Paris to Lucerne.
Sep 7th, 2017, 08:43 AM
#1
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Paris to Lucerne.
This is our first time travelling in Europe...we are arrivin in Paris sept. 26. Hotel is booked ...want to travel to Lucerne on the 28th....what is the cheapest way to gte to Lucerne ...do we book this in advance and once we get to Lucerne. , how do we get to our hotel...we have four nights booked in Kehrsitn....and is it common to share a washroom in hotels in Lucerne....I had trouble finding one that had a private washroom.
I see the best way to travel in Switzerland is with a Swiss travel pass. Do we purchase this once we arrive in Lucerne...
For the day trips in Lucerne do we need tickets ahead of time.
I appreciate any help...th ask....overwhelmed!
I see the best way to travel in Switzerland is with a Swiss travel pass. Do we purchase this once we arrive in Lucerne...
For the day trips in Lucerne do we need tickets ahead of time.
I appreciate any help...th ask....overwhelmed!
Sep 7th, 2017, 08:52 AM
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Paris to Basel by high-speed TGV-Lyria from €25 upwards at www.trainline.eu
Fares for TGVs work like air fares, cheap in advance expensive on the day so pre-book to get best prices, exactly like a flight.
Basel to Lucerne: Swiss domestic trains run every 30 minutes, buy an open ticket valid on any train that day at www.sbb.ch and print it out.
You can book both tickets in one go as a Paris-Lucerne transaction at www.sbb.ch but I find for some reason the French system used by Trainline.eu has better rates for TGV-Lyria than the Swiss system, but see what you get.
You might consider a pass for Switzerland, in which case include the Paris-Lucerne trip as part of your pass.
Fares for TGVs work like air fares, cheap in advance expensive on the day so pre-book to get best prices, exactly like a flight.
Basel to Lucerne: Swiss domestic trains run every 30 minutes, buy an open ticket valid on any train that day at www.sbb.ch and print it out.
You can book both tickets in one go as a Paris-Lucerne transaction at www.sbb.ch but I find for some reason the French system used by Trainline.eu has better rates for TGV-Lyria than the Swiss system, but see what you get.
You might consider a pass for Switzerland, in which case include the Paris-Lucerne trip as part of your pass.
Sep 7th, 2017, 10:31 AM
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Hotels in Lucerne are on the expensive side, and the cheaper ones often have shared bathrooms. This is true in a good part of Europe. My husband insists on a private bathroom, but I don't mind sharing, and did it often before I married him.
Sep 7th, 2017, 11:03 AM
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You are suggesting a Swiss travel pass which can include Travel from Paris to Lucerne ....so I must book this on line ahead of time?>
I think that is in error -if you can get a 25 euro Paris-Lucerne ticket it has nothing to do with using the Swiss Travel Pass- so whether you should buy a pass or not depends on what kind of travels you will be doing once in and from Lucerne.
You'd have to be taking several longer trips - what is your total Swiss itinerary?
Depending Swiss Travel Pass or Berner Oberland Pass (covering Lucerne and Interlaken areas) or Half-Fare Card or nothing at all if just staying in Lucerne.
For lots on Swiss trains and passes check www.sbb.ch; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com and Man in Seat 61's commercial site www.seat61.com.
I think that is in error -if you can get a 25 euro Paris-Lucerne ticket it has nothing to do with using the Swiss Travel Pass- so whether you should buy a pass or not depends on what kind of travels you will be doing once in and from Lucerne.
You'd have to be taking several longer trips - what is your total Swiss itinerary?
Depending Swiss Travel Pass or Berner Oberland Pass (covering Lucerne and Interlaken areas) or Half-Fare Card or nothing at all if just staying in Lucerne.
For lots on Swiss trains and passes check www.sbb.ch; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com and Man in Seat 61's commercial site www.seat61.com.
Sep 7th, 2017, 12:05 PM
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You are suggesting a Swiss travel pass which can include Travel from Paris to Lucerne ....so I must book this on line ahead of time?>
Well I read Man's take -thought he was saying Paris to Lucerne 25 euros but I missed that it was to Basel - then you would either use the pass (if your overall travel plans warrant a pass) or just buy a regular Basel SBB-Lucerne ticket either at www.sbb.ch or at the station in Basel - usually same price so if so no need to buy that part in advance.
But I think at www.voyages-sncf.com you may get a discounted ticket that covers you all the way Paris to Lucerne without using a day on a pass.
Well I read Man's take -thought he was saying Paris to Lucerne 25 euros but I missed that it was to Basel - then you would either use the pass (if your overall travel plans warrant a pass) or just buy a regular Basel SBB-Lucerne ticket either at www.sbb.ch or at the station in Basel - usually same price so if so no need to buy that part in advance.
But I think at www.voyages-sncf.com you may get a discounted ticket that covers you all the way Paris to Lucerne without using a day on a pass.
Sep 7th, 2017, 01:20 PM
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I see tickets as cheap as 48 euron Paris to Lucerne for a month out- just a few - most are much higher -so go to www.voyages-sncf.com NOW and see what you can get - full price is over twice as high.
Sep 10th, 2017, 07:43 AM
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You are suggesting a Swiss travel pass which can include Travel from Paris to Lucerne ....so I must book this on line ahead of time?>
If you need a Swiss Travel Pass you can buy it at any Swiss train station - no need to book online ahead of time - same price and may include mail charges not sure - and check U.S. sources too as the same pass often IME has been cheaper here than there for some reason - sometimes substantially so (and no foreign-exchange fees on c c). If not much difference just buy at first Swiss train station - and again you do not need the pass to travel from Paris to Basel or Paris to Lucerne if you get a discounted ticket all the way there from Paris.
If you need a Swiss Travel Pass you can buy it at any Swiss train station - no need to book online ahead of time - same price and may include mail charges not sure - and check U.S. sources too as the same pass often IME has been cheaper here than there for some reason - sometimes substantially so (and no foreign-exchange fees on c c). If not much difference just buy at first Swiss train station - and again you do not need the pass to travel from Paris to Basel or Paris to Lucerne if you get a discounted ticket all the way there from Paris.
