Topic Wiki

Trip Reports
Dan
Yungerman
chucksterace
VacationLover Part 1
VacationLover Part 2
Chapshnell
Tzadik Nistar
@Yehuda - 1 day trip
sam28
Sam28 St Moritz Switzerland kosher Grand Hotel Kempinski
Yehudaa - 18-hour Zurich stopover


Kosher food list 2022

Zurich
HOTELS
-The Park Hyatt is fantastic and a 10 minute walk to shul.
Tram stop: Stockerstrasse

RESTAURANTS

Meat:

Florentin - Located inside he JCC https://florentin.rest/
Tram stop: Bahnhof Enge

Grill Cave

Food truck. Check website for opening hours. Burgers, sandwiches, hot dogs etc.
https://www.thegrillcave.co/


Milk/Parve:

Babi's Bagels (Bederstrasse corner Klopstockstrasse 8002 Zürich) Tram Stop "Waffenplatzstrasse"

Bakery:
Ma'Adan Bakery
Manessestrasse/Schimmelstrasse
Has delicious pastries and also sells sandwiches, salads, and some sushi.

Butcher:
Metzgerei Kol Tuv

Can preorder for pickup.
Can also deliver throughout Switzerland by post.
See website for details.

https://www.koltuv.ch/en

ATTRACTIONS
-Walk around the lake area
-Bahnhofstrasse window shopping
-Take a train to Lucerne and buy the golden ticket, included a boat ride on Lake Lucerne, cogwheel train and tram. Then take bus back to Lucerne
-When you arrive in Lucerne you can go to the tourist office to see a live view from Mount Pilatus (Or you can check online). If it's cloudy skip the cogwheel train and just take a nice boatride and explore the town, ancient bridges, and walk on top of the old city fortress walls.




Options in the Alps

Arosa: Metropol Hotel - quaint little old hotel. Not very fancy - it's like honeymooning in your grandmother's house (HT: Mrs. Moishebatchy). The food is very basic, but delicious. Mikva on premises. If skiing is your thing, the have an agreement with one of the ski places (Härtner) not to charge Metropol customers for ski rentals over Shabbos.


Need a meal on shabbes, please PM me (Chuchem). I live 15 minute walk from the hyatt, close to chabad. Zürich has no eiruv!

Major Attractions
“Please edit the wiki to add more attractions”

Central Switzerland
-Lucerne, Pilatus Offers: Cogwheel, Gondolas, Alpine Sliding, Mini Zip-line and fun area
-Titlis Offers: Gondolas, Snow Tubing, Trutti Bikes, Ice Museum, Row Boating
-Brunni Offers: Gondolas, Alpine Sliding, Stroll in Lake(!)

Jungfrau Region
-Jungfrau/jungfraujoch Click here for the Kosher hotel in Wengen / 360-degree panorama of Jungfraujoch-Top of Europe
-Grindelwald Offers: Gondolas, mega Zip-line, Trutti Bikes

Eastern Switzerland
-St. Moritz
Davos / Klosters
Arosa Click here for the Kosher Levins hotel

Southern Switzerland
-Zermatt - "Matterhorn"
-Saas-Fee Offers: Gondolas, Alpine Sliding, Mega Zip-line, Trotti Bikes, (Saas-Grund has Monster Trotteres) and on top of "Allalin" you can go Snow Tubing and Skiing even in the summer!
-Crans Montana You can email the Kosher hotel in Crans Montana Hotelmk@gmail.com  or call them at 0032485640498 or 003233011600


HalbTax Pass

A HalbTax pass (or Half Fare card) is a card designated for tourists and not for Swiss residents (officially...). The card gives you half price on all public transportation like buses, trains, trams, boats and also on "most" cable cars (attractions). There are basically 4 kinds.

1) An annual pass, the price is currently 175 francs. If i remember correctly it has a photo ID of the recipient, so double check before sharing it.
Click here for the annual pass

2) A 30 day pass, the price is currently 120 francs, it does not have a photo ID on it.
Click here or here for the 30 day pass

3) - Recommended for frequent traveling Swiss Travel Pass - you prepay a set amount per day and get unlimited for that day (plus "optional" for a fee, for 1 month including the days you chose, it is a HalbTax, even on the prepaid free days, it's only free for all transportation, on cable cars you only get half off). The price per day depends on how many days you prepay, for example if you prepay 8 days, the price per day will be about 53 francs, if you prepay 3 days the price per day will be about 73 francs. If you are 25 y/o or younger, you can get the Youth Pass which is cheaper - If you prepay 8 days  the price per day will be about 40 francs a day, if you prepay 3 days the price per day will be about 62 francs.
Click here (or here) for the prepaid pass

The card comes with a few days “you could chose your dates later”, officially when you want to use a certain day for the free day you should fill in on the pass that date, and when the first conductor comes he punches that day, but technically you can leave the date blank until the conductor comes, that way you have a chance if no conductor asks you for your card (happens quite often) you can save it for the next day :)

4) Swiss Transfer Ticket" This card costs 141 francs and is valid for 2 trips from and to the boarder or airport, for example you are traveling from the airport to Arosa and are not planning to go anywhere else or take any other transportation, with this card you will effectively pay 71 francs per way. This card is only valid for trips to and from the airport or boarder and no (long) stops allowed. Technically if you will travel one more day, the Swiss travel pass mentioned above will probably be cheaper.

Make sure to order your pass a few weeks before leaving, it takes about 1-3 weeks for the pass to arrive. But you can always buy it in the Airport, though you might have to wait in line and also if you want to buy the Youth pass (for 25 y/o or younger) they might ask you for proof...

There is also a family pass if you travel with a large family, I am not familiar with that.


Fast Baggage
There is a service via SBB, They deliver your luggage for you!! For example you are traveling from ZRH to Arosa, you don't want to be busy Shlepping around your luggage, You can check in your luggage in the airport and they (SBB) will deliver it to the train station in Arosa. This service is available "from and to" most train stations in Switzerland. You can ask about the Fast Baggage by any train station or read here or here

You can even buy a tag that you put on the luggage before checking in your luggage in any airport (i.e. JFK) and Rail Europe will take your luggage from the airplane in Switzerland and deliver it either to your hotel or to the train station in the city you're going to.  Read about Flight Luggage Here




PS. When doing research and getting to a website in German, just add /en (after .ch) to translate to English.
And Hey, Don't forget to write a TR ;)

Sample Itinerary for 9 hour stopover on Swiss flight from TLV to U.S. that lands at 810 and takes off around 5
Copied from @cholent:
Here it is: landed in zrh, crazy line for entering country but moved pretty quickly, about half an hour. Picked up sim in the airport. Rented car through Priceline from europecar. Drove to Titlis, stunning scenery along drive. Missed a turnoff because I couldn't get Waze to talk and I was trying to do some stuff online while we were driving, added half an hour to get there, but the stunning scenery made it worthwhile. Got there, parked, you pay at the entrance if you're going to park for more than an hour. Paid, took the cable car. Got off at there halfway station by mistake, gorgeous lake. Went back on and back up to the top. It was somewhat cloudy which was a pity. Suspension bridge was fun but no view because of the clouds. Took the ice flyer to the other peak, then went sledding down the hill, lots of fun. No tubing because there wasn't enough snow. We didn't have enough time for the ice cave because of the extra time driving there and we weren't sure where it was anyway. Made some new Israeli friends and took the cable car down with them. Got back to the airport, returning the car took less than five minutes, getting through the airport took a little longer so we didn't have time for showers at the lounge. It was amazing all around, I would definitely recommend

« Last edited by yyzzrh on October 20, 2022, 01:16:48 PM »

Author Topic: Switzerland Master Thread  (Read 625527 times)

Offline kosherjid

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Aug 2018
  • Posts: 331
  • Total likes: 24
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #2760 on: July 31, 2023, 02:27:14 PM »
How often is this list updated and where can I see it? The link to the Jewish weekly magazine site doesn't have a page with this info. Thanks

It's taken from the Jewish weekly magazine one week ago.  You can have someone scan the page and send it to you

Offline Saulius

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Silver Elite
  • *****
  • Join Date: Dec 2016
  • Posts: 676
  • Total likes: 242
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: Liechtenstein
Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #2761 on: July 31, 2023, 02:29:06 PM »
Is it possible to rent a car in the St Moritz area & return in ZRH airport same day, trains are really expensive

There is Europcar in St. Moritz and Hertz in Samedan, near the airport there, but  you would need to book in advance, it will be extremely expensive,  plus an enormous one way fee. So taxi or train would be your best bet.

Offline kosherjid

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Aug 2018
  • Posts: 331
  • Total likes: 24
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #2762 on: July 31, 2023, 04:58:18 PM »
Is it possible to rent a car in the St Moritz area & return in ZRH airport same day, trains are really expensive

Maybe ask Lipa Glick ?
He might be bringing tourists from Zürich to St.Moritz on that day ? +41 78 641 61 30

Online yelped

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Mar 2015
  • Posts: 11167
  • Total likes: 4084
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 43
    • View Profile
Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #2763 on: July 31, 2023, 10:57:26 PM »
Is it possible to rent a car in the St Moritz area & return in ZRH airport same day, trains are really expensive
How many adults and kids? How many under 12? How many under 6?  Are you traveling at all during your stay in Switzerland? How are you getting to St. Moritz?

Offline efflpetzel

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Aug 2012
  • Posts: 2894
  • Total likes: 142
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #2764 on: August 01, 2023, 01:49:34 PM »


Maybe ask Lipa Glick ?
He might be bringing tourists from Zürich to St.Moritz on that day ? +41 78 641 61 30

His number doesn’t seem to work

Offline YJK

  • DansDeals Copper Elite
  • *
  • Join Date: May 2021
  • Posts: 7
  • Total likes: 1
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: Brooklyn, New York
Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #2765 on: August 01, 2023, 05:32:32 PM »
Hi, did anyone ever stay at the Ameron Davos Swiss Mountain Resort? Looking to spend the weekend in Davos

Offline kosherjid

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Aug 2018
  • Posts: 331
  • Total likes: 24
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #2766 on: August 02, 2023, 05:12:32 PM »
His number doesn’t seem to work

His phone is working.
Try a different time

Offline Saulius

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Silver Elite
  • *****
  • Join Date: Dec 2016
  • Posts: 676
  • Total likes: 242
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: Liechtenstein
Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #2767 on: August 06, 2023, 09:37:51 AM »
https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/headlines-breaking-stories/2213623/dramatic-footage-train-hits-car-of-chareidi-family-in-switzerland.html

"Train Hits Car Of Chareidi Family In Switzerland"

Seems to have happened at this location: https://www.google.com/maps/@47.294538,8.8108268,3a,75y,178.41h,86.53t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sefXqTQ1_Phy1h_xkI_IOHw!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DefXqTQ1_Phy1h_xkI_IOHw%26cb_client%3Dsearch.revgeo_and_fetch.gps%26w%3D96%26h%3D64%26yaw%3D262.7363%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu

Note, there is at least 12 seconds warning bells and flashing lights till the barriers go down. (20 seconds+ if the tracks are more than 10m). The barriers go down quite well in advance of the train arriving in Switzerland. If one gets stuck between the barriers, one is supposed to drive into them (not reverse) and they break with little force. They have predetermined breaking points (usually in the middle) where they twist off and break. 

Swiss newspaper articles state the rental vehicle was on the railroad level crossing, and the barrier began to close. The 51 year old driver, who was unfamiliar with the area attempted to reserve into the closed barriers. All four occupants of vehicle were able to get out of the car before the collision and were uninjured. The vehicle was totaled, and the train sustained tens of thousands of francs in damage.

« Last Edit: August 06, 2023, 09:47:58 AM by Saulius »

Offline yahaatim

  • Dansdeals Silver Elite
  • **
  • Join Date: May 2023
  • Posts: 63
  • Total likes: 14
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: usa
Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #2768 on: August 09, 2023, 11:24:08 PM »
Making our way up with to alps from italy today. Does anyone know of somebody that would host us (4 guys)for a shabbos meal?
(Money isn't the issue it's just not so enjoyable to be stuck by yourself in some airbnb the whole shabbos)

Online bestwatchman

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: May 2010
  • Posts: 299
  • Total likes: 53
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #2769 on: August 10, 2023, 01:24:56 AM »
Making our way up with to alps from italy today. Does anyone know of somebody that would host us (4 guys)for a shabbos meal?
(Money isn't the issue it's just not so enjoyable to be stuck by yourself in some airbnb the whole shabbos)
where will you be in the Alps?

Offline yahaatim

  • Dansdeals Silver Elite
  • **
  • Join Date: May 2023
  • Posts: 63
  • Total likes: 14
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: usa
Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #2770 on: August 10, 2023, 01:36:52 PM »
where will you be in the Alps?
Honestly pretty flexible right now we are driving

Offline iluv2travel

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jul 2019
  • Posts: 1148
  • Total likes: 290
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #2771 on: August 10, 2023, 11:05:31 PM »
Honestly pretty flexible right now we are driving

Where did you book a place to sleep?

Offline shiframeir

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jan 2012
  • Posts: 1777
  • Total likes: 149
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 7
    • View Profile
  • Programs: spg gold. nothing else. sigh.
Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #2772 on: August 13, 2023, 04:29:43 PM »
Where in Zurich can I drop my luggage for the Fast Baggage? I'm staying overnight in Zurich and then going up to the Alps.
Im flying delta with a group and we have no room for bags in our van. looking at the wiki on fast baggage etc and all the links dont work anymore for that or rail europe. this is the link i have but it doesnt say it works with delta (though it seems swiss is a breeze), and seems like it will be complicated to pick up checked luggage and then check them with train company to bring to hotel (esp if we dont take train with lugagge). anyone done this with delta? https://www.sbb.ch/en/station-services/before-your-journey/luggage/flight-luggage/zurich-with-swiss/zurich-from-station.html

also we are basically planning to do titlis, brunni and lucernce/transit museum/chocolate factory. anything else that is a must do that we will kick ourselves for not doing on our one trip to Switzerland?

Offline mr.

  • Dansdeals Silver Elite
  • **
  • Join Date: May 2017
  • Posts: 97
  • Total likes: 10
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: ISRAEL
Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #2773 on: August 15, 2023, 03:34:44 AM »
does anyone have the direct contact info of schmid apartment hotel in Davos?
thanks!

Offline shiframeir

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jan 2012
  • Posts: 1777
  • Total likes: 149
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 7
    • View Profile
  • Programs: spg gold. nothing else. sigh.
Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #2774 on: August 17, 2023, 03:31:52 PM »
has anyone here rented a (Group L) (L) Mercedes Benz Vito 4x4 (large van) from Hertz or somewhere else? it says 9 seater but only 2 suitcases and looking online that seems unlikely and there should be more space. deciding if its worth it.

Online bestwatchman

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: May 2010
  • Posts: 299
  • Total likes: 53
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #2775 on: August 17, 2023, 07:30:06 PM »
has anyone here rented a (Group L) (L) Mercedes Benz Vito 4x4 (large van) from Hertz or somewhere else? it says 9 seater but only 2 suitcases and looking online that seems unlikely and there should be more space. deciding if its worth it.
other 9 seaters have more space. The vito comes in three lengths. Depending if its the medium or long you may have more trunk space. The seats are on a track and can be moved up to squish passengers for more cargo space.

Offline shiframeir

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jan 2012
  • Posts: 1777
  • Total likes: 149
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 7
    • View Profile
  • Programs: spg gold. nothing else. sigh.
Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #2776 on: August 18, 2023, 02:18:11 AM »
Thx to @bestwatchman's input and some googling i can't take a chance on a 9 seater. the hotel we were staying in quoted us 650 CHF each way for a small bus (sprinter) to pick us up from ZRH and take us to engelberg, does anyone know if that is a good/fair rate?

Offline Baglach

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Silver Elite
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jan 2014
  • Posts: 502
  • Total likes: 73
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 19
    • View Profile
Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #2777 on: August 21, 2023, 01:28:18 PM »
Thx to @bestwatchman's input and some googling i can't take a chance on a 9 seater. the hotel we were staying in quoted us 650 CHF each way for a small bus (sprinter) to pick us up from ZRH and take us to engelberg, does anyone know if that is a good/fair rate?
Sounds high engelberg isn't to far from ZRH

You can try RF taxi from Lucerne +41 41 320 18 18

Offline kosherjid

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Aug 2018
  • Posts: 331
  • Total likes: 24
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #2778 on: August 21, 2023, 02:28:33 PM »
Thx to @bestwatchman's input and some googling i can't take a chance on a 9 seater. the hotel we were staying in quoted us 650 CHF each way for a small bus (sprinter) to pick us up from ZRH and take us to engelberg, does anyone know if that is a good/fair rate?

076 537 82 09 Mosbacher
or Lipa Glick

Offline Kug

  • DansDeals Copper Elite
  • *
  • Join Date: Dec 2022
  • Posts: 8
  • Total likes: 2
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #2779 on: January 10, 2024, 08:35:55 AM »
Does anybody have any ideas of an good decently priced hotel next to the airport in Zurich?
(I have an overnight 13 hour stop from EY)
Thanks