We are working out the details for upcoming late June trip to Switzerland, for which we intend to purchase the Swiss Travel Pass. We also want to take the Chocolate Train out of Montreux, which requires reservations and is discounted if you have the pass. I cannot tell if we need to have the Travel Pass purchased before buying the Chocolate Train tickets or not. Generally I see people recommend waiting to buy the Travel Pass until shortly before leaving from US to Switzerland, but I don't want to risk not being able to get tickets for the special train. Advice?
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17417 posts
You do not need to have your Swiss Travel Pass in hand when you buy your Chocolate Train tickets. Just choose the reduction for “GA Travelcard, Day Pass, Swiss Travel Pass.. .” You will not be asked for any confirmation that you actually have the pass at this time.
Posted by
Wengen
2488 posts
I would not bother with the Chocolate train. it is an overpriced tour that is mostly not by train. You are expected to take a regular service train to Montbovon, and then you are loaded on a touringcar and taken around.
In the past they did indeed run a train all the way from Montreux to Broc, but that is no longer even possible...
So you pay extra to spend less time on trains and have less flexibility.
If you want to visit the Chocolate factory in Broc, and Gruyeres, then just go on your own, using normal service trains. No need for this tour.
Posted by
El Dorado Hills, CA
69 posts
I would not bother with the Chocolate Train either. The Swiss Travel Pass includes admission to both the cheese factory and the chocolate factory. I have done both of those (plus visited and had lunch in Gruyere) twice on my own. You can check which museums are free entry at the following page:
https://www.swiss-pass.ch/wp-content/uploads/pdf/Museen-Swiss-Travel-Pass.pdf
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thanks for your comments and suggestions.
Posted by
Chicago
3125 posts
My sister’s cancer doctor took the chocolate train with her family and really enjoyed it. Sometimes it’s nice not to have to plan all the transportation details. For some, the convenience is worth the additional expense.
Enjoy!!
Posted by
Wengen
2488 posts
Maybe they did it when it was still a train?
Nowadays it is a bus tour. Why pay for a bus tour if you have free travel on public transit (because of the STP)?