Every time we travel, we’re faced with challenges and unexpected events! We’ve learned to look at them as adventures and lessons learned. When we look back, we laugh at the situations we got ourselves into! But we’re here to help you avoid some common pitfalls and make your trip easier and smoother.

Essential Tips for Switzerland Trip

Save on transportation cost by buying one of the transportation tickets offers

• Check the Swiss Travel System tickets and offers for guests from abroad on https://www.sbb.ch/en/tickets-offers/tickets/guests-abroad.html
• To choose the best option, plan your trip in advance and estimate your expected expenses, including transportation costs, museum entrances, and mountain excursions. Then, compare the total cost with and without the offer to see how much you could save.
• For us, Swiss Travel Pass was the best option as we were planning to visit multiple cities. The Swiss travel pass grants you access to all public transportation in Switzerland (and up to Vaduz in Liechtenstein), free entrance to museums and 50% on most mountain excursions.
• The Swiss travel pass not only saved on our transportation costs but also made our lives easier since it allowed us to hop on and off trains/buses/trams without the need to buy a specific ticket for each itinerary we wanted to take.
• If you’re planning to visit another country by train, your Swiss Travel Pass is valid up to the border. For example, we used the Swiss Travel Pass to travel from Zurich to Milan, Italy. However, in this case, you’ll need to purchase a separate ticket for the journey from the Swiss border to Milan.
• If you’re buying your Swiss travel pass online, make sure to choose the correct validation date on the first page when selecting travel options. Be careful: The validity starts at 12:00 a.m. on the day of validity and ends at 4:00 a.m. on the following day.

Navigate your journey with ease

To plan and navigate your public transport journeys with ease, download the SBB mobile app. It provides real-time information on departure times, platforms, and any potential delays, ensuring you catch your train on time.

Always check the departing time of the last train to your hotel (or accommodation). This will help you plan your day effectively and avoid missing the final service.

Come equipped with the country’s currency

The official currency in Switzerland is the Swiss franc (CHF). Exchanging currency before your trip can often get you a better rate than at the airport or train station. We learned this the hard way after forgetting to exchange CHF beforehand and ended up with expensive rates at the train station. To avoid this, consider exchanging currency in your home country. You can also use your credit card, but be aware of potential bank fees.

Be prepared for baggage delay

We arrived in Zurich without our luggage because of a short 1-hour layover in Frankfurt Airport. This taught us a valuable lesson: always pack a change of clothes and pajamas in your carry-on bag for unexpected delays.

It is also a good habit to take pictures of your luggage. So that when filing a report, it would be easy to describe your lost/delayed luggage (color, material, brand name, etc.)

Save on hotel costs

Finding an affordable hotel in Zurich can be a challenge, but we aimed to find a budget-friendly hotel. Luckily, we discovered a gem through https://booking.com. The hotel was a great option conveniently located near a tram station that gets us to Zurich old town in only 10 minutes. This saved us both money and travel time, and allowed us to spend more on exploring Switzerland.

Save Big on Roaming with an eSIM

I’ve personally used eSIMs on all my recent trips and highly recommend them as a cost-effective and convenient way to stay connected. With an eSIM, you can connect to local networks in different countries, avoiding expensive roaming charges and the hassle of buying a physical SIM card at your destination. Before you start, ensure your phone is eSIM compatible.

Just go to yesim.app, chose your travel destination, buy the most suitable plan and follow the instructions to install your eSIM. Et Voila! You’re ready to stay connected during your travels.

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Have you been to Switzerland? What other lessons did you learn during your trip? We’d love to hear from you! Share your experiences and tips in the comments below.