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When you think of Switzerland, the first image that comes to your mind is the landscape of green fields with the snowy Alps in the background and the nature that looks unreal. The best part about Switzerland is that all of this is true! This country is also known as the land of bankers, watches, cheeses, camper knives and of course – yummy chocolate. This sounds like a fantastic destination, and it surely is! Switzerland is not only one of the richest countries in the world with a high living standard, but it’s also a country with a long tourist tradition. It offers so many varieties for you to experience – snowy Alps, hiking, camping and enjoying the numerous mountain lakes, unique cities with long history and tradition, rich cultural content and so on. Visiting Swiss also has some tricky parts, so if you’re planning a trip to this magnificent country, keep reading. Here are some basics about how to experience Switzerland at its best : How to save some money ? Switzerland is not only the richest country in Europe, but is also on top of the list of the world's richest countries. That means that prices are really high even for some basic groceries. But there are some tricks to enjoy this country and not have to spend some enormous amount of money. When it comes to food and drinks, you should know that beer and coffee in an average café can cost between 6 and 8 Swiss francs. The cheapest meal starts at 25 CHF and if you want to eat a steak, you need to spend around 45 CHF. People usually think that a meal at McDonald’s would be a cheaper option, but in Swiss it will cost you around 15 CHF. Therefore, if you don't want to prepare a meal at home, visiting a restaurant can be an option during lunch time. You just have to find a restaurant that offers a discount during lunch time- so called lunch specials. If you find yourself in the right place at the right time you can have a meal for 10 CHF! You can also go to restaurants with Thai, Indian or Chinese where all the food is cheaper a lot, without any discount. What is Swiss Travel Pass ? Switzerland is a country with an amazing transport system, you will find a route even deep in the Alps. Trains are clean, comfortable and extremely punctual, and city transport includes trains, boats, and buses. But there is also one catch – it's far from being cheap. Therefore, we recommend you a Swiss Travel Pass. At first glance, the price of a Swiss Travel Pass may seem extremely expensive - a standard card costs 232 francs for three days, and 198 francs for young people and students under 26. It depends on your needs and plans during the trip, but this card can be a way for you to spend less money, but also see everything worthy of your attention in this country. The benefits of the Swiss Travel Pass are numerous, especially if you plan to travel around the country in a short period of time and explore some museums. The pass covers all rail rides between the cities, city public transport in 90 Swiss cities, panoramic train rides and also some of the most attractive mountain tours. You`ll also have free admission to more than 500 museums and numerous discounts. Children between the age of 6 and 16 can use transport services for free if at least one of their parents has a Swiss Travel Pass. This card is also available in electronic version. Even if you don`t buy a Travel Pass, it is cheaper for you to use a public transport, which works flawlessly, with clearly marked routes and a perfectly accurate timetable. Also, Swiss has a lot of small cities where you can reach the most important locations on foot. Taxi is not an option in Swiss because even one short ride will be extremely expensive! For example, taxis in Zurich are the most expensive in the world, with an average price of 4.5 euros per kilometer! On the other hand, if the price isn’t something that bothers you, renting a limousine service is a must. One of the most notable companies operating in Switzerland, in this business, is most definitely Alpha limousine service. What you need to keep in mind If your trip route takes you to the Alps, don`t forget that you`ll be in very high mountains. That means you have to bring some sunscreen, even during short visits. You can get sunburned even if the weather is not that sunny. Be aware of your fitness abilities while hiking or walking through the mountains, the air is not the same on that altitude. Rest more often and don’t force yourself. We’ve already warned you about prices, but here’s another saving trick – you don’t need to buy bottled water! Buying bottled water in Switzerland is a complete waste of money – this is one of the countries with the cleanest water in the world. In any city you can safely drink their tap water, and even fountains there are supplied with mountain spring water! Swiss water is perfectly safe to drink and it's very tasty. Another typical tourist trap is chocolate! Buying tons of chocolate is a must when you’re in Swiss, but there’s no reason for you to spend a lot of money. Swiss are proud of their chocolate and they are eating the largest amount of chocolate per citizen in the world. Therefore, you can expect packaging of „real Swiss chocolate“ on every step, in numerous souvenirs shops and at the airports. This chocolate is expensive, so we recommend that you get your supplies from supermarkets. They taste the same and you’ll get them at half-price. The best option for true chocolate lovers is visiting local chocolatier shops. There you can even enjoy making your own chocolate. In some cities, like Zurich, where Nestle, Toblerone and Lindt stores are located, you can go for a tour to visit their chocolate factory. This would be especially interesting if you’re traveling with kids. We hope you'll enjoy your time in Swiss – it’s a country definitely worth visiting at least once in a lifetime! Following these instructions you’ll see everything it has to offer and have one unforgettable experience. Make sure that you also give a chance to some less commercial location and cities – you won’t regret it. Swiss is a country of 4 official languages, but English is enough for you to socialize with locals and get to know their rich cultural tradition.
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