Hi,
We're 4 people (2 adults, 2 kids -11 & & yrs old) travelling from Interlaken to Paris. We'll be staying for 4 nights in Switzerland in Interlaken. Wanted to know what are the options. Which Swiss pass would be ideal for us to use it within Switzerland as well as get some discount in the train ride from Interlaken to Paris.
Should we buy separate ticket from Interlaken to Paris all the way through from the Swiss site or do it in sectors - from Interlaken to Basel and than to Paris (Swiss site or TGV site)?
Thanks,
SC
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
The Swiss Card plus free Family Card is a good choice to cover your trains to and from Interlaken (or other home-base town), and give you 50% discounts on all other transportation during your stay. The kids (under 16) will be free on everything, even when the parents buy discounted tickets. Then, buy a separate, reserved TGV ticket from Basel to Paris.
I don't see the Swiss site offering discounts that the French site has. Rick’s France rail travel page has the link and tips for buying “Prems” rate TGV tickets through SNCF (cheap, reserved, nonrefundable, available three or four months ahead of your travel date) to print at home and pay with PayPal. It does not tend to work with US credit cards, unless you have an extra level of security set up.
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9100 posts
The Swiss Rail site does offer Prem fares. It's listed as "Special Offer-No exchange/refund":
http://gyazo.com/b418157521f47f92e001d92ee4ab8c4d
Best to purchase the Basel-Paris ticket separate from Interlaken-Basel. Interlaken-Basel can be easily purchased at the station on the day of your journey.
Posted by
Bainbridge Island
3099 posts
As Michael pointed out, SBB.ch DOES offer special price tickets from Interlaken ( or Basel) to Paris, and other non-Swiss cities. We bought them for Zurich to Milan a few years go and saved a bunch (496 CHF for Rt tickets for our family of four).
The Swiss website is very easy to use and has no problem at all with US credit cards.
Posted by
OP
12 posts
Thank you all for the response. I've already purchased the TGV ticket separately from the SCNF website and did get special fare. I will purchase the Interlaken to Basel once I have purchased the Swiss Family Pass. Is it possible to buy the pass while I'm in US? How do I collect the pass from here? DO they deliver or I have to show them the pront-out and collect at one of the Swiss train station. Please clarify. Thanks!
-SC