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carrying swiss pass

Posted by on

Hi all, we'll be in Switzerland for two weeks and have a Swiss Pass and Family Card. On another thread someone suggested carrying them in a badge holder on a lanyard around your neck for easy access and to keep the paper from fraying. My question is since these passes are about the size of an airline ticket and would need to be folded to fit in a badge holder (couldn't find anything bigger at Staples), do you need to take them out each time and unfold them for the conductors to view? Does anyone have a tried and true good way of securely carrying these passes for easy access? Doesn't seem like a good idea to put them in a money belt if you have to keep pulling them out while on public transportation.

Thanks, all. We're leaving in a week and all your help has been invaluable!

Posted by
20085 posts

Neck wallet. I usually shove it in my pocket, or keep it in my computer bag. You should have your passport with it, since the pass will have your name and passport number on it for verification by the conductor.

Posted by
16250 posts

I carry ours in one of these security pouches, which is sized to hold a Swiss Pass without folding. The family card is smaller and fits easily.

http://travelstore.ricksteves.com/catalog/index.cfm?fuseaction=product&theParentId=124&id=295

I clip it inside my daypack, which has a sleeve inside against the back support. It is easy to pull out to show when asked. I have never been asked to show my passport or any family member's passport once the pass was validated, so we carry passports separately.

Posted by
16893 posts

Yes, the conductor will want to see the unfolded pass, to confirm that it has a correct validation stamp on the right side, dates on the left side, and names on the second page. (If it's a flexi-style of pass, then you have to [date it as you go].)(http://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation/trains/using-your-rail-pass). I agree that you'll need easier access than your money belt, but you also be careful not to leave it "in your other pants," in the pocket of a jacket or bag that you set down somewhere, etc.

Posted by
977 posts

Hi There,

How often you will be asked to show the pass depends on they types of public transport you are using. For instance many of our services are what the call 'self controlled' meaning it's the honour system. Every so often they will do a check and if you are caught there will be no mercy, it will cost you at least 80 CHF! This is normally the case for city trams & busses, some urban rail lines and some regional trains. On all other trains - intercity, fast trains etc... you can expect to be controlled at least once during the journey.

If you don't manage to come up with a nice plastic cover for your ticket, every ticket desk in Switzerland has a large range of free plastic covers of all shapes and sizes to fit any ticket combination. So just ask at the first train ticket office you encounter when you come to Switzerland and you will be given something like this.

Jim.

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