Train Ticket with Swiss Pass or individual ticket?
 

Hi All,

We plan to go to Switzerland for total 14 days from October 10th - 24th. The itinerary will be arrive in Zurich airport then go to Zermatt (2 days), Lauterbrunnen/Wengen (3 days), Lucerne (3 days), then back to Zurich airport.

Should we get the Swiss Pass for train ticket or better to just get them individually per trip? Is it worth it to get the Swiss Pass (less hustle is a big plus for us)? If we get Swiss Pass, should we always reserve our seat in advance or can just show up anytime?

Would love to hear your opinion for this, thanks.

You are not going to need, or even get, seat reservations for any of those trains.

With your itinerary I believe the 15-consecutive-day Swiss Pass could be a great deal - will use it every day - trains, lake boats, postal buses and city transports all covered - trains or gondolas to mountain tops 50% off usually- for lots of info on Swiss trains and passes and things like the Half-Fare Card check www.swisstravelsystem.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

You can indeed reserve seats on inter-city Swiss trains but they are optional and few do but you have to then go to the ticket window, etc. The beauty of a pass is to just hop on any train, boat, bus, etc - I would not hassle with reservations - few Swiss do.

You said it - "less hustle is a big plus for us" and I would add "less hassle" - no requirements for seat reservations in Switzerland (unlike in surrounding countries), you walk up to the platform and board the train and pick a seat as long as it is not in first class if your pass or ticket is for second (and there is nothing "second-class" about second class on Swiss trains...).

(and there is nothing "second-class" about second class on Swiss trains...).>

True but 2nd class can IME be much more crowded - especially at rush hours around large cities as virtually every train in Switzerland except in Alpine areas is a commuter train.

Lake boats are something where class matters - first class tickets or passes can sit on the open-air top deck up front - I think 2nd class in the rear or below - you can upgrade on the boat if with a 2nd class ticket by paying the difference in first and second-class fares.

On trains most find 2nd class completely perfect though first class as usual is a bit more perfect.

Thanks all, I will just go ahead purchase the ticket online.
From one of the website, it always automatically set to send the ticket by ups. Can we just purchase online and print it out from home? When we get there do we need to exchange the print out ticket with the actual card (similar with Japan rail pass card) ?

There is an online delivery option for the Swiss Pass. They will send you an email with a PDF file about 24 hours after you purchase if you select this option.

astimesser - give Byron at www.budgeteuropetravel.com for answers to all those questions - I've bought passes for him for years and he will answer expertly questions even if not buying.

In any case you have to activate a pass in Switzerland by taking your passports up to the ticket window and have them validate it- other than that just hop on most trains and the conductor will come around and check the pass.

You can buy passes on arrival too at most Swiss train stations like at airports -compare prices however as sometimes passes in dollars are cheaper than in francs (or vice versa) - but check both.

Just buy it when you arrive. Couldn't be easier.

I've been tracking Swiss Pass prices for years and often the same pass is cheaper here than there -not always and not sure currently but I advise to check prices in dollars if an American or Canadian and francs for buying there - adding on any 3% or so charge your credit card may impose for foreign transactions.

check both - sometimes the savings here has been significant. That said yes you can easily buy any Swiss Pass once in Switzerland but at times more than here - prices here fluctuate as currencies fluctuate.

Or better yet, get a credit card that doesn't charge foreign transaction fees.

Take into account the cost of shipping too.