Travelling in June this yeR 5 days based
In Beziers and
Then 5 days based in marseilles
Will explore local towns from thes two bases
Eg narboonne and Montpellier
And then cassis hyeres and aix en provence
Then travel Marseilles to Geneva
Is anrail Europe travel pass the best bet or is there one for more local travel?
Also we are seniors - is passport enough proof of this for discounts or is there another I’d required?
Posted by
Chicago
7833 posts
There is no rail pass for that region or area and you definitely don't need to buy a Eurorail pass.
You will get a senior discount when you buy each ticket just make sure if you buy tickets online or at a self service kiosk that you select 60 and over.
There is senior discount card (Carte Senior) that would get you 25% off the senior rate in 2nd class and 40% off in 1st class. However the Carte Senior would cost you 60 euros or about 67 dollars as it is good for a year of discounts on French rail. Your Drivers license or state id is enough to prove your age if they ask to see. I would use that first before a passport except in Switzerland.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thank you for your kind information. Can I ask what is different in Switzerland? We will be
Travelling around there for 10 days as well. What sort of seniors proof do they require and would it be better
To have a
Rail pass
There?
Posted by
Corvallis OR
7026 posts
Here is a link to the Swiss pass website. Only you can decide if where you are planning to go will benefit from a pass - there are several varieties and most of the people I know who traveled around Switzerland bought one or the other of them. There are no senior discounts on Swiss passes or on individual train tickets in Switzerland.
Posted by
Chicago
7833 posts
Swiss rail requires a passport as identification when they check tickets bought online if you happen to do it that way. That was my experience in 2017. Like you did for your French train trips you should say where you are going in Switzerland so someone could possibly advise you on the type of Swiss Rail Pass that would suit your situation.
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
When Travelling in Switzerland as a tourist there are 3 options
1) Pay full fare for each trip
2) Buy a Half Fare Card and pay ½ price for each trip
3) Buy a Swiss Pass and pay nothing extra for unlimited trips.
Depending on how much travelling you will be doing, the cheapest option could be (1), (2) or (3).
Unfortunately you have to list out and price up all your trips to work out the best option.
The "from" price on the SBB website assumes you have a Half Fare Card, as most Swiss residents do. You need to click on the price to find the full fare.
Details of both the Swiss Pass and Half Fare Card are here: https://www.sbb.ch/en/leisure-holidays/travel-in-switzerland/international-guests.html
These passes give discounts on some mountain railways. Details are on this map: https://www.sbb.ch/content/dam/sbb/de/infotexte/uebersichtskarte-sts.pdf
Swiss Passes and Half Fare Cards are valid from Geneva (the border station). There are some advance discount fares available on the internet for some trains. In most cases not. Normal tickets are valid on any train on the date shown on the ticket. No reservations needed or usually possible.
There are no discount fares for over 60's, just under 16.