Rail Pass Switzerland
 

Was reviewing the Europe forum this AM and noted a comment regarding costs/prices in Switzerland versus Austria. I wanted to determine the validity of this statement, knowing it to generally be true. I only concerned myself with an 8 day, 1 person rail pass for Switzerland/Austria. My conclusion may differ for other countries.

8 Day/1 month Austria Only $441
8 Day/1 month Swiss Only $772
8 Day/2 month Austria/Swiss Two Country Pass $ 591

I know you give up some flexibility and discounts by buying the 2 country combo pass and using it only in Switzerland, but am I drawing an incorrect conclusion that the better value is the 2 country pass?

Thanks for you responses.

Moderator:

Please move this to the Europe Forum as I posted in wrong Forum.

Thank you.

Done.

Well it depends on your travel plans. You can get into some parts of Austria with a Swiss Travel Pass - just border towns mind you, Samnaun springs to mind. I'm not sure if this also applies to the Swiss Flex Pass, I'd have to look.

I'm finding the 8 day Swiss Travel Flex Pass at 445 CHF (second class, which is what we always buy), much lower than you've quoted. I assume you're looking at first class fares? You can save a bundle right away buy going second class, which is perfectly wonderful IME.

Transportation costs aside, accommodation and food will be higher in Switzerland too.

Mel:

Thanks for the reply. I am looking at first class fares and would assume that my analysis would hold for second class fares. However, I hope you see my thought process that regarding rail passes, the 2 country pass is a value versus just the Swiss Pass. Or am I missing something?

I am not going to Switzerland this year but to Germany for the Christmas markets and Paris for the Christmas store lighting.

Multi-country passes don't cover some of the Swiss rail network. For example, in the Berner Oberland, Eurail pass coverage stops at Interlaken, whereas the Swiss pass will get you as far as Murren, Wengen, and Grindewald.

Well 2-country pass is a Eurailpass with much less coverage in Switzerland than just a Swiss Pass gives so I would just buy the Swiss Pass and use say Westbahn Willkommen and there always cheap Austrian fares in Austria. For lots on Swiss transports and passes check www.sbb.ch; BETS-European Rail Experts and www.ricksteves.com. and yes 2nd class is fine for most but if not on a low budget first class always has benefits too like finding more empty seats if just hopping on trains.

Swiss Passes cover many mountain trains or give 50% off lifts - Eurails don't - really 2-country pass rarely a good value for Switzerland vs Swiss Pass.

Pal:

Good points as always. What really got me started was researching saver passes which no longer exist in Switzerland. This was just an exercise in cost reduction, knowing that this solution is not the correct answer for everyone. So if I eliminated mountain trains, the combo two country combo pass might be a good value. Just one other thing to analyze but could also say the heck with it and buy the half fare card (possibly in combo with some other Swiss type fare reduction).

>>> if I eliminated mountain trains, the combo two country combo pass might be a good value.
If your analysis is complete, yes. The key driver of the transport cost in Switzerland are the mountain trains. They are very very expensive. That is the part that would eat up most of your transport budget. The Swiss pass covers much more than the two country pass in this area plus museums if that is part of your plan. There is no easy answer by just looking at the flat land train part.
For example, Mt. Rigi. I used a multi-country pass for that trip. Because of that, while I got a discount, I had to rush to the ticket office upon getting off the boat at Vitznau to buy discounted tickets and rush to the train to not miss the connection. If I had a Swiss pass, I could just hop onto the Mt. Rigi train.
Switzerland requires an integrated transport analysis.