Dreaming of a vacation where you can sit back and enjoy the world’s most comprehensive public transport network--one that works like clockwork, includes trains, postal buses to connect to more distant destinations, boats for crossing idyllic lakes and city trams and buses to get around urban areas? Let’s make it accessible from the airport or border, too, throw in entry to over 400 museums, historic castles, and exhibitions and include a 50% discount on many mountain railways. Chart your own point-to-point itinerary, follow a prepackaged plan, or simply go wherever the mood takes you. For a small fee, check your luggage at the airport and pick it up at your choice of 50 Swiss railway stations, or, while in Switzerland, send it ahead to your choice of 45 railway stations so you can travel unencumbered. All this and some of the most spectacular scenery in the world.
The solution is a Swiss Pass, available to North American travelers, and valid for a specific number of rail travel days.
Swiss Passes are available as consecutive passes vaild for 4, 8, 15, 22 days or 1 month of consecutive rail travel, or as Flexi Passes which include 3, 4, 5 or 6 days of consecutive or non-consecutive travel within a 1 month period.
Get discounted pass holder fares on many high-speed and overnight trains to France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Austria. Prices (as of April, 2011 and subject to change) on the four-day Swiss Pass start at $410 USD first class and $273 USD in second class.
There are a variety of Swiss Travel Products available on raileurope.com.
Fly Rail Baggage – Allows travelers to check their luggage, skis, strollers etc at any North American airport and then pick it up at their choice of over 50 Swiss railway stations.
Fast Baggage - This service offers same day delivery of baggage between approximately 45 Swiss rail stations.
Swiss Transfer Ticket - Offers 1st or 2nd class round-trip rail travel from a Swiss airport or border crossing to a destination in Switzerland at an attractive flat rate.
Swiss Card - Offers 1st or 2nd class round-trip rail travel from a Swiss airport or border to a destination in Switzerland, plus 50% off any Swiss Travel System tickets purchased locally.
Rail Europe also offers a range of Swiss rail and hotel packages. All rail & hotel packages include first or second-class rail travel and three or four star hotel accommodations and a 50 percent discount on additional Swiss Travel System tickets.
The scenic routes are highlights of a Switzerland vacation. The following packages and more, can be booked on raileurope.com.
NEW for 2011 - Rail Adventure
This 8-day 7-night rail and hotel package combines three Swiss scenic trains in one stunning itinerary. Enjoy exclusive first class travel on the Wilhelm Tell Express, Bernina Express and Glacier Express. In 2008, UNESCO added the Albula/ Bernina line to the list of World Heritage sites, making Rhaetian Railways one of only three railways in the world to get this honor.
- NEW for 2011 - 3 White Peaks
This 6-day 5-night tour includes the three Swiss mountain peaks of Mount Titlis, Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe and the Glacier 3000.
Some of our other popular packages are:
- Top of Europe & Ticino
This 5-day / 4-night Swiss rail and hotel package takes you from glaciers to palm trees and includes rail travel to Interlaken or Grindelwald, an excursion to the mountain peak of Jungfraujoch and travel to Lugano; the sunny side of the Alps.
- GoldenPass Tour
This 6-day / 5-night tour on the scenic GoldenPass route starts in Lucerne and takes travelers to Interlaken and Montreux at the Lake Geneva shore with a special excursion to Jungfraujoch.
- Glacier Express Tour
Ride the world famous Glacier Express on the scenic trails between Zermatt and St. Moritz or vice versa. This package provides three rail transfers (in 2nd
Class) and 2 nights accommodation in three star hotels in Zermatt and St. Moritz.
- Peaks of the World
This 5-day / 4-night package includes rail travel to Interlaken or Grindelwald, Zermatt and return plus excursions to the mountain peaks of Jungfraujoch and Gornergrat.
For more information contact a travel agent or Rail Europe .
For more on our Swiss Pass vacation see Notable Travels.
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