Europe Trains Guide Forum
General discussion => Train fares and tariffs => Topic started by: buff_cs on April 16, 2010, 04:19:06 pm
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Hi,
As per my Subject, our(My Wife and I) Itinerary is as follows: Paris(3 Days)-Laussane(0.5 Day, then take the Golden Pass Train)-Interlaken(2 Days)-Luzern(1.5 Days)-Berlin(3 Days)-Venice(1.5 Days)-Florence(1.5 Days)-Rome(3 Days). We want to do all our trips on Train except for Berlin-Venice which we will be flying. We have to be in Paris and Berlin on some specific dates, so thats the reason for such a difficult itinerary.
In Interlaken - Go to the top of Jungfrau
In Luzern - Go for the Mt.Pilatus Golden Round Trip
Now my question is: Do we have to take
1) Eurail Global Pass(Saver) or
2) Swiss Pass and Point-Point in Italy, Germany and TGV from Paris-Laussane (We definitely want to take the TGV Train) or
3) France-Swiss Pass (4/5 Days starting with the TGV Train from Paris-Laussane) and Point-Point in Italy, Germany or
4) Point-Point tickets all the way through.
Also, what is the difference having a Swiss Pass vs a Eurail Pass specific for our Itinerary mentioned above.
Any advice would be appreciated a lot.... :)
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Lets count:
Paris-Laussane: full fare for the direct TGV is 80 euro, but in case you purchase ticket in advance you can get it much cheaper. As an example, at the moment there is a promo for Paris-Geneva route starting only from 20 euro, so...
Since domestic one way tickets in Switzerland are valid only for 1 day, then you will need two separate tickets for Golden Pass line: Lausanne-Interlaken (full fare 48 CHF) and Interlaken-Lucerne (full fare 30 CHF).
Lucerne-Berlin can be easily bought online from DB website from 39 euro - just do it some time in advance.
For Italy pass is not a solution definitely, since it is "cheapest" part of your itinerary. Venice-Florence by InterCity train costs only 22.5 euro (regular fare) + you purchase 15/30 days in advance you= get 15% or 30% discount. Same story with Florence-Rome: regular IC fare is 28 euro, EuroStar (http://clk.tradedoubler.com/click?p=18608&a=2213858&g=0&url=http://www.eurostar.com/dynamic/booking.search?VT=EB&lang=UK&country=BE) - 44 euro + potential 15%/30% discount. And if you really want you can save even more by traveling on regional trains.
So, as you can see, it is not a problem to do a trip for <200 euro per person in total. All you need - purchase couple tickets in advance.
In Interlaken - Go to the top of Jungfrau. In Luzern - Go for the Mt.Pilatus Golden Round Trip
In both cases Swiss Pass won't win you a lot on discounts. Cheapest 3 day Saver Flexi pass for US citizens costs 217 USD (230 CHF), while point-to-point Lausanne-Interlaken (full fare 48 CHF) and Interlaken-Lucerne (full fare 30 CHF) + 180 CHF for Jungfrau rail (Swiss pass gives 50% discount) + for Mt.Pilatus 90 CHF (Swiss pass gives 50% discount).
As result, if we aren't wrong with math here - Swiss Pass (+50% for Jungfrau rail and Golden Round trip Mt.Pilatus)= app. 365 CHF per person, while point-to-point tickets + full fare Jungfrau rail and Golden Round trip Mt.Pilatus= app. 350 CHF
If you go with 4 day Saver or Saver Flexi pass, then the difference is even bigger ;)
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Wow !!!! Thanks a looooot....That makes my planning so much easier!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks, Thanks, Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!