We're going to spend 6 days in Switzerland, and then 8 in Italy... both on a budget. My plan is to get a 4-day Swiss pass for the more expensive days of travel, and something similar for an Italy pass. Is there any way to get a two country pass for those two countries? I can't seem to find one. My biggest question is how to get between Luzern, Switzerland and Milan, Italy. It's a $200 train ticket. I'd like to use a railpass day for this, but it crosses into both countries. How does that work? Is this the best way to go? Have I overlooked something? Should i do it differently? Thanks!
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9110 posts
There is no combo Switzerland Italy pass. But a rail pass in Italy isn't very useful, it won't save you any money. The point to point tickets are very reasonable. Where did you see a $200 fare from Luzern to Milan? According to the Swiss Rail site (rail.ch), a standard ticket is 81CHF, and an advance purchase restricted ticket is only 25CHF. There is a direct train from Luzern at 8:18am, travel time is 3:32 hours. Best strategy is to use your Swiss Pass days for sightseeing across the country. When you're ready to head to Milan simply purchase a regular p to p tickets.
Posted by
Paradise
7072 posts
Jeff: s-can the bookmark to RailEurope. Their p2p ticket prices are absurdly high. Italy: national railways page: http://www.trenitalia.com
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17435 posts
You can buy those discount fare tickets from Luzern to Milan that Michael mentioned right on the Swiss rail site, www.rail.ch Print out the confirmation page and take it with you; you pick up the actual tickets at the train station in Switzerland. You'll need to show the credit card you used for the purchase.
Posted by
Redmond, WA
295 posts
It was 81 Swiss francs this summer Zurich to Milan. We used the Swiss rail pass for most of the journey; you just buy a ticket in Lucerne for the Chiasso to Milan leg, quite cheap.
Posted by
OP
Holland, MI
24 posts
Great! Thanks for the suggestions all. Three more questions... 1. If I buy a flex pass, could I get the discounts for the trams (like up to Gimmelwald from Interlaken/Lauterbrunnen) without using one of my "travel days"? 2. Also, could a Swiss Pass be used for the Golden Pass? Or is that a separate scenic train? 3. If I buy a Golden Pass ticket from Montreux to Luscerne, do I have to make that trip in one day? Or could I use part of it (Montreux to Interlaken) one day, spend a couple of days in the area, and use the rest (Interlaken to Luscerne) a few days later? THANKS!
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9110 posts
The Swiss Pass covers the Golden Pass train. If you want to make a seat reservation (which is optional) or upgrade to the scenic first-class panorama car...you'll have to pay a bit extra. You can break up the Golden Pass journey as much as you like. With the Swiss Pass you don't have to purchase individual tickets; you just hop on and off the trains.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17435 posts
Jeff----if you have a Flex pass, it works as a half-fare card on the non-travel days. So you can use it for 50% off the fare up to Gimmelwald, without using a day on the pass. Denise---Michael and I are referring to advance =purchase tickets you buy on the website for some routes such as Zurich to Milan. They are available 60 days in advance, and they sell out. When we went last summer, regular fare was 92 CHF and we got our tickets in advance for 30 CHF each. For round-trip tickets for a family of four, we saved 496 CHF that way. The current price is different; 86 CHF for the full fare and 25 CHF for the advance purchase tickets.