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General Information |
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General Information
Passports and Visas
Customs Information
Books, Maps, and Other Resources
Language
Health Matters
Shopping in Switzerland
| Book Hostels in Switzerland Online You can also find a hostel almost anywhere in the world through Experience Paradise, a partner of Getting Away. |
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General Travel Information
For a good source of general travel information, visit Switzerland
Tourism, or call 212-757-5944 where you will find travel and tourism information as
well as destination information, suggestions for things to see and do,
accommodations suggestions, and much more.
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You may also want to visit Allexperts - Switzerland where you may ask volunteer experts questions about travel and tourism, and attractions for free! Allexperts and Getting Away With Jim Bruner, working together to give you the best in reliable travel information.
Switzerland Phone Adaptor
- Modifies the Switzerland outlet to accept one US style RJ11
connector and one Switzerland connector to allow use of connection for both
the US line and the Switzerland phone line simultaneously.
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Passport and Visa Information
Every traveler to Switzerland must have a valid passport. Visas are required for
a continuous stay of more than three months. If your stay is shorter than three
months you only need to have your valid passport. 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.
For information on visas, permanent residence as well as on work permits and
business matters, please contact the Swiss
Consulate General located nearest you.
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Customs Information
Duty free limits are as follows:
Visitors arriving from Europe may import 200 cigarettes, or 50 cigars or 250
grams of pipe tobacco. Visitors from non-European countries may import twice as
much.
The allowance for alcohol is the same for everyone: one liter of spirits plus
two liters below 15% vol. Tobacco and alcohol may only be brought in by people
aged 17 or over. Gifts up to the value of CHF
100 may also be imported, and food provisions for one day.
Language Information
Click here for language
helps, dictionaries,
electronic translators,
language software and other helps for learning
a foreign language. Being able to speak at least some of the language in the
country you are visiting will help you have a better time and enjoy your trip
more. Jim.
Books, Maps, and Other Resources
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I always research the destinations to which I intend to travel with books and maps. I normally use Fodor's as I find their guidebooks very informative and easy to read and understand. Click on the Amazon logo to search for travel books and maps. If you don't find what you are looking for, click on the Getting Away Travel Bookshelf to find some of my favorites! And, if you are unable to find what you are looking for, let me know and I will try and help. mailto:jimbruner@gettingaway.com |
Rick Steves' Germany, Austria & Switzerland Rick Steves' travel philosophy is to make friends, have fun, and avoid tourist rip-offs in order to experience the real Europe. Chapters include Munich, Bavaria, Rothenburg, the Black Forest, Vienna, the Danube Valley, Appenzell, Salzburg, and even Prague in the Czech Republic. Read More
Fodor's Switzerland Fodor's guidebooks are my favorites and this one is a very good book with lots of information about the Hotels, restaurants, Public transport. Fodor's always makes my trips a lot easier. Read More
You may also want to visit Allexperts - Switzerland where you may ask volunteer experts questions about travel and tourism, and attractions for free! Allexperts and Getting Away With Jim Bruner, working together to give you the best in reliable travel information.
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Health Matters
No endemic contagious diseases exist. Immunization for contagious diseases is
only required if the traveler has been in an infected area within 14 days
preceding arrival in Switzerland.
Swiss medical facilities are among the best in the world. In case of hospitalization,
or a doctor’s visit, you either need to make a deposit or show proof of travel
health insurance. You can use cash or travelers' checks to make the deposit.
After your hospitalization an invoice will be mailed to you. Doctors may ask you
to pay in full.
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Shopping in Switzerland
Switzerland is a shopper's paradise with many superb products to choose from.
English is spoken in most shops and department stores.
There are several items that just seem to say "Swiss." Any
stay in Switzerland is incomplete without buying a famous Swiss watch. Fine
watches come in an infinite variety and are generally less expensive than in
others countries. Bucherer is the country’s biggest and most famous watch
retailer offering a wide range of watches from CHF
50 to 100’000. Chocolates come in a variety of sizes, shapes and flavors. Be
sure to take home a tin of hot chocolate mix with you. Other suggestions
would include: 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.
The VAT tax you pay on purchased goods in Switzerland is 7,5%. You may ask at
the shops for your Global Refund Cheque and reclaim the VAT. Global Refund
offers you a swift and save cash refund system at Zurich and Geneva airports as
well as at all major airport in Europe and all major road exit points.
All major Credit Cards are accepted in fine shops and most department
stores. If you are using travelers' checks, be sure not to use them in
shops or department stores as the exchange rate is usually rather poor.
Shops are usually open from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 4
p.m. on Saturdays. Once a week they extend their hours to 9 p.m. They are closed
on Sundays except for those at airports, at some railway stations and highway
rest stops.
| Commission free foreign currency delivered to your door. Transfer money to over 150 countries with Direct FX. Simple, secure and cost-effective money transfer service provided to you from Getting Away and Direct FX. Click here to order commission free foreign currency and travelers' checks. |
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Moto Europa - If you are visiting Belgium, England, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Portugal or Spain, why rent a car when you can lease from Moto Europa. Getting Away has teamed with Ideamerge to provide an online way for you to learn more about, and perhaps subsequently order, a Renault Eurodrive tax-free, short-term auto lease. These leases can be great deals for persons traveling 17 days or more! And, this is the only site on the web where you can learn so much about them and order securely online. Tax-free, short-term leases have the touch and feel of a rental but can be much less costly and, in many respects, much simpler. You book and pay for your lease before taking delivery, signing a contract which allows Renault to register and fully insure in your name the exact vehicle of your choice for the period you requested. You do not, of course, pay the full price of the vehicle; the one low charge—tax-free and including full comprehensive insurance and breakdown coverage, 24/7 roadside assistance, and full warranty—is essentially the difference between preset buying and selling prices. After returning the vehicle, you have no further obligations whatsoever; Renault sells the vehicle to a rental agency or other party. Check it out today before you rent a car!
