Paris to Interlaken

Rail Europe often shows limited numbers of journeys. The proper French rail booking site is at voyages-sncf.com, but it still sometimes redirects US people to Rail Europe. Alternatively, you can try loco2 or trainline.eu (formerly known as Captain Train) which are legitimate online booking agents. There's no reason not to book through SBB, but compare the fares to the alternatives I've mentioned.

Arun, There are departures from Paris to Basel every 2 hours. From Basel to Interlaken there is a train every 30 minutes, and in Switzerland no reservations are necessary, your ticket will be valid on any train (unlike the TGV from Paris to Basel), so Basel to Interlaken is no problem.

Yes, buy from SBB, or loco2, or trainline; they should list all trains and give the same prices. Makes sure you get a "print-at-home" ticket, then you don't have to pick up a ticket at the station.

RailEurope is just a reseller (middle man) of tickets. They don't do a very good job at showing all trains. RE should NOT be used to query trains and times - use a trusted website like the ones mentioned above.

Part of the issue is that Rail Europe's shopping cart often can't handle more than one train connection on a route request and also that not all trains are for sale 4 months in advance. Third on the list would be the fact that don't sell some slower trains. The 18:23 is the only direct TGV that goes all the way to Interlaken. Booking that now for $44/adult looks like a pretty good option. Otherwise, if you just request a ticket from Paris to Basel, the most common transfer point, they'll show you more options.

Train connections within Switzerland don't require reservations, so if you plan to use any Swiss Pass product, you can start using it from Basel and jump on any trains toward Interlaken. Or if you'll get a Swiss Half-Fare Card, that also applies from Basel, but probably only SBB can sell the discounted tickets to go with it (either in the station or online). Kids are free on a rail pass but not on a TGV ticket.

Yes the 18:23 departure from Paris is a bargain as long as you don't mind arriving into Interlaken past midnight. That would not be my personal choice. There are many other connections all day long...not direct...but will get you to Interlaken at a decent hour of the day.

And if you want to take an alternative route -- Paris to Geneva or Lausanne via TGV/Lyrica on sncf (purchased from home), then Swiss trains to Interlaken. We bought the Half Fare Cards and tickets to Interlaken/Murren at the train station in Lausanne, no problem. Snacks at the Co-op, too.

Laura B is exactly correct. I really don't know why anybody would "want" to take that 1 direct train from Paris to Interlaken. It's such an inconvenient arrival time.

The time for the one direct daily service is not convenient, especially with kids, but it does mean a full day in Paris followed by a start the very next day right there in the Alps.

TGV 9225
Dep 18:23 PARIS GARE DE LYON (France)
Arr 00:23 INTERLAKEN OST (Switzerland)

Thank you for all the replies.
I have been looking at the rail sites mentioned above.
I am now looking for Paris to Basel TGV connnections instead of Paris to Interlaken.

My travel date is fixed to 16th of May. Up until 8th of April there is a TGV at 7:23AM which gets in Basel around 10:26
However from 10th of April onwards i no longer see the TGV at 7:23 but instead i see one which leaves at 7:07AM (and gets into Basel at 10:26).
I am only looking for direct trains.
I was keen on the 7:23 departure since I am travelling with 2 kids and any extra time in the morning is an advantage.

Am I to assume there is no 7:23 anymore and book myself on the 7:07? Or would there be other trains likely to be added?

Also i am not able to find "Print at home" option for the tickets. Doesnt seem to be very obvious. Where do i look for it?

Thanks again,
Arun

However from 10th of April onwards i no longer see the TGV at 7:23 but instead i see one which leaves at 7:07AM

I checked on the SBB website:

Paris-Gare de Lyon 07:07 TGV 9203
Belfort-Montbéliard TGV 09:26
Mulhouse Ville 09:52
Basel SBB 10:26
Zürich HB 11:26
Runs from 10. Apr to 1. Jul 2017 Mo - Sa; not 17. Apr 2017, 1., 8., 27. Mai 2017, 5. Jun 2017

"Am I to assume there is no 7:23 anymore and book myself on the 7:07?" - yes
"Or would there be other trains likely to be added?" - not likely. The French do change train times mid year (unlike the Swiss where they are cast in stone).

"Print at home" only appears when you buy the ticket. It offers various delivery options: post (France only), pick up at the station or print at home (send by e-mail). These options should appear after you have chosen train, class etc. but BEFORE you enter your payment method (credit card). Be sure everything is correct before you enter your credit card, that is the point of no return.

FYI, picking up the tickets at the station is easy -- machine will print them out using the reservation number you receive when you pay. Print-at-home is even easier, if that option is offered.

couple of final questions before i make the purchase.

1. I dont want to purchase Paris - Interlaken just yet. I would rather purchase Paris - Basel SBB now, while i work out the Swiss Pass details. Would this be the right thing to do? I will be in Switzerland from 16 (arrival) to 20 (interlaken to zurich). Thats 5 days inclusive. There is a 4 days Swiss Pass, so i may need to purchase a 1 day travel pass for either 16/20th.

2. The current price in the system (Paris - Basel, no stop, TGV) is 157 Euro. This is for 2 adults and 2 kids. Is this a good price to lock the tickets?

Thanks,
Arun

arun,
If you definitely intend to buy a Swiss Pass which includes your day of arrival, then no problem just buying tickets Paris to Basel. But if you don't, the extra cost of buying Paris to Interlaken will be less than the cost of a separate ticket from Basel to Interlaken.

"so i may need to purchase a 1 day travel pass for either 16/20th." - or just buy a ticket Paris to Interlaken.
But, are you actually staying in Interlaken, or somewhere further into the hills (Mürren, Lauterbrunnen, etc.)? If yes, it is a ticket to your actual destination you need to buy.

"The current price in the system (Paris - Basel, no stop, TGV) is 157 Euro. This is for 2 adults and 2 kids. Is this a good price to lock the tickets?" - sounds OK, prices never go down, only up, so go for it.

Note, this will not be "non stop", some trains stop at Dijon or Belfort, and they all stop at Mulhouse. Mulhouse is only 30 minutes before Basel. I once had to stop a pair of tourists getting off at Mulhouse thinking it was Basel. The fact that it said "Mulhouse" on the platform, and all the signs and adverts were in French instead of German did not register, I think they were very tired!