Switzerland on a Shoe-String

As a country that is notorious for being expensive, Switzerland might not be top of the list for any European traveller on a budget, yet it is surprising how far money can go in this tiny, trilingual part of the world. Part of what makes Switzerland good value is the fact that you can see so much in day and almost all the main cities are within two and a half hours of each other by train. None of the cities are too large and nothing is too far away, so what might normally take you a weekend can be crammed into just one day - thus saving on accommodation expenses.

Travelling around Switzerland on the world famous Swiss trains can be costly – mostly due to the fact that they are always comfortable, in good condition and perfectly on time, a rather alien concept to most British visitors. However, there are ways to save money here too. Depending on how much travelling you think you will be doing and over what kind of area, there are day passes, week passes, monthly reductions and yearlong discount cards available which can save you a huge amount of money. The major website for Swiss trains - CFF.ch - provides details on all of these and can be viewed in English, French, German or Italian. Reductions for young people are usually quite generous, and you can benefit up to the age of 26, even more so with a valid international student card.

Following Switzerland’s trend for a high standard of living is the accommodation for holidaymakers and travellers alike. Youth hostels in Switzerland are some of the most efficient, clean, welcoming and good quality in Europe, and in order to encourage younger people to visit the country they are mostly very competitively priced. There are several HI hostels in the bigger cities offering a guaranteed standard of accommodation, and the other backpacker options available won’t disappoint either. They might not be the cheapest available across the continent but they are certainly some of the most reliable and pleasant available. Youth hostels are often used by families as a cheaper type of holiday accommodation too, so whilst the atmosphere might differ from the typical student-party destination, the variety of ages can create a more homely, friendly environment.

The unmissable city sights of Switzerland include Geneva, Zurich, Bern, Basel and Lausanne – none of which are too large or without budget options on food, accommodation and entertainment. The more relaxing sights of rural Switzerland included Gruyere, a serenely beautiful Swiss village home to the famous cheese; Lake Luzern and the Bernese Oberland. Walking, of course, is a rather inexpensive past-time and how better to enjoy this spectacular country than with a countryside stroll through the alps? The snow sport centre of Interlaken is probably the sole exemption to the budget Swiss holiday. Whilst there are still good value hostels to be found, the sports themselves are inevitably costly.

So however you choose to make the most of this stunning little destination, don’t rule it out for its expense. See it rather as an investment in a certain level of quality. Switzerland rarely disappoints. For further information on the country, take a look at ASDA Travel, which provides useful travel guides as well as low priced flights to Switzerland and accommodation.