PalenQ

with a Swiss Pass I always find myself doing more than I previsioned - like in Interlaken on a whim hopping on a lake boat for a nice relaxing float, etc.

PalenQ

If you get the 4 day pass valid for an 8 day period, you would just look at the train costs for each day. Use the pass on the 4 most expensive days and book a pt-to-pt for the cheapest day>

Well if talking about the Swiss Pass there is no 4 days of out 8 days version that I know of - flexipasses are valid for up to one month - the best deal for most is almost always a 3 day in 1 month Swiss Flexipass - in between the first and last day of unlimited travel days you get 50% off everything that moves in Switzerland almost - all regular trains, cable ways, lake boats, postal buses, etc. To make a 4-day flexipass pay off you have to be taking 4 really long train trip - on a 3-day flexipass - so take the price of a 4-day flexipass over a 3-day flexipass and then double the cost of your projected train trip on that 4th day and usually you will be better off with the 50% off aspect that comes with a 3-day pass.

kybourbon

>>>Well if talking about the Swiss Pass there is no 4 days of out 8 days version that I know of<<<

RE has you select the number of travel days out of either 4 or 8 coverage days and prices change depending on how many days you select. It says Swiss pass, not Swiss Flexi pass.

http://www.raileurope.com/rail-ticke...ass/index.html

>>>So I just did the math again and it's a wash between the 8 day card and the 4 day card plus point to point tickets on those other days.<<<

You still would have to buy pt-to-pt tickets from Milan to the border and from Basel to Strasbourg.

PalenQ

If it's a wash then always buy the pass because you will likely use it more than you think and not having to wait in lines for tickets is always a big plus!

PalenQ

If you get the 4 day pass valid for an 8 day period, you would just look at the train costs for each day. Use the pass on the 4 most expensive days and book a pt-to-pt for the cheapest day.>

Well I am obviously confused - this 4 days out of an 8 day period - is that something sold in Switzerland as there is no Swiss Pass like that - the 4 days out of an 8-day period what kind of creature is that?

kybourbon

>>>>Well I am obviously confused - this 4 days out of an 8 day period - is that something sold in Switzerland as there is no Swiss Pass like that - the 4 days out of an 8-day period what kind of creature is that?<<<

I don't know if it's sold in Switzerland, but it's the way RE sells it. If you click the link I gave, you can select travel days 4 days over a period of 4 days or you select either 4,5,6,7,8 travel days over a period of 8 days. The price adjusts according to the number of travel days you select.

PalenQ

No you have it all wrong I believe. No such thing as a 4 out of 8 day pass - that is a flexipass and you select how many days of unlimited travel you wish and the period is always one-month max TMK - I looked at raileurope.com to confirm that! Well that's how it has always been and what it seems to be now.

isabel

ok, I'm getting an 8 day Swiss Pass, and I'll probably order it from Rick Steeve's site before I leave.

aussie_10

Bookmarking this excellent information.

Isabel I hope you do not mind me asking a question on your thread, as I too am purchasing a Swiss travel pass. If you purchase a pass from Raileurope or like, will they issue the pass 4 months ahead?

Also reserving seats on say the Bernina Express, how far ahead can you do this and also how far ahead should you do this?

Thanking you all for your wise information

neckervd

http://www.swisstravelsystem.com/en/...s-pass-en.html
Swiss Passes can be bought at any important Swiss railway staton too, like Zurtich airport railway station, Geneva airport railway station, Basel SBB railway station .....

Seat reservation for Bernina Express and Glacier Express, 1st class panoramic coaches in Willhelm Tell Express, 1st class VIP seats in Golden Pass Panoramic Express:
can theoretically be done up to a few hours prior to the train's departure, but it's advisable to do it a few days ahead, in the web or at any Swiss railway station.
http://www.rhb.ch/index
http://www.rhb.ch/The-World-Heritage.1070.0.html?&L=4
http://www.rhb.ch/Video-Glacier-eng.784.0.html?&L=4
http://www.rhb.ch/Video-Bernina-eng.782.0.html?&L=4
http://www.rhb.ch/UNESCO-Clip-eng.1061.0.html?&L=4

PalenQ

I don't know if it's sold in Switzerland, but it's the way RE sells it. If you click the link I gave, you can select travel days 4 days over a period of 4 days or you select either 4,5,6,7,8 travel days over a period of 8 days.>

Yes at first glance that may appear so but if you see what comes up it is always the number of days you first select in a one-month period - yes it says how many days of train travel and over how many days but whether you put in 3, 4 or 5, etc it always comes up with the flexipasws good for the number of days you put in the top box over a one-month period. I assume if you put in 4 days of travel and a 4-day period and click it would come up with a consecutive-day pass.

Anyway all Swiss Flexipasses are good for a maximum of one-month period - actually when the final unlimited travel day is used up the pass ends - no more 50% discounts that you do get on the days in between your first and last unlimited travel day. There is no 4 of 8 days - it is 4 out of a month.

PalenQ

ok, I'm getting an 8 day Swiss Pass, and I'll probably order it from Rick Steeve's site before I leave.>

I always advise folks to check prices for Swiss Pass prices for those sold via RailEurope in the U S (Steves site I believe routes your order thru Rail Europe, the only wholesaler of Swiss Passes in the U S (Rail Europe is part owned by the Swiss Federal Railways) against prices you would pay for the exact same pass in Switzerland - I have bought passes for years and always check and more often than not the pricing in dollars thru Rail Europe and their agents, all of whom charge the same price but can tack on mailing or handling fees) - the price has usually been cheaper in dollars than over in Switzerland in francs - sometimes significantly so but not always so check www.swisstravelsystem.com for prices in francs and tack on any foreign exchange fees your credit card may attach to foreign purchases - point is if there is little difference or it is cheaper there then just wait and buy it there - at any train station, such as at airport train stations - in this case if something comes up and you have to cancel your trip then you will not pay 15-20% cancellation fee you would if you ordered before leaving and for some reason can't go. But of course if it is cheaper there than there go for it.

PalenQ

ok, I'm getting an 8 day Swiss Pass, and I'll probably order it from Rick Steeve's site before I leave.>

meant to add to be sure you are talking about a 8-consecutive-day pass and not an 8-day flexipass (or the 4 out 8 pass talked about above which does not exist) - that all your travels are within that 8-day period - then if so that is great because a consecutive-day pass is much cheaper per day than a flexipass.

Very few folks would benefit from any flexipass more than the minimum - 3 days of unlimited travel any time over a 1-month period - because in between the first and last days of unlimited travel you get 50% off everything that moves practically in Switzerland - a 4-day flexipass would thus require taking the difference in price between a 3- and a 4-day flexipass and then seeing if it is twice as much as the 50% discount you would have gotten with a 3-day pass - and unless it is a very long trip that is highly unlikely - thus a 3-day flexipass is almost always better than any other length flexipass.

PalenQ

It looks like the 8 day, 2nd class Swiss Pass is 393chf and it will be 23 chf to deliver it to the US. Does anyone know what it will cost to purchase it once I get to Switzerland?>

ricksteves I believe or any agent would charge $445 for a solo 8-straight day Swiss Pass ($378 p p for a Saverpass for two traveling togehter) - so assuming you have a solo pass

393 CH F would be about $435 in Switzerland or about $10 cheaper if you just waited to buy that pass in Switzerland - at any airport train station or any train station - no fuss and even if your c card charges 3% foreign transaction fee it would still be about the same and since with a pre-purchased pass you still must wait in line to activate it you would activate your pass purchased in Switzerland when you bought it.

cybertraveler

Bookmarking for our upcoming trip-thanks!

PalenQ

Note - just because a certain Swiss Pass is cheaper bought in Switzerland today does not mean it is always so - quite the contrary IME of checking and comparing prices for the exact same pass in francs in Switzerland and in dollars bought in the U S before leaving has shown that by far more often than not Swiss Passes are cheaper if bought in the U.S. and often significantly so. Why I do not know but that has been a fact so always compare pricing on both ends - if little or no difference just wait until Switzerland - then if you have to cancel your trip unexpectedly you will not have to suffer a 20% cancellation fee.

PalenQ

Seat reservation for 1st class VIP seats in Golden Pass Panoramic Express:
can theoretically be done up to a few hours prior to the train's departure, but it's advisable to do it a few days ahead>

Well for VIP tickets as there are just a handful available per train these must be booked weeks if not months ahead of time - these seats have you sitting in a compartment next to the driver so you simulate driving the train too! Some are at the rear of the train looking back however.

PalenQ

http://www.goldenpass.ch/goldenpass_..._zweisimmen_en

Official site of Goldenpass train and folks say you can book VIP seats on it without even having a pass or a ticket.