Swiss Pass question

[Pete81E]

Quick question as I have not had a Swiss pass before.

If we buy 2 adult Swiss passes with a 15% discount do both adults need to travel together always? Not trying anything funny, but have a family holiday planned and very probable mum and daughter may wish to stay and shop at least one day, while me and son would like to travel for the day.

Would that be allowed? Would there only be one actual ticket/pass (plus famly card)?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Pete

 

[Greenback]

Hi and welcome to the forums!

I have been looking into a Swiss Pass for myself and my partner as we are planning a visit in April.

It is my understanding that to take advantage of the 15% discount both adults must travel together at all times.

 

[30907]

I haven't had a Swiss Pass in years so can't be sure - but would it not be OK so long as the two adults didn't try to make simultaneous trips on different routes (I don't know whether it comes as one ticket or two...) - ie one adult can travel solo? Obviously the children can only travel WITH one or other adult.

 

[Greenback]

Just found a page where it states that the discounted rates ar eonly for adults travelling together at all times:

http://www.swisspasses.com/railpass/pass/

I know it is not the official SBB site, but I am sur ethat the itnention behind the discount is that if you are intending to travel independently you should buy two passes without the discount.

 

[Oscar]

Just found a page where it states that the discounted rates ar eonly for adults travelling together at all times:

http://www.swisspasses.com/railpass/pass/

I know it is not the official SBB site, but I am sur ethat the itnention behind the discount is that if you are intending to travel independently you should buy two passes without the discount.

I have been told by SBB staff that the two passengers cannot travel separately at the same time with this "Saver" pass - the condition of the discount is that the passengers cannot travel on different trains at the same time.

 

[Squaddie]

The Saver pass will be a single ticket with both passengers' names (and passport numbers) on it, and a very clear instruction that the ticket is only valid if both people are travelling together.

If you try to use the ticket on your own you will be caught, as Swiss train managers are extremely efficient at checking tickets, and you will be very politely asked to pay a very large amount of money. You may occasionally be asked to show the passports, too, so make sure you always carry them. (It is, in any case, a legal requirement to carry ID in Switzerland).

 

[30907]

OK, I stand corrected!

 

[snail]

In the couple of trips to Switzerland I've done I have found the simplest deal was to get the pass that includes a return trip from airport to destination and discounts on local fares. Depends where you are going though, and whether you're centred in one resort as to what is most suitable.

 

[Greenback]

In the couple of trips to Switzerland I've done I have found the simplest deal was to get the pass that includes a return trip from airport to destination and discounts on local fares. Depends where you are going though, and whether you're centred in one resort as to what is most suitable.

Is this the Swiss Transfer ticket? I can't see anything about discounts on local fares, have you got a link?

 

[Oscar]

No, this product is the Swiss Card.
Interrail One Country Switzerland is excellent value as the prices are set outside Switzerland and are therefore not affected by the high franc. The disadvantage of this ticket is however that it is not accepted on most transport companies other than SBB (although many rail staff seem unaware of this).

 

[snail]

No, this product is the Swiss Card.

That's the one. Last time it was very good value for 1st class from Zurich to Interlaken (via Luzern or Thun). Because you buy separate tickets for each person you don't have to travel together to get the 1/2 price local travel. It also qualified for other discounts, like 25% off the Jungfraujoch railway.

 

[radamfi]

http://www.interrail.eu/sites/all/f...ds/railway-map-switzerland-interrail-2010.pdf

is a map showing where Interrail Passes are valid in Switzerland. You do get a discount on most lines where it isn't valid for free travel.

 

[Greenback]

Thanks Oscar, I think we will have to buy the InterRail One Country Switzerland pass - the price looks almost too good to be true!

 

[Gerald Fiennes]

The Swiss Card gets you access to slightly more railways (eg. BOB) than the Interrail One Country. It can also be bought either in the UK priced in £s. (via the Switzerland Tourist Office) or on arrival in CH at Basel SBB, Zurich HB or Zurich Airport, priced in CHF.
There are a number of Swiss Regional passes, which the previous post I suspect was thinking of, eg. for Lake Luzern, Berner Oberland, Lausanne/Geneva. These are not marketed via the railways or interrail very heavily so you will have to look for them on the internet. They are reasonable value if you are just staying in one area and offer access to even more railways than the Interrail.
Another option, which is the one I have often used, is to buy a one month half price card (priced at CHF 110) per adult, which is only available to non Swiss citizens, and then gets you half price travel more or less anywhere for a month (so you can even make a second trip a few weeks later!) You then add on a Swiss Family Card for the children under 16 (used to be CHF20 per child), which gives them free travel everywhere provided that they are accompanying an adult with a ticket.. It can also be combined with the Swiss day card, so that you can buy a one-day travel card that covers practically all lines in Switzerland (Glacier express for a small supplement) and has the same validity as a 'General Abonnnement' ticket. Personally, I find that this offers greater flexibility than the Swiss Card/Interrail One Country, because you can choose how many long trips you take when you are there.
This may all seem a bit detailed, but I am afraid that CH is still a pretty expensive country so I expect you'll be looking at as many options as possible to make your travel budget go further!

 

[Squaddie]

Another option, which is the one I have often used, is to buy a one month half price card (priced at CHF 110) per adult, which is only available to non Swiss citizens, and then gets you half price travel more or less anywhere for a month (so you can even make a second trip a few weeks later!)

If you travel to Switzerland more than a couple of times a year a proper Swiss Railways 50% discount card (Halbtax) is better value, costing CHF 175 (about £120) for a year or CHF 450 (£300) for three years. It's available by mail order from SBB.

 

[radamfi]

One major advantage of the Half Fare card is that you are then able to get a day ticket for unlimited travel for 71 CHF before 0900 or 58 CHF after 0900.

 

[Pete81E]

Thanks for all the info. I did look at the other options but as we will be travelling every day for 8 days doing a lot of miles (sorry, kilometres) I quite like the idea of the flexibilty to hop on (almost) any train and also having city transport being included without the need to buy any other tickets. I'm willing to pay a little extra than I need rather than have to buy advance tickets / city tickets.

I guess the girls will just have to resign themselves to a six hour session at Kilwangen-Spreitenbach! Actually, they can shop till they drop in Zurich and I'll cough up for a CDR!
I assume the family card would be valid for my son if I do that?

Thanks,
Pete

 

[Squaddie]

I would warn against trying to do too much. Even in Switzerland, where distances are generally small, the scenery unrivalled and the trains a joy to travel in, travelling every day can soon take its toll. In my experience - and it's quite extensive experience - the ideal pattern is one day of long-distance travelling, one day staying locally and taking local trains and mountain railways, and one day of walking and relaxing, taking trains only as necessary to get to the start of a walk. With that pattern, a flexi-pass is the most cost-effective option.

Last autumn Swiss Travel Centre in London were offering two flexi passes for the price of one, which was a stunning deal. I'm hoping they'll do the same thing this year.

 

[89-763-733]

Kilwangen-Spreitenbach is covered by the ZVV 24 hour or 9 UHR PASS rover tickets

 

[bkhtele]

Switzerland is wonderful by train. We used the transfer ticket from The Italian border to Davos and then returned Davos to Geneva airport. (breaking our journey in Geneva for 1/2 a day. It is great value as you can travel from the border or airport to your destination on the opposite side of Switzerland for one price.
Also During the summer in Davos the tourist tax includes local trains, buses & cable cars for "free" for the family.

We used this extensively & then paid for one long journey. Every day in the train & great value. I believe several other areas have a similiar arrangement.
I think if you stay in Geneva the tourist tax includes public transport in Geneva plus train to the airport. Enjoy!