Question about 2-Country Eurail Select Pass

I have to ask (I am sure others will as well), are you sure a Eurail Pass is the best way to go?
In France, you can get large discounts if you buy your tickets in advance on a European website. This will probably be cheaper than a pass.
North American resellers often do not sell all trains and/or do not give the best prices.
For Switzerland, a Swiss Pass (sold by SBB - Swiss Railways) may be better. Eurail passes do not cover Lauterbrunnen, they end at Interlaken at the mouth of the valley. Swiss passes included start at Chamonix, cover Interlaken, Mürren, Mt Rigi and give discounts for the higher mountains.
This is all shown on the coverage map here: https://www.sbb.ch/content/dam/infrastruktur/trafimage/karten/karte-sts-pass-gueltigkeit.pdf

2) Dijon - Avignon
3) Chamonix - Zermatt

How will you get from Avignon to Chamonix?

Eurail passes seem to go along with people who've never been to Europe. Don't fall for it. Buy your French tickets either at the counter or buy them ahead of time at trainline.eu

For Switzerland, if you plan to do any of the excursions to Jungfrau, Schilthorn then you might want to invest in a Half Fare Card. Otherwise just buy point to point as you need them.

Eurail are expensive and deceptively NOT useful...you'll spend too much to buy them then you'll spend even more to purchase reservations (which are included if you buy tickets point to point) or you'll end up buying tickets in the Berner Oberland because Eurail doesn't cover those places. Check out the sign posted clearly at Interlaken Ost station:

http://www.travelgracefully.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/P10209291-e1415991861189.jpg

I am told that now the Schilthorn is free with the Swiss Pass. Mt. Rigi is also included in the Swiss pass as well as many museums and a lot of the travel between the cities in the Lauterbrunnen area.

And the other poster is absolutely correct, considerable savings can be had by purchasing French tickets in advance, I think starting 90 days ahead.

The first few times I went to Europe I looked at Eurail, it didn't seem to make financial sense.

Thanks Tim and Chris for the replies. I am glad I asked before purchasing.

I will be having a car from Provence to Chamonix.

I understand that in a continuous pass, the Swiss Pass makes a lot of trips free. However, if I were to look at flexipass, surely taking the train from Lucerne to Mt Rigi will count as a day. My thinking is should I then be visiting Mt Rigi on the same day I arrived in Lucerne, since for that day, all travels are free.

Thank you all once again.

Hi whachoo,

I see you are now talking about the other flavour of Eurailpass. Did you note the earlier comments about using the pass in France, and the extra costs and difficulties which come with that?

Since you didn't reply to those specific concerns can we assume that they are understood and you are happy to accept them?

I don't follow Nigel's reference to "the other flavour of Eurailpass," as the only flavor I see is 2-country. Maybe a thread that was delated? Anyway.

With any flexi style pass, yes there would be benefits to fitting in Mt. Rigi or Mt. Pilatus on your arrival day to Lucerne.

With Eurail-brand passes such as the 2-country Select Pass, discounted lines do not require using a counted travel day. See a summary under What do rail passes cover in Switzerland?. That includes 25% off trains and lifts between Interlaken and most Lauterbrunnen Valley destinations. Around Lucerne, it gives you discounts for the upper parts of Mts. Rigi and Pilatus and on lake boats there but trains at the lower elevations are fully covered (when using a counted travel day).

With a Swiss Travel Pass, more distance in the Lauterbrunnen Valley is full covered, but discounted portions such as above Wengen to Kleine Scheidegg and Jungfraujoch do only apply on your counted travel days. There would also be discounts on some mountain lifts from Zermatt on counted travel days and some museum coverage in Lucerne. If you choose this type of pass, then you'll probably want a consecutive-day version. Does your time in Switzerland fit into 8 consecutive days?

The Swiss Travel Pass is more expensive, e.g. at $435 for 8 consecutive days, but covers more on that portion of your trip. The 2-country pass at $349 would obviously cover the two rides in France, but if you're ready to reserve those ahead, you probably will get a good price on them.

I suggest you consider the 4-day Select Swiss Pass for $337. It fully covers your travel from Chamonix to Zermatt, Zermatt to Lauterbrunnen, Lauterbrunnen to Luzern, and the Rigi round trip. Also the Schilthorn if you go on the day you arrive in or depart from Lauterbrunnen. You do not need to cover the ride from Luzern to Zurich airport with a pass because it only costs 30 CHF.

It is worth takin a full day for the Rigi excursion, as this is a case where the journey is the destination. You travel by boat from Luzern to Vitznau, then by cogwheel train to the summit at Rigi Kulm, down as far as Rigi Kaltbad, then ride the cable car steeply down to the lake at Weggis, and take a boat back to Luzern. It takes a minimum of 5 hours but it is well worth spending more time to walk, have a picnic, etc. The cost if paying full fare is 117 CHF.

https://www.rigi.ch/en/Experience-Enjoy/Summer/Summer-experiences/Classic-Rigi-Round-Trip

A Eurail pass will cover 50% of the boat and the cogwheel train, but they do not mention the cable car down from Rigi Kaltbad. A Swiss Select Pass will cover 100 % of the cost.

http://ricksteves.mytraintravel.com/pass/eurail-select-pass-2-countries-8039

Then on the day of travel between Lauterbrunnen and Luzern, you can use your travel benefit for other adventures: the Schilthorn, if you did not go the day you arrived in Lauterbrunnen, or the Ballenburg museum if interested in that, the transport museum in Luzern, an excursion on Brienzersee to Grandhotel Giessbach to see the waterfall, or other possibilities.

https://www.giessbach.ch/en/giessbach-falls-nature-park.html