Swiss Train Ticket
 

Hi All,

Is there a cheap train ticket that will cover a 3day journey throughout Switzerland? Can it be purchased online? Would there be a price difference if it is purchased online?

Cheers
G

ttt

3-day Swiss Flexipass. best bought in US for lower prices or Half-Fare card only bought in Switzerland. For pass info i always recommend BETS (www.budgeteuropetravel.com) for their expertise - current prices on web site. www.ricksteves.com also has great info on Swiss trains and passes.

www.sbb.ch for regular prices in Switzerland in Swiss francs - half-fare card costs 99 SF and gives half off every trip - calulate vs pass that gives three days of 100% travel. Hard to tell unless you give us you exact projected train trips to see which is best.

And of course if not traveling much then just regular tickets bought at stations may be better than any pass or Half-Fare card. Again it's all on ww.sbb.ch - Swiss Railways web site.

PalenQ said it---you need to figure out the price of the ticets from the website before you know if a pass will do you any good.

If the first and third days are each over $48 US, you might benefit from a Transfer Ticket ($94 for second class). If all three days are over $52, you might benefit from a half-fare card, or a 3-day FlexPass ($156 in 2d class)

But you'll have to do the math.

and if there only a few days consider the 4-straight day Swiss Pass which is only $9 more than the 3-day Flexi

I am now awaiting my rail pass from Rail Europe. They were very helpful in my train through France, getting the swiss rail pass and train to Italy. I used a 100.00 off coupon from American Express Rewards. It is a Swiss Saver Flexipass for two. This is my first time with more than one leg on the train so this may not be what you need, Ira and PalenQ can advise you better.

AMEX rewards gives such discounts on railpasses? Wow - sign me up!

Yes---jelane, how do you get that coupon?

This is the membership reward program from American Express. I have never used any points out of the magazine and was just getting ready to pitch it when I noticed that it had Rail Europe coupons in it....The Swiss Rail Pass was 10,000 points. I called rail europe and made my travel plans and called American Express and they sent me the certificate and I mail it into Rail Europe in White Plains and they will credit my card the 100.00 from my purchase. It is only good for 1st class tickets. I just called and finalized all these tickets on Thursday, I received the tickets today by UPS, I think it has been a timely process.

Excellent for you! I found the info on the website and my AmEx card is not eligible for these rewards. For those who have an eligible card---it is $100 off a 4-Day Saver Pass (meaning for 2 people) in First Class.

I don't feel TOO bad about it, because that is not the pass we need anyway. But it's great that it worked for jelane.

so it's only on a 4-day flexipass? weird, why not 5-day or more expensive pass. Or maybe i misunderstood something

It is a three day pass, good for one month.

so jelane is or was you $100 coupon good for $100 off any Swiss pass of any type or just for a 3-day pass? thanks

In the rewards book it is

$100 off Business Premier Travel for two on the Eurostar - 10,000 points

$100 off the France 4-Day rail pass for two - 10,000 points

$100 off the Swiss Saver Flexipass for two - 10,000 points....

Reservations/information 1-866-857-RAIL

I called AE and got the certifcate and then mailed it to Rail Europe after I had paid full price, when they receive certificate they will reimburse my credit card for the $100.

This is my first trip to Switzerland, and I don't have a clue if this is what I needed or not, but we are only there for four days and I am going to try to figure out when I have time to sort through it just what I need to do. I believe use the discounts for different venues for one of those days.

RailEurope is owned by the Swiss and French railways - the only two passes about that RE markets are French and Swiss where they make much more money since they are the originator and wholesaler - no middle man so can give away $100 and perhaps still turn a profit plus get free pub from AMEX.

You will be satisfied with the flexipass i'm sure of that, especially at $100 discount.

i wonder if other cards like AMEX offer such discounts?