For Paris-Geneve prices, you can find it out on your own for the days of interest for example at www.voyages-sncf.com.

I wouldn't wait beyond 90 days (when you can start buying online tickets for this section) if your travel plan is firm. Here are sample prices as of 7/26. You can easily see the price creeps up if you wait until the last minutes.

25EU - 10/26 departure, PICCOLISSIMO
36EU - 10/19 departure, PICCOLO (PICCOLISSIMO sold out)
56EU - 9/14 departure, PICCOLO
66EU - 8/31 departure, PICCOLO
86EU - 7/28 departure, FLEXI (PICCOLO sold out)

8-days vs. 15-days vs. point-to-point can be compared by using www.sbb.ch to get point-to-point prices. To find out exactly where the Swiss Pass is valid, look at the synoptic map www.swisstravelsystem.ch/fileadmin/pdf/STS-G-PASS-S-07-GZD01.pdf

Hi steve_Australia,

Yes, you need to compare the costs of point-point tickets against the various passes and discount cards to see which one will work best for you.

I used to have to do a spreadsheet to keep track of all the possible combinations and options. Every time I did this, the Half Fare Card came out to be the best option.

The HFC costs 110 chf and gives you half off of practically everything that moves in Switzerland for one month.

These days, I just get the HFC and save myself the trouble of doing the math!

s

Sorry for the double post --

I'd also like to suggest that you look into buying a ticket from Paris to Basel. Then from Basel you could travel to Brienz for your stay there, and onward to Vevey, and finally to Zermatt just before you leave for Italy. This way, your travel in Switzerland will be in one direction, south, instead of zig-zagging from south to north and south again.

Have fun as you plan!

s

When we went to Switzerland we also did the maths. For us the Half Fare Card was a winner.

It's true that my Swiss friends often use the Paris-Basel route because it often has the deepest discounts (Basel being considered a French station). Of course, they have permanent rail passes for Switzerland also, so they don't need to pay anything extra the moment they cross the Swiss border. But they don't mind changing trains in Basel, even though they could get direct trains to Zürich or Lausanne from Paris if they wanted.

Paris to Geneva:

9 TGV Lyria high-speed trains per day each way.

Journey time 3 hours 10 minutes or so. This was shortened from 3 hours 25 minutes last December, when the Haut-Bugey line was opened, as this scenic section shortens the distance.

Fares operate like air fares. From 25 euros if you pre-book, no refunds, no changes to travel plans, up to 86 euros for a fully-flexible buy-on-the-day ticket.

Both classes have loads of room for luggage on rachs at the end of the car and above your head. 2nd class is 'normal', the way most of us Europeans travel when our Company isn't paying. 1st class is for business travellers and upmarket tourists.

Indeed, I'd say both classes have the SAME luggage room, it's probably the fewer people competing for it that make the difference, if any. But it's not a decider, the price is!

Thank you very much for all your replies. They are greatly appreciated.

Man_in_seat_61 - thanks for the overview. I was 90% sure we would be travelling second class, but now it is definite!

Thanks again - and keep it coming if you think of any other helpful advice. Regards,

Steve

If this hasn't been mentioned before: travel light, travel light, travel light.

Not only are there racks overhead for luggage, but there are sometimes spaces between two back-to-back opposite facing seats, near the door, and even special luggage racks near the wagon door.

Travelling light allows you to deposit your luggage on the overhead rack.

Any pass that reduces transportation costs in half is definitely worthwhile. A ride from Luzern to Winterthur costs 30CHF for what is essentially a commute ride with a change in Zurich.

I would check the point-to-point prices for the travels that you list and see what would happen if you cut the cost in half and add 100CHF for the cost of a pass.

Are TGV tickets already on sale for the date you need to travel from Paris to Geneva? If not, you can sign up for an 'Alerte Résa' from SNCF. You provide your departure and arrival cities, the date you wish to travel and your email address. You will receive an email alert the day before tickets are available for sale.

http://www.voyages-sncf.com/services-train/alerte-reservation?rfrr=Homepage_footer_Alerte%20R%C3%A9sa

This is fantastic info. My husband and I are also travelling to Geneva from Paris and were wondering the same thing. Even though it's now 2013 Hope you had a good time Steve. And thanks Man in seat 61.