Requesting advice for Swiss train pass

Are you flying into Milan? So what you want to do is a loop through Switzerland on the trains? I would substitute Luzern/Lucerne for Zurich.

Yes, there is one direct train from Luzern to Milano Centrale every day at 4:18 pm. Frequent trains at other times with a single connection.

Your Swiss Travel Pass only gives discounts on trains and cable cars above inhabited villages.

I would drop Zurich. Spend more time in the Bernese Oberland area (Interlaken or one of the villages) and then travel to Italy from there.

Thanks all for the suggestions.

Only reason we are going to Zurich for a short visit from Interlaken is to catch a train for Milan/Rome the next day. If we had a faster way to get to Rome from Interlaken then we would have stayed back in Interlaken for another day. This is our first time visiting this area, so this schedule is just from my basic research on the web … smiley face

Regarding the Swiss train pass and a separate Italy train pass — is it better to get a Eurail pass since ? —— it covers both countries and the website indicates we can also make seat reservations

Only reason we are going to Zurich for a short visit from Interlaken
is to catch a train for Milan/Rome the next day.

Interlaken is actually closer to Rome than Zurich is, so this does not make sense. You can do Interlaken - Rome in 6h40, with a departure in Interlaken at 7h30.

Regarding a pass: An Eurail Pass is not very good value for Switzerland, and is a bit complicated in Italy. Italian trains are not expensive and you are probably better of just buying tickets. On our last trip to Italy we just bought tickets as we went. For long distance trains usually just a few days in advance, for local trains on the moment itself.

among the difficulties of using a Eurailpass in Switzerland and Italy are that in Switzerland the pass is not accepted on the mountain railways, cable cars and gondolas. And that's the fun part of the Alps but that pass is no use to you there.

In Italy all trains above the basic Regional trains require a mandatory reservation. If you buy a normal (usually very cheap) ticket the reservation is included. If you use a Eurailpass the train part is indeed included BUT the reservation fee is not. So every leg of a trip on higher speed trains on Trenitalia - the government trains - you need to buy another probably 10 Euro reservation. Change trains? Another reservation fee. and so on. And, there are two competing high speed train companies, the aforementioned Trenitalia with their Freccia trains, and the privately owned Italo Treno (in Ferrari red) which is cheaper and I prefer to Freccia. Only problem - Italo don't accept the Eurailpass AT ALL.

Thanks for your suggestions — very helpful

We now changed plans to stay back in Interlaken for another night instead of Zurich.

1 more clarification please —. I’m planning to get Swiss Travel pass. We’ll travel within Switzerland for 4 days and on 5th day we need to travel from Interlaken to Rome. Should I get 4 day pass since there is no 5 day pass, and get a separate 1 day Swiss travel card for Interlaken to Rome train , or just buy direct tickets on SBB ?

Thanks

You should buy a discounted ticket well in advance (like now). 2 adults and 2 late teens should be about 650 CHF to Roma Termini. Depart Interlaken Ost at 7:29 with connections at Spiez and Milano Centrale.

You could also check at www.trenitalia.com and see if there is any price advantage. That would be priced in EUR.

I just tried the pricing on SBB site — Interlaken to Rome for 12/21/24 2nd class for family of 4 , including 18 year old. It’s showing full price even for 18 year old, about 200 Swiss francs per person for 1130am departure.

Is there anything (any day pass) I need to buy or add for the price to reduce, especially the 18 year teenager ?

I’m planning to buy 4 day Swiss travel pass for the travel days before the above day (12/21/24) when we leave Switzerland to Italy

Thanks again

The problem for the 18 year old is that the age for adult travel in Switzerland is 16 and 14 in Italy.

So she gets an adult ticket I'm afraid

From the SBB information page:

Children and young people pay nothing for a journey on the EuroCity
between Switzerland and Italy on Swiss sections and 50% of the adult
fare on the Italian section. The offer is valid for children and young
people up to the age of 15.99 with a Junior Card or Children's
Travelcard when accompanied by an adult aged 16 or over. Up to four
children and young people per adult companion can travel at the
reduced price.

The price is valid all year round per person for a single journey on
EuroCity trains from Switzerland to Italy and vice versa.

Bimbi Gratis EuroCity. Conditions:

Limited offer. For groups between 2 and 5 people with at least one
adult and up to 4 children under the age of 15. Advance booking is
possible starting 180 days before departure. Reservation compulsory.
The ticket is only valid for the booked day and train. Exchange for
another day or time possible free of charge, subject to availability.
Refund possible before departure for a fee. No refund after departure.
Discounts:

Adults receive a 40% discount on the normal fare. No further
reductions with Half-Fare Card or GA. Accompanied children under 15
years of age travel free of charge.

Within Italy. Frecce, Intercity and Intercity Notte. 0–under 4 years: children travel free of charge (without their own seat).
4–under 15 years: children receive a reduction of 50%. Regional
trains. 0–under 4 years: children travel free of charge. Trenord:
4–under 14 years: children receive a reduction of 50%. Regional trains
Italy: 4–under 12 years: children receive a reduction of 50%.

From the Trenitalia information page:

Children under the age of 4 years old travel free of charge on all
national trains, in both 1st and 2nd class and in all levels of
service (Executive/Business/Standard/Premium) and on Regional trains,
as long as they do not occupy their own seat and are accompanied by an
adult.

On all national trains, in both 1st and 2nd class, and at all levels
of service (Executive/Business/Standard/Premium), children over 4 and
under 15 years of age are entitled to a 50% or 30% discount on the
Base price for services in Sleeping Cars and Comfort Couchettes.

On Regional trains, children over 4 and under 12 years of age are
entitled to a 50% discount on the full price of the ticket. Other
Terms and Conditions may be in force which differ from those applied
to the 39 Regional/Provincial fares.