What is the best time for a holiday in switzerland?

Question

I am planning for a weeks holiday in Switzerland with my wife and 4 year old kid. I was just wondering what would be the best time to travel to switzerland....would february 2007 very cold? whats flights to take and which hotel to stay in? shall i go on my own or approach some tour company??

Answer 1

Hello!
I come from Switzerland and recently went there. Do you like to ski or play winter sports?
If so I'd go around February, but if you don't I would go around the time school gets out for summer. At that time you can go swimming and do other summer stuff, yet you can still go in the mountains and enjoy the scenery. If you are wondering about the weather, it would be not much different from a normal New York summer day. As for destination, it would all depend on your budget. If your looking for something beautiful (yet pricey!) I'd go for Zurich. Although Basel is very nice and more affordable. Here are some facts:

Switzerland is a highly developed industrial country with a strong export orientated economy. Machines, synthetics and dyes, agrochemistry and pharmaceuticals, jewellery and also watches are the main exports. 95% of all Swiss watches are exported abroad. Switzerland is, above all, well- known world-wide in manufacturing for its precision instruments and machines. The food industries also have a good international reputation (Swiss chocolate and cheese, but also baby food). It's true that Switzerland does meet about a half of its food production requirement from abroad, but agriculture remains, however, a very important economic asset. Grain, potatoes and sugar beet, but also wine, fruit and tobacco are produced. There is also cattle breeding and the dairy industry.

Switzerland is poor in mineral resources and is dependent on the import of raw materials. Along with the insurance sector and the bank sector tourism is the most important source of income in the tertiary sector. In addition, Switzerland has one of the most important financial centres in Europe. The main export markets are EU countries such as Germany, France, Italy and Great Britain as well as the USA and Japan. Switzerland is a member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), but not of the EU.

Answer 2

Some people like to arrange their holidays by themselves and some won't budge without a travel agent or tour company. You should do what suits you best. February is not a month to travel in Europe for sure, its cold and windy and the weather might be unbearable. If you can take a holiday in May or June (skip the summer) or September-October that would be much better.
I like to fly with Swiss but you should try and find the best deal you can get. What do you mean which hotel to stay in? Open the map of Switzerland, buy a book or look into the internet, find out what and where you would like to stay, visit and then simply type into Google or Yahoo "Hotels in Zurich" or "Vacation apartments in Davos" (just an example) you will then have a wealth of info that you can chose from.

Answer 3

In Switzerland every part of the year has its beauty. The colours of Autumn, the white beauty of Winter, the Spring awakening and the beautiful sunny and green mountain pastures in Summer. Sometimes the fog in autumn can be unpleasant.

For accommodation try www.bnb.ch. You'll find fantastic places at very good prices. I would not bother with travel companies. It is not an exotic country, so you do not need any extra help with travel arrangements - you should be able sort it out yourself. For flights from Britain try easyjet. For car hire - www.sixti.com. Surprisingly public transport is expensive yet petrol - very reasonably priced.

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Answer 4

all year long. winter is colder, spring is beautiful, summer is warmer (though not hot), fall is nice. But February is probably the worst time. Go on your own approach and travel by TRAIN (www.sbb.ch). They are clean, fast and reliable in Switzerland. Re flights it depends where you are located. www.swiss.ch is the "Swiss" airline (even though Lufthansa bought it recently). also United flies to Switzerland directly every day from DC.

Answer 5

We went there around the new year and it was the prettiest time of year. It is so cold up there that by that time there is lots of snow. If you don't like icy roads use the train system. The trains there are great! You can go almost any where in the country on them from the top of a mountain to the bottom of a very low valley. Grindelwald, Murren, Interlocken, and the Jungfrau are all great winter places to go(especially if you have a sled!)

Answer 6

I used to live in Switzerland and February is indeed a bleak month except for those who are passionate about skiing, which oddly enough you don't mention. If that's what you're going for, then February is a good choice, as there's likely to be plenty of snow about. Otherwise, push your choice of holiday dates forward to April, May or June. You don't say where in particular you want to go, but it is all very beautiful and astonishingly clean. You'll probably want to move around during your stay. This link will give you travel possibilities http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:W_ImQyvlx8UJ:www.swisstravelsystem.com/changelang.php%3Flng%3Den%26url%3D/index.php+swiss+travel+system&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=3
and there is a chain of hotels offering a 10% discount to ticket holders: http://www.swisstravelsystem.ch/Hotels.61.0.html?&L=3

Answer 7

Mid July

Answer 8

I don't know but I have been to Switzerland & you can go anytime of year & be totally enthralled! Take me with you!! I am a good babysitter!!!

Answer 9

February is cold , go in the summer more fun.

Answer 10

You shall not travel there until Swiss Miss commands it!