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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 604313 times)

Online cholent

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1700 on: August 02, 2017, 05:07:31 PM »
Finally got my flight switched so I now have a 9 hour layover in Switzerland. Flight from tlv is landing 8:10 am so first I'll try to catch shacharis in Zurich, seems that there are 9:15 minyanim per go daven. Question is if I have time after that to go to Mt titlis and make it back for my 5:20 pm flight or do I need to settle for Lucerne?
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Online cholent

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1701 on: August 03, 2017, 06:02:30 PM »
Finally got my flight switched so I now have a 9 hour layover in Switzerland. Flight from tlv is landing 8:10 am so first I'll try to catch shacharis in Zurich, seems that there are 9:15 minyanim per go daven. Question is if I have time after that to go to Mt titlis and make it back for my 5:20 pm flight or do I need to settle for Lucerne?
Bump
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Offline henche

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1702 on: August 03, 2017, 10:27:11 PM »
Is a 5 hour stopover in Zurich worth leaving airport?  Anywhere to go?

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1703 on: August 03, 2017, 10:33:01 PM »
Is a 5 hour stopover in Zurich worth leaving airport?  Anywhere to go?
Pretty sure was discussed in the last few pages. @Saulius is very helpful.

Offline henche

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1704 on: August 03, 2017, 10:36:49 PM »
Pretty sure was discussed in the last few pages. @Saulius is very helpful.

Cool, thanks, I'll look

Offline henche

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1705 on: August 03, 2017, 10:39:28 PM »
Hmm, I see ppl saying mountains on a 9 hour stopover.  is that relevant for a 5 hour stopover? Seems unlikely unless the airport is really really close

Offline sillypainter

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1706 on: August 03, 2017, 10:43:57 PM »
Last I was there, no international license was needed. Anything chnaged?  Any recent experience with any company?  I reserved with Dollar. Any experience?

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1707 on: August 04, 2017, 12:29:49 AM »
Last I was there, no international license was needed. Anything chnaged?  Any recent experience with any company?  I reserved with Dollar. Any experience?

In Europe, Americans technically require international drivers permit for Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, or Spain, and only if you are stopped by the police, although rarely enforced. The car rental agencies would never ask for it.

Not to mention, Irish police in Ireland once issued a bulletin -- they were hunting for a foreign motorist by the name of Prawo Jazdy with 50 unpaid traffic fines... only to later find out that his name is the Polish word for 'driving license'.

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1708 on: August 04, 2017, 01:06:29 AM »
In Europe, Americans technically require international drivers permit for Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, or Spain, and only if you are stopped by the police, although rarely enforced. The car rental agencies would never ask for it.

Not to mention, Irish police in Ireland once issued a bulletin -- they were hunting for a foreign motorist by the name of Prawo Jazdy with 50 unpaid traffic fines... only to later find out that his name is the Polish word for 'driving license'.

Grüze, thanks much! I'm actually a CH passport holder living in US :-)

I just had many issues in HU and PL lately (varies by agency) . I'm glad to see the list of countries where it could be an issue. Where did you get the list?

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1709 on: August 04, 2017, 01:26:52 AM »
Grüze, thanks much! I'm actually a CH passport holder living in US :-)

I just had many issues in HU and PL lately (varies by agency) . I'm glad to see the list of countries where it could be an issue. Where did you get the list?

Source: https://books.google.co.za/books?id=8nQuCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT237&lpg=PT237

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1710 on: August 04, 2017, 01:28:59 AM »
Why are rental cars in Switzerland so expensive? I was completely shocked by one day rental prices. Is there something I'm missing?
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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1711 on: August 04, 2017, 03:51:35 AM »
Why are rental cars in Switzerland so expensive? I was completely shocked by one day rental prices. Is there something I'm missing?

July & August prices can be exorbitant, due to very high demand,  Also, prices in Switzerland are higher than the rest of Europe. -- People doing unskilled labor on average make the equivalent of $40-$50/hour. Still, the weekly rate should come out to less than a 2-day car rental. probably less than a 2-day car rental.

Alternatively, there are other places where you can rent, e.g. http://www.mietauto.ch - Or Basel Airport/Mulhouse airport on the (French side), or Geneva airport (French side) -- Just cars rented outside Switzerland wouldn't have a Vignette, which you would need to get to drive on Swiss highways. I have on occasion rented in Siegen, Germany, (hour by train from ZRH).

Also be aware, if one is an EU passport holder/resident, one is not allowed to rent a car in Switzerland with Swiss plates, and drive to the EU countries.  https://www.theguardian.com/money/2016/may/28/eu-citizens-car-hire-switzerland

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1712 on: August 04, 2017, 08:46:27 AM »
Why are rental cars in Switzerland so expensive? I was completely shocked by one day rental prices. Is there something I'm missing?
I rented from the city. Zurich. Came out cheaper for me. I was there for a week in low season, though.

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1713 on: August 07, 2017, 12:12:37 PM »
This is what I'm thinking of: Landing in ZRH 8:10 am. Pick up rental car at airport and catch Shacharis in Zurich at 9 am. I should be on the road by 10 am, drive to Engelburg, as per Google Maps that should take 1 hr 10 min approx - let's say it's about 11:15 now. Cable car takes 35 min each direction + 2 hours at the top so now it's about 2:30. Drive back to ZRH and return car, hopefully this is still around 4 pm. Flight to US is at 5:20 pm. Is this doable or way too tight? Titlis just sounds so much more interesting and fun to me than Lucerne.
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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1714 on: August 07, 2017, 12:21:31 PM »
This is what I'm thinking of: Landing in ZRH 8:10 am. Pick up rental car at airport and catch Shacharis in Zurich at 9 am. I should be on the road by 10 am, drive to Engelburg, as per Google Maps that should take 1 hr 10 min approx - let's say it's about 11:15 now. Cable car takes 35 min each direction + 2 hours at the top so now it's about 2:30. Drive back to ZRH and return car, hopefully this is still around 4 pm. Flight to US is at 5:20 pm. Is this doable or way too tight? Titlis just sounds so much more interesting and fun to me than Lucerne.

I have very similar schedule to yours but I am thinking of going a little further to Wengen or Murren. From what I read online Engelburg doesnt give you the real Alps feel and Wengen is only about an additional 30 min drive.

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1715 on: August 07, 2017, 12:25:03 PM »
I have very similar schedule to yours but I am thinking of going a little further to Wengen or Murren. From what I read online Engelburg doesnt give you the real Alps feel and Wengen is only about an additional 30 min drive.
Given the time constraints I would be very nervous to add an additional hour of travel, I'm still debating if I'm being overly ambitious squeezing this all in
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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1716 on: August 07, 2017, 12:26:51 PM »
Anyone else doing a one day layover in Switzerland Sunday August 20? Perhaps we can share a car rental and itinerary
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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1717 on: August 07, 2017, 04:19:43 PM »
I have very similar schedule to yours but I am thinking of going a little further to Wengen or Murren. From what I read online Engelburg doesnt give you the real Alps feel and Wengen is only about an additional 30 min drive.
Wengen sounds too far. Titlis is beautiful as well. Make a stop at the middle station and walk around the lake for a few minutes.

ETA: Added pic I took in November (off season) of last year.

« Last Edit: August 07, 2017, 04:23:11 PM by yelped »

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1718 on: August 07, 2017, 04:23:51 PM »
This is what I'm thinking of: Landing in ZRH 8:10 am. Pick up rental car at airport and catch Shacharis in Zurich at 9 am. I should be on the road by 10 am, drive to Engelburg, as per Google Maps that should take 1 hr 10 min approx - let's say it's about 11:15 now. Cable car takes 35 min each direction + 2 hours at the top so now it's about 2:30. Drive back to ZRH and return car, hopefully this is still around 4 pm. Flight to US is at 5:20 pm. Is this doable or way too tight? Titlis just sounds so much more interesting and fun to me than Lucerne.

I have the same flights also, after sukkos

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1719 on: August 07, 2017, 04:24:18 PM »
I have the same flights also, after sukkos
What are your plans? Or is it too early
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