Tentative promotions on rail passes for May

  • chandni177
    Participant
    55 posts
    1 May 2018 at 15:21:43 #815655

    We’re getting ready to leave for Switzerland in 10 days, and I have to buy 5 Half-fare cards and 5 Bernese Oberland Regional passes for family. I haven’t bought them until now with a teeny bit of hope of some spring/low-season promotion. When do you think is the latest I should give up and purchase the passes? 3-4 days before departure? Thanks in advance!

    Chandni

  • Removed user
    Participant
    72625 posts
    1 May 2018 at 17:15:50 #883837

    Hi Chandni,

    The Regional-Pass Bernese Oberland can’t be printed at home. If you would like to have it sent to your home address you will have to check how long that will take. Read here more on how to order the pass: http://www.myswissalps.com/re gionalpassberneseoberl and/price.

    I would order the Swiss Half Fare Card 4 days for departure. You could do that here: http://www.myswissalps.com/sw isshalffarecard/price.

    chandni177
    Participant
    55 posts
    1 May 2018 at 17:19:36 #883838

    Oh, I completely missed that.

    Okay, we have the Saver Day Passes for our first day, and BO starting the second day. Can I just wait and buy the passes from Luzern, where we will be on Day 1? Will the rail stations accept Credit cards?

    Removed user
    Participant
    72625 posts
    1 May 2018 at 17:26:43 #883839

    Yes, they do accept credit cards.

    chandni177
    Participant
    55 posts
    1 May 2018 at 17:27:13 #883840

    This link –

    http://www.regionalpass-berneroberland.ch/en/p ass-and-infos/faq/

    mentions that you can buy it online from SBB TicketShop and print@home.

    Am I missing something?

    Arno
    Moderator
    15485 posts
    1 May 2018 at 17:58:54 #883841

    Hi Chandni,

    Printing that pass through the domestic SBB site might indeed work. It is a fairly new option and I have not tried it yet. The SBB tourist webshop at https://www.swissrailw ays.com/en/products/re gionalberneseoberlandp ass that we normally recommend does not offer this yet, but will be in the future. The domestic shop does have issues with foreign credit cards in some cases, so do keep that in mind.

    As you can see through Chantal’s link, the Regional-Pass Bernese Oberland can be shipped to you for free, so you don’t need print at home to save money. Please see https://www.happyrail. com/en/pass/europe/swi tzerland/regional-pass-berner-oberland. Shipping to the US takes 2 to 6 days. The pass is slighly cheaper there than via SBB, either online or at the station.

    chandni177
    Participant
    55 posts
    1 May 2018 at 18:32:13 #883842

    Thanks Chantal and Arno.

    If I decide to buy from HappyRail, how can I get the reduced price BO pass (we will have the SHFC)? I have seen only the full price option, everytime I tried looking at their website.

    Removed user
    Participant
    72625 posts
    2 May 2018 at 7:10:31 #883843

    Indeed HappyRail doesn’t seem to offer purchase discount on the Regional Pass – Bernese Oberland for Swiss Half Fare Card holders.

    chandni177
    Participant
    55 posts
    2 May 2018 at 15:14:03 #883844

    Bummer.

    Looks like my only option is to purchase from the Luzern train station then. I’ll try the domestic SBB site once, if a miracle happens and they accept my US credit card.

    Arno
    Moderator
    15485 posts
    2 May 2018 at 18:43:38 #883845

    Hi Chandni,

    Indeed Happyrail does not offer that option yet. The official tourist webshop does offer the discount for Swiss Half Fare Card holders: https://www.swissrailw ays.com/en/products/re gionalberneseoberlandp ass. Shipping to the US takes 5 days, and they also offer online purchase with pass collection at the airport. Both options do come with a fee though (CHF 15-20). You can also purchase locally at a staffed train station during opening hours.

    Have a good trip!

    chandni177
    Participant
    55 posts
    2 May 2018 at 19:22:56 #883846

    Okay, I’ll just buy the SHFC online and the BO pass when we are in Luzern or Interlaken. Both stations will accept foreign credit cards – right? Just want to confirm since it is a huge amount for us to carry backup cash for!

    Thanks for all the help! Can’t wait to actually put all of this reading and planning to full use!

    Removed user
    Participant
    72625 posts
    2 May 2018 at 19:26:13 #883847

    I can’t say for certain that your particular credit card will work – but there is no reason for it not too. They have always accepted my foreign credit card when I used it.

    You should be just fine if it is a VISA or MasterCard and often American Express.

    chandni177
    Participant
    55 posts
    2 May 2018 at 19:28:40 #883848

    It’s a Visa. We will inform the credit card company in advance, so should be good to go.

    Thank you!

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