Doing Switzerland on the Cheap(er)

In my humble opinion, Switzerland is the raddest country on Planet Earth and checks all the boxes. Between the unreal topography, the infrastructure and efficiency, not to mention a society steeped in history, culture, and authenticity, it’s in a league of it’s own. However, it ain’t a cheap country. Below are my top 10 pro tips to avoid paying an arm and a leg:

1) Swiss grocery stores such as Coop and Migros often have fresh bread, pastries, cheese thingies, and premade foods that are reasonably priced. Also you’ll find beers and wine at a fraction of the price as a pub. Extra pro tip: If travelling from one of the neighboring countries, go grocery shopping before entering Switzerland. 

2) Avoid eating out for a full sit-down dinner. It seems like after about 1900 (7 pm in Yankee time), dinner prices are in full effect and they lay down the gauntlet. Instead, have a late lunch or grab some food from the aforementioned grocery store.  

3) Gas prices might seem less expensive in Switzerland, but remember they are in Swiss Francs (CHF), which is currently about 10% stronger than the Euro (€). If driving from Italy, Germany, Austria, or France (Lichtenstein not so much), you might find less expensive fuel prices. 

There are a few tricks to save on accommodations

4) There is often a notable difference between Monday to Thursday and weekend lodging prices. If possible, try to plan your escapades (especially to higher-demand locales) during midweek. You can also try your luck last minute using third-party sites like www.booking.com.

5) Use a internet VPN and change your location to Switzerland, then visit the hotel’s website. Often times, you will see a different price than if you are from a North American location. 

6)  Check out pensions and lodging with a “shared bathroom”. It isn’t as bad as it sounds: for example I stayed above a pizzeria for 60 CHF per night including breakie. It was centrally located within 15 minutes of 3 ski areas you’ve likely never heard of. There were 4 guest rooms and 2 shared bathrooms, which is a way better ratio than some houses we once lived in. 

As a former pizzeria owner, I appreciated the irony of staying upstairs (and the pie).

7)  Check out Airbnb listings and specifically one or two towns down from the ski lifts. I scored an amazing old Swiss “Raccord” originally built in 1536 (now completely remodeled) for 91 CHF per night. It was a 5-minute walk to the bus stop. And for bonus points, there is a ski run down to the quaint village where you can slide right into happy hour in the private garden.

A 500-year-old home with flavor and soul.

8) Almost all Swiss hotels include a killer breakfast with a big spread. One could easily make a nice sando and grab some fruit to put in your backpack for an afternoon meal. 

9) There are a plethora of hot springs and spa resorts throughout Switzerland. In the German-speaking part they are known as Bad, and in the French-speaking part they are known as Bains. 

They typically offer high-end facilities and generally keep the kids’ portion separate from the adults (there is a reason I don’t have any children). In my experience they cost between 35-40 CHF but are well worth a few hours of total relaxation and replenishment of an Aging Ski Bum’s aching muscles and joints. In my view, it’s a small price to pay to give your body the competitive edge it needs to take care of business in the Alps. 

10) If you really wanna do it right, buy a Magic Pass, which offers unlimited skiing at 80 ski resorts, almost all in southwest Switzerland. They go on sale in mid-April, and for the first few weeks they are priced around 400 CHF. 

With the biggest concentration around the Rhone River Valley, there are some amazing under-the-radar, blue-collar, middle-class Swiss ski resorts. They may not be the big names like Zermatt, Verbier, or St Moritz, but many of these ski areas offer killer terrain, charming towns, and 3,000- to 5,000-foot verticals with zero no-powder panic. 

 8:44 am Powder Day Line Up.

In summary, you can partake in the best of the Swiss Alps without breaking the bank. And for good measure, your days in Switzerland will likely go down as some of the best of your life. You can thank me later.