Hello, my wife and I will be spending the majority of our 15 day vacation in Switzerland with 4 days in The Lake Como area. The Swiss Travel Pass includes boat trips on Lake Geneva and Brienz. It also covers most of the regional trains and cable cars in the Jung Frau area. i.e. Murren, Gimmelwald, and Wengen. The advantage of the Eurail Select Pass is that the Italy portion of our trip would be covered as well, but does it cover the Jung Frau trains too? The Swiss Travel Pass is more expensive, but we'd have the cost of the cable cars and Lake Geneva added to the price of the Eurail Select Pass. Thank you all for any information you can provide.
Posted by
Chicago
8124 posts
Go with the the Swiss Travel Pass (it gives you 25% off from Wengen to Jungfrau) or the Swiss Half Fare Card (50% off to Jungrau).
I would forget the Eurail Pass Select. Train travel in Italy is inexpensive.
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
Italian trains are dirt cheap and include the seat reservation where required. Get a Swiss Pass or a Swiss Half Fare Card and leave the Eurail Pass behind.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
You can see the coverage comparison at https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation/trains/switzerland-rail-passes#coverage. But since your travel in Italy is short and cheap, that really already decides the issue. Also, the name Eurail Select Pass is no longer in use - it would be a Eurail Global pass that you're comparing.
Posted by
OP
Tampa
2 posts
Thank you all for your help. I would get the Swiss Travel Pass before we leave, but I read it's nonrefundable. It shouldn't take too long to purchase them in Zurich.
Posted by
Chicago
8124 posts
Yes it is real easy low risk to buy the pass at the airport.
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
You can buy a Swiss Pass in advance from the SBB website and print it at home ( here: https://www.sbb.ch/en/leisure-holidays/travel-in-switzerland/international-guests/swiss-travel-pass.html ).
Or at any manned border or airport station.
It is the same price both methods, and no discount for advance purchase.
EXCEPT If you are arriving by train (not flying in), having the pass with you when you arrive avoids having to get off the train at the border to buy one, and getting back on a later train, assuming you have bought a ticket as far as the border station only.