July 5, 2023 | View Online | Sign Up
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Switzerland feels impossible.
Its immense peaks hold quiet dominion over the country, igniting alpine dreams and local legends and gifting onlookers a taste of the sublime. They stir even the most outdoor-averse among us.
But lying at their feet, and often overlooked, the real Switzerland ticks on spectacularly. Modern cities surge with innovation while sleepy alpine villages and medieval towns nurture the country’s complex history and traditions.
It’s far more than chocolate, fancy watches, and efficient trains. (Although the trains are pretty special, too.)
Welcome to Switzerland.
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| DESTINATION GUIDES
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Your Guide to the Best of Switzerland
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🏔️ What to do
Switzerland’s great outdoors is the ultimate playground. Mountaineering, skiing, extreme sports, and alpine toboggans are the bread and butter of any visit. But back down at ground level, there’s a vast history to discover, a burgeoning foodie culture, and a tremendous arts scene ripe for the tasting. Here are the best things to do in Switzerland.
🛌🏻 Where to stay
If there are two things the Swiss understand, it’s unadulterated luxury and the great outdoors. And that extends to their hotels. From sleek city properties to nature-celebrating small-town digs, these are the best places to stay in Switzerland.
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| MONEY MOVES
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There and Back Again for (Technically) Nothing
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This is how easy travel hacking is.
Open this card
Spend $4000 in the first 3 months and earn the 75,000 bonus (plus 8,000 from earnings)
Transfer 65,000 points to KLM
Book a roundtrip from NYC to Zurich for that rate and $300
If you’re not from NYC, use the remaining points to fly there
The fees are higher on this one, but $300 for a roundtrip is still insane. Luckily, this card has a $300 travel credit, which helps balance things. Better still, it’ll grant you access to airport lounges so you can travel in style.
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| SHOP THE SALE
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Shop the Birkenstock Summer Sale for Three Days Only
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Give your feet a break and shop stylish and comfortable footwear from Birkenstock during Rue La La's summer flash sale.
Whether you're headed to the beach or looking for a staple shoe for adventures this summer and beyond, Rue La La is your insider style destination ready to spruce up your wardrobe. Sign up for free with your email then get ready to shop top brands, expertly curated into Boutiques and presented at
Member-only prices with EVERYTHING UP TO 70% OFF!
Everything you see is curated so you can save big on the latest trends and seasonal must-haves. Plus, new sales launch daily from your favorite brands.Â
For three days only, Birkenstock footwear for women and men will be marked down including styles as low as $79.99. Don’t miss out–with deals this sweet, styles sell out quickly!
Shop the sale.
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| SWISS FAST FACTS
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Here are some fast facts to get you prepped for a Swiss adventure:
🗣️ Official language: German, French, Italian, and Romansch
💶Â Currency: The Swiss Franc
😋 Traditional dish you have to try: Chocolate and fondue. Or how about chocolate fondue?
🏔️ Outdoors: The country has over 10,000 named mountains!
🏳️‍🌈 Is it LGBTQ-friendly?: Yes! Switzerland is hugely progressive concerning LGBTQ.
🔫 You'd be surprised to know: It has one of the highest gun ownership rates in industrialized nations. Despite that, its gun-crime rate is super low. Experts suggest this is because most owners just kept their weapons from their mandatory military service and don’t even have ammunition.
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| KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
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Get Saving
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This shouldn’t come as a surprise, but Switzerland is expensive.Â
Hotels, food, drinks, transport, tours–you name it, it’ll probably be pricey. If you’re being as budget-conscious as possible, hostels are your best bet for accommodation. They’re not glamorous, but you’ll have a bed and a few extra bucks to spend on fondue.Â
For tours, do your research and book in advance. You’ll often find decent packages that throw multiple things together. It might ruin the adventurous spontaneity of the trip, but once again, you’ll have more money for chocolate and fondue. Seeing a pattern?
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Different Season, Different Switzerland
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You'll want to visit in different seasons. Switzerland’s landscape is a nature lover’s playground. But it’s drastically different depending on when you arrive.
Come in the winter, and you’ll have world-class skiing, sledding, snow-covered chalets, and picturesque Christmas markets. But in the summer, hiking and lake swimming take over, while the cities are at their lively best.
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The Public Transport is Brilliant
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Getting around Switzerland is easy. Unless you’re feeling adventurous and have some further out destinations to hit, the comprehensive public transport system has you covered.
Renowned for always being on time, the sleek trains might be the best ones you’ve ever been on, helping soften the financial blow of the ticket price. To save a little extra, grab a Swiss Travel Pass. Not only will it get you discounted and prepaid travel for a set period of time, it’ll also grant you access to a ton of museums and discounts on mountain railroads.
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| WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING IN SWITZERLAND
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*This link is sponsored
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