - Milan Malpensa ar 10.55
Montreux dp 11.05 - train - Domodossola 13.12/13.25 - airport bus - Milan Malpensa ar 14.45
Montreux dp 14.36 - train - Domodossola 16.12/16.25 - airport bus - Milan Malpensa ar 17.45
Montreux dp 17.05 - train - Domodossola 19.22/19.35 - airport bus - Milan Malpensa ar 20.50

Bus fare Domodossola - Malpensa airport: 15 EUR

PalenQ

Yes perhaps to the Swiss Saver Pass - no to a Eurail Pass as it will not like melanq says - cover many railways that a Swiss Pass does - like in full to Wengen, Murren, Grindelald and Lauterunnen and even Gimmelwald - Eurail gests a 25% discount only I believe on cetain Jungrau Region lines but not all - point is Eurailpass would be iffy even if including all the Swiss trains it does cover but since it does not a Swiss Pass (or Half-fare Card, etc) may be a good bet.

Check these sites for superb info on Swiss trains, passes, etc. - www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.swisstravelsystem.com. And check Swiss Pass prices in both U S $s in living here and in Swiss francs as they Frank was recently re-evaluated up about 20% - when I checked recently passes in dolars thus were significantly cheaper if bought here than there - but do you own comparison at the sites I mention above.

Melnq8

I looked at the details for the Eurail Global Pass before I made my post PalenQ. Perhaps you should re-read what I wrote.

PalenQ

Yes and I agree - and passes are first-class if over 25 years old - a benefit as first-class is always more relaxed and comfy - easier for baggage, often lots of empty seats, etc. But instead of a Global Eurailpass I'd look at a Eurail Select Pass valid in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy - same exact benefits but cheaper than the Global Eurailpass which covers dozens of other countries they will not be going to.

PalenQ

Eurail global Pass 15 days consecutive seems yes to be a good deal upon comparing prices of it (Saverpass - two-5 names on one pass - one person can use the pass without the others present if the situation dictates) and the Eurail Select Saverpass for 8 days/2 months would only cost a bit cheaper - so yes Melanq had it right.