Feedback on easy of travel with Swiss Pass vs Half Fare

I’ve done both. Having to buy tickets is pretty easy. But having the pass is even easier. You don’t have to allow extra time to buy the tickets.

I would recommend you do whatever is cheaper. If the cost is close, I would get the pass. But if the half fare card offers decent savings, go with that.

I have not used the half fare card and I would never want to. I love the convenience of the Swiss Travel Pass. For me, the extra expense is well worth the cost. My biggest stressor when traveling is the transportation. The Swiss Travel Pass eliminates most of that. I don’t have to worry about buying tickets (except in the few instances where the Pass just provides a discount) and if I happen to get on the wrong train, no problem.

I am headed back to Switzerland in June as my first solo trip. I have my Pass already purchased and have no worries about getting from A to B. I can’t wait to get back on those Swiss trains. 😊

I'll echo Carrie's comments . I avoid buying train tickets anywhere in Europe ( I buy my train tickets , in advance , from home ) ( Two related exceptions - I will buy at an automated kiosk if possible , or if I want to buy a ticket for a day that is weather dependent . An example - this Autumn , in Paris I will buy tickets to go to Giverny to see the Monet gardens . Purchase the day before ensures that I won't be rained out ) Over numerous European trips , I have encountered slow moving queues all over Europe , making daily purchases a royal pain . Buying tickets in advance saves me that trouble . Passes are generally a bad idea , the Swiss Pass being a notable exception . You will find that you need various tickets more often than you think , and wasting time buying them really can throw a kink in your day . The convenience of a Swiss Pass is alone worth it from that point . Local transit passes ( unlike train tickets ) are also a plus . When I visit major cities like Paris , Vienna or Munich , I always buy weekly passes , hopping on metros , buses ,and trams is delightful without the nuisance of buying individual tickets

If you travel with a smartphone, the SBB app makes it very easy to buy tickets on the go, without any queue or stress. The pass rarely saves money vs. the Half-fare card, but it sometimes does and it sure is convenient, especially if you are planning many day trips from a given location. However, even with the pass you will still need tickets (discounted) for most mountain rides.

I did the calculations and there is around a CHF 50 difference between the Swiss Travel Pass and the Half Fare pass with the Swiss Travel Pass being more. That was based on our current plans but that could change if we run into weather issues or decide to change plans on the fly. I think I’m learning more towards the Swiss Travel Pass since the price difference isn’t a that big and who knows what the weather will do!

kemills, I found myself exploring more activities when I had the STP. For example, maybe I wasn't planning on a certain boat ride, but hey, it's covered, so why not? Or in Luzern, as an example, I was tired of walking, so just take a boat ride out and back and take pix. It's so peaceful being on the water.
The convenience has significant value to me.
Also, note that if you show the STP for a discount, it counts as a use day.
Have a great trip!

For an extra CHF 50, I would get the pass. It's really not a lot of money in the context of a trip to Switzerland.

Another vote for the SP.