sakullak

Hi,

We'll have Europe trip between April 10-16. We'll buy Eurail Selectpass Saver for 5 days.
On 1st day, Apr 10 we'll arrive in Frankfurt and catch train to Interlaken via Basel. I don't think we need to reserve seat on this route since it's 2AM on April 11. Ummm ? but still worry if we should reserve or not.

For Zurich - Venice, it's couchette only train. We need 6-couchette cabin for 5 of us. We'll travel on April 14 night and arrive Venice early in next day. If I can't make online seat reservation before leaving my country. Is it possible to reserve the seat in Frankfurt Airport?

I'm really worried that we can't get on train and follow our itinerary coz. I've already booked hotels ahead.

sakullak

I search Zurich-Venice route, it shows intermediate stops on the last Switz. city on Chiasso before crossing to Italy. If I buy Swiss Pass, I can travel up to Chiasso and buy point-to-point ticket from Chiasso to Venice. Is it possible to do that without get off the train at Chiasso? I mean, can I buy point-to-point ticket ahead before boarding to train, using my Swiss Pass half way, and continue point-to-point ticket another half without hoping on/off. It's EN train described Euronight, R Z L.

Cicerone

You can purchase tickets on-line at the Swiss Rail website at rail.ch. This will include all portions of the trip including those in Italy, and they will calculate the discount portion for your half fare card. They will mail the tickets to you, or you may be able to collect it at the rail station, or you even may be eligible to print your own ticket, read the info on the website.

Intrepid1

Are you certain that buying the pass is the best option? It would be good IF you are using the train a lot to get around in Switzerland. But you will need some sort of supplementary ticket to get you from Frankfurt to the Swiss border and as you have already stated, another supplementary ticket to get you through Italy on the night train.

The best way to get these supplementary tickets would be to buy them at the rail station once you get to Europe. You could buy them at the rail station in Frankfurt and probably make your night train reservation at that time as well.

Do NOT wait to buy these tickets on the train.

ira

Hi Cicerone,

Itried booking a seat from Zurich to Venice and/or Venezia at https://www.sbb.ch/ (The Swiss Rail site).

I get this message for Venice/Venezia:

"Station/stop could not be found: Please check spelling. Certain tourist and municipal stops or railway stations abroad are not allowed here. You may have to choose another product".

Am I doing something wrong?

Cicerone

Not sure what you are doing. I was just on the site, entered “Zurich” for start and “Venice” for end, and chose tomorrow as the departure date, and a list of trains came up. (Showing Venice Mestre as the end point, not Venice lagoon station.) I went through the booking process as far as I could without having to enter a credit card, and did not have any problem or the same message you got.

Are you sure you spelled all the city names correctly?

ira

Hi Cicerone,

Thanks.

I had gone directly to "order ticket" instead of "search connection".

sakullak

I just got contact from sbb.ch officers this evening and got some advices from her. Now, my night train problem is solved.

But I'm not sure I should reserve seat on Frankfurt - Basel SBB on 11.04.05 time 02:05-06:08 and Basel SBB - Interlaken West 07:00-08:56 or not.