ritmom

I need help to figure out when and where and how to book train tickets to Venice during our 14 day vacation in August. Also, any advice/suggestions to our itinerary would be appreciated.

We are a family of four (sons 13 & 20) and will be flying into and out of Zurich (July 29 to August 12th). We plan on buying the Swiss Travel Family Pass. Our rough itinerary is as follows:

Day 1: Dinner with friends in Bern. Stay in Bern.
Day 2-6: Arrive in Wengen, Spend 3 nights in Wengen/2 nights in Murren (we wanted to see the mountains from both sides and love to hike)
Day 7: Leave Murren and spend night in Luzern (I know it won't be enough time to spend there!)

Day 8: Here is where I need help. Taking the train from Luzern to Venice. How, where, and when do we purchase train tickets from Luzern to Venice and then from Venice back to Switzerland and still take advantage of the Swiss Travel Pass. I understand the pass works until Domodossola or other border cities but I'm not clear of the logistics. Do we simply buy tickets online at trenitalia.com before we leave for the leg from Domodossola to Venice and again for Venice to Domodossola on the way back and then stay on the train or do we have to get off and on the train when we switch countries?

Day 9-10: Venice

Day 11: Leave Venice and go back to Switzerland with plans for Montreux the following day.. Any advice as to where to stay when we reenter Switzerland? Maybe Brigs?? We want to visit the Castle Chillon the next day and then have two nights in Vevey.
Day 12-13: Stay in Vevey. Take Swiss Chocolate Train
Day 14 Leave Vevey and back to Zurich (6 AM flight the following morning)

Thank you in advance for any advice/thoughts you can give me. This forum often explains things clearer than any website or guide book could. Thanks to all who take the time to help us befuddled tourists!!!

Dukey1

GO TO the travel bureau at the Luzern station when you arrive (it is on the lower level) and you can buy the Italian portions of the tickets there.

OR you can use Italiarail.com or Trenitalia.com

You may get a better deal if you do this on line 60-90 days out.

Just remember you can buy train tickets for just about anywhere in Western (notice I sad "just about") Europe from any Swiss station or ANY station which is linked to the computer system the railroads share.

Man_in_seat_61

First, go to www.trenitalia.com in advance - booking opens 90 days out - and check prices from Luzern to Venice.

Cheap advance-purchase fares start at €9 to Milan + €9 Milan-Venice, so from €18 all-in.

€9 sell out quickly, but you'll often see €19 + €19 = €38 a couple of months out.

Now check from the station on the Swiss side of the border, Chiasso to Venice.

You'll probably find it's exactly the same price, as cheap 'budget trains fares' are no more related to distance then budget airline fares.

So before worrying about how to use a Swiss Pass, remember it could save nothing in this case!

PalenQ

With a 2nd class Swiss Pass I think that you need to pay a first-class supplement on the Chocolate Train.

Brig is not far from Vevey really and though it is a neat town - I've stayed there - why not go onto your destination - saves time by relocating.

For lots of info on Swiss Passes and trains check www.seat61.com (Man in Seat 61 who posts above - his commercial site) and www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

Compare pass prices for those bought before leaving and in Switzerland - not always the same and often in the past several years cheaper here than there but not always - take into account any credit card surcharges you may have for foreign purchases.

You could well take the Golden Pass scenic train between Montreux and Spiez and change there for Zurich - bit longer than mainline routes but much more scenic. Pass is fully valid on it - seat reservations suggested if you want a seat in the panoramic observation cars between Montreux and Zweissimmen - the most scenic part.

neckervd

... and in the case you don't want to stop over at Brig, you may take the direct Venice dp 16.20 - Montreux ar 22.23 train (with dining car).

BTW: I don't understand what you mean with "we wanted to see the mountains from both sides"
Wengen and Muerren are both on the northern side of the northern chain of the Alps. The Southern side would be Aosta Valley, Macugnaga or Valtellina.

PalenQ

Wengen/2 nights in Murren (we wanted to see the mountains from both sides and love to hike)>

Assume they are talking about the Jungfrau mountains with very different views from each of these places.

neckervd

I think so too, but if you really want to see the Jungfrau "from the other side", you must go by gondola from Fiesch VS to Eggishorn.

PalenQ

well if you train to Jungfraujoch then that is the summit so you can see both sides of the Jungfrau Massif from there!

neckervd

Palen, you are generous. The summit of Jungfrau is a bit higher than Jungfraujoch, may be about 700 metres.
But you are right nevertheless. The Valais side from Jungfrau can well be seen from Jungfraujoch, whereas the Bernese side is vis-à-vis Muerren.

PalenQ

Unforgettable view from Jungfraujoch down the immense glacier that tumbles from here all the way to the Rhone River. Aletsch Glacier? So you can see down the other side for miles from Jungfraujoch station area.