Any general advice about buying a ticket in advance?
Is it better (cheaper!) to book in advance/ get a railcard/ just buy at the airport on the day?
Regards
Tim
JayTurner
I downloaded the SBB app for timetable info and used the app to buy a single ticket from Grimentz (bus to Sierre, train onwards) to Geneva this week. There are lots of different Swiss travel passes, but none were useful for my journeys this time.
In the past I've found that the ski transfer pass (allowing a return journey from airport all the way to resort) is a little cheaper than a regular train and bus fare - but you have to allow time for the pass to be posted to you. You can find the price of a pass, and buy one, from many places on the web - I think I used the Swiss Travel Service.
As Jay says you can find regular fares on the SBB.ch app or website, so you can compare. If your destination is at a resort beyond Sierre, SBB will of course show you a route, timetable and price for the complete journey, regardless of the mode of transport. You can even book all the way from London via Eurostar/Paris Metro/TGV/SBB/Postbus if you want!
I bought rail tickets from Geneva Airport to Sierre on-line from SBB website last week - found that I could choose a cheaper ticket if prepared to commit to a particular train, which I did for the return trip, but opted for an open ticket (valid all day) for the outward journey, just in case of airport delays.
Impurchased the STT, Swiss Transfer Ticket, it allows a return to the ski resort with no deviations and covers post bus. As far as I recall it was marginally cheaper than purchasing a return on the SBB website for a "normal" return journey. I received mine online to print myself. Infor to me had on;
I've found that Sierre is around the point where a transfer pass becomes cheaper than a normal ticket, though varies a litte from year to year. As Alison says you can now get some cheaper deals online if you commit to a particualr train. One trip had a proposed use of rail during the tour and a 3 days (not consecutive) Swiss Interrail pass was the cheapest (but in the end the guide went for taxis).
JayTurner
I downloaded the SBB app for timetable info and used the app to buy a single ticket from Grimentz (bus to Sierre, train onwards) to Geneva this week. There are lots of different Swiss travel passes, but none were useful for my journeys this time.
AndrewKydd
In the past I've found that the ski transfer pass (allowing a return journey from airport all the way to resort) is a little cheaper than a regular train and bus fare - but you have to allow time for the pass to be posted to you. You can find the price of a pass, and buy one, from many places on the web - I think I used the Swiss Travel Service.
As Jay says you can find regular fares on the SBB.ch app or website, so you can compare. If your destination is at a resort beyond Sierre, SBB will of course show you a route, timetable and price for the complete journey, regardless of the mode of transport. You can even book all the way from London via Eurostar/Paris Metro/TGV/SBB/Postbus if you want!
Best of luck,
Andrew
Anonymous (not verified)
I bought rail tickets from Geneva Airport to Sierre on-line from SBB website last week - found that I could choose a cheaper ticket if prepared to commit to a particular train, which I did for the return trip, but opted for an open ticket (valid all day) for the outward journey, just in case of airport delays.
Hope this helps
Alison
TimDavies
Thanks everyone So far,
Regards , tim
MikeTierney
Impurchased the STT, Swiss Transfer Ticket, it allows a return to the ski resort with no deviations and covers post bus. As far as I recall it was marginally cheaper than purchasing a return on the SBB website for a "normal" return journey. I received mine online to print myself. Infor to me had on;
www.myswissalps.com/swisstransferticket/price
and also on the SBB website somewhere.
regards,..Mike
MichaelHorner
I've found that Sierre is around the point where a transfer pass becomes cheaper than a normal ticket, though varies a litte from year to year. As Alison says you can now get some cheaper deals online if you commit to a particualr train. One trip had a proposed use of rail during the tour and a 3 days (not consecutive) Swiss Interrail pass was the cheapest (but in the end the guide went for taxis).