pumscmu

Hi all, I know there has been many questions about the swiss pass asked before, but I wanted to make sure I understand it correctly (so please correct me if I'm wrong!):

If I get a 3-day Swiss Flexipass, then I can choose 3 of those days (not necessarily consecutive days) to use the pass for which I can get free rail travel on virtually all trains (with the exception of a few mountain rail excursions). And now, for the remaining 27 days of a given month, then I can receive a 50% discount on all rail travel (again with the exception of a few mountain rail excursions).

So here's my question: is my Swiss flexipass valid until 1 month after the validation? (which allows me to maximize my 50% savings) Or is it only valid until I decide to use my last free travel day (which would mean, I would have to reserve the last rail day to be on my absolute last travel day in Switzerland or else forfeit the usefulness of the pass for my entire stay in Switzerland)?

Dukey

I was not aware that after you use up those three days you will get ANY further benefit from the 3-day pass of any sort..but I may be wrong so will top this for you for other opinions.

kappa

I think Dukey is correct. Whenever you have used the last (3rd) day of the pass, you will benefit nothing from then on even if it's within 1 month periode. That makes this flexi pass funny & interesting. e.g. If you use your flexi pass on December 1st and 2nd, and the 3rd and last day on Decemeber 31st, it looks like you can benefit 1/2 fare from Dec 3rd till Dec 30th. That's what I understand from what it says on the following.

http://www.swisstravelsystem.ch/Tick....html?&L=2

Dukey

Kappa; I read it and now I am wondering myself. Perhaps you can get tickets at 50% off...gee, I wish I had known a long time ago!

Dukey

TTT

jeff001

Here's what I found on the Rick Steves website: "Within the one-month validity period, you can get 50% off any transport (not museums) without using one of your counted travel days." It sure looks to me like you can use the pass for the 50% discount on the 27 days you don't use the pass for free travel.

marigross

We used the last train-day on our departure day and used the discount on all gondolas and trains. The savings were amazing but we did use LOT of Gondolas and cable cars.

Make sure to compare the numbers with just buying regular train tickets.

PalenqueBob

You definitely get the 50% discount for the whole one-month period following validation, even if you use your three travel free days up - the free entry to museums however is only on days you use for free travel. But for the whole one-month period you get 50% off everything that moves in Switzerland, except cows, mountain top trains like Jngfraujoch railway included. Last year the discount was 25% and you only go it on days of free travel, so this year a Swiss Flexipass is also a Half-Fare card but you also get three free days of travel to marshall your longer train or bus trips or boat trips in. If you need this clarified or have any questions call BETS free info line 800-441-2387 and ask - i'm sure they will say the same - but at least they will have officially checked it out currently as they are Swiss rail experts.

swandav2000

Hi all,

Just a small correction to PalenqueBob's post. According to the site www.swisstravelsystem.ch, the 50% discount is valid only **between** the first & last days of use. Here's the quotation:

On remaining days between the first and last day activated for free travel, the Swiss Flexi Pass entitles to purchase tickets at a 50% discount.

Best,

s

PalenqueBob

Just a small correction to PalenqueBob's post. According to the site www.swisstravelsystem.ch, the 50% <discount is valid only **between** the first & last days of use. Here's the quotation:

On remaining days between the first and last day activated for free travel, the Swiss Flexi Pass entitles to purchase tickets at a 50% discount>

well this information is incorrect - call BETS or RailEurope, who originates these passes, and they will tell you - this was hashed out in posts here several months ago and an e-mail to Swiss Rail affirmed it - the confusion comes in the language from Switzerland that comes with the pass that read like what you said were true - but it's DEFINITELY not - call some expert and find out please - if i am wrong i would like to know - sincerely. PalQ

kappa

> the confusion comes in the language from Switzerland that comes with the pass that read like what you said were true - but it's DEFINITELY not ..

Hmmmm, I read above Swiss travel system site's explanation on Flexipass both in English and in French and it says exactly the same thing as I understood and as Swandav said. Even PalQ must admit that. And Swiss Travel System is Swiss Railway. What is BETS? PalQ, can you find the thread of several month ago you are talking about?

PalenqueBob

No i can't but many people have reported that they did use the pass for the one month. It really doesn't make any difference to me. BETS is the country's foremost European railway experts - that's their motto and not mine - but in my long experience with them they will know or find out. And when this came up before i did call them and they finally got a confirmation from Switzerland as to the pass was valid for the whole month. Call them - 800-441-2387 and ask for the info they got from Switzerland and see what it says. You could also call RailEurope, in part owned by the Swiss Railways, and ask them but the average phone jock there won't know. Linda at BETS has contacts at RailEurope who do clear up these questions. That's all i can say - the information as printed on the Swiss site to my knowledge is incorrect - i am very confident of this. The SwissTravelSystem language is incorrect - i am very confident of this.

PalenqueBob

<On remaining days between the first and last day activated for free travel, the Swiss Flexi Pass entitles to purchase tickets at a 50% discount>

here's my hazy recollection of how this was misinterpreted into English - it should have said on the days between the first and last day possible for free travel i.e. the one-month period, you get the 50% discount. Again i don't give a rodent's rear end myself but sincerely believe what i said was true and it could make a huge difference in the OP's efficacy of buying a pass - or it may not if they are doing long trips from/to an airport and staying put in between.

PalenqueBob

BTW - Kappa and Swanday2000 - yes if i read that i would certainly agree with your reading of it - it's just that i know it was written wrong and has been clarified in previous threads. Please don't think i have an attitude as my strident defense of my saying could well imply. I wish not to offend anyone. And if wrong i'll not be offended for a strident correction. Sincerely PalQ.

kappa

Can't you do a search for the thread? Am interested to read what went there. Did the search myself but couldn't locate the exact thread that you described.

PalenqueBob

<NEW! 50% Discount on Excursions to Mountain-Tops: From 2006, the Swiss Pass, Swiss Youth Pass and Swiss Flexi Pass now also double up as half-fare card. Any of the above tickets are eligible for a hefty 50% discount on all mountain-top rides by cogwheel train or cable car (previously: discount of 25%). Holders of a Swiss Flexi Pass can take advantage of 50% discount on the entire Swiss Travel System network (trains, buses, boats, cable cars)NEW! 50% Discount on Excursions to Mountain-Tops: From 2006 , the Swiss Pass, Swiss Youth Pass and Swiss Flexi Pass now also double up as half-fare card. Any of the above tickets are eligible for a hefty 50% discount on all mountain-top rides by cogwheel train or cable car (previously: discount of 25%). Holders of a Swiss Flexi Pass can take advantage of 50% discount on the entire Swiss Travel System network (trains, buses, boats, cable cars) on the days you have not validated for free travel.

The above comes from RailEurope site and agrees with the one-month 50% off period ("on days you don't use for free travel i.e. the one-month validity period" - the way the SwissTravelSystem site should have written it if they had a good translator.

PalenqueBob

If i could easily do a search i would, but to search my postings would be impossible as i have literally 1000s since then. And again it doesn't matter a whole lot to me, but I'm sure if you call BETS they will quote you the exact same clarification RailEurope, upon BETS questioning of them, received from the Swiss Railways in Switzerland testifying to what i say being correct - that's what i'm basing it on, which would be more authoritative than any postings from Fodorites, though someone did do the same e-mail and got the same answer.

swandav2000

Hi all,

Here's the thread:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34757121

Scroll down to "2/21/2006 6.25" post by wilees to see the SBB e-mail response. To my mind, that language is still confusing.

Note though that Ingo says the German language is explicit and that the validity is 30 days.

s

kappa

Swadav, you are the man! Now I start reading it.

swandav2000

aaahhhhhhh shucks!

s