Q1: Is it cheaper to buy a rail pass once we're in Europe, or are they the same there as they are on this website and RailEurope, etc? Q2: We want to take the Golden Pass from Montreux to Interlaken and splurge and try to reserve a front row seat on a Sunday in July. Does that mean getting a reservation just as soon as they are available? And is that 60 days out?
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32829 posts
Generally international passes are not available in Europe - some single country passes are. You wow view on the Golden Pass is much better Interlaken => Montreux rather than the other way.
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
Yes, that means reserve as soon as it's available: http://www.goldenpass.ch/CMS/default.asp?ID=252 Things like Swiss Passes can be bought here or there. You'll pay in Chf in Switzerland or US Dollars here in the USA. Depends on the exchange rate and the shipping to make an educated guess.
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9101 posts
As Nigel says, the VIP seats are only worth it head towards Monetreux, you'll figure out why once your on the train;)
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9101 posts
The highlight of that segment of the Golden Pass route is when the train arrives at the mountain top just outside of Montreux. You get a commanding view of the city and Lake Geneva. For the next 30 minutes the train has to zig-zag its way down a very steep route to the station at the shore of the lake. The VIP seats enhance this experience...in the other direction it's a waste.
Posted by
OP
Spokane
10 posts
Thank you Michael and Nigel about the wow factor, but why does the direction of travel make such a difference?