We are doing a 10 night trip starting in Milan and working our way to Geneva (Milan-Como-Lucerne-Grindelwald-Bern-Geneva). In Italy I plan to buy point to point train tickets. In Switzerland it might be better to get a 4 day Swiss pass. Regardless my questions are:
1. Do I need to buy the Swiss Pass prior to leaving the US? I'm assuming you can't buy it in Italy, either via email in the US or at a Swiss train station?
2. If I do have a Swiss pass obviously that only covers trains in Switzerland. What do I do for the Como-Lucerne trip? Do I just show the Swiss Pass (assuming I got in prior to leaving the US) and they will only charge me the difference from Como to the Swiss border?
I've had a little bit of experience riding trains in Switzerland but that was in 2008 and none with Italy.
Thank you.