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kaduru
Traveller
1 comments

Posted 4 years ago

We (self+ wife) senior citizens of Sri Lanka, will be holidaying in Europe for the first time. Our lack of experience on European standards could be an issue on this trip. We appreciate very highly if the travel experts could help us to make this easier. Following is an itinerary I prepared subsequent to many days of research in the net. I may be wrong. Please help us to rectify any errors. Suggest better ways. Can we purchase tickets in advance or at the station. Is it convenient if we purchase a railway pass and how to do that.
16th May 13.20 arriving at Zurich airport, 14.18 Board the train to Lucern BHF from Flughafen station.
17th May 08.06 Board the train to Interlaken OST from Lucern BHF
18th May 08.00 Boarding train from Interlaken OST to Gare de Lyon (it will be convienient if we can travel to Paris Nord as the following day we are leaving from Paris Nord station)
19th May 08.25 Boarding train from Paris Nord to Rotterdam. My destination is Utreicht have to catch a train from Rotterdam. (selected Rotterdam because there is a Thally from Paris Nord to Rotterdam without changing trains.
Our gratitude in advance for advice.
Thank you

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Peter
Traveller
9330 comments

replied 4 years ago

Hello and welcome.
A nice trip you planed. And train tickets are the best choice, as it is comfortable to travel from city center to city center and you see something of Europe ... not only the sky and the clouds. ;)
Now lets start. Ticket prices are per person.


16 May
[b]Zurich Airport - Lucerne[/b]
Journey time: 1:05 h
Ticket price: EUR 12,00
There are as well direct trains without change which I recommend. For example with departure time at 14:15 h. Buy your tickets online and find schedules on: [ux]https://rail.shop/omio/zurich-airport/lucerne[/ux]


17 May
[b]Lucerne - Interlaken Ost[/b]
Journey time: 1:50 h
Ticket price: from EUR 17,40
Direct trains every hour
Tickets and schedules on: [ux]https://rail.shop/omio/lucerne/interlaken-ost[/ux]


18 May
[b]Interlaken Ost - Paris Gare de Lyon[/b]
Journey time: 5 to 7 h
Ticket price from EUR 75, but depends on date and time you travel
Tickets and schedules on: [ux]https://rail.shop/omio/interlaken-ost/paris[/ux]
You will find more connections if you first book Interlaken-Ost to Basel. And as a second ticket Basel to Paris. But calculate enough time (min 30 minutes) for your change. Hotels are here: [ux]https://rail.shop/bookingcom[/ux]
It is definitely more relaxed to sleep close to Paris Gare du Nord where you continue in the morning. To move around in Paris, you will have to use the metro: www.ratp.fr/en/visite-paris/english/visiting-paris-and-its-surrounding-areas


19 May
[b]Paris - Utrecht[/b]
Journey time: about 4 h
Ticket price depends on time and date you travel.
Tickets and schedules on [ux]https://rail.shop/omio/paris/utrecht-centraal[/ux]
The connection by Thalys train with change in Rotterdam is definitely a good one. It is fast and only one change, like you said already. Easy to do.


All in all... if you have more time next time you are in Europe, we could add more scenic routes... especially in Switzerland. :)
Pete :)

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kaduru
Traveller
1 comments

replied 4 years ago

Dear Pete,
Thank you very much. This was very helpful. Previously I was wondering which site to check. This is highly informative. Thank you.

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Peter
Traveller
9330 comments

replied 4 years ago

Yes, at the beginning it might look confusing. All in all train travel in Europe is very relaxed and save. Especially in Switzerland. But as well the Thalys train to the Netherlands is nice as well. :)

There are as well other companies selling train tickets (national railway companies, international ticket providers, etc). As train tickets have the same price nearly everywhere, I recommend the one which is easy to use with a good overview - and there my favourite for your route is [ux]https://rail.shop/omio[/ux] . Optional you can also use for all trips you travel [ux]https://rail.shop/omio[/ux] - also easy to use. Other websites you might meet are the ones of SBB, SNCF, Thalys, ...... but keep it simple. :)

If you have further questions, don\'t hesitate to ask me...
Best wishes to the country with one of the most beautiful rail roads (I was told), Pete :)

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GiriKadurugamuwa
Traveller
6 comments

replied 4 years ago

Dear Pete,
Thank you for all your help. I managed to purchase tickets from Zuruch to Lucern on 16th May and Lucern to Interlaken on 17th May 2019. But I am having problems in booking the tickets for my trip from Interlaken to Paris on the 18th and Paris to Utreicht on the 19th. On the 18th I found the train which is leaving Interlaken at 8.30 in the morning and connection at Basel SBB the fare shown is 176 $ for both of us. But when I press the continue button the fare is added thrice and the total comes to over 500 $ and some times over 700 $.
For the trip to Nederland it shows that I have to board from Bercy and the trip is by bus. It is not clear whether the bus starts from Gare Du Nord. I state my starting point as Gare Du Nord and leaving at 8.00 am.
I am grateful for your help and Appreciate your kind intervention again.

Thank you

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Peter
Traveller
9330 comments

replied 4 years ago

Hi.
Is there something else in your basket?
I tried to make the order process Innsbruck-Paris for the 08:30h train in the morning on: [ux]https://rail.shop/omio/interlaken-ost/paris[/ux]
For me the amount is 148 Euro, which is about the 176 USD.

Paris-Utrecht: the connection at 08:00 in the morning includes a bus "Ouibus". It belongs to French national railways, but it is not a train.
It is cheaper than trains, but slower. More comfortable and much faster is the connection at 08:25 with arrival time 12:12 and only one change - completely by train.
[ux]https://rail.shop/omio/paris/utrecht-centraal[/ux]

Best wishes, Pete :)

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GiriKadurugamuwa
Traveller
6 comments

replied 4 years ago

Thank you Pete, I tried this 8.25 train so many times but the total amount is an accumulated figure. For example I just tried this connection the Basel Paris sector which is 112 $ gets added 8 times and the total comes to 900 odd figure. However I tried the other option you gave earlier railshop/omio it worked. I think I should book on that.
Thank you very much for all the assistance.

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Peter
Traveller
9330 comments

replied 4 years ago

Okay. It is as it is. If [ux]https://rail.shop/omio[/ux] offers an error in their system, just use for Interlaken to Paris: [ux]https://rail.shop/omio/interlaken/paris[/ux]
You can also use Omio for the route from Paris to Utrecht: [ux]https://rail.shop/omio/paris/utrecht[/ux] - the tickets are the same. :)
Enjoy your journey and best wishes, Pete :)

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GiriKadurugamuwa
Traveller
6 comments

replied 4 years ago

Thank you very much. I booked through Omio.
Thank you for your kind assistance. Best regards
kaduru

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GiriKadurugamuwa
Traveller
6 comments

replied 4 years ago

Dear Pete,
Thank you for all the assistance. I have one more question. Appreciate your help in this too.
I have got the online tickets printed in A 4 paper. At the station to enter through automated gates if you have to swipe the ticket how are we going to go through the gates.
We are highly grateful to your help.

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Flo
Traveller
10723 comments

replied 4 years ago

Hi!

There should be a QR or Aztec code printed on the PDF; with this you can normally open the gates at stations in the Netherlands.
Especially at larger stations there is also staff around which can open the gates for you manually.

Flo

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GiriKadurugamuwa
Traveller
6 comments

replied 4 years ago

Thank you very much Pete. It is very much clear now.
Giri

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GiriKadurugamuwa
Traveller
6 comments

replied 4 years ago

Dear Pete,
Thank you for all the help. Please excuse me for this inquiry. Appreciate your kind intervention. We are all set for the trip now. I have a small worry about the time duration between our flight arrival and the departure of the train.

We arrive in Zurich Airport at 7.20 am. We have purchased super saver tickets for IR 2110 leaving Zurich Flughafen to Luzern at 8.15 am. If there is a delay in immigration or baggage clearance and if we miss the train, will we be able to use the ticket for the next train bound to Luzern?
Your corporation in this regard is very highly appreciated.
Thank you
Giri

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Flo
Traveller
10723 comments

replied 4 years ago

Hi!

Where have you bought your ticket? From which website/company? What exactly does it say on your ticket?

SBB (Swiss railways) normally only sells "Sparbillet" (which are advance fare tickets valid only for the train booked) or regular fare tickets.
If you have bought a "Sparbillet" it is only valid on the train booked and you cant take any later train.

Flo