Help! I'm confused about the process for reserving seats on the Golden Pass line from Interlaken to Montreux. My husband and I have Half Fare Cards, and we are travelling with a 2-year-old ( I believe we can just pick up the Swiss Family Card for free when we arrive in Switzerland and she travels free everywhere, correct?). I see that I can reserve seats on goldenpass.ch, but how do I know which are VIP? We would like the 13:08 departure from Interlaken Ost. Is the fee and process for reserving seats completely separate from the actual purchase of tickets? It looks like the fee is just $8/seat, which can't possibly cover the entire trip, so where/when do I actually buy the train tickets? Thanks!
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9100 posts
The VIP seats can be reserved by selecting the picture of the very first car of the train(If that car is greyed-out than all the seats have already been reserved). Then select one of the seats in the first three rows. I believe the VIP seats are slightly more expensive than the rest of the seats on the train. VIP seats are only available on the Zweismann-Montreux segment. The seat reservation only cover the price of the reserved seat. You can get tickets for the journey at any train station in Switzerland when you are in country.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
A 2-year old travels free on any trains in Europe without a ticket, even without a Swiss Family Card. You can book the seat reservations now and then buy the matching tickets (in 1st or 2nd class) at any train station in Switzerland. On the test dates that I tried, I also did not see the VIP seats shown on the 1st class seating chart. I have seen them displayed in other years, on the Zweisimmen-Montreux leg only, in a way that I thought was pretty clear.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
For an example of what it should look like, see July 11, 12:25 departure from Zeisimmen to Montreux, the first-class car. That seating diagram shows the rounded nose.
Posted by
OP
Redmond, WA, USA
12 posts
Thanks for the help. It appears that on July 5th the VIP seats are already booked. When making just regular seat reservations, I have to reserve one for my 2 year old as well, correct? Even though her ticket is free?
Posted by
Los Angeles
4412 posts
FWIW, every seat on that route is a great seat with great scenery.
So while there may be some advantage to VIP seats, you really don't need them.
However, for travel in July, you probably should get seat reservations esp. since there are the 3 of you. When I travelled in November there were plenty of empty seats, I was on that 1308 train. It works well if the weather cooperates, since you'll have sun the whole way into Montreux.
Posted by
OP
Redmond, WA, USA
12 posts
Is there a side of the train that is better than the other for scenery?