The last eighteen years Switzerland was my home, so I should be an expert on this theme. Let’s see what I can tell you about this beautiful country.
Weather:
Spring/Summer: Switzerland is a few degrees Centigrade cooler than England, except the region next to Italy – Tessin. In all other ... Read review
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Advantages: Beautiful country Disadvantages: Quite expensive and very cold in winter
The last eighteen years Switzerland was my home, so I should be an expert on this theme. Let’s see what I can tell you about this beautiful country.
Weather:
Spring/Summer: Switzerland is a few degrees Centigrade cooler than England, except the region next to Italy – Tessin. In all other counties it is between 12 and 24 degrees during this seasons, in Tessin it is between 14 and 28 degrees.
Autumn/Winter: This ... ...Verbier, Nendaz are some of the biggest – and dearest). Temperatures vary from minus 10 up to 10 degrees Centigrade.
Languages:
Switzerland may be very small, but it has four (!) official languages. So it should be no problem to speak English to everyone, as well as German and French. The fourth language is dying, so you want really find people who are able to speak it. In schools Swiss people also get the chance to ... more
The last eighteen years Switzerland was my home, so I should be an expert on this theme. Let’s see what I can tell you about this beautiful country.
Weather: Spring/Summer: Switzerland is a few degrees Centigrade cooler than England, except the region next to Italy – Tessin. In all other counties it is between 12 and 24 degrees during this seasons, in Tessin it is between 14 and 28 degrees.
Autumn/Winter: This seasons are quite cool, especially in the skiing-regions (Davos, Arosa, Verbier, Nendaz are some of the biggest – and dearest). Temperatures vary from minus 10 up to 10 degrees Centigrade.
Languages:
Switzerland may be very small, but it has four (!) official languages. So it should be no problem to speak English to everyone, as well as German and French. The fourth language is dying, so you want really find people who are able to speak it. In schools Swiss people also get the chance to learn Spanish, Italian, Latin and Greek – so go mad and test the citizen’s language skills!
Money: It is quite an expensive country. In my opinion comparable with England. Prices to go shopping are slightly more expensive and if you want to stay in a fancy region, you have to be prepared to pay even more. The prices for Hotels are dear and you will not find as many youth hostels as you would in England. However, the standard is high, so you do not have to be afraid of having coach roaches as your roommates. One Swiss Franc is approximately 2.4 Pounds Sterling.
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 Lucarno or Luino. Luino is bigger, but already belongs to Italy, so do not forget to bring your Passport with you. Lucarno is smaller, but offers about the same choices as Luino. You can 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 Zürich or Luzern are a good tip. Two big cities in Switzerland (Big in Switzerland, so you probably think they are rather small).
Winter: Hmmm...what would I do in Switzerland in Winter? Go Skiing is of course the answer! If you do not want to go to the dear, famous districts, check out the smaller ones like Valbella or Engelberg. They are much cheaper and often as good as the big ones. If you look for places to relax visit the Swiss Holiday Park in Morschach right above Brunnen which is directly at the Vierwaldstättersee in the very heart of Switzerland. You can get there by car or bus and place your bookings on www.swissholidaypark.ch. It is not cheap, still a great experience. They have different Restaurants, a relaxing area where you get massages, honey baths and just about everything you can imagine, as well as a swimming-pool. If the weather is not good enough for you, 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 a games room with bowling, dart games and videogames.
People: Everyone who visits Switzerland says the people there are friendly. To be honest, I have to say that most of them are always in a hurry and make unhappy faces when they walk along the street. If you ask them something they normally answer in your language if possible and try to help you as good as possible.
Public Transport: Never ever take a Taxi in Switzerland, they are much too expensive! The public transport is good, as long as you are not up in the mountains. There is no underground and the buses and trains are a bit cheaper than in England. As Swiss people are always exactly on time, don’t be late. On www.sbb.ch you will find all the train and bus connections you need (or call 0041 900 800 800).
Advantages: Excellent scenery, very safe and people are friendly. Disadvantages: Extremely expensive
While I was in Europe earlier this year, I stopped over in Switzerland for the last two weeks of my trip to see some of my relatives. This wasn't the first time that I had been in Switzerland but I don't particularly remember my last time because I was fairly young. I certainly forgot how great in a lot of aspects this country was. Just driving from the airport was a very pleasant experience because the countryside is like something out of a picture ... ...Since I was in Switzerland at the beginning of February the weather was expectedly cold and snowy. During the day (in winter) the temperature is fairly cold and cloudy with the averages being around 5 C to -5 C and the evening temperatures can get as cold as -20 C depending on where you are staying (for those of you that aren't used to degrees, 1 degree celcius equals about 3 degrees fahrenheit). You might think that this could be a negative thing ...
duki 25.04.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of General: Switzerland
I have visited alot of Europe, although not nearly as much of it as I would like to visit, but so far on my travels, Switzerland is the most beautiful place I have ever been to.
I am not about to launch into an essay of the type I usually write about places I have visited, as I admit that I don't know as much as perhaps you would like to know about the place, as I went there five years ago at the tender age of 15. However, it is the one place that ... ...a dream of mine to return.
Contrary to popular belief, Switzerland is not only a holiday destination for thrill seekers on skiing holidays. I visited Switerland in the height of summer, and I can't think of a better time to see it in all it's glory. We arrived in Switzerland with a bang after a twenty four hour journey in a clapped out school bus. Nightmare. It was evening when we got there, and not having slept for twenty four hours, we all headed ...
NATI 14.03.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of General: Switzerland
Advantages: The scenery is fabulous, and the people are friendly Disadvantages: But you can't understand what they're saying, and it's not cheap!
I have had the pleasure of visiting Switzerland several times in the last few months, the border is only 2 hours to the south of Heidelberg, and although this is definitely a very expensive country to spend time in, it is well worth a visit!
First and foremost, the scenery is generally stunning, as Switzerland is effectively the Alps... Basel, the city right on the border with France and Germany, sits on a plain at the foothills of this mountain ... ...side of the city, the peaks loom up out of the mist, and the main motorway cuts right through the valleys. It is a phenomenal drive if you are heading south to Milan, as the motorway carves a path between these towering mountainsides and the weather seems to change in each valley! It is pretty difficult to concentrate on the road with all the distractions of the scenery around you...
The views of Lake Lucerne from the road are truly picturesque ...
JVL 16.11.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of General: Switzerland
Advantages: the best scenery in the world Disadvantages: among the most expensive viewpoints in the world, if not physically fit for prolonged hikes
Definitely the best stop on my recently completed European tour, the Berner Oberland region can probably be labeled among the best that Switzerland has to offer. Having lived in the country for some nine years, I reserve the right to fully justify this (seemingly rash) elevation of the region to among Switzerland’s finest holiday destinations.
We had originally planned to visit Interlaken, 1.5 hours from Bern by train. However, Interlaken ... ...with tourists on the day we arrived there, July 12, 2001. Our desire for a more isolated destination, after having toured principal cities in France, Spain, and Italy, brought us instead to Lauterbrunnen, smaller and quieter than Interlaken, and only 20 minutes away by train. Another factor in Lauterbrunnen’s favor was its higher altitude (800 meters above sea level), which, if anything, would bring us closer in touch with Switzerland’s ...
Marechal_Grouchy 21.08.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of General: Switzerland
Advantages: wonderful scenery Disadvantages: touristy in places and not cheap to buy drinks
We wanted something a little bit different when we went on our honeymoon. We were fed up with the standard European beach resort full of other English people. However, we were also somewhat limited in budget; we didn’t have three grand to blow on a mega holiday after paying for the wedding.
In the end we found a 3 centre Glacier Express rail tour in Switzerland offered by Crystal Holidays. This was 10 days split between 3 resorts all half board. ... ...the opportunity to see several different places. Another key thing about this tour was that it was only semi-organised. This meant that we would not be restricted to the normal 2-hours-here, a-half-day-there that most touring holidays involve. But it also meant we didn’t have to worry about meticulously planning rail connections and booking hotels ourselves, which would have been the case if we had done it DIY.
We flew from Birmingham airport early ...
PoohBear71 15.01.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of General: Switzerland
Value for Money
Sightseeing
Shopping
Nightlife
Ease of getting around
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Advantages: Near France and Italy. Beautiful scenery. Disadvantages: Similar prices to UK
Introduction ~~~~~~~~
Geneva is located in the south-west part of Switzerland is very near to France. In fact part of Geneva airport is in France.
If going on holiday to you means "cheap stuff" then Geneva and Switzerland in general for that matter is not your ideal holiday. Switzerland shares rip-off Britain prices and many things are more expensive there. The only thing that is cheaper there is petrol and fags.
Scenery ~~~~~~~~~~
The scenery in Geneva is beautiful near the lake. From the lake you can see into the Alps and see the famous Lake Geneva fountain. At night Geneva is stunning, the fountain is lit up and all the posh offices have fancy lights. (Like the ones Harrods has) On top of all that you are only a 20 minute drive to the Alps where there is more breathtaking scenery.
About Switzerland in General ...
Advantages: Beautiful, stunning, breathtaking views Disadvantages: Journey up the mountain is boring and tedious.
The single most stunning view I have ever seen was upon the top of Jungfraujoch. Don't let the height or cold scare you away, this is a perfect destination for any tourist or person in Switzerland seeking entertainment.
The travel up the mountain is generally done via underground train, which makes for an interesting ride! There are several stops along the inside of the mountain, with giant windows to give an almost panoramic view of what is to come.
Although you may have seen snow before, you may have even seen mountains before, but really.. Nothing will be able to prepare you for the breath-taking views from the top, either from the mountain top - where the snow is all around you, with only rope fences holding people back from the dangerous edges - or from the giant telescope and laboratory at the very top of the mountain, where ...
Advantages: Get to see Europe and UK at a reasonable cost Disadvantages: Lots of driving, might not get park you want
stunning. We stayed in a hotel in Bibione but there's a park in Caorle called Pra'delle Torri.
2. Another example was the mammoth trip we made last year - we flew to Zurich and drove to Interlaken, staying at Manor Farm. I absolutely loved this place - although the camp site was expensive - as was Switzerland in general. But the beauty of it all thoroughly made up for it. Set right next to a beautiful lake and surrounded by mountains. Interlaken is a lovely little town and it is easy to access Jungfraujoch which is the highest point in Europe.
We stayed there Friday to Monday and then drove, an amazing drive through the Swiss Alps to Italy, straight down to Tuscany.
An alternative that I intend to do another time is to stop at a park in Lake Garda - this would shorten that drive immensely.
Instead, we drove to Norcenni Girasole - which is ...
Ailady 08.02.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Sun holidays
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