Swiss Railpass question
Jul 31st, 2010, 01:06 PM
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Swiss Railpass question
We'll be in Switzerland for about 6 days in September and will be based out of Geneva while we're staying with family.
I've been looking into purchasing the Swiss Consecutive Day Railpass and have a couple of questions:
1) Any advantage to first class over second class pass?
2) If you purchase a first class pass do you have to pay a fee for seat reservations?
3) When we leave Geneva, we'll travel by train to either Milan or Florence. Will we be able to use the Swiss pass for the entire trip's fees, since we'd connect to the train going to Italy in Zurich, or would we have to pay a portion of the fare for the part of the trip in Italy?
I've been looking into purchasing the Swiss Consecutive Day Railpass and have a couple of questions:
1) Any advantage to first class over second class pass?
2) If you purchase a first class pass do you have to pay a fee for seat reservations?
3) When we leave Geneva, we'll travel by train to either Milan or Florence. Will we be able to use the Swiss pass for the entire trip's fees, since we'd connect to the train going to Italy in Zurich, or would we have to pay a portion of the fare for the part of the trip in Italy?
Jul 31st, 2010, 01:29 PM
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1 -After having traveled on Swiss trains for decades and using dozens of Swiss Passes the answer to this - first cl vs 2nd is there is a difference - lots more empty seats in first class so you can bop from side to side easily as the scenery changes from left to right during the course of the train journey, etc. Seats are bigger and fewer in the same space. That said 2nd class is really good as well as many folks find 2nd class completely adequate in Switzerland.
But if you want to take scenic specialty trains like the Golden Pass then to get in the panoramic cars and esp to get the vaunted VIP seats where you sit right next to the train driver and simulate driving the train yourself then you would need a first-class ticket or pass to do so (with a 2nd cl pass you would pay the difference between the normal 1st and 2nd class train fares.)
2- On normal Swiss trains you never have to pay for a seat reservation - with the pass you just jump on zillions of trains or lake boats or postal buses or even city trams and buses - never going to a ticket window except when you validate (activate) your pass to begin its use - then just jump aboard.
Now a few scenic special tourist trains like the Glacier Express, Bernina Express and portions of the Golden Pass do require a seat reservation fee for passholders - of about $10 but in the Glacier Express case about $35.
From Montreux you can easily take a day trip on the Golden Pass, which first zigzags thru vineyards up a mountain then rolls thru bucolic Alpine valleys.
3- No the Swiss Pass will only cover you to the Swiss border and you have to pay for the Italian protion - probably about $25-30 to Milan. Before boarding the train in Geneva you could buy the Italian portion so if you are on a train that goes direct Geneva to Milan you would not have to get off the train in Brig to buy one.
For lots on Swiss trains and planning a Swiss train trip and passes, etc. I always spotlight these fantastic sites - www.swisstravelsystem.com - has links to special scenic trains like the Golden Pass and also to www.sbb.ch - the Swiss Federal Railways for schedules and ordinary fares to compare to a pass; www.budgeteuropetravel.com - be sure to download their section on Switzerland; www.ricksteves.com; www.seat61.com
Now as to the efficacy of a pass at all for you and your plans in the OP - there are only 4- and 8-day consecutive Swiss Passes - nothing in between i think - and if you could do a 4-day consecutive Swiss Pass it may pay for itself almost in the Geneva to Brig (Italian border point) alone plus you could use it on lake boats on Lake Geneva or day trips from Geneva - like taking the Chocolate Train from nearby Lausanne that goes to Gruyeres - a fine fine walled town and also visits a cheese factory there and then heads to Broc to do a Willy Wonka type visit thru the big Nestle Plant there. This train is first-class only and serves complimentary wine and cheese and uses fancy Belle-Epoque Pullman cars. And you could use the pass on city trams and buses.
But if you are not really taking any day trips but just doing stuff with family then i do not know whether any pass would be of use from a cost-effective standpoint - but if you do the Chocolate Train or Golden Pass as day trips, etc then probably so.
Look for a Saver Pass - two or more names on one pass for a discount per person of about 18%.
Check regular fares at www.sbb.ch for Geneva to Brig and for any possible day trips as well to measure against the pass.
But if you want to take scenic specialty trains like the Golden Pass then to get in the panoramic cars and esp to get the vaunted VIP seats where you sit right next to the train driver and simulate driving the train yourself then you would need a first-class ticket or pass to do so (with a 2nd cl pass you would pay the difference between the normal 1st and 2nd class train fares.)
2- On normal Swiss trains you never have to pay for a seat reservation - with the pass you just jump on zillions of trains or lake boats or postal buses or even city trams and buses - never going to a ticket window except when you validate (activate) your pass to begin its use - then just jump aboard.
Now a few scenic special tourist trains like the Glacier Express, Bernina Express and portions of the Golden Pass do require a seat reservation fee for passholders - of about $10 but in the Glacier Express case about $35.
From Montreux you can easily take a day trip on the Golden Pass, which first zigzags thru vineyards up a mountain then rolls thru bucolic Alpine valleys.
3- No the Swiss Pass will only cover you to the Swiss border and you have to pay for the Italian protion - probably about $25-30 to Milan. Before boarding the train in Geneva you could buy the Italian portion so if you are on a train that goes direct Geneva to Milan you would not have to get off the train in Brig to buy one.
For lots on Swiss trains and planning a Swiss train trip and passes, etc. I always spotlight these fantastic sites - www.swisstravelsystem.com - has links to special scenic trains like the Golden Pass and also to www.sbb.ch - the Swiss Federal Railways for schedules and ordinary fares to compare to a pass; www.budgeteuropetravel.com - be sure to download their section on Switzerland; www.ricksteves.com; www.seat61.com
Now as to the efficacy of a pass at all for you and your plans in the OP - there are only 4- and 8-day consecutive Swiss Passes - nothing in between i think - and if you could do a 4-day consecutive Swiss Pass it may pay for itself almost in the Geneva to Brig (Italian border point) alone plus you could use it on lake boats on Lake Geneva or day trips from Geneva - like taking the Chocolate Train from nearby Lausanne that goes to Gruyeres - a fine fine walled town and also visits a cheese factory there and then heads to Broc to do a Willy Wonka type visit thru the big Nestle Plant there. This train is first-class only and serves complimentary wine and cheese and uses fancy Belle-Epoque Pullman cars. And you could use the pass on city trams and buses.
But if you are not really taking any day trips but just doing stuff with family then i do not know whether any pass would be of use from a cost-effective standpoint - but if you do the Chocolate Train or Golden Pass as day trips, etc then probably so.
Look for a Saver Pass - two or more names on one pass for a discount per person of about 18%.
Check regular fares at www.sbb.ch for Geneva to Brig and for any possible day trips as well to measure against the pass.
Jul 31st, 2010, 01:44 PM
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Thanks for the great information. Since you're so knowledgable, what would you suggest for a phone in Europe. We have Verizon in the US and they'll let us borrow a phone just for the price of shipping it to us and return but I've seen others recommend a couple of other services but can't find those recommendations now.
Jul 31st, 2010, 01:47 PM
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bayguy - i have little knowledge of phones in Europe - whether the Verizon deal is great depends on how much you may pay for receiving and sending calls. Some plans let you receive calls from U.S. free - and if you are planning to call inside Europe also check the rates. I have ridden and written professional about European trains for decades but know diddily really about phones.
Cheers
Cheers
Feb 23rd, 2011, 06:52 AM
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Hi PalenQ - you heard from me a while back with my initial Swiss pass questions for my upcoming trip. I'm glad I ran across this post as I start again after a break in my planning. Thanks for this info and I'm looking forward to hearing from you on my other threads in the coming months as I make my rail pass plans.
