areinert

Here is the research I have done, please direct me towards the right pass or tell me what I am missing.

We will start in Zurich and need to go back and forth to Affoltern am Albis where a friend lives.

We will then travel from Zurich to Venice, then from Venice to Florence, and finally from Florence to Rome. I will post the agenda at the end if days are important.

(FYI- there are two of us and we have used the trains before and would want first class - why has been discussed in other threads)

Selectpass saver from Ricksteves.com
- 3 countries $304 per person ($608) would probably need to buy more days or use some point to point tickets for the back and forth in Swizterland

- Trenitalia Pass Saver $406 for two

Point to Point from raileurope.com
- Zurich to Venice (direct) $206 for two
- Venice to Florence (direct) $98 for two
- Florence to Rome (direct) $110 for two
maybe a little more for the back and forth from Zurich to Affoltern am Albis.

Conclusion:
- Selectpass saver more expensive (unless I am missing something

- Trenitalia Pass Saver more expensive once you add on the Zurich to Venice

- Point to point cheaper, but the tickets seem pretty high.

Thoughts?

Would air be cheaper from Zurich to Venice?

Should I by them once I get over there? Not sure if my anal personality can tolerate that!

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!

Feb 3 Wednesday Fly to Rome
Feb 4 Thursday Take from Rome to Switzerland (we have a friend that lives there and we are going to Switzerland to spend some time with him.
Feb 5 Friday Switzerland
Feb 6 Saturday Switzerland
Feb 7 Sunday Switzerland
Feb 8 Monday Travel to Milan Area
Feb 9 Tuesday Milan Area
Feb 10 Wednesday Milan Area
Feb 11 Thursday Travel to Florence
Feb 12 Friday Florence
Feb 13 Saturday Florence
Feb 14 Sunday Florence
Feb 15 Monday Travel to Rome
Feb 16 Tuesday Rome
Feb 17 Wednesday Rome
Feb 18 Thursday Rome
Feb 19 Friday Fly home

PalenqueBob

Swiss Pass + Pt-pt in Italy may be best. Swiss passes can be bought in Suisse but currently much cheaper for same pass if bought in US thru RailEurope or other agent. I don't know where Affoltern-am-Albis is so maybe Swiss Pass not best best.

Intrepid1

Buy a Swiss Pass AFTER you get to Switzerland (cheaper than getting it anywhere else and no shipping and handling fees) at any rail station.

Go to www.railsaver.com and input your Italy itinerary but I think you might be better off with point-to-point tickets unless those days when you are doing a particular city "area" you will be getting around a lot by rail.

kappa

http://www.helvetic.com/en/

Check above Helvetic(Air?)site for the direct flight ZRH-VCE. I tried a flight for the end of March, for fun. The price is EUR138.00 p.p.taxes included. That's more expensive than I hoped.

areinert

So it looks like point to point for Italy and Swiss pass when we get to Swizterland