I plan on using the three consecutive days Swiss Pass in July. I priced it a couple of months ago and it is now $22 more per person than it was (currently $244 per person). Should I go ahead and buy it now, or is it safe to wait until June and pay for it at that time? On one hand, I’d like to wait and expend that money later, but on the other hand, if it will be more expensive later it seems to make sense to buy it now.
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
No, the price, like all Swiss rail tickets, is fixed and will only change on the annual timetable change in December (if then).
Prices are on the Swiss Railways website here: https://www.sbb.ch/en/leisure-holidays/travel-in-switzerland/international-guests/swiss-travel-pass.html
Swiss Travel Pass 3 days CHF 225 2nd class, CHF 358 1st class
Swiss Travel Pass 4 days CHF 270 2nd class, CHF 429 1st class
Swiss Travel Pass 8 days CHF 398 2nd class, CHF 631 1st class
Swiss Travel Pass 15 days CHF 485 2nd class, CHF 765 1st class
You are quoting a price in $ (you are from "Atlanta, GA" so I assume that is US$), so you must be buying from a reseller. A reseller can charge whatever they want, and their price will vary depending on the exchange rate CHF to US$. My guess is that the US$ has fallen against the CHF in the last few days.
Posted by
OP
Atlanta, GA
1075 posts
Oh my gosh! Thank you so much, Chris! I was looking at this URL:
https://traintickets.myswitzerland.com/rail-tickets-passes/swiss-pass/index.html
The URL you provided is indeed cheaper, although it looks like I can only currently purchase for dates through May, so I will need to wait until late May/early June to get the pass for July.
Really appreciate the help! I was on the SBB site earlier but was not able to find the link for the Swiss Pass so I totally missed it.
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
You can also just buy the STP after your arrive in Switzerland. Walk up to any SBB ticket counter and purchase it.
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
fredandkell, The price on the SBB website is not much different to the one you were quoted. According to Google, CHF 225 = USD 237.17 at today's rate (type "CHF 225 = USD" into Google), you said "currently $244 per person".
Either way, if you buy on the internet, your bank or Credit card company could hit you for "Foreign use charges" regardless of the currency you are billed in. If you pay cash at an SBB station, you would still have to convert that cash from USD to CHF, the bank always wins.