France/Swiss Pass - Does it cover Golden Pass?
 

I'm finally putting pedal to the metal and on-line about to click on a 4-day france swiss pass (I'm coming from Paris to Lausanne to Wengen to Zurich), but all of a sudden remembered my reservation on a Golden Pass train. Will the pass cover this?? Any quick answers??? Thanks so much, Robin

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Please, anyone have any idea? It's unclear from the things I've read. I'm also wavering on whether to buy a pass in the 1st place. Sometimes point-to-point is cheaper. The rail website is not giving me point-to-point prices, however! I'm planning on Paris - Lausanne - Interlaken/Wengen or Murren - Zurich. Any thoughts on this?

Thanks!

Hi RobinBinnNYC,

Do you leave Wednesday? I thought I read that in another of your posts --

Sorry I haven't responded to this earlier, but you may have time yet to e-mail the Swiss Rail folks and ask them. Go to the website (www.rail.ch) and hunt around for contact info. I and other Fodorites have e-mailed them, and they usually respond quickly and thoroughly.

Another option would be to call the 800 number of Rail Europe and ask there.

If you were starting out in Switzerland, I would say to ask at the ticket desk. I do think that the French ticket agents would know all about the Swiss fares, though, so you can ask there before you leave Paris.

I also think you should look into the Half Fare Card for Switzerland; it's been the cheapest option whenever I investigate rail prices. While it won't give you international fares (Paris-Lausanne), the Swiss rail site will give you fares within Switzerland (click on the "booking" tag).

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Hi R,

>I'm also wavering on whether to buy a pass in the 1st place.<

Enter your itinerary at www.railsaver.com and click "only if it saves money".

Yes, Swiss Pass covers the Golden Pass line.

The Golden Pass route accepts all Eurail passes. Reservations are required for the special Panoramic cars.

Any questions on this pass, call BETS European Rail Info line - a free service 800-441-2387 and you'll talk to experts who have actually traveled on Swiss trains for decades and will answer all your questions!

Thanks so much!!!!! This has been the last big detail I've needed to settle(o.k., one of the last big details - the other is figuring out which town I want to stay in in the Alps - Wengen, Murren, Gimmelwald, or Lauterbrennen - sp?) - nothing like last minute. And yes, swandav, I leave Wednesday!!! I'm glad to hear the pass includes the Golden Pass line.

BTW, I did go on Railsaver.com - it is advising a combination of ticket (Paris to Lausanne, with a stop in Vallorbe) and a 3 day Swiss Pass.

Sooooo, after calling the 800 # Pal Q was kind enough to provide, my next order of business is - to pack :) Thanks so much to all of you for your help on this!

If you'd had 14 day advance purchase requirement, or could have met it, you could buy a ticket from RailEurope, or BETS, or any RailEurope agent for about $45 Paris-Geneva or Lausanne too i think. These PREM fares, however are hard to book so book them up to 60 days in advance. And of course check www.sncf.com site for PREM fares in Euros but RailEurope's $45 is hard to beat i think. The $45 plus a Swiss Pass no doubt is the best deal for your plans.