PalenQ

We used 1 day on the journey from Zurich to Salzburg (for the Austrian portion of the journey; get the pass validated at Zurich station itself before you board),>

Ah so they did it

But if they had not it would have been no problem as universal rules printed on pass info says if you are coming into the country the pass is valid in the conductor will validate it on the train without penalty.

Waielle

Hi JeremyinFrance, thanks for sharing

Waielle

Hi PelenQ, got it. thanks ya

Waielle

Indiancouple & PalenQ,

Thanks a lot for sharing your experience with me ^_^

1. Should I get the Swiss Pass before arriving to Swiss? or I can get it easily from Zurich Airport? I need it from Zurich Airport to Zurich City on 1st day of arrival...

2. So it is not a direct train from Zurich to Salzburg. I will need to get off the train at the border to purchase the ticket from border to Salzburg? May I know the city name? How much the ticket will cost? Or I can straight get an Austrian Pass at the border?

Thanks & regards

indiancouple

Waielle,

You should buy your rail passes before you reach Switzerland, as they are cheaper outside the country. Any travel agent or Raileurope agent in your country will sell it to you, or you can order it online. Same for the Austrian railpass.

There are a few direct trains from Zurich to Salzburg. Check the train schedules for their timings. Even if you do not have an Austrian pass, you can buy a ticket from the border town to Salzburg at Zurich train station itself; no need to get off the train at the border. And the person selling the ticket will tell you the name of the border town.

Would recommend buying a 2nd class pass both for Switzerland and Austria. 1st class passes are a lot more expensive, and not worth it IMO.

Reading54

Hello Waielle,

You may consider purchasing rail passes from Rick Steves' if his prices are competitive.
Swiss passes at
http://www.ricksteves.com/rail/switzerland.cfm
and Austria at
http://www.ricksteves.com/rail/austria.cfm

There will not be enough time for you to get off a train to buy a ticket to reboard the train at the border. You must pre-purchase a ticket from border to Salzburg ahead of time while you are at Zurich. Or validate your Austria pass at Zurich station and use a day on your Austria pass for the segment from border to Slazburg.

Reading54

Actually if I were you I'd purchase a 4-day Austria-Czech pass. The price difference is very small from a 3-day Austria pass, but it enables you to ride all the way to Prague.
Or see if the "Central Europe Triangle Pass" will suit your need.

http://www.ricksteves.com/rail/austria.cfm

My understanding is that you must purchase this pass while you are outside of Europe.

PalenQ

Should I get the Swiss Pass before arriving to Swiss? or I can get it easily from Zurich Airport?>

You can buy it at Zurich Airport train station but like Indiancouple says currently they are significantly cheaper if you buy in North America - and this has been the case for much of the last several years. I found that for a Swiss Saverpass 3-day Flexi was about $25 cheaper here than there. Rick Steves i believe charges $15-18 for mailing (last time i checked please corect if no longer so) but other agents do not - i have bought zillions of passes from www.budgeteuropetravel.com folks by phone and recommend them if you have questions as they will IME patiently and expertly answer. But the actual pass price is universal, set by RailEurope i believe (part owned by Swiss Federal Railways)so if you know everything and have no questions it does not matter where you order - just look to avoid mailing/handling fees, which can be added on.

PalenQ

And the person selling the ticket will tell you the name of the border town.>

Or have it all printed out via the Wunderbar www.bahn.de German Rail site which has schedules for all European trains and indicates the border point - probably Buchs in this case so there is no misunderstanding - probably not in Zurich where even the Deutscher Swiss say tend to use English to talk to the French and Italian-speaking Swiss, etc. But still i always like to have all the info printed out and just hand to clerk. They like it too.

Waielle

Thanks a lot Indiancouple, PalenQ, Reading54 for your advices.
Really appreciate it.
Now I am much clearer on my trip planning

cheers
Waielle

PalenQ

<Border crossing: Buchs SG>

Yes Zurich to Innsbruck and on trains on www.bahn.de says the above for the border point - Buch SG.

PalenQ

Just a thought - the SG in Buchs SG may be important and not just Buchs - seems from a previous thread someone familiar with the area said there was a distinction - so you want a ticket to Buchs SG or from Buch SG whatever the case.

Waielle

thanks PalenQ