please help. I will be traveling with my 15 year old son for about 6 nights total in Switzerland in july. we are coming from Innsbruck Austria to bern than to either lucern or Lausanne than fly out of Geneva. I have been told to buy the 1/2 fare card and family pass. I saw that there is a 1 day travel pass for 6-16 year olds for 16 chf. am I better off buying 3 of those if I think we will have 3 train days in switzerlan?and pay for a second class ticket for myself? do I need to buy those ahead of time? when I buy my ticket to go from Innsbruck to bern will my son be allowed to be free if I have that? what is the cost to go to the above destinations? when i look on rail europe they seem very expensive for point to point is there a better place to look that is in english? do I need to make reservations ahead for the swiss trains or can we buy them that day for the same price? thank you fro any help or recommendations.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
I've haven't yet been to Switzerland. But one of your questions I can answer right away:
"when i look on rail europe they seem very expensive for point to point is there a better place to look that is in english?"
Stay away from Rail Europe and stop using it immediately. They are a reseller, they do not sell all trains, and they mark up the tickets that they do sell (sometimes substantially).
Instead, get your Swiss train information right from the source - Swiss Rail: http://www.sbb.ch/en/home.html. But note that the fares initially displayed assume you will be using a half fare card. If you aren't, you need to double them.
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
First, you don't need any kind of Swiss pass or card for your son to have the Swiss family card. He just needs to travel with one parent who has a valid ticket. Second, for you, you may not need any type of pass or card at all unless your total Swiss travel cost will exceed 240CHF.
You should be able to get a nice fare from Austria to Bern. At Bern, you can purchase your next ticket along with the Swiss Family Card. If you are going from Bern to Lucerne, the fare is 37CHF. The trip takes 90 minutes. If you are going from Bern to Lausanne, the fare is 32CHF. Thus far, you aren't spending a lot of money on Swiss transportation. From Lucerne to Geneva, the fare is 76CHF. It's a lot less from Lausanne. The least expensive Swiss pass or card is the 1/2-fare card. It will cost you 120CHF. Then, you add on 1/2 the fares mentioned above. Unless you are doing a lot more train travel than you mention in your post, you really don't need any kind of Swiss pass or card.
Posted by
OP
12 posts
thank you. so should I buy the half fare card and family pass before I leave US so I would get a discount when buying my ticket from Innsbruck to bern? where do I buy them and how far ahead should I do that. when i go to the rick steves spot to look at the price it quotes $140 for first class for the half fare card. can i buy a second class half fare card? where and how?thanks again
Posted by
Bainbridge Island
3099 posts
There is only one Half-Fare card and it works for either First or Second class tickets. The cost in Switzerland is 120 CHF, so the RS/RailEurope shop is charging a bit more in dollars ($140.) So you could buy it when you get to Switzerland but then you would not have it in hand for the Innsbruck to Bern or Lucerne journey, and you wouldn't have the Family Card for your son to travel the Swiss portion for free.
So IF you decide to get one it is best to buy it here so you have it for that first trip. But the whole point of Larry's post above is that unless you are traveling in Switzerland more than you state above, the HF card will cost you more than just buying regular tickets. If you don't buy a pass or card You would have to pay for the family card for your son, but I think it is only 30 CHF.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
Based on your several posts, I'd say you are worrying more than necessary.
- You don't need to book ahead for Swiss trains, but instead of expecting the Austrian station to apply a Swiss discount, I would book the departure from Wien/Vienna on the SBB web site, which allows you to indicate that you have the Half-Fare and Family/Junior Card.
- In order to have a the Swiss Half-Fare Card ($140) and free Family Card in hand when you enter from Austria, do order them for home delivery before you go. Then, you don't have to get off the train at the border, or spend time in line when changing trains at Zurich. Expect to pay an $18 delivery fee, since this small order doesn't meet Rail Europe's $399 minimum for free shipping.
- With cards in hand, you can buy your remaining Swiss tickets at the adult Half-Fare rate from either ticket staff or ticket machines in stations.
Posted by
OP
12 posts
thank you very much everyone for your help. so if I do NOT buy the half fare card for myself my 15 year old son is automatically free if I buy point to point tickets in switzerland? please let me know thanks again best wishes
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
you're exactly right. If you're on a train, bus, boat, gondola, funicular in Switzerland with a valid ticket your son goes with you for free as long as you have the free Swiss Family Card.
Posted by
OP
12 posts
thank you. can I get a free swiss family card if I do not buy a swiss pass? if yes how do I get it before I leave US? thanks again