Quick question on rail tickets

[treydogg97]

I will be heading to Switzerland on Dec 26 and leaving Jan 5. I will be staying with friends in the north central part (most specifically the province of Aarau). I am wondering if it would be more or less expensive to purchase rail tickets in America or when I get to Switzerland. My plan is to go to a couple local places (Langenthal, Muri), Geneva, possibly Lucerne, and Frankfurt, Germany. I'm still somewhat in the planning phase and I'd like to hear your thoughts... thanks.

[wilson49332]

DONT buy rail tickets here. They charge a surcharge to buy them here for the conv. They will cost more, and are non refundable if you wish to change your plans- which trust me they may change! Buy them in Switzterland. They will speak English so its no problem. Most train stations will sell them, so its not a problem. Are you going to buy a Eurail Pass? That sounds like your best option. If that is the case then you NEED to get that here.

What you CAN do is look at the schedules and get a tentative time you wish to leave. Write the train number and times down this way your all set when going to Europe.

[treydogg97]

[wilson49332]

If your getting a rail pass, then any train is covered except a couple of the scenic tour ones in the Swiss Alps for free on the pass. You just jump on as you please and find a seat that doesnt have a sign that says reserved. I got my rail pass here- did you check that? Otherwise most AAA offices sell them as well and can give the pass to you in person.

[treydogg97]

[wilson49332]

As to renting a car, no. You are legally allowed to do so, but trains for colleged aged people are much easier and less stress. Parking is tough in Europe, and many fees go along with renting a car including road use taxes etc in some cities.

Question 2- what a saver is first class travel, but you need to buy two or more of them. If you have two + people then its worth it, get the first class YOUTH saver. You will need to buy two of them, one for you, one for your roomate.

Question 3- They count for 5 DAYS use. They dont need to be consecutive, only each day. So if you use a train 5 days in a row, then thats it. But say you use 5 different trains in one day, that only counts for one day. If you only use one train a week, then thats one day a week. See what I mean- when you use a train, it counts as a day BUT after that first train ride, the rest in that day are free until midnight. But you choose which days to ride a train- as long as you use all 5 within 2 months your fine.

Question 4- You WONT NEED to buy any tickets. That pass IS your ticket to most any trains. As long as it is on the swiss network of trains (Or Deutsche Bahn I think you said your going to Germany as well) and your pass covers the TWO countries of Germany and Swiss. you can jump on ANY train thats not a special one (theres not many) and find a seat that says FREI in Germany and not sure what it is in Swiss. What you CAN do is pay like 5 euros to make a reservation. That gets you a seat for sure, but I never had a problem finding open seats so never needed a reservation.

Question 3- I dont think people in Europe can buy a Pass no. They make you show your passport when they look at the ticket. They have a discount card (at least in Germany students do). They can buy a ticket for a really cheap discount with there card. They also only get a non confirmed seat.

Even if the train is full (I never had one totally full), you are always able to sit in the aisles inj these little seats they have until someone gets off and leaves a seat free. I never had to do that however.

Hope that helps. View my sticky on the main Europe forum page that says Europe transportation it explains the passed in better detail. Feel free to ask more questions- because ive been there and know the local stuff.

[treydogg97]

Yes, I think I've got it now! You've been an incredible help, thank you so much! If I have more questions, I'll definitely be back here.

[wilson49332]

Glad I could help. Enjoy the trip!

[treydogg97]

When I was in Switzerland I took a cable car up to Klewenalp. Do cable cars run in the winter also? Or are there other ways of getting up to the mountains w/o having to climb???

[wilson49332]

Nope cable cars run in the winter as well. In fact that is the peak time for them to be running. Also many ski slopes have seperate lifts to overlooks as well.