Originally Posted by
Gotta Requalify
I think I understand how the Swiss Rail Pass works, but I would like to just clarify if I have this correct.
We are a family of 4, including 2 under 16 spending 3 days in Switzerland.
Hi
Gotta Requalify, it seems your questions got lost in this thread - I'll answer, in the hope you haven't already booked.
Please read my response all the way through, because I have some savings and additional flexibility in store 
Originally Posted by
Gotta Requalify
We plan to take TGV from Paris and the routing tells me that I will get off at Basel and then take Swiss trains to Lucerne. Q1 - If I have a Swiss Travel Pass, do I only need to book the Train to Basel at the TGV site?
That is correct.
Originally Posted by
Gotta Requalify
Q2 - Do I need to get the Travel Pass validated before hopping on the first (or any other train) or just get on the train and find a seat?
This depends on whether your pass was sold pre-validated (i.e. with travel dates already pre-printed on the pass), or as an open-dated document. If open-dated, you will need to validate the pass at Basel station.
However, I see no point in buying the passes ahead of time in the first place, since they can just be purchased at Basel station, where you need to change trains anyway.
Originally Posted by
Gotta Requalify
Day 2 we are going up to Rigi and down the mountain via the cog railway. My wife and child #2 want to go to the lake via the railway and I will take child #1 via the Cable Car, and we will meet up again on the boat or in Lucerne. Q3 As we will split up, do we need two STS Family Cards? One for each adult, or do they come as a PDF, so I just print it twice?
(We are also doing other sight seeing around Lucerne, so will use the local Trains and Trams, plus discount into the transport museum).
That's a very good question; I assume that a Family Card, which is issued on a per child basis, is not linked to a specific pass number, but simply specifies that the child must be travelling with at least 1 passholder who is a parent.
Anyway, clarifying this in person is another good reason to purchase your pass at Basel station, if at all - see below...
Originally Posted by
Gotta Requalify
Day 3 - We are going from Lucerne to Como through the old Gotthard route before the new tunnel is opened. With the travel pass, I know I can get as far as Chiasso free of charge and nothing booked, Q4 do I then need to get off the train and buy a ticket to get across the border and wait for the next train, or do I just buy a ticket in Lucerne, show the Travel Pass and they will only charge the few CHF for the last leg? Trying to book on the SBB site doesn't show any discounts for travel pass. Or do I just buy a ticket from Chiasso to Como online?
You can buy these tickets directly from the SBB site. You just need to select the following passenger types:
- For each adult: "26-59 years", and "GA 2.cl." in the "Reduction for Switzerland" dropdown list (this is the equivalent of a Swiss Travel Pass, but targeted at Swiss residents and valid for a full year - choose "GA 1.cl." if you are travelling 1st class instead)
- For each child: [The correct age bracket] and "Junior Card" (the equivalent of the STS Family Card but as a standalone product) in the "Reduction for Switzerland" dropdown list
This will price the tickets correctly for all passengers. If you decide to take the direct train leaving at 08:46 (EuroCity express with compulsory seat reservation), you should get a fare of CHF 40 total for all 4 passengers.
Now for the good news:
If you are willing to commit to taking the 08:46 direct train from Luzern to Como and book ahead of time, you are eligible for a heavily discounted fare. Using that and otherwise just purchasing single full-fare tickets for adults, combined with a SBB Junior Card for each child, will result in total savings of approx. CHF 30 versus purchasing the Swiss Travel Pass, and more importantly gives you the flexibility to cancel/curtail your planned Rigi excursion if the weather doesn't cooperate, which is always a distinct possibility. For my calculation, I assumed everyone would take the
"Classic Rigi Round Trip", which costs CHF 113 per adult, so CHF 226 total - this should more than compensate for any additional costs for an alternate, shorter itinerary that includes a visit to the Transportation Museum and a few trips on local buses.
How should you proceed?
1)
Purchase reduced price tickets from Luzern to Como S. Giovanni station on the SBB site using this direct link. Use the same parameters as I described above, except do NOT select any reduction for the adults. Total price for all 4 travelers should be CHF 76. Discount ticket sales open 4 months ahead, so book as close to that date as possible to maximize availability.
2) Purchase 2
SBB Junior Cards at Basel Station at CHF 30 each, so CHF 60 total.
3) Purchase 2 normal full-fare adult tickets from Basel to Luzern (CHF 66 total)
4) Purchase full-fare adult tickets for your Rigi excursion (these can of course be special "Classic Rigi Round Trip" or similar offers, just without any additional discounts).
Even if you do decide to go for the Swiss Travel Pass, I would only purchase it on arrival at Basel station. However, it would make sense to book the Luzern-Como tickets ahead of time if you decide to take the 08:46 departure, as reservations are compulsory; you do not need to already have the passes in hand in order to do so.
Have a great time on your very short trip through Switzerland, hope you come back for a longer stay at some point