I want to get from Nice to Lucerne on June 5. I know how to book train travel, but I'm wondering if flying would be a better way to go. I've never booked air flights within Europe and I could use some help on finding my best options. A travel agent quoted me a price of $709/person - that is definitely not going to be an option!
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
Since Lucerne doesn't have a commercial airport, I assume the fare the travel agent quoted was for a flight from Nice to Zurich on Swissair. You would need to take a train from Zurich to Lucerne.
The good news is that you can fly Nice-London Heathrow and Heathrow-Zurich on British Airways for a total of a little over $200. The bad news is that with layover time at LHR you won't really save any time compared to taking the train.
Take the train. Leave Nice at 09:49, change in Milan and Arth-Goldau, and arrive at Lucerne at 18:41. A relaxing, comfortable, and scenic ride beats flying, especially in this case.
Posted by
OP
Seattle, Washington
682 posts
Thanks, Tim, that makes sense. It appears that I can buy tickets on the Swiss railway site, which looks far easier than the Italian site. When I buy tickets on the French site (TGV), there are all kinds of deals offered, especially for seniors. I don't see anything like that on the Swiss site. Am I missing something?
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
Nancy,
You cannot book tickets on the Trenitalia site because it doesn't accept US credit cards.
You could book Nice-Milan on the French Rail site and Milan-Lucerne on the Swiss Rail site.
If you book well in advance on the Swiss Rail site, you can get a discount fare of 41 CHF for Milan-Lucerne with a connection at Arth-Goldau. (The standard 2nd class fare is 91 CHF.) I don't know of any other discounts.
Or you could book the whole trip (Nice-Lucerne) on the Swiss Rail site, but the fare won't be shown until you request a quote to be sent to you by e-mail.
Posted by
OP
Seattle, Washington
682 posts
After many frustrating hours of trying to deal with this, I think I have it figured out. I received an email back from the Swiss site saying, "Price enquiries and orders for journeys from abroad to Switzerland, for outbound journeys from the Swiss border, or for journeys outside of Switzerland are primarily to be addressed to the railway company of the country concerned." So, I did as you suggested and booked (fake) the first segment on the TGV site that I'm very comfortable with and did the second leg on the Swiss site. Then, the Swiss site came up with the price (41 CHF, as you said). I would do the whole thing on the TGV site, but they insist on having me go via Paris (12+ hours). I so appreciate your help for getting me this far. I can't find anywhere on the Swiss site how far in advance I can buy the tickets - 2 or 3 months? Also, if I don't buy tickets (Swiss site)that I can print at home, can I pick them up at a station in Italy or France? It appears that the tickets you get from the station (rather than print yourself) are more flexible. Again, thank you so much!