Trip to Switzerland, St. Gallen

[Basenji]

I've noticed there are at least a few Swiss members here. My great-grandfather came to the U.S. in the early 1900s from Switzerland, I think from a town called Ebnat-Kappel in St. Gallen. I would love to see Switzerland, especially the town that I'm "from," but I've always heard Switzerland is quite expensive. Any advice on trip planning? I don't care about shopping or fancy hotels; I'd love to see nature, farms, local life, eat local food. I'm thinking a spring, summer, or fall visit. I've travelled in Europe and Asia, so I'm comfortable with self-directed travel, not tours where I'm marched through the sites. Thanks!

[jrhampt]

I'm not Swiss, but we went to Switzerland on our honeymoon.  It was gorgeous, although the food was expensive.  We ate a large breakfast in our hotel (included in price), so that helped, and pizza is always a less expensive and filling option in Europe.  We based ourselves in a small town on Lake Geneva (rental car was part of the package) and from there went on a few hikes, saw castles, went to local cheese places.  It was 10 years ago, but I can remember some of our itinerary.  We saw the Aletsch Glacier and hiked there, Zermatt and the Matterhorn (did a bit of hiking there but not obviously to the top), saw the Eiger, Lauterbrunnen Valley and a waterfall inside the cliffs there (STUNNING), Interlaken, a beautiful dam out in the middle of nowhere on top of a mountain that you took a cable car to get to the top of (my husband likes dams) and had interesting rock formations on the slopes, Chateau de Chillon (beautiful castle on Lake Geneva), Lausanne, Gruyere (yes, like the cheese), where we went to the cheese place and also the local castle which had an art display in the towers.  One of the most beautiful places I've ever been.  If you just want to see nature, that part of it is mostly free, except for the gas in the car.  Enjoy the local cheese and wine, but I'd limit the meals you eat out if you're on a budget.  We went in early September. 

[Basenji]

Cool, thanks, will add to my notes. Just curious, why did you pick Switzerland ( if you care to share)?

[jrhampt]

Cool, thanks, will add to my notes. Just curious, why did you pick Switzerland ( if you care to share)?

We both like the outdoors  - hiking, mountains and beautiful scenery, and I was particularly interested in the extra bonus of cheese, wine, and chocolate.  We also wanted to go somewhere special and somewhere we had never been before.  I had never been to Europe before (with exception of UK).  We were trying to decide between Venice and Switzerland, and happened to find a good package deal for Switzerland.  I've since been to Venice and think Switzerland was the right choice, although elsewhere in Italy would also have been pretty great, most likely, but different. 

[Erma]

It is expensive, but the nature is free. If you can find an affordable place to stay and cook your food yourself, it will get cheaper. If you want tonhave some price ranges from the supermarkets jere you could go to either www.coopathome.ch or www.leshop.ch. But there are also Aldis and Lidls.
Depending on your plans a Swiss Travel Pass could be worth it. More information here. Public transport works usually very well.
Just ask if you have more questions.

[Basenji]

Thanks, I'll take a look. So exciting even though it won't be for a while. Maybe next year if I can swing it.

[Basenji]

Cool, thanks, will add to my notes. Just curious, why did you pick Switzerland ( if you care to share)?

We both like the outdoors  - hiking, mountains and beautiful scenery, and I was particularly interested in the extra bonus of cheese, wine, and chocolate.

You had me at cheese and wine, lol.

[MrsDinero]

I've only been to Switzerland once and just fell in love with it!   We went to Jungfraujoch and only had a few days before we had to head over to Italy.  If we could have canceled the rest of our trip and stayed in Switzerland we would have!

I picked it because I saw it featured on the Today show and thought it looked spectacular!  Seeing it with my own eye only confirmed it.


http://www.myswitzerland.com/en-us/jungfraujoch-top-of-europe.html

[Basenji]

Photos of Switzerland slay me. And when I search my maiden name it cracks me up to see it in the area that great-grandpa left. Has anyone ever visited a town where some of your ancestors were from?

[pachnik]

Photos of Switzerland slay me. And when I search my maiden name it cracks me up to see it in the area that great-grandpa left. Has anyone ever visited a town where some of your ancestors were from?

This is about Hungary not Switzerland but my last name is the name of a province in Hungary.  And a lot of the names of towns in that province start with my last name.   I did visit Belgrade though several years ago which is very close to where my ancestors came from.   My grandfather was still alive when I took this trip and I remember showing him my pictures of Belgrade and he recognized some of the buildings he had worked on decades before. 

It sounds like a great idea for a trip for you. 

[Albert]

I currently live in Switzerland. It is indeed on the pricey side. I would say that your best bet for not spending a fortune would be Airbnb apartments and a rental car.

If you love mountains and hiking then this is a great place to be. :)

[Basenji]

I currently live in Switzerland. It is indeed on the pricey side. I would say that your best bet for not spending a fortune would be Airbnb apartments and a rental car.

If you love mountains and hiking then this is a great place to be. :)

I can't wait to go. Thanks.