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 604217 times)

Offline Dan

  • Administrator
  • Dansdeals Lifetime 50K Diamond Elite
  • **********
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 67598
  • Total likes: 16909
  • 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 #140 on: January 18, 2011, 09:59:16 AM »
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 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 #141 on: January 18, 2011, 11:01:19 AM »
Dan, there is a First class lounge in ZRH incl. limo transfer to the plane. As far as I remember you were there?!

Offline aussiebochur

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: May 2010
  • Posts: 5322
  • Total likes: 8
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 24
    • View Profile
Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #142 on: January 18, 2011, 11:20:52 AM »
Dan, there is a First class loungein ZRH incl. limo transfer to the plane. As far as I remember you were there?!
But no First Class Terminal, like in FRA.

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 #143 on: January 18, 2011, 11:23:03 AM »
Dan wrote terminal or lounge!

Offline Dan

  • Administrator
  • Dansdeals Lifetime 50K Diamond Elite
  • **********
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 67598
  • Total likes: 16909
  • 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 #144 on: January 18, 2011, 11:39:32 AM »
Dan wrote terminal or lounge!

I was just copy/pasting what he wrote in caps without really reading it :)
All in good fun.
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 AsherO

  • Global Moderator
  • Dansdeals Lifetime 30K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • **********
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 30533
  • Total likes: 7830
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 79
    • View Profile
  • Location: NYC
Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #145 on: January 19, 2011, 01:10:37 PM »
I was just copy/pasting what he wrote in caps without really reading it :)
All in good fun.

Serves him right for SCREAMING :D
100% of Likes will be donated to support our brothers and sisters in Eretz Yisrael

Offline Aben

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Silver Elite
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jul 2010
  • Posts: 604
  • Total likes: 2
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: New Jersey
Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #146 on: February 06, 2011, 02:06:54 PM »
I possibly have a stopover in Zurich after pesach from 11 AM till about 10 PM was wondering what would be the best thing to do.
We have 2 children a 2 1/2 and a 1 year old
Is it worth it to stopover?
What is there to do in the area?
Is it hard to get around in a double stroller?
I was told that it is worth it to go to Pillotiz(sp?) is it?

My other option is a stopover in Brussels from 7 AM till 7 PM which makes more sense?

Will I have lounge access with my Amex Platinum to either one?
                                                                                                                                 

Offline Dan

  • Administrator
  • Dansdeals Lifetime 50K Diamond Elite
  • **********
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 67598
  • Total likes: 16909
  • 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 #147 on: February 06, 2011, 02:36:26 PM »
We enjoyed Lucerne, very picturesque and serene.
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 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 #148 on: February 06, 2011, 03:04:14 PM »
I possibly have a stopover in Zurich after pesach from 11 AM till about 10 PM was wondering what would be the best thing to do.
We have 2 children a 2 1/2 and a 1 year old
Is it worth it to stopover?
What is there to do in the area?
Is it hard to get around in a double stroller?
I was told that it is worth it to go to Pillotiz(sp?) is it?
                                                                                                                               
you mean the pilatus mountain which is in Lucerne as Dan quoted too to be very nice, its a one hour train ride to Lucerne and than a 15 minute bus ride to Mount Pilatus, which is all easily accessible with double carriage.

Offline Aben

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Silver Elite
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jul 2010
  • Posts: 604
  • Total likes: 2
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: New Jersey
Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #149 on: February 06, 2011, 03:13:03 PM »
Approximately how much does the train and bus cost to Lucerne and then Mt. Pilatus.

Offline Dan

  • Administrator
  • Dansdeals Lifetime 50K Diamond Elite
  • **********
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 67598
  • Total likes: 16909
  • 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 #150 on: February 06, 2011, 03:36:41 PM »
Approximately how much does the train and bus cost to Lucerne and then Mt. Pilatus.
Chuchem knows his stuff in this regard and totally hooked us up while we were in ZRH.

We went to Lucerne and there's a info booth where they show you a live view from on top of Pilatus.  It was totally clouded over so we took a very picturesque boat-ride instead and just walked around Lucerne and its bridges, and along the old city walls, etc.
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 Aben

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Silver Elite
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jul 2010
  • Posts: 604
  • Total likes: 2
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: New Jersey
Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #151 on: February 06, 2011, 03:43:56 PM »
Chuchem knows his stuff in this regard and totally hooked us up while we were in ZRH.

We went to Lucerne and there's a info booth where they show you a live view from on top of Pilatus.  It was totally clouded over so we took a very picturesque boat-ride instead and just walked around Lucerne and its bridges, and along the old city walls, etc.
Do you think it will be worth it with possibly 2 kvetche kids that just got off a flight from NY?

Offline Dan

  • Administrator
  • Dansdeals Lifetime 50K Diamond Elite
  • **********
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 67598
  • Total likes: 16909
  • 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 #152 on: February 06, 2011, 03:51:30 PM »
Do you think it will be worth it with possibly 2 kvetche kids that just got off a flight from NY?
Depends on the kids I guess...
We arrived after flying LX F and sleeping on the plane so that may have been the reason it was so enjoyable.
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 Aben

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Silver Elite
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jul 2010
  • Posts: 604
  • Total likes: 2
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: New Jersey
Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #153 on: February 06, 2011, 03:56:15 PM »
Would I have lounge access to shower and change with my Amex Platinum if the flight is operated by Swiss?

Offline Dan

  • Administrator
  • Dansdeals Lifetime 50K Diamond Elite
  • **********
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 67598
  • Total likes: 16909
  • 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 #154 on: February 06, 2011, 03:59:05 PM »
Would I have lounge access to shower and change with my Amex Platinum if the flight is operated by Swiss?
Nope.
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 moish

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 10006
  • Total likes: 297
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Programs: AA LT Plat, Avis, SPG Plat
Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #155 on: February 06, 2011, 04:19:02 PM »
ive found that its only worthwhile to stopover from tlv-usa but from usa-tlv not really since it usually entails flying through the night

Offline dealer

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Gold Elite
  • ******
  • Join Date: Sep 2008
  • Posts: 871
  • Total likes: 2
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #156 on: February 06, 2011, 05:54:52 PM »
I possibly have a stopover in Zurich after pesach from 11 AM till about 10 PM was wondering what would be the best thing to do.
We have 2 children a 2 1/2 and a 1 year old
Is it worth it to stopover?
What is there to do in the area?
Is it hard to get around in a double stroller?
I was told that it is worth it to go to Pillotiz(sp?) is it?

My other option is a stopover in Brussels from 7 AM till 7 PM which makes more sense?

Will I have lounge access with my Amex Platinum to either one?
                                                                                                                                 
i would go to bru , you could hang out with sflyer all day

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 #157 on: February 06, 2011, 06:37:40 PM »
Hi

Brussel is not a nice city. Nothing really to see. If you pass through Europe Switzerland will be your better choice. My kids sleep at night on the plane, if yours do as well they should be fine the next day in a stroller. You probably will have it easier then connecting right away, as they will be up all day and sleep again on your 11 PM flight to TLV
Trains are very easy to get around and the Pilatus will a stroller will be fine. Kids are free, your ticket to Lucerne incl. going up the Pilatus will be about 100 USD p.p roundtrip. Lucerne is a nice city, so if your kids are "quetsch" or the weather is not great, you can take a boatride on the lake or just stroll around. Decide that day, but try to aim for Pilatus
 On the way back you can stop in Zuerich for supper in the kosher restaurant. Nothing special, but its nice to have a good meal after traveling.

Offline SuperFlyer

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Jul 2009
  • Posts: 9351
  • Total likes: 414
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #158 on: February 06, 2011, 06:43:11 PM »
Hi

Brussel is not a nice city. Nothing really to see. If you pass through Europe Switzerland will be your better choice. My kids sleep at night on the plane, if yours do as well they should be fine the next day in a stroller. You probably will have it easier then connecting right away, as they will be up all day and sleep again on your 11 PM flight to TLV
Trains are very easy to get around and the Pilatus will a stroller will be fine. Kids are free, your ticket to Lucerne incl. going up the Pilatus will be about 100 USD p.p roundtrip. Lucerne is a nice city, so if your kids are "quetsch" or the weather is not great, you can take a boatride on the lake or just stroll around. Decide that day, but try to aim for Pilatus
 On the way back you can stop in Zuerich for supper in the kosher restaurant. Nothing special, but its nice to have a good meal after traveling.

wow this is an expensive train.

try to get invited by chuchem.

ask for the local specialty, thomy.

Offline dealer

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Gold Elite
  • ******
  • Join Date: Sep 2008
  • Posts: 871
  • Total likes: 2
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #159 on: February 06, 2011, 06:47:39 PM »
Hi

Brussel is not a nice city. Nothing really to see. If you pass through Europe Switzerland will be your better choice. My kids sleep at night on the plane, if yours do as well they should be fine the next day in a stroller. You probably will have it easier then connecting right away, as they will be up all day and sleep again on your 11 PM flight to TLV
Trains are very easy to get around and the Pilatus will a stroller will be fine. Kids are free, your ticket to Lucerne incl. going up the Pilatus will be about 100 USD p.p roundtrip. Lucerne is a nice city, so if your kids are "quetsch" or the weather is not great, you can take a boatride on the lake or just stroll around. Decide that day, but try to aim for Pilatus
 On the way back you can stop in Zuerich for supper in the kosher restaurant. Nothing special, but its nice to have a good meal after traveling.
can we pm you if we need more specific info?