Travel from Lucern, CH to Lake Como, Itally

A Swiss pass will get you as far as Chiasso, at the Italian border. You will need to buy a ticket for Chiasso-Como S. Giovanni... no more than a few euros. Maybe someone with firsthand experience will jump in, as I do not know how to actually buy tickets for this.

Thanks Also... Sorry to be so late in responding, but thanks for the help.

Depending on where you are going on Lake Como, you might just take a taxi from Chiasso. Some of the hotels on the southwest part of the lake like Cernobbio are as close to Chiasso as Como San Giovanni station.

If going to Menaggio (or Belagio by ferry), you can get a bus from Lugano. I don't know if the STP is valid for the Swiss portion of the bus ride, but it is not an expensive ticket anyway.

No chance using to go to Malpensa (assume that is the Milan airport you will be using to fly home).

I now need some help in figuring out whether or not to buy a swiss pass for my 4 day visit to switzerland. I have tried to check the various rail and travel sites, but still am not certain which way to go. I spent 5 days in Switzerland 10 years ago and found out that the extreme flexibility and number of transit systems on which i could travel were worth the cost. Anyway, here is my itinerary for my schedule in late July and early August.
7/29: take a train from Basel to Lucerne
7/30: take a day trip via ferry from Lucerne to Mt. Rigi via Weggis & return to Lucerne
7/31 : take a day trip via train from Lucerne to Lauterbrunnen and then cable to Murren
8/1 : take the Lucerne boat Kehrsiter-Burgenstad and then in the afternoon to Brunnen for Swiss National holiday celebration
8/2 : take the train to Bellagio, Italy (or at least take a train to Chiasso with Swiss pass then buy another ticket to Bellagio)
8/5: take a ferry, cab, bus and/or train from Bellagio to Milan (MXP) airport to catch an 11:30 am flight to the US

Anyway, will appreciate any thoughts on best way to handle transportation like Swiss, Euro Passes or buy tickets point to point.
thanks,
Bthrutch

Probably buying a 4-day STP 2nd cl and pay full fare for the Basel-Luzern stretch. It is only 34 CHF full fare and the STP is costing 70 CHF/day. I did the analysis. Half Fare Card saves a little more money, but convenience, local transport, and museum admissions make up the difference.

BTW, making an 11:30 am flight from Malpensa starting in the morning from Belagio is problematic. You would have to be on the 5:47 am train from Varenna to get you to Malpensa before 8:30 am. I don't think you can get a ferry that early. Save some stress and spend the last night in Milan, if not at the airport.

or taxi

but it is a tight push

Thanks guys for all the advice. We do like having the flexibility of hoping on and off of various modes of public transportation, so will probably go ahead and get the 4 day Swiss Pass and just buy our separate ticket for the trip from Basel to Lucerne. With regards to staying at Lake Como (specifically Bellagio) and leaving there the morning of the 5th and catching an early afternoon flight to the states, we have heeded your warning and have made arrangements for a private taxi or courier to pick us up at the hotel at 7:30am to take us to MPX airport.... supposedly costing us $180 CHF.
One last question.... it seems that when we went to Switzerland 10 years ago, there was some discount or advantage of buying our pass at least 40 or 60 days in advance. I will look at that Swiss Pass website, but any thoughts on whether or not there is an early purchase benefits?.

A lot of things have changed in the last 10 years regarding the Swiss Travel Pass. No more Twin passes, no more 60 CHF Half Fare Cards for days off with the Flex Pass, no advance purchase discounts, and prices have gone up.

I'm confused

supposedly costing us $180 CHF

Don't know if you are thinking in Swiss Francs or dollars.

Is it a Swiss (think expensive) company?

I would have expected for a trip from Bellagio to Milan Malpensa it would be an Italian driver quoting in Euro...

Thanks Sam.... yes many things (regarding discounts) have changed here in the US as well... alone with a current inflation rate of about 8.5% and still going up. Anyway, thanks for the info and to Nigel... My mistake on the currency...., I meant $180 Euro's not CHF's. Thanks all for your feedback and advice.

Check for the different regional passes on Swiss Rail as well. One thing you can be certain of is that train travel is not inexpensive in Switzerland. If memory serves from our visit last year, your 1st day begins the moment you first utilize your ticket. This may come in to how you strategize your travel. I think as long as you board before the end of the fourth day you are OK.

Also, not knowing where you are staying on Lake Como, taking the bus along the western coast is quite the adventure. The C10 runs nearly the length of the lake and one comes by about every 15-20 minutes. If not crowded, going from side to side on the bus allows for some great sightseeing. I seem to recall that it takes about an 1:30 (maybe less) to go from Como San Giovanni station to Menaggio.

Ok... I think I have the rail pass and transportation from Bellagio (Lake Como) to the Milan airport (via private limo) issues figured out, but got another question. As I will be spending 15 days on this trip traveling thru 5 countries (3 days netherlands, 2 daysGermany,2 days France, 4 days Switzerland and 4 days Italy) do I just want to take a boat load or Euro’s and my credit card or deal with individual currencies.

Netherlands, Germany, France, Italy all use Euros. When you need more cash, just stop by an ATM and refill your wallet. In Switzerland, likewise stop by an ATM and get some Swiss Francs.

Often times, smaller towns and smaller businesses will not accept cards. I always make certain I have local currency on hand for just such an occasion. Make certain you check with your bank and/or CC company to understand what fees may be involved for cash withdrawls internationally. Also, it is a good idea to notify the same regarding travel plans so they do not suspect fraud when using your cards outside of your normal activity.

Thanks folks for all the input and Sorry for late response but been on player reserve with Carotid surgery for a while. But trip back on for now!! PTL
Anyway, have another question about getting from Lucern to Lake Como region (more specifically Bellagio). Is it possible to use my Swiss pass and take the Bernina Express from Lucerne to somewhere close to the Italian border (like Lugano, Switzerland) and then take a bus and or ferry to Bellagio? Just trying to maximize getting a 4 day 2nd class Swiss Pass and maxing the sight seeing along the way to Bellagio? Again, appreciate all and any suggestions. bill

Technically, you could go to Varenna, Italy (short ferry ride from Bellagio) via the Bernina railway from Luzern, but my estimate is that this is an 8-9 hour ride.
I am not sure I would recommend it, but it would go as follows:

• from Luzern to Chur with a change of trains in Thalwil

• from Chur to Tirano, Italy via the Albula and Bernina railways, usually with a change of trains in St Moritz (or you can take the Bernina Express, but it needs a reservation)

• from Tirano to Varenna with the local Trenord rail service, which is replaced by a bus until mid-September at some point along the route.

My alternative recommendation would be to take the train from Luzern to Lugano via the old Gotthard Railway. To do so, you can take train no. IR 26, named "Treno Gottardo", which leaves Luzern every 2 hours, all the way to Bellinzona, and change there for Lugano. To find that route, specify "via Goeschenen" in the SBB journey planner.

Once in Lugano, there is a bus to Menaggio, where you can catch a ferry for Bellagio.

You could also go from Lugano to Como S. Giovanni station. That is just past the last stop in Switzerland at Chiasso, so there is a very small extra fee for the Italian section. At Como S. Giovanni, you can get the C30 bus to Bellagio.