I'm taking my family on a 2.5 week trip this June in the following order: London – Paris – Swiss Alps (Interlaken / Bernese Oberland Region) – Venice – Rome. I'm looking at train options. From a purely financial-perspective, it looks like we will be substantially better off purchasing point-to-point train tickets (as opposed to a multi-country Eurail Pass). I do, however, feel the Swiss Card will be a good option for three reasons: (1) we're only going to one central region in Switzerland; (2) we're planning on going up the very expensive Schilthorn and Jungfrau (and the 50% discount from the Swiss Card will pay big dividends); and (3) we have one child under 16 who can travel free in Switzerland with the Swiss Family Pass. My main question is how do I book inter-country tickets in conjunction with using the Swiss Card? For example, we will be going from Paris to Interlaken. Part of the train trip, from the western Swiss border to Interlaken, should be covered by the Swiss Card. However, when I go to buy the tickets from either the French or Swiss websites, I don't see an option where I would get credit for the Swiss portion of the trip? Would I have to book this at the train station or is there another way?
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17442 posts
How far did you go in the booking investigation? Do a test run, using March 1 for the date of travel. When the screen pops up with the different trains, pick one and hit the red "Fare/Buy" button. Next screen asks if you are going oneway or Rt. Pick oneway and then continue. The next screen will ask how many passengers and 1 or 2d class. It will also have a drop down menu under " Reductions" for both France and Switzerland. Now the tricky part. The Swiss Card actually covers your first trip from the border to the Berner Oberland, or one day's inbound travel, for free. So they do not show it. If you are really using a Swiss card, then you would just buy a ticket from Paris to the border at Basel, where the card will kick in. But you should also compare to the cost of travel on a Half Fare Card, which gives the same 50% off everything but does not include the free inbound and outbound trips. The Half Fare card, at 110 CHF, is less expensive than a Swiss Card. Price from Paris to Interlaken using a Half Fare card is 160 CHF, or 107 CHF if the " special offer" tickets are available. So compare and see if it worth the extra cost for a Swiss Card ( remembering that your outbound trip to Italy will be covered from Interlaken to Domodossola or Chiasso, depending which way you go.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17442 posts
I should have just given the short answer, which is they don't show the discount with a Swiss Card because the Swiss portion is free and you do not need a ticket. You just buy a ticket from Paris to wherever you will cross the border (probably Basel if you want the most direct route.) But do compare prices as you might be better off with the
Special Offer price and Half Fare card.
Posted by
OP
Jacksonville, FL, USA
8 posts
Thank you very much for your feedback!!!