Summer discounts of up to € 60 on rail passes

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  • Removed user
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    8 July 2015 at 21:17:48 #844271

    I know I have to purchase this ticket before August 26, 2015 to get the discount. I will be in Switzerland in September. Can I use the pass after August 26, 2015?

    Arno
    Moderator
    15484 posts
    9 July 2015 at 9:34:49 #844272

    Hi texbase,

    You indeed have to buy before August 26, but you can buy for a later travel date (up to 6 months in advance). So you can take advantage of this promotion. In your case you can find the promo codes on http://www.raileurope-world.com/deals/great-deals-to-tour-Europe.

    Removed user
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    25 July 2015 at 19:35:31 #844273

    1) I think I’m correct in believing there are no senior discounts on the Swiss Half Fare pass, yes?

    2) Are the summer promotion discounts good for Swiss Half Fare passes? I’m probably just not looking in the right place, but I’m not seeing a code for the discount.

    3) Are the summer discount deals only online orders?

    4) If we order 3 Swiss Half Fare passes, is it cheaper to purchase them when we arrive in Zurich airport on Sept. 24, rather than ordering them now with the discount offer that ends Aug. 26 and have them sent to Minnesota USA? Is each pass charged the shipping fee, or since they would be ordered at the same time and sent to the same address would there only be one shipping fee?

    Thank you for clarifications.

    Arno
    Moderator
    15484 posts
    26 July 2015 at 14:11:16 #844274

    Hi lkbavmn,

    1) Yes, that’s correct. There are no senior discounts on any rail pass.

    2) Sure, the discounts apply to all tickets and passes. I’m not sure why you don’t see any codes. You just need to click the appropriate link in my initial post. In your case, from the US, you end up on http://www.raileurope-world.com/deals/great-deals-to-tour-Europe. If you scroll down a bit you’ll find the codes.

    3) Yes, Rail Europe only sells online.

    4) It’s much more expensive to buy in Zurich. I estimate you’ll save € 40 to € 50 by buying through http://www.raileurope-world.com/pass/swiss-half-fare-card. You only pay once for shipping the 3 Swiss Half Fare Cards.

    Did this answer all your questions?

    Removed user
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    5 August 2015 at 17:26:11 #844275

    Hi arno,

    i know this is last minute but today i arrived in basel and i have not booked my swiss pass yet.

    so is it possible to book it via above site and use it from tomorrow morning ?

    please let me know by tonight if possible.

    thanks

    Arno
    Moderator
    15484 posts
    5 August 2015 at 19:00:19 #844276

    Hi krunalb,

    I’m sorry, but it’s too late to make use of this offer since they ship the pass physically. You’d better buy it at the rail station in Basel for the regular price.

    Enjoy your stay!

    Removed user
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    5 August 2015 at 21:07:58 #844277

    I found a list of what I think are RailEurope representatives in various countries and we found one in the USA, so we have been speaking with them about rail passes and train tickets, etc. We mentioned the RailEurope Summer Discounts and gave them the discount codes and they said they didn’t know anything about them and the codes didn’t work when they tried them. Are they only applicable when we ourselves would order passes and train tickets online?

    Arno
    Moderator
    15484 posts
    6 August 2015 at 5:07:52 #844278

    The discount is indeed only available through the Rail Europe websites in my first post.

    Removed user
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    6 August 2015 at 7:03:55 #844279

    Hi Arno

    so presumably this deal is not available to people in UK? Or can I pay in euros? When I go to the site it quotes the price in pounds and there is no discount code.

    Thank you for your excellent informative website.

    Arno
    Moderator
    15484 posts
    6 August 2015 at 15:17:18 #844280

    Hi carolyn,

    Are you looking on one of the websites I listed in my first post? As far as I know they do not offer prices in GBP. Other websites won’t offer these discounts.

    For the UK, you can visit http://www.raileurope-world.com/deals/great-deals-to-tour-Europe. When asked for your country of residence or shipping address, please select England. They don’t list United Kingdom. Payment will be in euros.

    Removed user
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    6 August 2015 at 20:18:23 #844281

    Yes!!! That worked, thank you, you have saved me £204 off our groups travel costs. I’m very grateful. Thank you!!!

    HappyFeet
    Participant
    2 posts
    8 August 2015 at 18:56:15 #844282

    Hi! I just found this website and forum.

    We are heading to Switzerland this Friday, August 14. Is there any way to purchase the discounted passes and have them expedited to us before we fly out? We live near Seattle, Washington. We’ll be staying in Murren at an AirBNB there for the first half of our trip.

    Arno
    Moderator
    15484 posts
    9 August 2015 at 11:58:42 #844283

    Hi HappyFeet, I’m glad you found us!

    Unfortunately it’s too late to have the passes shipped to the US, as delivery takes up to 8 business days (to any address worldwide). You can also have them sent to Mürren or any other address in Switzerland. I’m not sure if that would work for you. If so, go to http://www.raileurope-world.com/deals/great-deals-to-tour-Europe and proceed from there.

    If this does not work for you, you can consider ordering the passes through the SBB webshop at http://www.swissrailways.com/ en. The prices there are identical to any Swiss rail station, so you won’t save money, but you can print the passes at home and board your first train immediately. So you save time upon arrival. They require up to 3 business days to e-mail the passes, so you can still use this option.

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    10 August 2015 at 19:51:15 #844284

    Hi Arno,

    i was trying to book the Swiss pass through rail Europe from the link you have provided, after selecting England as the home country, but on proceeding ahead with the booking, it does not give me any option to print the Swiss passes at home but by default selects the option to ship it to the home address

    So overall it’s charging me an additional amount of 20 Euros ( 12 euros for shipping + 8 euros as some additional charge)

    Am I missing something here, or doing something wrong, I thought I would be able to print the passes at home, but on trying the same option for Swiss pass from the link for India, it does not charge me any shipping charges, but again does not give me an option to print the passes at home.

    There’s a Swiss Travel Pass promotion for the UK coming up. I’ll post about it later today.

    Thanks

    Removed user
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    10 August 2015 at 23:18:18 #844285

    I suppose that is not applicable anymore. They are quite same everywhere. So i am thinking of buying it at Basel once i reach. I will carry swiss franc which will give me a little discount.

    HappyFeet
    Participant
    2 posts
    11 August 2015 at 0:13:46 #844286

    Thanks for your response, Arno. That’s a great other option for us – we need to buy the Bernese Oberland pass and the Swiss Pass. Had planned on purchasing them at the rail station – maybe we’ll just get them online. We read that the Regional Pass would be discounted if purchased alongside a Swiss Pass. Wonder if we can get the discounted price online?

    One other question on the Bernese Oberland Regional Pass: do you know if the regional pass is good for extended transportation within Luzern? The map for the regional pass does not show any detail for Luzern – just that Luzern is the outer limit for the regional pass. But we are wondering if it is good for transportation within Luzern as well. Any idea?

    Arno
    Moderator
    15484 posts
    11 August 2015 at 14:01:42 #844287

    Hi rahmai,

    You’re not doing anything wrong. None of the websites offering this discount offers print at home. They will in the future I think, but not yet. Print at home is currently only offered by the more expensive retailers. In your case there is only this option:

    From India you could also have used the Indian site, which indeed offers free shipping and also payment in your own currency. That may work out a little cheaper despite of their slightly higher pass prices. You may want to use this for a future visit! Right now the above site is a good option.

    Arno
    Moderator
    15484 posts
    11 August 2015 at 14:08:23 #844288

    Hi AbhisekLinu,

    What do you mean? Do you have a problem ordering the pass from http://www.raileurope-world.com/pass/swiss-pass? It’s a lot cheaper than buying it in Basel (see here). You won’t get a discount for paying with Swiss francs. Or perhaps I don’t understand what you’re saying?

    Arno
    Moderator
    15484 posts
    11 August 2015 at 14:23:23 #844289

    Hi HappyFeet,

    As far as I know transportation within Luzern (buses) is included in the Regional-Pass Bernese Oberland. I’m 99% sure so it would be wise to ask the driver before you board your first bus there.

    You can get the 25% discount on the Regional-Pass Bernese Oberland if you purchase it here and select “Swiss Half Fare Card” under “Ticket options”: http://www.swissrailways.com/ en/products/ regionalberneseoberlan dpass. This discount applies to Swiss Travel Pass holders too. Note that the regional pass cannot be printed at home, but it can be delivered to any address in Switzerland, like your hotel. You can order along the Swiss Travel Pass from the same website here: http://www.swissrailways.com/ en/node/66. You can also choose to order it separately so you can print it at home instead of having it delivered.

    Removed user
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    12 August 2015 at 15:19:18 #844290

    Hi Arno,

    Do you mean a 4 days travel pass anyone of them are equal?

    http://www.raileurope-world.com/pass/swiss-pass (158 Pounds)

    equals to

    http://www.swisstravelsystem. co.uk/en/node/66 (163 pounds)

    I also want to know if the glacier express is covered with these passes or i need to buy separate tickets? I understand sit reservation is a separate booking as well. Am i right?

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