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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 604059 times)

Offline mr.

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1500 on: May 17, 2017, 03:53:32 AM »
I booked already in Maloja is there something incrdible you recomend in that area that wotrh going for the last day or two ortry in another time?

Offline Saulius

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1501 on: May 17, 2017, 05:07:06 AM »
There is a kosher hotel with minyanim and resterant 10 min away in Saas Almagell
http://www.bayisbagova.com/
Yes, I highly recommend staying there!

Offline Saulius

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1502 on: May 17, 2017, 08:30:24 AM »
I booked already in Maloja is there something incrdible you recomend in that area that wotrh going for the last day or two ortry in another time?

Well it is worth going there, e.g. http://www.myswitzerland.com/en/mittelallalin-by-metro-alpin-into-the-mountain-world.html
http://www.myswitzerland.com/en/hohensaas-eighteen-4000-meter-peaks-before-your-eyes.html

And from Saas Fee it's 2 hours to Zermatt: see http://www.myswitzerland.com/en/the-matterhorn-in-your-sights.html
http://www.myswitzerland.com/en/historic-gornergrat-bahn-the-matterhorn-railway.html

There is a scenic train from St. Moritz to Zermatt called the Glacier Express  http://www.glacierexpress.ch/en

Offline mr.

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1503 on: May 17, 2017, 08:44:10 AM »
Thanks for the wonderful advice thats actually what i was thinking, about taking the glacier express down to the Zermatt area.
I am just a bit hesitant bec it takes like 7 hrs and its a bit too long for me.
Have you ever done it?

Offline Saulius

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1504 on: May 17, 2017, 09:10:05 AM »
Thanks for the wonderful advice thats actually what i was thinking, about taking the glacier express down to the Zermatt area.
I am just a bit hesitant bec it takes like 7 hrs and its a bit too long for me.
Have you ever done it?

No, I rarely take trains, I drive, but anyways read this: https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g188077-d198989-r91527626-Glacier_Express-Swiss_Alps.html

Offline Berenstein Bear

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1505 on: May 21, 2017, 03:40:18 PM »
I'm being a Saas-Fee for a week in Aug. Looking to relax, scenery, hike etc.- couple with a 4 month baby. We would like to limit our long trips. What are "musts" when visiting Switzerland? It's not something we can count on doing again, yet we don't want to run around like crazy. Thank you.

Offline Saulius

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1506 on: May 21, 2017, 06:04:34 PM »
I'm being a Saas-Fee for a week in Aug. Looking to relax, scenery, hike etc.- couple with a 4 month baby. We would like to limit our long trips. What are "musts" when visiting Switzerland? It's not something we can count on doing again, yet we don't want to run around like crazy. Thank you.

http://www.saas-fee.ch/en/familienausfluege/

http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/saas-fee-hiking-with-baby.cfm

Offline mr.

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1507 on: May 22, 2017, 05:58:27 AM »
I have a similar question about the St Moritz area i will be there for a week in Julyand really could use some advise with making an itinerary there is so much to do there and i would greatly appreciate anyone who can give advice from there personal experience of things and hikes etc. they feel is not to be missed.

Offline Saulius

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1508 on: May 22, 2017, 08:34:43 AM »
I have a similar question about the St Moritz area i will be there for a week in Julyand really could use some advise with making an itinerary there is so much to do there and i would greatly appreciate anyone who can give advice from there personal experience of things and hikes etc. they feel is not to be missed.

Why don't you post or research the threads at the following URLS: Use the search function

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g188045-i336-Switzerland.html

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forums/europe-western-europe/switzerland

https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/switzerland/itinerary

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/switzerland

http://www.myswissalps.com/forum

Offline mr.

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1509 on: May 22, 2017, 10:51:21 AM »
Thanks I actually did a bit of that but its so hard to really decide what to do, i find it easier when some one can share his experience or knowledge like there is in Dans Forums on other destination would be allot more beneficial and reliable.

Offline Berenstein Bear

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1510 on: May 22, 2017, 03:09:03 PM »
I'm being a Saas-Fee for a week in Aug. Looking to relax, scenery, hike etc.- couple with a 4 month baby. We would like to limit our long trips. What are "musts" when visiting Switzerland? It's not something we can count on doing again, yet we don't want to run around like crazy. Thank you.
Sorry, I wasn't clear. I'd like to know what are the "must see" places that I'd have to travel to from Saas Fee. I'm looking to do one or two big trips. Are Pilatus, Titlis, Lake Lucerne, Top of Europe "musts" or is Saas Fee enough? Or are there places within an hour that we should go to? I've done a ton of research on tripadvisor, reading through TR's, reading this thread, but a clear answer will still be appreciated.

Offline Saulius

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1511 on: May 22, 2017, 04:01:49 PM »
Sorry, I wasn't clear. I'd like to know what are the "must see" places that I'd have to travel to from Saas Fee. I'm looking to do one or two big trips. Are Pilatus, Titlis, Lake Lucerne, Top of Europe "musts" or is Saas Fee enough? Or are there places within an hour that we should go to? I've done a ton of research on tripadvisor, reading through TR's, reading this thread, but a clear answer will still be appreciated.

Pilatus and Titlis are more popular for those that are doing day stopovers in Zürich - but if you are staying in Saas Fee, take advantage of all that you can see there, and take a day trip to Zermatt as well. The Top of Europe  / Jungfraujoch - if you have the money to splurge $200 for a round trip ticket - go for it, and make sure to sit on the right side when going up. - However, do go early in the morning to avoid the crowds, and if it's a cloudy day, you will be quite disappointed. Lake Lucerne is quite scenic, so it's definitely worth a visit.   Saas Fee you have https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mittelallalin, which is 3,456 m, and if you are adventurous you can climb up to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allalinhorn, which is 4,027 m.

see: http://www.summitpost.org/allalinhorn-normal-route/977793     http://saasfeeguides.squarespace.com/allalinhorn-4027m

Offline rivkao

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1512 on: May 23, 2017, 01:58:32 PM »
Where's the recommended vacation area? Arosa, Davos, Saas Fee, St. Moritz....?

Offline yelped

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1513 on: May 23, 2017, 05:52:11 PM »
Where's the recommended vacation area? Arosa, Davos, Saas Fee, St. Moritz....?
All of the above :) Read at least the last few pages. There's some very helpful info there.

Offline ad120

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1514 on: May 23, 2017, 07:15:41 PM »
Posting for a friend:

3 Chassidishe Bucherim are flying into Zurich for a wedding after Shavous and arriving at 05:00 PM. They will be returning the following day at 07:40 P.M. to a Non Schengen EU Country.
I know that it is a short turn but I am wondering if you all have any appropriate suggestions for Day 2 in/around Zurich?

Offline Saulius

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1515 on: May 24, 2017, 02:06:26 AM »
Posting for a friend:

3 Chassidishe Bucherim are flying into Zurich for a wedding after Shavous and arriving at 05:00 PM. They will be returning the following day at 07:40 P.M. to a Non Schengen EU Country.
I know that it is a short turn but I am wondering if you all have any appropriate suggestions for Day 2 in/around Zurich?

Would highly recommend that they take the train to Luzern on Day 2. There are two trains each hour, and they could leave their luggage in the Luzern train station, and then they could go directly to the airport from there, about an hour ride. Luzern is much more scenic.

Offline ad120

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1516 on: May 24, 2017, 02:23:59 AM »
Would highly recommend that they take the train to Luzern on Day 2. There are two trains each hour, and they could leave their luggage in the Luzern train station, and then they could go directly to the airport from there, about an hour ride. Luzern is much more scenic.
Considering the time constraints, will they be able to do an activity in Luzerne? If so, what is recommended? If not, is the idea of the train ride to take in the views? Also, would it be possible to catch a minyan mincha somewhere?

Offline Live N Learn

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1517 on: May 24, 2017, 03:14:39 AM »
Posting for a friend:

3 Chassidishe Bucherim are flying into Zurich for a wedding after Shavous and arriving at 05:00 PM. They will be returning the following day at 07:40 P.M. to a Non Schengen EU Country.
I know that it is a short turn but I am wondering if you all have any appropriate suggestions for Day 2 in/around Zurich?

If you're not looking to travel and want to stay in Zurich, you could do, Üetliberg, Boat ride, Walk around the lake area, Bahnhofstrasse window shopping, Zurich zoo, Zurich Tram Museum, Botanical Garden... but if you are willing to travel a bit further out  Lucerne is beautiful, and it's about an hour and a half away, and Mt. Titlis or Mt. Pilatus, is about two and a half.
".איזהו חכם, הלומד מכל אדם"

Offline ad120

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1518 on: May 24, 2017, 03:20:01 AM »
If you're not looking to travel and want to stay in Zurich, you could do, Üetliberg, Boat ride, Walk around the lake area, Bahnhofstrasse window shopping, Zurich zoo, Zurich Tram Museum, Botanical Garden... but if you are willing to travel a bit further out  Lucerne is beautiful, and it's about an hour and a half away, and Mt. Titlis or Mt. Pilatus, is about two and a half.
Considering the flight departs at 07:40, they'd have to leave Lucerne at 04:30.
How many hours are needed in Lucerne and what activities are there?

ETA: Lucerne to ZRH is 1:14 travel time by train.
« Last Edit: May 24, 2017, 03:33:28 AM by ad120 »

Offline Saulius

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1519 on: May 24, 2017, 04:30:38 AM »
Note, in ZRH airport you can check in till 60 minutes before your flight if you are flying internationally. If one is flying Swiss one can check in their luggage night before. If one is flying with just carry on, one can arrive 30 minutes before departure and still make it, unless you are flying El Al or direct flight to the US.

They can take the 17:10 train and arrive in airport at 18:13.

Considering the flight departs at 07:40, they'd have to leave Lucerne at 04:30.
How many hours are needed in Lucerne and what activities are there?

ETA: Lucerne to ZRH is 1:14 travel time by train.