You can stretch your travel dollar further, and take advantage of the comfort and convenience of Switzerland's efficient transportation system, when you purchase Swiss rail products this year here in North America before you leave on vacation. Instead of dealing with fluctuating exchange rates in Europe, you pay the same price in dollars throughout 2004 when you buy from Rail Europe. So stock up on Switzerland!

Owned in part by Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), Rail Europe offers the wide range of Swiss Travel System products, including Swiss Passes, Swiss Card, Swiss Transfer Ticket, Fly Rail Baggage Coupons, and Swiss Family Card. For 2004, a new benefit of Swiss Travel System passes is that they are valid for free travel all the way to Chamonix in France on the scenic Mont Blanc Express.

New Swiss products from Rail Europe this year include two 2-country railpasses, the Switzerland 'n Austria Pass and France 'n Switzerland Pass. Also new is an economical rail and hotel package, "Swiss Tradition and Scenery," with optional excursion to one of Switzerland's highest mountain peaks.

Switzerland Plus

Two new for 2004 railpasses from Rail Europe make it easy to tour Switzerland plus either of two neighbors to the east or west. The Switzerland 'n Austria Pass and France 'n Switzerland Pass provide unlimited rail travel for 4 days within a 2-month period, starting at US$256/CAN$372 for the Switzerland 'n Austria Pass and US$259/CAN$376 for the France 'n Switzerland Pass (prices are per person based on two people traveling together in 1st class). Extra days may be added and discounted passes in 2nd class are available for travelers under 26.

Rail and hotel packages

Affordable packages combine rail travel plus overnights in 3- or 4-star hotels, including a new one for 2004. The first three packages listed below provide a 50% discount on any additional excursions or side trips purchased locally:

NEW Swiss Tradition and Scenery through the Eastern Alpine region - starting at US$420/CAN$609 per person for 5 days/4 nights, one each in Lucerne, Appenzell, Chur and Zurich. Includes a ride on the Voralpen Express, the postal bus and the Glacier Express; optional excursion to one of the country's highest peak, Mt. Saentis.

Swiss Mountain Peaks, from US$430/CAN$624 per person for 4 days/3 nights in Interlaken, Engelberg and Zurich, plus excursions to Mt. Schilthorn and Mt. Titlis.

Grand Tour Lake Geneva and Matterhorn Region, from US$420/CAN$609 per person for 5 days/4 nights in Geneva, Lausanne/Montreux and in Zermatt or another mountain resort.

Tops of Switzerland, from US$435/CAN$631 per person for 5 days/4 nights in Interlaken and Luzern, with excursions to Jungfraujoch and Mt. Pilatus.
Benefits of Swiss Travel System products - integrated transit systems and bonuses

Switzerland is the ideal country to explore by rail, lake steamer, postal bus, and city transit systems. The Swiss Travel System products provide access to all of these, including the special scenic routes. Bonuses for passholders include discounts on cable-cars, mountaintop excursions, high-speed and overnight trains to France, Spain and Germany, admission to many museums, discounts on ski and bike rentals, a number of hotel chains, guided city tours, and much more. Among the new bonuses for 2004 is a discount to Interlaken's Mystery Park, created by author Erich von Daeniken (see www.mysterypark.ch).

Two or more people traveling together can save 15 % by buying the discounted Swiss SaverPass, starting at US$145/CAN$211 per person (2nd class, 4 days) or US$221/CAN$321 per person (1st class, 4 days). A discounted Swiss Youth Pass is also available for travelers under 26.

Family Friendly - children go free

Switzerland is one of the few countries where children (under 16) travel free when accompanied by a parent with a paid Swiss Travel System ticket or pass. The Swiss Family Card is available free to anyone purchasing a Swiss Travel System product.

Ideal for one-destination vacations - Swiss Transfer Ticket and Swiss Card

If you only plan on getting to one favorite Swiss destination - perhaps to hike or ski or yodel, the Swiss Transfer ticket is the perfect product. For just US$85/CAN$124 (2nd class) or US$128/CAN$186 (1st class), this ticket covers your roundtrip by rail, bus and boat between any Swiss airport or border point and a single destination. The Swiss Card is similar to the Transfer Ticket but also provides a 50% discount on all excursions during your stay in the region, for just US$124/CAN$180 (2nd class) or US$166/CAN$241 (1st class).

Scenic routes through spectacular scenery

Swiss trains travel some of the most awe-inspiring scenic routes in Europe, including the Mont Blanc Express, Voralpen Express and Centovalli's dramatic gorges, waterfalls and quaint villages. Other popular scenic routes are the Glacier Express (Zermatt to St. Moritz), William Tell Express (boat ride on Lake Lucerne plus Alpine crossing on the legendary Gotthard route), Bernina Express (travel from glaciers to palm trees within 2 hours), Golden Pass Line (from Lake Lucerne via Interlaken to Lake Geneva), Palm Express (postal bus ride between St. Moritz and Lugano) and Swiss Chocolate Train (with visits to cheese and chocolate makers). Most of these trains have panoramic cars to optimize Alpine viewing. Travelers with a Swiss Pass or Swiss Flexipass pay only a small reservation fee on these routes, although many routes require no reservation fee.

Fly Rail Baggage Coupons

Fly Rail Baggage Coupons (US$15/CAN$22 per piece of luggage) allow travelers to check bags at any North American airport with any carrier going to Switzerland and pick it up at their choice of approximately 50 Swiss railway stations.