Plan to purchase our Swiss Pass upon arrival in Zurich. . Planning point-to-point ticket Zurich-Lucerne, then activating Pass upon leaving Lucerne-Interlaken. Believe I read somewhere sometime that the Pass would be accepted prior to validation for local transportation such as trams, buses, boats (as we would expect to use in Lucerne). Was I dreaming or is Pass accepted for free local transport without validation stamp? Thanks so much.

Dreaming though a pass could be glanced at and allowed to proceed, especially on urban transports that are largely on the honor system with spot checks.

Pass is not valid until validated, of course.

But scour these sites that are superb on covering Swiss trains, passes, etc for clues www.swisstravelsystem.com; http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/id3.html; www.ricksteves.com.

If it's a flexipass then you have to use the first day of 100% coverage in order to realize the 50% off - no benefits until activated but like I said IME I just flash a pass at conductors who do a perfunctory glance at it - but on trams, etc with the honor system if caught you face steep fines.

Thanks PalenQ, no we're not doing Flexi, but perhaps the local transportation is not counted as full day usage on it. Would never dream of being dishonorable with this! I'll keep hunting..

I'm no expert, but I can say that my Swiss Pass was scrutinized before I was allowed onto any number of trams, busses, and boats.

not useable until validated. (.)

Ticket inspectors now very active (under a lot of pressure to make swiss rail even more profitable) so expect no mercy if caught

Swiss railways are NOT profitable. They get billions of subsidies every year.

ttt

Checked costs of few museums: Transport in Lucerne, Klee in Bern-- the difference of admissions not covered with our 8-day makes it a 'bargain' to purchase the 15-day and have admissions covered, so that's what we're doing. If the weather is glorious, might not get to them, but admissions (as we also thought throughout Spain) are steep so worth it in the Pass price difference.

Downloaded the www.sbb.ch website onto our smartphones, ready to go! Who needs to take guidebooks??

> Who needs to take guidebooks??

They can be very useful for maps, descriptions of places you stumble upon unexpectedly, etc.

Lucerne Transport Museum is however only 50% off with a pass I believe.

Pases though only give free admission at museums covered I believe when using, on a flexipass, a 100% covered travel day - and no reduction I believe if not using a 100% covered travel day - not sure but that's what I believe.

Yikes!! Only 50% off? We'll see... RS Guidebook downloaded onto Kindle which is accessible on my smartphone... that's enough to carry. We will opt for the 15-day SwissPass regardless. Thank you all.

Passes must be activated or they are pretty much worthless. Do you really believe that someone would give you public transport for nothing?

a consecutive-day pass is so so neat - no thinking just hop on everything that moves in Switzerland about except cows (I said moves not moos!) - I always find myself doing a lot more with a consecutive day pass - rains in the hills I day trip to some city that is more tolerable in the rain, etc - go for a lake boat ride in late afternoon on a whim and to relax after a tough day of sightseeing, etc.

Passes must be activated or they are pretty much worthless.>

pretty much worthless - totally worthless as until activated you do not have a valid pass!