Train ticket from Zermatt to Florence, Italy

  • Removed user
    Participant
    72625 posts
    13 April 2018 at 19:36:49 #815308

    Hello: We need help with getting from Zermatt to Florence. We wish to travel from Zermatt to Florence, Italy (Santa Maria Novella station). The options/passes/transfers/discount/1/2fare card information is absolutely mind boggling. We (2 adults) will not have any sort of discount/card/pass; we plan to take 3 trams/lifts/trains Riffelberg, Schwarzsee, and Sunnegga for 3 hikes. We arrive in Geneva August 30, 2018, will try to figure out a train to Zermatt (we have been told that a reservation from Geneva to Zermatt is not necessary), and leave Zermatt 6 days later for Florence. We find sites that say you do/do not need reservations, or it is too soon to get prices, or order tickets on line/not necessary to order on line, you must use CHF for Zermatt to Visp and then make new reservations (en route?!?!?) from Visp to Milano Centrale using euros. It cannot be this difficult. We are are moderately intelligent but we feel like idiots. Can someone simply outline the steps we need to follow to leave Zermatt by train in the morning of May 5 2018 so that we can be in Florence that same afternoon? No doubt we will fail to take advantage potential discounts due to lack of understanding, but the reduction of stress may be worth it. Thanks in advance to anyone who can help. “The confession of one humbles all…”

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    rockoyster
    Participant
    8889 posts
    13 April 2018 at 20:32:00 #882184

    Use the Swiss Train Timetable (goo.gl/PXbqWw) to plan your travel ( including trip from Zermatt to Florence aka Firenze). If you are not familiar with the timetable it will pay to first read the instructions at bit.ly/2IwxrEV.

    The timetable will show you the fastest route from A to B by default. You will go via Domodossola which is at the Swiss border.

    Reservations are not required on Swiss trains (apart from major Panoramics) but are on Italian trains.

    There is no need to buy Swiss tickets in advance – prices don’t change. Although there are Supersaver tickets but that just gets confusing. Oh, and the Saver Day Pass (http://www.myswissalps.com/on edaytravelpass/details) can work for you but need a bit of co-ordination to get the best price.

    Italian train prices increase closer to travel time.

    Read http://www.myswissalps.com/tr aintickets/italy.

    Finally on suitable travel passes . . .

    Using your itinerary you need to do the sums based on the cost of all your planned trips on trains, boats, cable cars etc. You can use the Swiss Train Timetable (http://www.myswissalps.com/ti metable) to work out the fares for any trip.

    When you go to buy a ticket the fare you see on the right hand side of the page will normally be the half-fare price. Double it to get full fare. With A Swiss Travel Pass it is free provided it is shown as free on the Area of Validity map ( PDF downloadable from http://www.myswissalps.com/sw isstravelpass/validity).

    You should read “How to choose the best travel pass” (http://www.myswissalps.com/tr ain/ticketspasses/prac tical/chooserailpass), download the handy spreadsheet calculator and do the math.

    Happy travels.

    rockoyster
    Participant
    8889 posts
    13 April 2018 at 22:42:34 #882185

    More on reservations at http://www.myswissalps.com/tr ain/reservations/howto use.

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