Our travel will be from August 31 - September 8. We'll be traveling on several regular trains, including the Bernina Express & Golden Pass
Question 1
Should I buy the Swiss Train Pass or the Flex Pass? Also I thought starting in August they will combine the Half way card with each, is that correct or will I need to buy separate? Should I purchase now or wait until July, hoping they will have the 20% discount.
Question 2
On the Bernina Express train, can I buy my ticket now, even if I've not purchased my Swiss Pass Ticket? When I look at the website to purchase 1st class seats they have the option of Economy with $ amount, Comfort with $ amount & Premium but NO $ amount. So do they not have the Premium seats available from Tirano to St Moritz
Question 3
On the Golden Pass (Zweisimmen to Montreux) for the VIP seats I thought you had to wait 90 days before purchase. But, I went online to check for my travel date of September 5, the VIP seats are grayed out, but other seats are available to purchase. Darn, did i miss out??
Thanks
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
I have been warned recently of some Swiss Pass changes coming in August, such as all passes being pre-validated for your travel period, but adding the Half-Fare feature automatically was not mentioned. Currently, you can buy a Flex Pass with or without the Half-Fare feature added for in-between your travel days. (With a consecutive pass, you don't need that.) Although Switzerland is better than other countries at planning ahead, we need to wait for official announcements.
There's nothing to suggest that you can count on a 20% discount, but the past couple of years have seen more than one Swiss Pass promotion, of varying styles.
If your travel fit into 8 consecutive days, that would be my first consideration, but since you have 9 days, it may not work best. Of course, a future extra-day promotion could be possible.
As long as you have committed that you will spring for the 1st-class pass at 50% more, then you can go ahead now to reserve seats. I can't say what the status of Golden Pass VIP seat reservations is. Maybe you should reassess at 90 days out whether you can get what you want in 1st class.
Posted by
OP
13 posts
After reviewing my upcoming trip in September I might need the Eurail Global Pass instead of the Swiss Travel Pass. Please review below and give me your feedback on which pass to buy:
4 days Lake Como - several boat trips
7 days in Swizterland - Bernina Express 1st class, Golden Pass 1st class, Lake Geneva cruise, Lake Thun cruise & Lake Lucerne cruise, plus many of the mt train rides (Mt, Titlis, Mt Rigi, Jungfra)
7 days in France (5 in Paris, 2 in Nancy (coming from Montreux on train)
fly to Berlin - 3 days
Train from Berlin to Prague (3 days in Prague)
Fly to Venice
2 days in Venice
train to Milan
fly out of Milan
I did a rough calculation of just train passes for the above.
My total train cost not including Swizterland is around $300.
For two Eurail Global pass is $1734. (867 ea) Swiss Travel Pass 1st class - $649.
So which one would be the better purchase since I'll have many of the boat side and mt rail side trips. Just not sure what would be covered for the side trips (boat & Mt) on both passes.
Thanks
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
So what "train passes" did you include in your calculation?
Posted by
OP
13 posts
If you look at my itinerary, I took all trains that I will be traveling on (except Switzerland) and came up with the $300.00.