15484 posts
Hi Farooq, welcome to MySwissAlps!
You do not need a Swiss Pass. That’s a product for Swiss residents. You need a Swiss Travel Pass. Whether a Swiss Half Fare Card is better or even another pass depends on your travel plans. You can list them and do the math as explained here.
The SBB website is basically for Swiss residents. It does not list the tourist passes, although GA is identical to the Swiss Travel Pass and that selection should work for Italy. But, if you will have a Swiss Travel Pass, you only need tickets from Rome to the border (Domodossola) as the pass covers the rest of the trip. You can buy those tickets from the websites listed here. Prices at http://www.captaintrain.com, for example, start at just € 100 for two, which is much cheaper than what you quoted. But you will have to check for your travel date and time. Booking early usually gets you the best fares.
Be sure to buy your Swiss Travel Pass online as well to prevent loosing time at the border: myswissalps.com/ swisstravelpass/ price.
Does this help you out?
72625 posts
Many Thanks Arno for the quick reply.
1. So basically swiss pass will cover journey from Domodossola upto interlakin? although domodossola is in italy.
2. From domodossola which train should i take? does the train go directly to interlaken or via spiez?
Again many thanks for the help.
15484 posts
You’re welcome Farooq!
1. Yes, the Swiss Travel Pass (not Swiss Pass) will cover that part of the trip.
2. Almost all trains continue to Brig (Switzerland), so there’s no need to get off in Domodossola. You can check the timetable for all details.
72625 posts
Okay so i should get the ticket from rome to domodossola or from rome to brig?
thanks
15484 posts
Just to Domodossola is fine. Your pass covers the rest.
72625 posts
Thanks arno, will buy the ticket from rome to domodosala, but a seeking a few clarifications
– do i get off at domodosala or at brig
– from there i just get on the next available SBB train to interlaken?
regards
15484 posts
This has already been answered in my Aug 18, 2:35 PM post: you just stay seated and change trains in Brig, or Spiez if the train stops there too.
72625 posts
Many Thanks Arno, really appreciate your prompt and detailed help and apologies for asking trivial details since our plan has been made in a hurry on short notice and its first time we will use trains in Europe.
We intend to travel on 25th August to Rome and from there on 28th morning depart for interlaken. I have read on a page on this forum that if we purchase swiss travel pass online it needs to be shipped to our location. I am not sure i have enough time to receive shipment before we depart on 25th.
Can we purchase 4 day swiss travel pass from Rome itself? Will it cost more than the online one?
Thanks again for your prompt help as time is tight for us.
Regards
15484 posts
You’re most welcome, no problem! Swiss Travel Passes do not need to be shipped. You can print it at home. Processing orders takes 1-3 business days. My recommendation is to order through http://www.swissrailways.com/ en this weekend. That should get you the e-mail with the pass no later than August 24. But even if you would receive it later you can still access your e-mail from your hotel in Rome and ask the staff to print it for you. The printed pass is ready for travel immediately. You don’t need to do anything else.
I suppose it should be possible to buy a pass in Rome somewhere, but I don’t know where and I don’t know prices. It won’t be cheaper than buying online though. Printing it yourself is more convenient and quicker. Also you’ll have an electronic copy in case you loose the pass. That’s an extra benefit.