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@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 604450 times)

Offline yanky1

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #2580 on: August 10, 2022, 12:59:38 AM »
Wow.  Thanks

Offline Saulius

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #2581 on: August 10, 2022, 03:13:11 AM »
Wow.  Thanks

Else, you will need to buy your tickets from the ticket machine, which might have a line for it. Plus, note that self-service machines in Europe require a pin even when using your credit card.

Offline yanky1

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #2582 on: August 10, 2022, 06:44:44 AM »
How do I enter a pin for my us credit card?

Offline kosherjid

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #2583 on: August 10, 2022, 06:52:53 AM »
No.


you have their number?  the 2 car service i called wanted around 500 chf

Meir Guttmann 079 666 12 18 / 078 230 1666
Motti Zoladz 078 847 71 30
maybe also Avrohom Duvid Zoldan 079 449 64 78

« Last Edit: August 10, 2022, 08:06:01 AM by kosherjid »

Offline Saulius

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #2584 on: August 10, 2022, 09:03:38 AM »
How do I enter a pin for my us credit card?

Most of the world (excluding the US), we have to put in a pin for any credit card transaction. (Unless the credit card supports tap to pay, but there is a certain cash limit for the transaction - which is dependent on the credit card issuer and the country). - In the US, it's $250. Switzerland issued credit cards have a limit of CHF 80.

If you use your credit card at any cash register, it will work, and they will just ask you for signature, but for self-service (such as unmanned kiosks, ticket machines, gas/petrol machines) you would need a pin. You can always use your debit card, otherwise you can research if your card supports chip-and-PIN capability, and request a PIN from your card card isusuer. Also, I am hearing that newer machines, you can hit enter with US Credit Card when you're asked for a pin and your transaction will go through, but years ago that was certainly not the case -- (years ago there were millions of complaints with US travellers trying to pay the tolls in Europe, and now I hear that US credit cards work without a pin).

Offline yelped

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #2585 on: August 10, 2022, 09:32:44 AM »
I don't remember having an issue anywhere in Switzerland a few years ago with credit cards and kiosks.

Offline Legends666

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #2586 on: August 11, 2022, 02:12:34 PM »
Does anybody know what time agudas achim Davens on Friday night and shobbos?
Or know someone I can ask to find out?

Offline Saulius

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #2587 on: August 11, 2022, 04:14:10 PM »
Does anybody know what time agudas achim Davens on Friday night and shobbos?
Or know someone I can ask to find out?

All the shuls generally daven mincha around the same time (+/- 10 min) on Friday night as all the kehillas are mekabel / accept an early shabbos (so you cannot do different). This shabbes, sunset is at 20:43, and plag hamincha is at 19:13. Mincha would be around 19:30, and in the morning there are two minjanim - upstairs and downstairs, 08:30 and 09:00.
« Last Edit: August 11, 2022, 04:35:20 PM by Saulius »

Offline kosherjid

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #2588 on: August 12, 2022, 08:07:21 AM »
Does anybody know what time agudas achim Davens on Friday night and shobbos?
Or know someone I can ask to find out?

Agudas Achim Friday night Mincha 19:30 Maariv 20:40 Schacharis 8:45
Minjen Alexander Friday night Mincha 20:00 Schacharis 9:15
Gur Friday night 18:58 Schacharis 8:30

Offline Saulius

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #2589 on: August 12, 2022, 10:04:20 AM »
Agudas Achim Friday night Mincha 19:30 Maariv 20:40 Schacharis 8:45
Minjen Alexander Friday night Mincha 20:00 Schacharis 9:15
Gur Friday night 18:58 Schacharis 8:30


Here is a picture from the weekly magazine that has all the minjanim. The first column is when shabbos comes / candle lighting. (Eingang / Lichtzinden)
Ausgang - is when Schabbos ends / Ma'ariv

Offline Mailman

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #2590 on: August 15, 2022, 12:42:49 PM »
Which Esims work in Italy and Switzerland? I need asap

Offline chff

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #2591 on: August 15, 2022, 01:23:07 PM »
Which Esims work in Italy and Switzerland? I need asap
https://www.airalo.com/

Offline Mailman

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #2592 on: August 16, 2022, 02:42:36 PM »
Anyone know if there are any kosher food stores in Davos? I’m looking for ready made food not grocery.

Offline Mailman

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #2593 on: August 18, 2022, 06:50:58 AM »
Is there a minyan in Lugano

Offline Saulius

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #2594 on: August 18, 2022, 08:10:36 AM »
Is there a minyan in Lugano

There used to be a community there, with a hotel, but unfortunately it died out. The Biala Rebbe shlita was the Rov there, untill he relocated to Tzefas. Chabad might have a daily minyan in the Summer, you would need to contact them to confirm, see: https://www.jewishlugano.com/templates/articlecco_cdo/aid/702011/jewish/Lugano-Community-Shul.htm

Offline pesach2020

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #2595 on: August 18, 2022, 09:14:35 PM »
Where  in Davos can I buy a converter/transformer (not the regular adaptor) from US plug to EU.

Offline Saulius

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #2596 on: August 18, 2022, 09:45:05 PM »
Where  in Davos can I buy a converter/transformer (not the regular adaptor) from US plug to EU.

I doubt you will find a place. Most likely you would need to order online from Germany, ie Amazon.de -- search for "Reiseadapter Spannungswandler"
ie. https://www.amazon.de/KRI%C3%8BGER-1150-Watt-Spannungswandler-120V-Aluminium-Schwarz/dp/B00HAQT4QI



Offline pesach2020

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #2597 on: August 19, 2022, 07:25:02 AM »
Thanks for that info. Do I need a converter or a basic adapter is fine. What's the voltage  in Switzerland. I'm getting conflicting reports

Offline pesach2020

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #2598 on: August 19, 2022, 07:26:03 AM »
Anyone in Davos have an extra converter I can borrow for shabbos. I brought food along planning on cooking it all here but I cant plug in my appliances???? !!!

Offline yesitsme

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #2599 on: August 19, 2022, 07:31:57 AM »
Ouch
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