TOP 20 TOURIST MISTAKES TO AVOID IN SWITZERLAND: What to know before visiting Switzerland in 2024!
Hey guys! If you've found your way to our channel, you're probably planning a trip to Switzerland! If so, you’ll want to stay tuned and watch through for the top 20 tourist mistakes to avoid in Switzerland! This video will give you all the tips to see Switzerland like a Swiss local. We'll cover budget and money tips, sightseeing tips, tips for train travel and transportation and more!
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Bienvenue & Willkommen! We are Lex & Louis - and together we are The Traveling Swiss. We're an international couple (USA + Switzerland) who have recently moved from NYC to Switzerland. Come travel with us - we'll give you tips and guides, and hopefully have a few laughs along the way. Our goal is to show you that borders are meant to be crossed!
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All of these reflect mistakes I’ve made or lessons that took too many trips to learn: 1) One of my “favorite” mistakes was booking a hotel in a smaller town near a church that rang its bells, all night long! Inquire in advance, especially with Airbnbs/similar. 2) Careful about expecting to find luggage lockers at stations. Stations at/near tourist destinations almost all have them but many smaller stations don’t - or have a limited number. 3) I was once sternly counseled by a female train conductor that, “In Switzerland, we do not ask questions of others until we have first greeted them!” Greet every shopkeeper and other service worker appropriately- Gruezi, bonjour, Buongiorno. 4) A good rule of thumb to tell if the town you are speaks Swiss German, French or Italian is whether the name of the town seems into fit in one of those languages. 5) Pay attention to the overhead train platforms signs that indicate which platform sections (A, B, C…) the first and second-class cars of the approaching train are going to stop at so that you get on a car that reflects your fare class. And keep your feet off the seats! (Yes, that’s a widely practiced rule.) 6) Don’t try to put large suitcases on the small racks above seats. Leave them at the luggage areas often at either end of each car and be sure to use the space in between back-to-back seats to slide in even medium-large suitcases. 7) Staying at an old hotel during the summer? If the weather is going to be warm/sunny, you may want to call ahead and request that they not put you on the top floor. Top floor rooms often have sloped ceilings, reflecting the contour of the roof, upon which the sun is beating down. It will be hot if they don’t have AC. 8) Americans- Discover credit cards are also very scarcely accepted in Europe. 9) On credit card readers, when prompted, select CHF (Swiss Francs). If you select $USD, you will likely get hit with an extra currency conversion fee. 10) In medium and large cities, there are often reasonably priced and good quality buffets with sit down table areas at some of the larger supermarket and department stores. 11) Eating out in a tourist town or at a popular restaurant…? Don’t forget to make a reservation in advance. Places fill up.
Super tips 👍
It's funny you say to greet people - when on other sites they've said that don't be offended if a shop keeper doesn't greet you and simply says, "What do you want?"
Thank you for this insightful video! As someone planning a trip to Switzerland, these tips are invaluable. I'll definitely be mindful of these common tourist mistakes to ensure a smooth and enjoyable visit. Can't wait to explore Switzerland with confidence in 2024! 🇨🇭✨ #TravelTips
Love all the information!!! Great job ! Love categorised topics
This was very thorough and helpful. Thank you!
Travelling to Switzerland this May 2024. You videos are such a big help in planning things out. Thanks to the both of you
Im swiss
Hi we are traveling to Zurich next week! Did you already travel? if yes any tips please?
Thank You You keep doing a great job with these videos and the beauty of Switzerland 🇨🇭 - I’m hoping to get back as soon as possible and will definitely reach out again to assist with an itinerary or ideas!! Thank You
Thank you for providing such useful information! Greatly appreciated.
I didn’t know about the lockers. Thank you for the info.
Hi from Canada! Thanks for another great video :-) It was funny how Louis nodded when Alexis said americains can be loud 🤣 North Americains are often very loud, indeed. I love Switzerland and I appreciate so much the quietness that you can find pretty much eveywhere. I remember my surprise the first time I went to a departement store in Geneva. There were probably 300 people having lunch in the food court and not a single noise! Have both a great weekend and 'see' you soon!
Hit on every concern I had! thank you so much. 😁
Hello, thank you for the tips about visiting Switzerland. We we’re there last December 2023. We had so much fun, the people, the nature, all I can say is the best ever I’ve ever been. It’s really expensive but it’s worth to visit.
Thanks Alexis and Louis, another interesting vid. I thought I was quite experienced with travelling in Switzerland but I made a mistake last time I visited. We had a Half Fare Card instead of a Swiss Pass, and bought a ticket from Brig to Zermatt and back. On the way back the guard clipped our tickets after leaving Zermatt, we then broke our journey by getting off the MGB train at the Jumbo between Visp and Brig to buy some groceries. This is fine in the UK as long as you do it on the return journey not the outward journey. Anyway we got back on the next train to Brig with our shopping and the guard came round and said to break our journey we should have informed the guard on the first train from Zermatt so as he did not clip our tickets. Luckily the guard on the second train accepted our apology and did not fine us or make us pay again.
Last year, for the first time in 12 visits to Switzerland, I encountered some fountains that were NOT for drinking. Granted they were in less touristy towns of Delemont and Spiez. All were marked by small signs, though the one in Delemont were very obscure. GREAT video, guys! Wonderful for first or even second time guests to Switzerland.
I'm concerned loyal fans of this channel will believe what they are told here that ALL Swiss fountains are safe to drink from and maybe end up getting sick.
Hello from SWFlorida, Great Tips!
This video is good. Thank you. (liked)
Since I missed out on telling you my mistake...back in 1987, I bought a train ticket for Lausanne but actually the ticket agent misunderstood me and sold me a ticket to Lucern which ended up being a lovely mistake.
great tips! thank you
Nice video, thanks 👍. Yes coins are must have, also for parking you will often need coins.
Thanks helped a lot.
Nice! I just found what i am looking for! We are planning for swiss vacay. Will contact for consultation. We are thinking about visiting Switzerland but no idea where to go 😂. I've been there twice to Geneva and Davos for work, but it was work and work.
Great Video. Your comments are spot on. I worked many years in Yosemite National Park in CA. Beautiful place, a must see for visitors, but there are places to avoid because of crowds in the summer. You can get around them, but some places are simply too packed with people. Thank you for your information. Does 'What app" work for free in Switzerland. My daughter just told me that it costs money when people travel to Switzerland. Have you heard this?
Thank you for this useful information you have mentioned in the vedio for the point that the euro is not accepted in Switzerland we travelled to lucerne in May 2022 we have used euro in supermarkets &restaurants, shops but we have to take the change in swiss Frank's and they not accept euro coins I want to ask if this rules changed as we will travell soon thank you ❤
Good
Great video! What is the app where I can plan my train routes called?
Are we good coming the first week of October in reference to closures? We'll be in the Lucerne area.
@thetravelingswiss american express is not accepted or issued in major europian countries(E.U member states).The reason is the change of banking regulations from Europian central bank and also the high fees that the owner of the business has to pay for the transcactions
Hi both I am planning to come to Zurich in June first week on a personal trip ,I got one free day in Zurich on a Friday ,can you please suggest a best train travel to see some mountains from Zurich ,please not too far
Hi hi Thank you very much for your really useful info. Suggestion or request: if you could include suggestions, thoughts or experiences of disabled people, it would be great. Though I do appreciate it may be difficult or impossible unless you have somebody who is disabled. I know from my own frustrations that the advertised systems for making reservations for wheelchair users on trains are not... what I experience when I attempt to book them, for example. Just a suggestion! Thank you and all the best
Question on travel pass. Say if I buy an 8 day swiss pass on 23 May, please tell me when exactly it will end?
Is a Revolut card generally accepted in Switzerland? Many thanks
Is it possible all the lockers at a station could be full? Esp in peak times like summer at a busy station?
The Bernina Line runs normal trains and panoramic trains. You have to pay a surcharge for the panoramic trains so watch out. If you walk up to the lake, you cannot take the first train back. Your ticket will be checked on the train and you will be forced to pay the surcharge. :)
is apple pay widely used in switzerland?
Thank you!! Can you design me an itinerary when time comes? Coming from Stockholm,Swiss.
Hi! We have prebuilt itineraries on our website and the ability to purchase custom one also!
@@TheTravelingSwiss good day! Awesome! Can you plz provide your link?? I dont see it. TiA😊
Hi...which is the best weather app to download for Lucerne, Interlaken and Zermatt??
Hi. Thanks for the heads up about being a bit more quiet in public. (American here). do you have any tips for traveling with young children here? You mentioned cobblestone. Should we try to avoid strollers?
Strollers are absolutely no problem in the cities...
Can we pay by credit card in most places?
Hello im visiting in april. with the total custom itinerary can i send the places i want to visit and you like customize the trip according? Im just confused about the trains and all and where everything is located so dont know how much i can do each day. I need help 😂😂
Yes! There will be an entire form to complete for the custom itinerary where you can share all of the details of what you want to visit and we can build accordingly, review and feedback rounds included too!
Is Apple Pay acceptable?
Hello, in which city do you live? Have a blessed day.
We have booked a place to stay which is just inside Germany border , we will be travelling from Zurich airport.do you know if there any toll or road tax etc charge on route? Thanks in advance
Do I need to pay any type of charge to entering Germany as well ? Thanks stay blessed
I'm arriving in Zurich from Basel via train. Will I then need to find a bus or tram to get to my hotel? Is traveling on the train to the hotel managable with luggage? Is there ever anyone along the way who is available to help me with my baggage? Thanks.
Is travelling in mid March recommended for a first time traveller?
I’ve traveled in March! It’s not as crowded. You might have cold and somewhat wintry weather in the north, but if you head to Lugano, you’ll think it’s May! I personally don’t think there’s a bad time.
@@MarthaReynolds hey thanks for sharing your experience! We indeed did go in March to Interlaken, Basel and Lake Thun/Brienz along with Jungfraujoch. It was all beautiful and perfect weather with minimal cold so totally recommend!
Hello Alexis and Louis, I need your services, How I can better connect to you.
Hello I like this video i love Switzerland. I love nature. I love this work.❤❤❤❤❤🇨🇭🇨🇭🇨🇭🇨🇭🇨🇭🌟👌🌟👌🌟👌 thank you so much make this beautiful video god bless you wish you all the best🌹🌻🌺🌹🌻🌺🌹🌻🌺🌹🌻🌺🌹🌻🌺 take care goodbye. 👋👋 Lahore Pakistan. 🇵🇰🇵🇰🇵🇰🇵🇰🇵🇰🇵🇰 Sumera Riaz .
Switzerland is hot as hell in summer these days, so take your money and go to a country with real beaches instead of burning in 38 degree heat.
The guy in the whole video : 😁