1- If I understand correctly, each travel pass requires ID. Myself and two adult children are coming from 3 different cities in the U.S., meeting in Chicago and flying to Zurich. I would like to buy all 3 Swiss Travel Passes before we go, but if ID is required, naturally I can't do that. Am I correct?
2- Would it be better to purchase the Travel Passes on our arrival in Zurich?
3- If I were to decide on the half-price travel pass, how does the other 1/2 get paid? Concerned about having to take time to purchase remaining amount owed and missing the train?
4- What kind of coins are required to use the luggage bins? Restrooms? Are their kiosks in the train stations for changing money?
Posted by
Green Bay
20096 posts
- You could buy 3 passes and put the names of each traveler on their passes. All they need to do is show their passports when the conductors ask, showing that the name on the pass is the person holding the pass.
- Yes that is an option.
- When you get a Half Fare Card, you just buy a ticket and indicate you have the Half Fare Card, and you get half off automatically. You can down load the SBB app and buy tickets with that rather than from a ticket window or vending machine.
- Swiss coins, but many are now credit card enabled. These you only get 6 hours of use, and then if you go over, you scan your ticket and you get charged an additional amount, which you then pay with your credit card to open the locker. Have tap enabled credit cards. You should not "change money" but withdraw Swiss Francs from your own bank account at an ATM with your ATM card. The network will take of the exchange rate at the best possible rate. In fact, you can use credit cards for almost anything in Switzerland and not need much cash. Always choose to pay in Swiss Francs when asked and your credit card network will take care of the exchange.
Posted by
San Diego, California
4710 posts
Having your credit cards in your Apple wallet saves getting your leather wallet out at all. You just tap to pay . If you're not doing this now to pay for groceries, etc., start practicing. It's great! You can also put STP in your Apple Wallet, not sure about the Half-fare Pass.
Buying the travel pass in advance allows you to have an electronic copy, in the event you lose your paper copy of the pass.
Have you downloaded the SBB app?
Have an incredible time in this beautiful country.
Safe travels!
Posted by
Nashville, TN
416 posts
When you read that an ID is required for a pass, they mean that the SBB employee can potentially ask you for ID when checking tickets/passes while on the train. You don’t need an ID to purchase the pass, just to use it. You won’t typically be asked for ID on the train, but just have it on you in case. We don’t like carrying our passport around, so we just bring our US drivers license and that’s an acceptable form of ID for them.
Posted by
OP
7 posts
Thank you so much for the info. This forum and the people who respond are invaluable! Thank you for taking the time to help us wayward travelers!
Posted by
51 posts
@Wanderweg, I am glad to read that carrying the passport isn't really necessary. That totally terrifies me, but on lots of other forums people say that it essential, yet I know you spend months there.
My plan is that I have a screenshot of my passport on my phone, and I plan to also copy the main page and have it laminated so, if for some reason the phone dies I have a backup.
@Pat, as for using ApplePay, I couldn't agree more. Even better if you have an Apple Watch. We spent lots of time on public transport in the UK and France last year and I could simply tap my watch on the reader everywhere. No risk of having credit cards and phones out while in the peak hour crowds.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32764 posts
a screen shot or laminated photocopy of your passport will likely not be accepted by hotels which need the actual passport to comply with law, you driving licence is not official ID in Europe. Nor by officials.
A train conductor may accept them, just want to match up the names.
I hope your plan works.
Posted by
1 posts
Can any one provide insights on the Swiss Travel Pass versus the Half Fare Card?
When we go to book trains on SBB, there is no drop down option to reference we have the Swiss Travel Pass. There are options to select the Half Fare card.
It’s very unclear to me what the Swiss Travel Pass covers and how to use it.
For example, we are taking a train from Milan to Lucerne, then up to Grindelwald. Then on to Zurich. We want to the scenic routes, not necessarily the panorama or more touristy trains.
Thank you
Posted by
Green Bay
20096 posts
If you look at an International train, there is an option to put in a Swiss Travel Pass. It is called a "GA Travelcard", which means any travel card that provides free transportation in Switzerland. You do not see this option on trains totally within Switzerland because that would be redundant. This map shows the "GA" area of validity with all the routes covered.
https://www.seat61.com/reference/swiss-train-map.pdf
Milan to Luzern, put "Goeschenen" in the "via" box to make sure you get the panoramic route. For the time being, all trains are taking the panoramic route until the Gotthard Base Tunnel is fully functional again. That is scheduled for September. When that is going again, most trains will take a very long tunnel under those beautiful Alps. Saves time, but not terribly scenic.
Luzern to Grindelwald will be on the scenic Golden Pass route. That will be the fastest way, so the SBB route planner will show it automatically. That is the hourly Luzern-Interlaken Express, which has panoramic cars throughout. There is no surcharge for these as they are part of the regional transport network. They do sell seat reservations though for the worried, or large groups. You can use the same train going back to Zurich by putting "Luzern" in the "via" box.