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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 604685 times)

Offline VacationLover

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #820 on: November 30, 2014, 08:55:57 AM »
I'm arriving in Geneva
Which area should I stay?
Any places with minyan and kosher options in December?
Not much to do in that area. I think there is Minyon all year in Geneva, but the mountains are not in that area. I assume you are going there for a nice SPG hotel. If that's the case rather change to Zurich.
« Last Edit: November 30, 2014, 11:03:34 AM by VacationLover »

Offline sam28

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #821 on: December 01, 2014, 11:29:53 AM »
is there any kosher hotel now open in Switzerland since Levin is not open ?

Offline sruly101

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #822 on: December 01, 2014, 11:49:57 AM »
is there any kosher hotel now open in Switzerland since Levin is not open ?
Levine is  not open?

Offline sam28

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #823 on: December 01, 2014, 12:18:06 PM »
Levine is  not open?
no only from dec 17

Offline The Guy

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #824 on: December 08, 2014, 01:28:56 PM »
I would like to go to Switzerland in Feb, if Levin is open is that my best choice?
I am looking for a hotel with kosher food and minyunim.

Offline The Guy

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #825 on: December 11, 2014, 09:04:52 AM »
Meir Klein has a hotel in Crans-Montana this winter,his prices look better then Levin.

Offline VacationLover

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #826 on: December 11, 2014, 11:21:58 AM »
Meir Klein has a hotel in Crans-Montana this winter,his prices look better then Levin.
Link or phone number?

Offline The Guy

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #827 on: December 11, 2014, 11:29:16 AM »
Link or phone number?

I found it on Kosherholidays.net

Here you have his email hotelmk@gmail.com
He gave me 7 days in Feb for Chf 2000  Levin wanted Chf 2800 (I am talking about the nicer rooms by each)
And this is after bargaining by both of them.

Offline The Guy

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #828 on: December 11, 2014, 11:31:01 AM »
Actually if you don't mind bringing with your own food you could book it on booking.com for $1,000,but that's only for the room and Klein will take Chf 1400 just for food for 2 people for 7 days.

Offline D93

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #829 on: December 13, 2014, 02:44:47 PM »
The cogwheel up to Pilatus is closed in March. Correct?
How about - walking on the bridges, old city walls, and the boat ride in Lucerne in March?

Offline Elchay

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #830 on: December 23, 2014, 11:01:18 AM »
Is the product the same on a Edelweiss as on SWISS? Any reason not to book ZRH-JFK in business that is operated by Edelweiss as opposed to SWISS?

Offline s.and.n

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #831 on: January 12, 2015, 07:12:37 AM »
We are planning a trip in May for 5 days. We would like to be in the mountains for two days and Shabbos in Zurich. Which mountain town is nice in may, has kosher food and can book hotel with points? Maybe Chuchem can help?
Thanks!

Offline VacationLover

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #832 on: January 12, 2015, 08:01:45 AM »
We are planning a trip in May for 5 days. We would like to be in the mountains for two days and Shabbos in Zurich. Which mountain town is nice in may, has kosher food and can book hotel with points? Maybe Chuchem can help?
Thanks!
Kosher food (besides meat and milk) you can find everywhere in Migros and Coop. Hotel with points is tough because in the mountains most hotels are single/private hotels not chain hotels. But you can do your own research for hotels. I think SPG has a few in Davos. Or base your trip in Luzern with kosher groceries and Minyonim and Hotels (with points).
you can consider going to Engelberg, Aroza, Davos, Saas Fee, Wengen, just to mention a few. Engelberg is the closest to Zurich, and a must!
« Last Edit: January 12, 2015, 08:16:06 AM by VacationLover »

Offline sky121

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #833 on: January 12, 2015, 08:30:01 AM »
Kosher food (besides meat and milk) you can find everywhere in Migros and Coop. Hotel with points is tough because in the mountains most hotels are single/private hotels not chain hotels. But you can do your own research for hotels. I think SPG has a few in Davos. Or base your trip in Luzern with kosher groceries and Minyonim and Hotels (with points).
you can consider going to Engelberg, Aroza, Davos, Saas Fee, Wengen, just to mention a few. Engelberg is the closest to Zurich, and a must!

There is also a Hilton and an Intercontinental in Davos. Perhaps more though those I'm sure of.
My sister stayed at the Hilton there and had a great time.
"Not all who wander are lost"

Offline s.and.n

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #834 on: January 12, 2015, 12:44:02 PM »
Thank you!! Would you say some of the mountain towns are "nicer" than others? Davos is one of the top?

Offline VacationLover

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #835 on: January 12, 2015, 04:40:00 PM »
Thank you!! Would you say some of the mountain towns are "nicer" than others? Davos is one of the top?
Every mountain has its specialty. Hard to say Davos is the top. More necessarily Top destination for Frum people. I personally would rank Engelberg #1, Vengen #2 Saas Fee #3 and then Davos.

You can read my TR here http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=46155.msg948310#msg948310 I hope it will give you some ideas. Keep in mind May is still before the summer and might be cold high up.

Offline morgs

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #836 on: January 12, 2015, 05:44:10 PM »
Thank you!! Would you say some of the mountain towns are "nicer" than others? Davos is one of the top?
We stayed for a shabbos in Davos in the Sheraton-it was fantastic and beautiful! (Although I can not compare to other areas)

Offline an613

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #837 on: January 20, 2015, 07:50:52 PM »
Is toblerone made in Switzerland without a hechsher kosher?

Offline davmtl

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #838 on: January 27, 2015, 09:09:05 PM »
I'm traveling with my wife to Zurich for the weekend from Friday till Monday afternoon, what kind of pass should I buy for travel into the city and back and some traveling on Sunday and Monday morning. And any suggestions on what to do Sunday noon till Monday noon. (I've got some Marriott and spg points.)

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #839 on: January 27, 2015, 10:05:47 PM »
@vacationlover mentioned something about a halbtax card. its unlimited travel for all transportation. designed for tourists.. if you can stay at the park hyatt zurich its stunning...