Savouring Switzerland
"Switzerland is an expensive country, but very popular with everyone who likes to travel. The landscape is extraordinary and Switzerland is definitely the place to go, if you like skiing."
Switzerland was my home for the last 18 years, and therefore I could be an expert on this theme. Let's see what I can tell you about this beautiful country.
Weather: Switzerland is generally a few degrees centigrade cooler than England. In winter you could expect to find snow all over the country, but in recent years it has been less and less cold as temperatures all over the world rose.
Languages: Switzerland may be very small, but it has four official languages. So it is not a problem to speak English, as well as German and French. The fourth language is dying, so you won't really find people who could speak it. In schools Swiss people also get the chance to learn Spanish, Italian, Latin and Greek - so go mad in testing the citizens' language skills!
Money: It is quite an expensive country. In my opinion comparable to England. Places to go shopping are slightly more expensive and if you want to stay in a fancy area, you have to be prepared to pay even more. The hotel accommodation is very expensive and you will not find as many youth hostels as you will find in England. However, the standard is high, so that you do not have to be afraid of having cockroaches as your roommates.
Things to do and see:
Summer: My tip for the summer is either Tessin, the warmest region or Wallis, which is beautiful for walks and bicycle rides. If you visit Tessin, do not miss the regular market either in Locarno or Luino. Luino is bigger, but already belongs to Italy, so do not forget to bring your passport with you. Locarno is smaller, but offers the same choices as Luino. You could buy food (delicious), animals (poor things), clothes and art. The market in Luino is directly opposite a lake - stunning!
It is best to get there by car. If you want to go shopping look no further than Zurich or Luzern - those are two bigger cities in Switzerland.
Winter: Hmmm.... What could I do in Switzerland during winter? Go skiing is of course the answer! If you do not want the expensive, famous districts, check out the smaller ones like Valbella or Engelberg. They are much cheaper and often as good as the big places. If you look for a place to relax, visit the Holiday Park in Morschach right above Brunnen which is directly at the Vierwaldstättersee in the very heart of Switzerland. They have different restaurants - a relaxing area where you get massages, honey baths, a swimming pool and just about everything you could wish for.
If the weather is not good enough to go out, you do not have to leave the house, as everything is connected if you stay in the hotel and not in one of the bungalows. There is a bar and games room with bowling, dart games and video games.
Public transport: Never, ever take a Taxi in Switzerland, as they cost the earth! The public transport system is very good and trains and buses run on time. There is no underground and travel fares are a bit cheaper than in England. On www.sbb.ch you will find all the train and bus connections you need.
My verdict: Switzerland is an expensive country, but very popular with everyone who likes to travel. The landscape is extraordinary and Switzerland is definitely the place to go if you like skiing.
Tip: Try some of the vast variety of cheese. Fondue and Raclette are only two of the delicious varieties of cheese and in Switzerland you could try them all.