Planning to buy 8 day Swiss Flex Pass. I see Mt. Pilatus has a 50% discount for Swiss Pass holders. If I use the discount does that count as one of my days? Or does that only apply when the ticket is free? Also is there any advantage to buying my Swiss pass in US or in Switzerland? Does price change depending on when or where you buy pass? Plan to use September 2015. Thanks.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
This year, the mountain discounts are only offered on the 8 counted Swiss flexipass travel days, UNLESS you buy the version of the pass with Half-Fare Combo added for $66 more. On those 8 travel days, you can use as many covered and discounted services as you like until midnight.
If you want to have it in your hand before you go, then order it for home delivery at http://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation/trains/switzerland-rail-passes. Or buy it in a Swiss train station, if that's more convenient for you. Prices vary more with US/Swiss exchange rates, or the occasional sale, than for any other reason.
Posted by
OP
San Francisco Bay Area
16 posts
So is that a new change from the current RS guide? On page 401 it says "If you have a Swiss flexipass, note that when you're not using a travel day, your pass gets you a 50% discount on all rides taken before you use your last travel day." So if we plan on lots of activities on the non-travel days, we should get a the half-fare combo? Thanks for info Laura.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
Yes, that is a new "feature" this year and is different from how discounts work with any other rail pass! I hope they'll change it back next year. You may run into the older-info on other pages of the book, too, in relation to this pass. For this year, I would get the Half-Fare Combo version. The add-on cost is the same $66 for any size of flexipass, but built into the total price you see when you select pass type, currently $514 per adult in 2nd class.
Posted by
OP
San Francisco Bay Area
16 posts
Laura,
Thanks for steering me to the travel pass with half fare card combo. In the Berner Oberland, when going up the mountains such as Jungfraujoch and Schilthorn, which is better to use? The Swiss Travel pass which covers free train to a certain point than a 25% discount the rest of the way. Or the half fare card that covers 50% off the whole way? Not sure if I got these numbers right, looking at the latest RS guide and am a bit confused.
Originally I was counting these expensive mountain trips as train days for my flexi pass, but wondering if it is better to use the half fare card on these days? Perhaps we only need 3 or 4 days for the flexipass and use the half fare card on remaining days. Thanks.