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 604405 times)

Offline Moishebatchy

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Jun 2011
  • Posts: 7278
  • Total likes: 150
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 23
    • View Profile
  • Location: Jerusalem
  • Programs: Arzei Makolet Platinum, Yossi's Makolet Silver, Yesh! Gold, Rav Kav Dirt
Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #500 on: February 13, 2013, 06:07:30 PM »
So I'm planning a trip to Zurich in mid March. What do I have to know about bringing in food, (I'll be there from friday 7am till monday 2pm). I'll be staying in the park hyatt.

It was mentioned before about a store in Germany to get meat and food, how much cheaper is it and how do I get there (if its worth the trip to get food). Also, can I not bring in meat for my trip?

Anything else I need to know?

Why Germany?! Is there a shortage of kosher food in ZRH that I missed?

Offline mena613

  • Dansdeals Gold Elite
  • ***
  • Join Date: Feb 2012
  • Posts: 225
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #501 on: February 13, 2013, 06:41:41 PM »

Not worth it to travel the 30min to Germany for a few days worth of food !

Its more like a wholesale market..

Offline chucksterace

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Jul 2012
  • Posts: 6880
  • Total likes: 19
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 40
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
    • LYNX IT Consulting
  • Location: Chicago, Jerusalem
  • Programs: AA Exec Plat; UA Premier 1K; ; LY Plat; Hyatt Platinum; Hertz President's Circle; Avis President's Club
Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #502 on: February 13, 2013, 08:40:40 PM »
So whats with bringing meat into zurich. Am i not allowed to?
You may not hold me responsible for any actions taken that were recommended from my account or username.

Offline hocker

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Oct 2009
  • Posts: 3501
  • Total likes: 85
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 5
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #503 on: February 14, 2013, 12:45:51 AM »
So whats with bringing meat into zurich. Am i not allowed to?
Officially not, I must have brought into Switzerland in my lifetime 10 whole cows! Never got stopped or caught and just about every Jew brings in as much as he possibly can.

Offline chuchem

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jun 2009
  • Posts: 2323
  • Total likes: 30
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #504 on: February 14, 2013, 02:07:59 AM »
If someone needs a shabbes meal in zuerich pm me, guests always welcome

Offline sky121

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: May 2011
  • Posts: 11513
  • Total likes: 168
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 12
    • View Profile
Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #505 on: February 20, 2013, 03:16:11 PM »
Is there enough to do in Zurich for 3 days?

Sending some relatives from TLV to Zurich and Venice (as of now, though I am open to suggestions)
from a Sunday to Thursday night.


There's a flight arriving in ZRH at 8:10 in the morn so they have the day.

How would split up this trip?
"Not all who wander are lost"

Offline PlatinumGuy

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Apr 2011
  • Posts: 14958
  • Total likes: 2421
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 11
    • View Profile
Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #506 on: February 20, 2013, 03:22:41 PM »
Is there enough to do in Zurich for 3 days?

Sending some relatives from TLV to Zurich and Venice (as of now, though I am open to suggestions)
from a Sunday to Thursday night.


There's a flight arriving in ZRH at 8:10 in the morn so they have the day.

How would split up this trip?
You don't have the day on the 05:30 flight, you have to leave your home at 2-3am

I wouldn't stay in Zurich for 3 days, but an easy train to St Moritz or such is great.
״וזה כלל גדול: שישנא אדם כל דבר שקר. וכל מה שיוסיף שנאה לדרכי השקר – יוסיף אהבה לתורה.״ - אורחות צדיקים

Offline Moishebatchy

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Jun 2011
  • Posts: 7278
  • Total likes: 150
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 23
    • View Profile
  • Location: Jerusalem
  • Programs: Arzei Makolet Platinum, Yossi's Makolet Silver, Yesh! Gold, Rav Kav Dirt
Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #507 on: February 20, 2013, 07:17:49 PM »
They can also take a train to Lucerne for a day.

Offline DevoraK

  • DansDeals Copper Elite
  • *
  • Join Date: Aug 2012
  • Posts: 10
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: Israel
Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #508 on: February 27, 2013, 04:47:54 AM »
I have an 8 hr stopover in Zurich in mid march. Im flying with my hub and 10 month old baby. What should we do?
I already read through the WHOLE forum (believe it or not) and came out with this basic plan: buy a daypass or a zurichcard - which one? and go to the  Bahnhofstrasse and take a walk down to the lake (are there any sites nearby to see?) I would like to take a boat trip, any advice how long?
And what else?? Is there time to go up a mountain?

Offline Dan

  • Administrator
  • Dansdeals Lifetime 50K Diamond Elite
  • **********
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 67599
  • Total likes: 16912
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 16442
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: CLE
  • Programs: UA GS, AA EXP, DL Dirt, Hyatt Glob, Fairmont Lifetime Plat, DD Diamond, Blocked By @NeriaKraus
Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #509 on: February 27, 2013, 09:39:38 AM »
I don't think 8 hours is enough time to go to Lucerne.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline Moishebatchy

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Jun 2011
  • Posts: 7278
  • Total likes: 150
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 23
    • View Profile
  • Location: Jerusalem
  • Programs: Arzei Makolet Platinum, Yossi's Makolet Silver, Yesh! Gold, Rav Kav Dirt
Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #510 on: February 27, 2013, 09:48:00 AM »
I don't think 8 hours is enough time to go to Lucerne.

+1

Just the time spent on trains and the boat is already 5 hours. Factor in delays and wait times, and you have very little wiggle room.

Offline DevoraK

  • DansDeals Copper Elite
  • *
  • Join Date: Aug 2012
  • Posts: 10
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: Israel
Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #511 on: February 27, 2013, 09:56:32 AM »
So what else should I do in Zurich?

Online jj1000

  • Administrator
  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • **********
  • Join Date: Jun 2008
  • Posts: 13472
  • Total likes: 6096
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 29367
    • View Profile
  • Location: The value of a forum such as this one is not in that one can post a question and receive an answer, but in that the question has most likely been asked before, and the answer is available to him that will but only use the search function.
  • Programs: 1. Search on google. 2. Search in the right board of DDF with a general word or two. 3. Read the wiki. 4. Read the thread. 5. Ask away.
Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #512 on: February 27, 2013, 12:21:29 PM »
So what else should I do in Zurich?
Visit H&M. You'll understand once you walk from the train station to the lake... (be sure to check your flight for delays, I did not and went back to the airport to find out I had another 4 hours)
See my 5 step program to your left <--

(Real signature under my location)

Offline L'Chaim

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Gold Elite
  • ******
  • Join Date: Apr 2012
  • Posts: 758
  • Total likes: 2
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #513 on: February 27, 2013, 04:14:27 PM »
I have an 8 hr stopover in Zurich in mid march. Im flying with my hub and 10 month old baby. What should we do?
I already read through the WHOLE forum (believe it or not) and came out with this basic plan: buy a daypass or a zurichcard - which one? and go to the  Bahnhofstrasse and take a walk down to the lake (are there any sites nearby to see?) I would like to take a boat trip, any advice how long?
And what else?? Is there time to go up a mountain?

 ??? :o :o

I don't believe it.

As of now:
DevoraK's Total Time Spent Online: 3 hours and 43 minutes
DDF Total Posts: 412736
=more than 30 posts per second
=not physically possible.



Unless of course you meant thread...  :P

Offline DevoraK

  • DansDeals Copper Elite
  • *
  • Join Date: Aug 2012
  • Posts: 10
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: Israel
Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #514 on: February 27, 2013, 04:41:06 PM »
OK your right, I meant thread.... But how do you know how much time I spent on DDF? I could have read it without signing in....

Well now can you help me?

Offline L'Chaim

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Gold Elite
  • ******
  • Join Date: Apr 2012
  • Posts: 758
  • Total likes: 2
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #515 on: February 27, 2013, 04:48:57 PM »
OK your right, I meant thread.... But how do you know how much time I spent on DDF? I could have read it without signing in....

Well now can you help me?
I thought of that but never mind, that's my sense of humor.

I was never in Zurich (yet), but I can recommend you should try the bakery there (they sell it in the stores).

Offline chucksterace

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Jul 2012
  • Posts: 6880
  • Total likes: 19
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 40
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
    • LYNX IT Consulting
  • Location: Chicago, Jerusalem
  • Programs: AA Exec Plat; UA Premier 1K; ; LY Plat; Hyatt Platinum; Hertz President's Circle; Avis President's Club
Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #516 on: February 27, 2013, 06:15:08 PM »
Suggestions for a sim card for my phone while I'm going to be there. I'm going next week for four days so I would like to be able to get it when I get there or if possibly order one online so I'll have when I land. TIA
You may not hold me responsible for any actions taken that were recommended from my account or username.

Offline hocker

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Oct 2009
  • Posts: 3501
  • Total likes: 85
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 5
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #517 on: February 27, 2013, 06:37:29 PM »
Suggestions for a sim card for my phone while I'm going to be there. I'm going next week for four days so I would like to be able to get it when I get there or if possibly order one online so I'll have when I land. TIA
http://www.lebara.ch/

Offline chucksterace

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Jul 2012
  • Posts: 6880
  • Total likes: 19
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 40
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
    • LYNX IT Consulting
  • Location: Chicago, Jerusalem
  • Programs: AA Exec Plat; UA Premier 1K; ; LY Plat; Hyatt Platinum; Hertz President's Circle; Avis President's Club
Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #518 on: February 28, 2013, 04:12:17 PM »
http://www.lebara.ch/

So I was looking at the website, If I am going to be calling and texting America, do I go with the Classic or Simply plan? Also, how long should it take for a free sim to be delivered if I have it shipped to the PH?
You may not hold me responsible for any actions taken that were recommended from my account or username.

Offline Jkhein

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Oct 2010
  • Posts: 4586
  • Total likes: 17
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 4
    • View Profile
Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #519 on: February 28, 2013, 04:31:12 PM »
So I was looking at the website, If I am going to be calling and texting America, do I go with the Classic or Simply plan? Also, how long should it take for a free sim to be delivered if I have it shipped to the PH?
you can buy it at local post offices or electronics (intertronic) or mobile stores (mobile zone etc.) which usually you can find one of the above for sure, at a train station.