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Hi, I am going to be in Switzerland in July, and was trying to buy train tickets on the sbb website, but I got a popup saying I can only buy 30 days in advance, is that true? I have the half price travel card, and I know reservations are not needed, but I am a planner and just like to know the exact price I have to pay as well. Thanks.
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You can only buy tickets 30 days in advance. That’s right. Don’t worry tickets don’t run out.
>> I am a planner and just like to know the exact price I have to pay as well.
Just search for a date within 30 days. Prices won’t change later in the year.
Alpenrose
Hi Sangi119,
There is indeed a 30 day limit via SBB, but prices won’t change until next year. Nearly all other retailers than SBB do allow to buy earlier than 30 days before traveling: http://www.myswissalps.com/tr aintickets/switzerland /price.
Happy planning!
Hi Sangi119,
Arno: “…but prices won’t change until next year…”
I must say with all due respect to Arno (I am post 1 and Arno is post 10044), it’s not entirely true that the price remains the same … The SBB rates may be fixed for a year, but SBB offer “saver” discounted tickets that are super “early bird” discounted: Quoted off the SBB link I provide:
“…It’s fun to travel so cheaply by train! With the new Saver Day Pass you can travel in the whole of Switzerland for a day on all routes in the GA area from as little as CHF 29 with a Half-Fare travelcard and from CHF 52 without a Half-Fare travelcard… “
Click the “Purchase Online” button so that you can see availability for your dates.
From what I have observed, most often the price (with HFC, which you have) jumps from CHF 29 to CHF 39 between 30 days and 29 days before the travel day, then it goes up even more the less the lead time! So you would have to go onto the site and buy each day you want, early on the day of 30 days before each of those days, as the price could even change in the day.
Happy Travels!
Hi,
I have one query, how saver day pass is different from Swiss Travel Pass? Will it be good to buy 3 saver day passes for 3 days or 1 Swiss Travel Pass?
Hi JacTheron and welcome to MySwissAlps!
You are correct with the Saver Day Pass and Supersaver tickets. However the regular fares don’t change techincally
The Supersaver tickets come and go. So a route between Zurich and Luzern is “always” around 20chf for example but Supersaver options may come up and you save money if you find them for when and where you want. Furthermore, that ticket is for that specific departure time – miss it and you need a new ticket. Regular fare tickets are valid all day. So good deals but you must be careful.
Saver Day Passes can indeed be tricky as the price fluctuates. If you have the Swiss Half Fare Card though, they can be a great deal if you buy them around 29/30 days out!
Hi rkkare,
The Swiss Travel Pass and Saver Day Pass are very similar but validity areas are a little different. The Saver Day Pass (especially without the Swiss Half Fare Card) is not very good at all for mountain trips – the Swiss Travel Pass works better here.
It is a little more work to buy three Saver Day Passes than buying 1 Swiss Travel Pass (as prices fluctuate) but it is an option if it covers all you need it to while traveling here.
Thanks
Lucas .Thank you all for your kind responses.
Another query – We are going from Lucerne to Montreux, the entire golden pass route. I have already got seat reservations for the panoramic train from Zweisimmen to Montreux. But for the actual train ticket, can I just buy one ticket from Lucerne to Montreux, or do I have to buy 3 separate tickets for the 3 different train segments? Thanks.
You only need one ticket from Lucerne to Montreux. But if you have a Swiss Travel Pass or Saver Day Pass you don’t need any tickets. Just hop on and show the conductor the pass.
Hi Jac,
Good catch! You are right. I was referring to regular flexible point to point tickets. There are a few other options if buying well in advance and/or a ticket limited to one specific train: Super Saver Tickets. I usually have a pass myself for ultimate flexibility and no need to buy tickets.
Lucas: “The Swiss Travel Pass and Saver Day Pass are very similar but validity areas are a little different”
Thanks Lucas and Arno for the insight so far: Now at risk of using this thread for one that might cover the answer, I have tried to work out on the SBB site but can’t seem to find the full details of the difference. Am I right to assume that the biggest difference is that the day pass option is not valid for museums and also doesn’t get 50% off on cable cars without a HFC? Is there much more to this other than the inconvenience of buying one day at a time?
Hi Jac,
Yes, those are the main differences. For the typical itinerary, a combination of train trips and (mountain) excursions, the Swiss Travel Pass or Swiss Half Fare Card is a better choice (cheaper, more flexible). For short stays, or for an extra day on top of the Swiss Travel Pass, the Saver Day Pass can work out well. The second link in Lucas’s second post explains this.
Lucas-Since I will be traveling 30 days prior to my arrival in Switzerland, is the SwissRailPass something I can buy online and show the pass via my phone? Or does, the pass have to be physically mailed? Alternatively, is it difficult or time-consuming to buy once I arrive?
Lucas-just to clarify, we are thinking the 1st class rail pass (8 days in one month) is the best option for us. Does this also have the 30 day limitation for purchase or can it be purchased well in advance. I thought I read it could be purchased up to 90 days in advance.
Hi Debra,
That sounds like a Swiss Travel Pass Flex and you can buy on-line but it is the only variation you can’t get for on-line delivery. It has to be mailed or you can buy on arrival in Switzerland. As far as I know you can buy it anytime.
You can get from one of the retailers at http://www.myswissalps.com/sw isstravelpassflex/pric e. I got mine from HappyRail because they don’t charge postage/shipping.
Yes, the Swiss Travel Pass can be bought online and emailed to you (consecutive days).
IF you have the Swiss Travel Pass Flex it has to be mailed to you.
Either rail pass can be bought at a rail station office in Switzerland if that is how it must be. No big hassle except for a long line that may greet you. 🙂
Thanks again for your help
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