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Dan
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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 604310 times)

Offline Moshe123

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1780 on: August 16, 2017, 12:20:24 PM »
Another day in Saas-Fee. Just amazing. Hiked in the snow at 11,500 feet on the Allalin today.

Offline Saulius

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1781 on: August 16, 2017, 12:29:23 PM »
Another day in Saas-Fee. Just amazing. Hiked in the snow at 11,500 feet on the Allalin today.

How about we make a permanent community in Saas-Fee, I don't want to spend my life living in the city.

Offline Moshe123

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1782 on: August 16, 2017, 12:57:32 PM »
How about we make a permanent community in Saas-Fee, I don't want to spend my life living in the city.

Yeah, but cost of living here is insane. The prices are crazy.

Offline Saulius

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1783 on: August 16, 2017, 01:14:53 PM »
Yeah, but cost of living here is insane. The prices are crazy.

Not if you are earning a salary in Switzerland, and paying income taxes as low as 1% on a 6 figure salary.

Offline hr555

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1784 on: August 16, 2017, 05:36:00 PM »
Another day in Saas-Fee. Just amazing. Hiked in the snow at 11,500 feet on the Allalin today.

Enjoy!

Will be there next week IY"H.

Any special gear needed for hiking in the snow?

What other "must do" hikes in the area?

Offline Saulius

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1785 on: August 16, 2017, 05:45:02 PM »
Enjoy!

Will be there next week IY"H.

Any special gear needed for hiking in the snow?

What other "must do" hikes in the area?

No special gear needed, but nice to have snow/ice traction plates for your shoes.
https://www.amazon.com/STABILicers-Traction-Attaches-Everyday-Slippery/dp/B000GUEAVO

and a trekking pole: https://www.amazon.com/BAFX-Products-Hiking-Walking-Trekking/dp/B007YT854S

Offline henche

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1786 on: August 16, 2017, 05:45:28 PM »
Not if you are earning a salary in Switzerland, and paying income taxes as low as 1% on a 6 figure salary.

I'm guessing that any or all of sales tax, VAT, and property tax are heck-a-high

Offline Saulius

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1787 on: August 16, 2017, 05:59:44 PM »
I'm guessing that any or all of sales tax, VAT, and property tax are heck-a-high

VAT - 8% on goods and services, 2.5% on food, books, medicine, tickets to sports events, etc. Hotels 3.8%
No VAT on insurance, financial services, education, and health.

Property tax rates range from 0.05% to 0.3% on the full taxable value of the property, but many cantons do not have any property tax (ZH (Zürich), SZ, GL, ZG, SO, BL and AG)
« Last Edit: August 16, 2017, 06:04:29 PM by Saulius »

Offline Moshe123

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1788 on: August 16, 2017, 06:13:18 PM »

Offline henche

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1789 on: August 16, 2017, 06:37:04 PM »
VAT - 8% on goods and services, 2.5% on food, books, medicine, tickets to sports events, etc. Hotels 3.8%
No VAT on insurance, financial services, education, and health.

Property tax rates range from 0.05% to 0.3% on the full taxable value of the property, but many cantons do not have any property tax (ZH (Zürich), SZ, GL, ZG, SO, BL and AG)

Fascinating.  Where do they get funding from?

According to wikipedia, the Swiss federal budget is about 11% of their GDP, and another 25% or so of GDP is spent by local governments.


Offline RockaHocka

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1790 on: August 17, 2017, 02:01:37 AM »
The only place where you can find later shacharis minyanim during the week is at Erikastrasse/Agudas Achim. They are not listed as they are unofficial, but usually there is a minyan at 9:15 throughout the year. During ben hazmanim there might be minyanim till very late, depending on the demand.
Any idea which train stop is closest to here? Coming from airport.

Offline Saulius

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1791 on: August 17, 2017, 02:30:55 AM »
Any idea which train stop is closest to here? Coming from airport.

Zürich Wiedikon,  as I previously posted:

It's 13 minutes by train, and then another 3-4 minute by foot.
Take the S2 train from the airport in the direction of Ziegelbrücke, that runs every 30 minutes.
There are other trains one can take as well, but with S2, you do not have to change trains.
Get off at the 3rd stop, Zürich Wiedikon, and then it's a short walk to Erikastrasse 8. https://tinyurl.com/y929cb6e
 
« Last Edit: August 17, 2017, 02:36:31 AM by Saulius »

Offline RockaHocka

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1792 on: August 17, 2017, 03:53:55 AM »
Zürich Wiedikon,  as I previously posted:

It's 13 minutes by train, and then another 3-4 minute by foot.
Take the S2 train from the airport in the direction of Ziegelbrücke, that runs every 30 minutes.
There are other trains one can take as well, but with S2, you do not have to change trains.
Get off at the 3rd stop, Zürich Wiedikon, and then it's a short walk to Erikastrasse 8. https://tinyurl.com/y929cb6e
Thanks! Sorry. Must have missed that first post.

Offline RockaHocka

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1793 on: August 17, 2017, 05:12:53 AM »
Must have been over 30 people at a 9:30 minyan at Agudah Achim. Pretty sure they were trying to get a 10:15 minyan going as well.
Are there never Mishulachim collecting by davening?

Offline Saulius

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1794 on: August 17, 2017, 06:20:53 AM »
Must have been over 30 people at a 9:30 minyan at Agudah Achim. Pretty sure they were trying to get a 10:15 minyan going as well.
Are there never Mishulachim collecting by davening?

The majority of the folk are away on holiday, give it another week, and it will be flooded with Mishulachim who fly in each morning from Israel. (Switzerland doesn't require a visa from Israeli citizens).  Plus, commonly see schnorrers who fly to Uman on one-way tickets, then they make a side trip to ZRH, they need to collect tzedaka to pay for their flight back home, plus the money they borrowed to fly to Kiev.
« Last Edit: August 17, 2017, 09:04:03 AM by Saulius »

Offline Berenstein Bear

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1795 on: August 17, 2017, 08:31:04 AM »

Saas Fee (taken from standard p&s camera)

Offline Shlomo1986

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1796 on: August 18, 2017, 04:07:10 PM »
Not sure if this is the right place to ask this question but does anyone know if Swiss air serves meals in economy for a flight between Zurich to Rome? 5:45pm flight

Offline Matzav26

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1797 on: August 18, 2017, 04:19:17 PM »
Was on a swiss air flight Zurich to Rome this Sunday and did nir notice any meals served, though they do serve drinks

Offline sillypainter

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1798 on: August 19, 2017, 07:41:44 PM »
 @Saulius

Ramseier apple juice is not on the kosher list, I see everybody drinks it. Any idea if it's kosher and why it's not on the kosher list? Also, I remember drinking Pepita years ago, don't see it on the list either. Any idea if it's kosher?

Thanks

Offline Shlomo1986

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1799 on: August 19, 2017, 10:00:20 PM »
Was on a swiss air flight Zurich to Rome this Sunday and did nir notice any meals served, though they do serve drinks

Tnx