Europe & Switzerland Travel Tips #1

Passports

• United States citizens:
  • The U.S. travel rules change frequently so it's important to check with the Department of State for the latest international travel and passport info (which of course supercedes the info you'll find here).
  • Every US citizen must have a passport, valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of your return flight to the USA.
  • Visas are required for a continuous stay of more than three months. This applies to citizens of the following countries:
    • Countries of the American Continent except Belize, Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Peru
    • Europe, Japan, Australia and New Zealand
• Canadian citizens:
  • Canadian Citizens holding a valid passport do not need a visa as long as their stay in Switzerland does not exceed 90 days.
  • As of August 1st, 2000, the Swiss Government introduced the following new visa regulations, which facilitate the entry into Switzerland for foreign residents living in Canada:
    • Visa exemption for all foreign Nationals who hold a valid long-term residence permit of an EU- or EFTA-country, of Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, Canada or USA.
    • Please note that for Canada only the "Permanent Resident (PR) Card" is recognized as a Residence permit. (Holders of an Employment authorization, Student authorization, Ministers permit etc. do still need a visa)
    • These new rules apply only for stays in Switzerland not exceeding 90 days, with the purpose of tourism, visit, business consultations, medical treatments, participation in scientific, economic, cultural, religious or sporting events, and temporary reporting for foreign media.
  • When entering Switzerland, present a valid (for at least 3 months after you leave Switzerland) national passport and one of the above mentioned papers.
• United Kingdom citizens:
  • Always carry your passport
  • Although the United Kingdom is part of the European Union, you are still required to carry a full 10 year British passport with you every time you travel to a European destination.
  • Remember, your passport will be checked at immigration control on your return to the UK.

Arrival at Kloten Airport

Zurich's Kloten Airport's new 1 1/2 Billion Dollar International Terminal has finally been completed. I have always enjoyed spending time at this airport, with its great shops full of Swiss products, and am looking forward to this new airport facility. Do not be alarmed when you first see the colorful Swiss Guards with guns slung over their shoulders. Kloten is one of the safest airports in the world.

After our arrival, your luggage is automatically sent on to our hotel in Interlaken. We will proceed downstairs to the rail station, and begin our first rail adventure of the week. Sit back and enjoy the magnificent scenery on our 2 1/2 hour trip via Berne, to Interlaken.

Customs

Duty free limits are as follows:

• Visitors from non-European countries may import 400 cigarettes, 100 cigars or 500 grams of pipe tobacco.
• The allowance for alcohol is the same for everyone: one liter of spirits plus two liters below 15% volume.
• Tobacco and alcohol may only be brought in by people aged 17 or over.
• Gifts up to the value of SFr. 100 may also be imported, and food provisions for one day.

Our Swiss Rail Pass

One of the special aspects of my tours are the Swiss Rail Passes, featuring unlimited travel on the extensive and sophisticated Swiss Rail System. From your train window, you will see the scenery change, minute by minute. Each bend of the track brings new vistas that somehow seem even more beautiful than the last.

Trains run on an hourly basis beginning early morning until close to midnight. Train connections are easy and usually only require a few minutes changing time. Railway stations are clean, safe and staffed with helpful rail personnel to assist you.

Your included Swiss Rail Pass provides unlimited rail travel on the Swiss Federal Railways, most private railways, postal buses, lake steamers, city buses, and streetcars for your weeks tour. You'll also get a 25% discount on most mountain top excursions, that are not covered with your Swiss Pass.

We will travel on the graceful lake steamers during our week in this marvelous country. Interlaken (which means "between the lakes"), lies between the sister lakes of Thun and Brienz. The Thunersee is open to the sky and almost subtropical in ambience, while the Brienzersee is hemmed in by mountains and forest.

I always suggest you take at least a half day and just get on any train, ride until you see a lakeside or mountain village that looks interesting, hop off the train, explore as long as you want, sample the local cheese or wine, or tasty bakery treats, then hop back on another train or even a lake steamer, for a further adventure all your own.

Shopping in Switzerland

English is spoken in most shops and department stores. Switzerland's superb products make it a shopper's paradise. All major Credit Cards are accepted in fine shops and most Department stores. Shops are usually open from 9am to 6:30pm on weekdays and from 9am to 4pm on Saturdays.

Fine watches come in an infinite variety and are generally less expensive than in other countries. Chocolates come in a variety of sizes, shapes and flavors. Excellent buys are: textiles, embroideries, fine handkerchiefs, linen, precision instruments, drafting sets, multi-blade pocket knives, music boxes, woodcarvings, ceramics and other handmade items as well as antiques and art books.

You may ask at the shops for your Tax free Shopping Cheque and reclaim the VAT if your purchase costs at least CHF. 400. Europe Tax free Shopping offers you a swift cash refund system at Zurich and Geneva airports as well as at all major airports in Europe.

Banking and Post Office Hours

Banks are usually open Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm. Once a week they extend their hours. Please check locally. They are closed Saturdays, Sundays and on public holidays. Post offices in large cities are open Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 12 noon and from 1:30pm to 6:30pm: Saturday 7:30 to 11am.

Telephone Calls

Any country in the world can be called from private or public telephones (coins, phone or credit cards). To find a number in Switzerland, check the phone book or dial 111.

For any other country except Germany (192) and France (193) call 191. Dialing 114 will connect you with the international operator. The country code for the U.S.A is 001. Omit the first 0 of the local area code. To find out other country codes or the cost of domestic and foreign calls, please consult the first pages of any Swiss phone book.

There is a pay phone located behind the reception area at the Post Hardermannli, and with a calling card, or prepaid card purchased in the USA, calling is very easy. Just contact your phone company, or the prepaid card company and get the dialing instructions and rates per unit from Switzerland to the USA.

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