I recently just got back from 10 days across Switzerland, and my gosh was it magical! This was my first European summer and the first time I have crossed the Atlantic since 2017! And let me tell you the trip did not disappoint.
But everyone knows Europe is expensive, and even more expensive in the middle of summer. And ofcourse the stereotype that comes with Switzerland is that it’s EXPENSIVE!
So how expensive was it you may ask? And more importantly, how did I Girl Math the trip?
Well let’s break it down:
Total Out of Pocket: $3,929.28
Switzerland can be affordable, I had known about this trip for over a year and had been budgeting a planning so when I arrived home I had the almost $4,000 in savings ready to cover my credit card costs.
I am so fortunate to have been able to experience this once in a lifetime trip with some of the best girls and ofcourse my Queen, Taylor Swift.
But if you are looking to make your Switzerland Trip a bit less expensive here are some tips.
Book in shoulder season, starting in late August – Beginning of December and January-April average flight prices Tampa – Zurich are $750. Almost $1,000 less than I spent for peak season.
Hotels too will run you cheaper. We stayed 4 nights in Zurich during the busiest month of the year, plus the Era’s Tour being in town for 2 of those nights made the 4 nights we spent there just as expensive as our other 6 nights in Thun, Interlaken, and Lucerne.
Figure out how much you will be using public transportation and what Swiss Card Option is best. We thankfully chose right with our purchase of the Half Fare Card and 9 out of 10 times I think it will be the right choice for most travelers. We were able to get half off every fare we bought, and it still came in under the price of the Swiss Card that includes everything (except certain mountain trains and gondolas).
Don’t eat on the main roads. We got caught in a tourist spot in Lucerne right around lunch time because of rain. My Cesar Salad and two Aperol Spritz was more expensive than any other meal.
Maximize your credit card points. I knew a year out I would be going on this trip, so I did research on travel credit cards and was able to get most of my flight covered with points. Had I not gone during the busy season I could have benefited from maximizing my points for upgrades rather than cashing them out to cover my flight.
Moral of the story don’t let money stop you from traveling. If you have time, a plan, and can be flexible, even expensive countries like Switzerland are within reach.
