I would like to travel from Zurich to Rome and Venice, Using the Bernina Express. I could get a two country Eurail or book fares individually. The pass seems simpler but wondering if there is a cost saving the other way? I looked at 'how to buy a cheap ticket' on Gate 61 but it looked very confusing! Booking a day ahead of when you really want to travel etc.?

It's not confusing. You don't need a rail pass. Use www.trainline.eu

Not nearly enough train travel for any pass - even at full fare (for one thing a pass incurs about a $15 surcharge for each Italian train) - rather book Zurich-Tirano (Italy terminus of Bernina Express) atwww.sbb.ch - may or may not be discounts available but a Saver Day Pass or whatever they call it at about 59 euros for unlimited travel on Swiss trains (official BE charges a supplement of about $12) but regular trains on the same tracks are cheaper and just as scenic.

Use www.trenitalia.com to book Italian tickets. For lots on trains check yes www.seat61.com - give it another look - www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

Discounted tickets must be booked way before travel as they are hawked in limited numbers on each train and are typically non-changeable non-refunded but often hugely cheaper than full fare walk-up tickets.

Don't buy a pass unless you want to go up and down on trains all day.

Just buy a ticket for each sector.

Zurich to Tirano at at www.rhb.ch then Tirano to Venice at www.trenitalia.com

And Venice to Rome from €29.90 at www.trenitalia.com

Or you can save money by using my method to pay from just €29.90 for Zurich to Tirano instead of €85, https://www.seat61.com/BerninaExpres...Express_for_29

It is not confusing, it's just common sense!

If there was a train from Singen (the German station you're booking from to save money) at 2 o'clock in the morning that connected with the 07:07 from Zurich (the train we want) you'd be OK using the actual date you wanted to leave Zurich as the date you used for departure from Singen.

But there isn't, because no-one wants or runs trains at silly o'clock in the morning. No same-day journey from Singen to Tirano is possible if you want it to include the 07:07 from Zurich.

So we act clever, right? ;0)

We cleverly enter the day BEFORE the day we actually want from Zurich, and tell the system we want a 12-hour layover in Zurich.

Bingo, we get a ticket from Singen to Tirano leaving Singen on the day before we really want (this is of course a section we have no intention of actually using) then a 12 hour layover in Zurich then an onward journey from Zurich to Tirano on the day we actually want.

If that is too difficult to understand, just pay the €85! ;0)

Or you can save money by using my method to pay from just €29.90 for Zurich to Tirano instead of €85>

You cannot I think use the fancy Bernina Express special tourist train that many like riding from Chur-St Moritz - Tirano but must travel on regional trains and a specific one - BEX costs a lot more and requires reservations.

Man in Seat 61 can correct me if not so.

The BEx costs the same price as the regional trains (it's exactly the same ticket!) but you have to pay a €14 reservation fee, that's all.

The regional trains are good and the scenery exactly the same, but those wrap-around window panorama cars are good.

If the schedule of the BEx didn;t fit my plans I'd stick with regional trains, but I do like the BEx.

Zurich - Venice via Bernina Express:
Zurich dp 7.07 - Chur 8.22/8.32 - Tirano 12.49/13.08 - Milano C 15.40/16.15 - Venezia Santa Lucia ar 18.40

more scenic itinerary:
Day 1:
Zurich dp 7.07 - Chur 8.22/8.32 - Tirano 12.49/13.45 - Stelvio Pass 15.45 - Umbrail Pass 15.55 - Sta Maria 16.30/16.36 - Ofen Pass 17.00 - Zernez 17.36/17.49 - Scuol-Tarasp ar 18.23 ;

Day 2:
Scuol-Tarasp dp 7.30 - Reschen Pass 8.20 - Mals 8.53/9.03 Bozen 10.55/11.10 - Seiser Alm - Ortisei 12.23/12.57 - Sella Pass 13.53 - Pordoj Pass 14.25/14.55 - Campolungo Pass 15.30 - Corvara 15.50/16.15 - Venezia Piazzale Roma ar 20.15

If the schedule of the BEx didn;t fit my plans I'd stick with regional trains, but I do like the BEx.>

I've taken both and prefer local trains - BEX always chock full and you're stuck in your seat - locals no assigned seats can move side to side as scenery dictates. Large enough windows to see but BEX tye trains are an experience.

The BEx costs the same price as the regional trains (it's exactly the same ticket!) but you have to pay a €14 reservation fee, that's all.>

You would have to book the BEX far in advance to guarantee seats as often full with tour groups - do on www.rhb.com official site.