Swiss Half Fare Card - 30days

Goodday,

I will be travelling from Paris - Basel SBB via TGV, from there onward will be via SBB network train.
Based on all my study on the web. (see below, correct me if i'm wrong)

I will then use the 1/2 fare card for the rest of my use in Swiss.
Questions:
1. can i buy the 1/2 fare card when i am in Basel around 1pm? (or do i buy online)
2. Advisable if i can buy all my planned train trip in advance with 1/2 fare option then buy the 1/2 fare card in Basel?
3. or can i just buy it off the counter once i reached Basel?
4. My stay will end in Grindelwald and then to Milano Centrale, can i use this 1/2 fare card to buy this trip in the "international ticket" section too?

many thanks in advance.

Hi Arno,

Appreciat your prompt replied.

I tried buying from the site but the date i want is on the 2nd Feb'14 and it seems to only availabe up to 60days in advance only? (Will buy it online then)

My brief trip as followed which i guess 1/2 fare card would suffice?

2 Feb - Basel to Interlaken OST for 1 night

3-6Feb - to Grindelwald for 3 nights. From here we will go Jungfraujoch and kleine scheidegg on a different day. If times allow, will try Garcia Express.

6th morning will leave for Milano Centrale, yes will buy from the SBB site.

Hi junholiday,

A Swiss Half Fare Card would be fine for your trip, provided that you will only make short trips from Grindelwald. I don't know what the Garcia Express is. Did you mean Glacier Express? If so, it would be a really long trip from Grindelwald to do even part of it. Also, with such a long trip a Swiss Half Fare Card would most probably not be the best choice. If you want to do this I would advice to first create your itinerary and then select a rail pass.

Train tickets that require seat reservations are indeed only available from 2-3 months prior to the travel date, depending on the exact train.

Hi Arno,
LOL, yes Glacier Express, sorry my bad.
Lastly, is it advisable for me to buy the SBB ticket only when i reach my destination instead of buying online in advance?
Also, how can i purchase a mobile sim card with data? Basel SBB has it?
Many thanks.

Hi junholiday,

If you are 100% sure you will make the trips you can buy point to point tickets in advance. The advantage is that it saves time.

I am sure you can get a Sim card from a shop at the airport or at Basel SBB. There's a Media Markt shop at Basel SBB that may sell them. Also there's a Swisscom shop in Interlaken (Marktgasse 1). See this topic too.

Hi Amo,

Is driving condition ok in February? Basel to Grindelwald to Italy.

Thanks!

Hi junholiday. If you avoid mountain passes and use main roads, you should be fine. Do use winter tires. Plan your trip using online maps like maps.google.ch and http://webmaptcs.trafficmap.ch/default_de.aspx, providing current traffic information. And always keep an eye on weather forecasts. If winter storms are upcoming, you'd better not get out on the road or at least prepare well.

Hi again,

Just double check if swiss 1/2 fare give you 50% and swiss pass give 25% from Grindelwald to Jungfraujoch?
But when i buy online ticket selecting this two destination only allow me to select 1/2 fare ticket discount.
How?

Hi junholiday,

You can best buy the ticket to the Jungfraujoch at a local station (e.g. Interlaken or Grindelwald), at the point where you'll be sure that the weather will be good enough to go up there. They'll be able to sell you the ticket with the discount you're entitled to.