Travel To Switzerland

Switzerland is a great get away for many vacationers and tourists, but getting away means you must also have a way to get around. Your means of transport may spoil your trip, or create a more memorable trip for you. That’s why you should compare cheap car hire at airports across Switzerland in order to make sure you’re getting the best deal available. You should also keep in mind that many car hire operations offer the best deals when you make your reservations several weeks in advance. This provides them with enough notification to have your car ready and waiting on you, while providing you with a discount of around 10%. Companies that offer such discounts usually prefer you to make the reservation online, but they do take reservations over the phone.

Two of the best companies in Switzerland to hire your car from include Avis and Hertz. These two companies have many locations across all of Switzerland and include great features with many of their car hire plans. Both companies will deliver their car to you at the airport as part of their plan, and have a driver to pick it up, if there is not a car hire dealer nearby. Both Avis and Hertz take reservations for their car hire service online, offering up many great auto choices, from convertibles to 4×4s for getting around in snowy terrain. Hertz also offers many green vehicles for those with an environmentalist mindset. If you’re looking for cheap car hire in Switzerland, there are other options for you.

Budget car hire has booths at both the Zurich and Geneva airports, shortly after you enter them. They offer competitive rates on all vehicles, from small sized cars to large sized SUVs. Budget also offers a 10% discount for customers who prepay their car hire service and make their reservation at least six weeks in advance. Their service also includes theft protection and a collision damage waiver to give you the peace of mind you need while driving in Switzerland. If you are sure of your destination and your travel itinerary, Budget car hire may be the best deal for you.

If none of these options seem like they fit you, or you’re still unsure of certain parts of your journey, you should compare car hire in Switzerland with Avis, Budget, Dollar, Economy, and Hertz. This way you are sure to get the best deal for your vacation or general travel needs. Always keep in mind that the sooner you reserve your car, the better chance you have of receiving a discount, as well as the type of car you want. Cars are served on a first come first serve basis, so earlier is always better.

Wanda

Is it possible to see the best of this beautiful country in the heart of Europe, in 4 days? If you’re adventurous and have a reasonable level of fitness, it can be done. Read on to discover how.

Your time in Europe is limited and there’s so much to see. However to miss this tiny country would be a great pity. The people are courteous and friendly, the lakes breathtaking and the mountain scenery the most spectacular in Europe.

The booking clerk at the Zurich Bahnhoff looked at me with surprise when I presented him with my 4 day Swiss Pass and told him of my travel plans.

“I hope you are fit “, he said. Fortunately Switzerland is compact and its travel system is smooth, punctual and efficient.

Zurich is an ideal starting point because of its transport access to the rest of Europe. Most international airlines fly to Zurich and travelers from London can go by Eurostar to Paris and then by express from Paris to Zurich. Lausanne, just east of the border with France, is a convenient finishing point with its TGV high speed rail connection with Paris. I chose a Swiss pass (which must be purchased before you leave) because it offers cheap unlimited travel on all trains, buses and ferries and discounts on most mountain railways and cable cars.

DAY ONE. ZURICH TO SPIETZ.

An early morning departure (7.30AM) from the Zurich Bahnhoff was followed by a short ride south through undulating countryside to Lucerne and the first change of trains. Because of the regularity of trains, it is worthwhile taking a 2 hour stop at this beautiful little city on Lake Lucerne. If you have time, four optional excursions spaced over 2 days are worthwhile.

A steamer trip to the eastern end of Lake Lucerne alighting at Fluelen is recommended. The mountain scenery on the south side of the lake is breathtaking. A quick train journey back to Lucerne completes this half-day excursion.

Two mountain trips are within easy reach of Lucerne. The closest is Mt Pilatus, and my suggestion is to take the cog railway up the south face and return on the cable car as you descend the north face. The views north to Lucerne are some of the finest in Europe. Further afield is Mt Titlis. This requires a bus journey to Engelburg, then a series of cable car rides to the summit with its permanent snow cover. Spectacular views of the main mountain peaks in Switzerland await you. The fourth major attraction in Lucerne is the transport museum: reputed to be the finest in Europe.

The next part of the journey is over the top of the Brunig pass. A cog railway is necessary because of the steep gradients ascending and descending these mountain passes. It is worth taking an hour’s stop at the pretty village of Brienz on the north shore of Lake Brienz, before continuing on to Interlaken and the next change of trains.

Interlaken is an ideal base to explore the magnificent mountain scenery of the Bernese Oberland including Jungfrau, one of the highest peaks in Switzerland. A rapid train journey to Thun is followed by a walk down to the harbour to join the ferry for a 1-hour voyage to Spietz, the overnight stop. I would strongly recommend this late afternoon ferry journey on one of the prettiest lakes in Europe.

DAY TWO. BRIENZ to LOCARNO.

This spectacular journey includes 2 of Europe’s major tunnels: Lotschberg and Simplon and travels south through high alpine scenery to Ticino, the southernmost and warmest canton in Switzerland. The descent to Brig with views of the Rhone Valley on the right is particularly spectacular. At Brig, following another train change, we travel through the Simplon tunnel into Italy.

Leaving the train at Domodossola, the journey continues on a quaint little privately owned railway to the overnight stop at Locarno. This journey on the Centovalli railway is strongly recommended because of the spectacular gorges and ravines en route. Sit on the right side of the train for the best views.

Locarno has a beautiful location at the top end of Lake Maggiore and a visit to the Madonna Del Sasso church, a short funicular journey from the heart of town, will reward you with magnificent views over the lake.

DAY THREE. LOCARNO to St MORITZ.

An early morning train journey to Lugano will be necessary for a connection to the Palm Express: a bus trip over the Majola pass to St Moritz. These Swiss postal buses negotiate terrain which is too steep for trains and the winding journey to the top of the pass is breathtaking. To my surprise, particularly as I was told that bookings were essential, I was the only passenger. The joys of off season traveling resulted in the driver stopping at my whims. He even asked where I wanted to stop for coffee!

St Moritz is the starting point for two of the most outstanding train journeys in Europe: the Bernina Express and the Glacier Express. Most overseas travelers board the Bernina Express and travel to Tirano in Italy but as my time was short and acting on advice from the station master at St Moritz, I left the train at Alp Grum (the top of the Bernina Pass), enjoyed a coffee and the spectacular Alpine views at the summit, before boarding another train an hour later for the return trip to St Moritz.

The Bernina Express journey is on the highest non cog railway in Europe and the high alpine glaciers and snow-capped peaks viewed on both sides of the train completed a memorable day.

DAY FOUR. St MORITZ to LAUSANNE.

The final day of my Swiss pass took me on a 7 hour journey through some of the most breathtaking scenery in Europe. The Glacier Express journey from St Moritz to Zermatt is one of the most popular in Europe and is almost always fully booked. For the first time, I did not have to change trains, enabling me to sit back and enjoy the high alpine scenery of rural Switzerland with its meadows, tiny villages, the sound of cowbells, the distant sound of church bells and the brilliant clear bracing mountain air. Every bend and every tunnel exit presented different vistas, but probably the most spectacular was the descent from Oberalp Pass to Andermatt. The views were unforgettable. The Glacier Express arrived in Zermatt in the late afternoon and unfortunately the Matterhorn was covered in cloud. I reluctantly had to cancel a cog railway ascent to Gornergrat, a high plateau just below the summit of this spectacular mountain. It was here that I wished I had more time. The mountain walks around Zermatt are some of the finest in Europe. Another day perhaps!

So it was down the mountain to Visp to join a mainline express through the Rhone Valley for an overnight stop at Lausanne. Sadly most of this journey was at night. It did however give me peace of mind knowing that I would not miss my early morning TGV connection from Lausanne to Paris. Maybe next time, I’ll take the 8-day pass!

A Swiss Pass for 4 consecutive days first class costs US$278. Longer travel days are available. If you wish to combine travel in Switzerland with a number of other countries, a Eurail Pass gives you a number of flexible options.

Mary Ellen

Heaven on the earth- that’s what Switzerland is called. The country has an astonishing profusion of natural magnificence and tourism temptation. It is blessed with diversified geographical pattern and a wonderful blend of dialects, cultures and life-style.

With 4000 m/13,000 ft peaks of the striking Alps and slighter apexes of the Pre-Alpine regions are supposed to be the primary attraction for tourists. It was early days of 19th century when Alps emerged as a great attraction for tourists. The country became the most sought-after tourism destination in last century. Its Alps are considered as one of the most adored natural wonders.

A planning for tourism in Switzerland is planning a vacation for lifetime. The most famed hangout places around Switzerland are respectively Geneva, Zurich, Lucerne, Zermatt etc. These scenic lands call numerous expeditors every year. Nevertheless, there are many more places as well, which are equally striking but bit marooned. If you are looking forward to take pleasure from an isolated travel in Switzerland, checkout these lesser-known places; they will be complete fun for you.

Switzerland offers a cool and temperate climate, which is always humid. Though, high hilly areas of countries are frosty. In Switzerland, normally there are three climatic zones, which are respectively Alps, inner Alpine area and southern parts of the Alps.

Famous in entire world for its striking beauty, Swiss Alps are the most diversified ranges of mountains in entire Europe. These serene hilly ranges have got there name from Latin world ‘Alpes’, which stands for ‘white’.

A check on the most striking places of Switzerland-

Bern – this was ancient capital of the country. It is also famed by the name of ‘Berne’. It offers wonderful examples of fifteenth century art. Mountains around the city make it just striking.

Switzerland is enticing. Looking forward for an unhurried jaunt to the gorgeous Swiss Alps, ask your travel agent to provide a lucrative Switzerland Tourism Package to make your trip to Switzerland a cherished experience. If you are not in touch with any travel agent personally, Internet can be the best Switzerland Travel Guide for you, as it is stuffed with websites, which offer details of Switzerland Travel Guides as well as Switzerland tour packages.

Accommodation - Where to stay in the country of stunning mountain ranges? There are   numbers of hotels in Switzerland. These Switzerland hotels offer almost every facility you are looking for whether its integrated spa or scenic view of Alps from the window of your hotel room.

Caleb