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Trip Tips and What To Pack for Your
Switzerland Vacation

Visa:

All travelers will need a passport valid for at least 90 days following your departure date from Switzerland. Most destinations, including Switzerland, require that you have adequate un-used pages in your passport, allowing for any necessary stamps upon arrival and departure. We recommend that you have at least two free pages in Visas section of your passport before any international travel. Require that you have adequate un-used pages in your passport, allowing for any necessary stamps upon arrival and departure. We recommend that you have at least two free pages in Visas section of your passport before any international travel. U.S. citizens can get extra passport pages added to their passports as fast as within 24 hours.

Money:

Switzerland is not part of the EU and does not use the Euro as currency. The currency we have here is the Swiss Frank (abbreviated sometimes as SFr, sometimes as CHF). Only Liechtenstein uses the same currency. Euros can be used only in larger towns and tourist areas and then the exchange the shops offer is bad and you will get Swiss Francs back

Euros can be used only in larger towns and tourist areas and then the exchange the shops offer is bad and you will get Swiss Francs back. It is better to get some Franks and use them. Finding a bank is no problem in Switzerland, also there are innumerable ATMs. Most ATMs also give out Euros, by the way. The coins: 5 Rapped (cents), these are golden, the rest is silver10 Rappen, 20 Rappen, 50 Rappen (very small easily confused with the 10 cents), 1 Frank, (only slightly bigger than the 20 Rappen) 2 Franks, 5 Franks (these coins are huge and heavy).

Time:

Switzerland is in Central European Time (CET) and is 1 hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.

Switzerland started Daylight Saving Time on Sunday March 31, 2013 at 2:00 AM local time. Switzerland ends Daylight Saving Time on Sunday October 27, 2013 at 3:00 AM local time.

Electric Plugs

The voltage in Switzerland, as in most of Europe, is 230V/50 Hz Switzerland uses type C (2-pin) and Type J (3-pin) plugs (Type C 2-pin plugs also fit J sockets). Check the list in the link to see which other countries use the same plugs, and whether you will need an adapter to run your appliances from a Swiss socket.

But travel plug adapters do not change the voltage, so the electricity coming through the adapter will still be the same 110-120 volts the socket is supplying. If your appliance is from another part of the world, and it is built only for 220-240 volt electricity, or a Japanese appliance built for 100 volts, then a travel plug adapter by itself won't be sufficient. The voltage will have to be changed from 110-120 volts at the socket, to whatever voltage your appliance requires. This is accomplished with a voltage transformer.

Weather

Switzerland has a temperate climate in the populated areas, but mountain peaks in the alps are buried under eternal ice and snow. On the southern side of the alps the climate is a little bit warmer than in the north, but the really important thing to consider is that the alps form a barrier that separates two completely different aspect of a weather situation. The wettest conditions persist in the high Alps and in the Ticino canton which has much sun yet heavy bursts of rain from time to time. Precipitation tends to be spread moderately throughout the year with a peak in summer. Autumn is the driest season, winter receives less precipitation than summer, yet the weather patterns in Switzerland are not in a stable climate system and can be variable from year to year with no strict and predictable periods

Shopping

Shopping in Switzerland is a delight. The question most asked is, what do you buy in Switzerland? Or rather, what is Switzerland famous for?

The Country is known for various things. It is known for its mount watering chocolates. It is home to the famous Lind. It is great for Cheese - all kinds.

Of course, one of the best place to buy the famous Swiss watches is Bunchier with 15 stores throughout Switzerland. In 1888, opened the first specialty shop offering watches and jewelry in Luzern, Switzerland, laying the foundation stone for a successful family business.

Top 10 Souvenirs and Gifts to Buy In Switzerland

Taking gifts back for friends and family is an important part of your Switzerland Singles Vacation. Here is a suggestion of gifts you could take back home.

1. Watches
2. Chocolate
3. Cheese
4. Swiss Army knives
5. cow-hide jackets
6. cowbells
7. Victoriana knifes
8. cuckoo clock
9. Chocoholic heaven
10. jewelry

Local Foods

There are many different places to go out to eat in Switzerland. It starts with fast food, such as burger, fish and chips etc., continues with self service restaurants and what people in the U.S. use to call a family restaurant where you get all the regular menus and ends with spectacular (and very expensive) restaurants, where to eat is supposed to be an "experience" Food is quite expensive in Switzerland, at least compared to most European countries and especially compared to the U.S. If you go to a fast food place, you may easily spend up to CHF 10 for a burger.

Common menus include a great variety of pasta, potatoes prepared in many different ways, vegetables, meat (veal, beef, pork, chicken and even horse), fish (mainly fresh water fish), but also sea food. Vegetarian menus have become more popular during the last few years, most restaurants provide at least one vegetarian menu as a main course. In addition, salad is very popular as well. The most important part of course is desert. This includes cheese, but even more important any flavor of cakes or cookies.

Don’t Leave Home without your Passport!