Am about to purchase my Swiss Travel Pass. Is there any advantage to having it mailed as opposed to printing it at home? Is the mailed one a card? (It says paper copy)
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
You can always just walk up to any SBB Ticket Counter (even in the airport) and buy it there.
Posted by
Annapolis, MD
28 posts
Not to hijack the thread, but I had a similar question... is there any advantage to buying one before hand vs just picking it up at a border station?
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
One advantage to having a pass before arriving to Switzerland would be if you were entering the country by international train and don't have any other need to stop at the border.
The consecutive-day version is now available to print at home and I see no particular downside versus a pass printed on standard rail ticket stock. The print-at-home version can be reprinted if you lose it. All Swiss Travel Passes are pre-validated for the travel period you indicate at purchase and can only be used in conjunction with a passport. A flexi-style of pass can't be printed at home because duplication would encourage abuse of the number of flexi days used.
Posted by
7 posts
I bought and printed from home. seems fine
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
There are several factors to consider if you really want to get down to the nitty gritty. Coming in on International Train with a pre-validated Swiss Pass: and if the French Transit workers are on strike (yes it happens) and you're trip is delayed by a day or two then you've just wasted a day or two on your Swiss Pass. Probably won't happen, but yes, it's a possibility.
I've printed my Swiss Pass at home on the last few trips. If it's convenient for you and the cost is the same or less than buying in Switzerland then maybe you want to do that. If your travels are laid back without close adherence to schedules then maybe you want to wait until you actually arrive.
It's all up to you.