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Swiss Travel Pass thoughts

Since many of the post on here are asking about travel passes and itineraries I thought I would give our experience.

We did two weeks in June (Lucerne, Interlaken and Montreux as bases). We didn't really have a definite itinerary just a list of things we would like to do as time, travel and weather allowed. We decided to go for the 15 day Swiss Travel Pass, first class to maximise our prospects. I am going to post a full trip report but in summary we rode 73 trains, 22 boats and 25 funiculars, cable cars and other contraptions for getting up and down hills plus assorted buses and trams.

I didn't add up to see if we got our money's worth but if we didn't with those counts then nobody can. Alpins reckon in 99% of cases the half fare card saves most money but with flaky esims and credit card companies wanting extra validation for online transactions I don't think it would have been practical for so many journeys. The whole point was that we could add additional trips or cross Switzerland for better weather or change our minds at the last minute (we certainly did all of those) and not worry about arrangements or cost.

Received wisdom on here is that second class is perfectly nice which it is but it was also much busier. On the boats especially we could almost always get a nice table for food and drink service and on the trains two seats together usually going forwards or the 1 v 1 across from each other if not a 4 to ourselves. This made the travel some of the best parts of the holiday not just something to be endured. I didn't add up exactly our expenses for the whole trip but it was probably around $14000 for everything and we stayed at very nice hotels in rooms with lake views. I note that the RS trip is $5700 for 12 days not including flights so a couple travelling from the US would already be spending more than we did even before any extras which suggest most of this audience are probably in similar budget range. Anybody spending this sort of money and doing a lot of travel then it is a false economy not to get first class IMHO.

One word of warning for anybody trying to emulate or beat our journey count. Many of our connections were only 5 or 6 minutes. 10 was a luxury. We only missed one and that was when the train broke down and we had to get off. The SBB app is great. It warns you if trains are running even a couple of minutes late, there are schematics for which platforms to cross or go under / over to make the connection and gives train configurations which along with the zones on the platform guide you to where the first class carriages will be. You can work out from the diagrams plus a phone map which side you are going to get off. I am 70 but armed with those pieces of information I was able to move sharply to get us good seats even on the busier trains. If you are in a bigger group that moves at the speed of the slowest person or you have to seek out a ramp or elevator you will likely still make most of the connections but your experience may be quite different if you are at the back of the frequent small stampedes from platform to platform, the more so if you are in second class. My competition was mostly bemused equally elderly tourists. School children / parties and rush hour office workers are quite a different matter.

Posted by
498 posts

Wow! I’d say you certainly got your money’s worth out of the pass. That is a lot of trains, boats and lifts in 15 days! I am looking forward to reading your trip report.

Posted by
4477 posts

I am a big fan of the Swiss Travel Pass for its convenience. I’m glad you put it to good use.

Posted by
4 posts

That sounds incredible. These train passes are the most confusing! We are going to be in Lauterbrunnen for 7 days and have lots of things planned that will require trains, boats, funniculars, etc I am thinking the Jungrau Pass should serve us well and trying to understand if we need another pass and if so, why we need it.

We will go from Zurich AP to Lauterbrunnen and Lauterbrunnen to Lucerne to Zurich AP. The rest will be the above modes of travel.

Does anyone have any input on this?

Posted by
245 posts

My father and I just got back from two weeks in Switzerland. We swear by the Swiss Travel Pass - it's an all-inclusive vacation once you count the castle and museum entries. We go for second class but do look enviously at the quiet, spacious first class cars.

We stayed in Lausanne for a week and St. Gallen for a week. With the pass, we visited: Geneva (3 times), Yvoire, Thonon Les Bains, Evian Les Bains, Bern, Lucern, Zurich (2 times), Konstanz (2 times), Rhine Falls, Appenzell, Chur, Lichtenstein, Rorschach, and Seealpsee. We did so many different things, and we chose them all spontaneously. Every day, we'd start walking to the train station (or ferry terminal) at 11AM and just pick a place to go.

Well worth the money spent!

Posted by
23695 posts

The problem is that it only gives discounts for mountain lifts and railways in the Berner Oberland. Depending on your plans, a Half Fare Card plus either the Jungfrau Travel Pass or the Berner Oberland Pass will give better coverage on these.

Posted by
498 posts

trying to understand if we need another pass and if so, why we need
it.

@ Bethk, it is always possible to purchase tickets for public transportation at the regular price anytime (as long as you have a valid ticket before departure time.

You can look and see if the one month Half Fare Card will save you additional money…but you never need have a pass of any kind. Check regular prices at sbb.ch and compare with any pass.