Tips For Easier Travel: Switzerland

A Guest Post & Original Photos by Sheldon Muecke of T with J

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Europe is an extremely sought after destination for travelers and I had the amazing opportunity to travel there in the past year.
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There are things I learned that helped me make better decisions and that made the whole experience a lot more enjoyable. The destinations that I will specifically be talking about in my post today is Zurich, Switzerland. The beginning of my European travel experience. For my tips, post and photos on London, England, the beautiful city where I wrapped my trip click here. 

​Switzerland has one of the most unique entry experiences into a country that I’ve ever seen. 1. You may or may not experience the cabin clapping for the pilot as you land safely. This is a sign of respect for their pilots. On the short train ride to the main station of the airport, you will be welcomed with a video through the tunnels that gives a tidbit of Swiss culture. Once there, there are definitely some to-do’s and don’ts. Some people get really nervous when going through the passport lines. Not to take away from the seriousness, but they enjoy visitors coming in; the biggest advice I can give anyone is to be authentic. Smile, that is one thing that will get you very far if you need to ask questions or just want to make friends with everyone. And don’t be afraid to accept the fact that you’re a tourist.

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​This leads me into my next point; Switzerland is a country that does not primarily speak English. Most people speak German, French, Swiss-German, and a very small portion of the people speak the Roman language (not Italian, actual Roman).  Typically, it’s best to speak German to communicate with most locals; so grab an English to German dictionary or app and attempt to learn some. There is definitely a respect that is gained even if you’re horrible at speaking it, it shows that you’re trying and people love that. Don’t be afraid to sound silly; because to our ears, it is. Have confidence in trying.
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Some more serious concerns are definitely worthy of noting. Keeping in mind that the Swiss make some of the best watches in the world; being on time is vital. Buses leave at THEIR EXACT SCHEDULED TIME not later, no sooner (check bus and train schedules constantly and take pictures of them for reference). Also, familiarize yourself with a 24-hour clock schedule, i.e. 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, etc.

​Life can get very expensive, very quickly in Switzerland. Knowing where to shop is half the battle. There is a store called Migros that is the equivalent of a grocery store here, they have a specific green and white striped brand that is located on the bottom shelves (the place where everything is cheaper). My suggestion to making traveling less expensive, shop at places such as Migros and another market by the name of Coop, instead of going out to eat. Coffee shops are also another place that you definitely should visit while there. Ask locals where the best coffee in town is, they’ll know. This isn’t exactly a money saver, but it is definitely savory and worth the time. A side note is to keep in mind that their humor is very different, what may be entertaining to Americans could be offensive to the Swiss. Knowing when to joke, and when not to, is good to keep in mind. But if you can get into Swiss humor, take advantage of that and bond with the locals. 

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​Sheldon Muecke is a missionary, outdoorsman and blogger at www.TwithJ.com. His blog touches on all aspects of how we can better serve the Lord. He's been able to tour the world and see amazing sights while living out his adventures. 

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