BootsnAll Travel Community

Hey all,

I've done quite a bit of research as I'm heading to Europe in the less than four weeks to travel to nearly 15 countries with no set date of return. (until I'm broke). Haha.

I've read over and over that Switzerland is really expensive. Is there anyone out there that disagrees? I will be staying in Lucerne for 2 nights on my 3 week Contiki trip, but otherwise I would like to come back to Switzerland to do some of the many adventure sports that they offer. I'd like to try some of the following sports: canyoning, white water rafting, bungee jumping, etc.

If you think Switzerland is too expensive, are there any other countries that I can find such a wide variety of adventure sports to take part in?

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I've read over and over that Switzerland is really expensive.

For those traveling on the U.S. Dollar, Switzerland is unbelievably expensive. This does not mean that you should not go there, it just means that you should not expect to do any sorts of activities (aside from breathing) whilst there. To give you an idea of how much stuff costs, look at the Big Mac index.

You might want to save those adventure sports activities for somewhere such as Laos or Bolivia.

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If you think Switzerland is too expensive, are there any other countries that I can find such a wide variety of adventure sports to take part in?

The United States comes to mind. You wouldn't have to travel nearly as far

Haha, good one...

10 years ago, when the dollar was strong, Switzerland was really expensive.

I can only imagine that it is even moreso now. Our Switzerland resident, Stoo, has mentioned the expense many times, so I tend to trust that.

That said, if it is a must do for you, you can make it work. You just may have to cut back elsewhere.

I just got back from Switzerland this past weekend (and from meeting said BnA resident, Stoo, there too).

Oh yeah, it's expensive! While the US/Swiss currency ratio is hovering around the 1:1 range (which is a HECK of a lot better than the USD vs. the Euro, and let's not even talk about the USD vs. the GBP), the average cost of just average stuff seemed a lot higher. Going out to an "average" restaurant, etc. A lot of travelers would go to the Coop or other grocery store & buy meals there instead of eating at a cafe or restaurant. That's normally a good "budget travel" tip anyways, but especially so there.

The scenery is beyond stunning, to be sure. 15 countries in such a short time? I couldn't tell if that's a confine of the contiki trip or a personal ambition...if the latter, I'd vote for perhaps spending more time in fewer places & soaking up a lot more of it all.

i didn't think switzerland was that expensive when i was there last summer. (although the franc has gained about 10% in value since then)

eating out is expensive
supermarkets are reasonable. (I managed on home made sandwiches, and quiches)
Beer in hostels or cheap bars are between 4-6 swiss (which compared to the UK is reasonable)
Train fares also seem reasonable
hostels aprox $20-25 a night (which for westernised countries is pretty standard)

one thing for sure adventure sports and the train into the mountains from interlaken, and then the cable car / lift passes are very expensive


But I wouldn't miss out unless you live in the rockies, new zealand or patagonia

Finally (a little contention)

Being an American you forget how cheap things are back home.
I pay in pounds what an american would pay in dollars

for example
Levi's £60 UK, USA $50-$70
Nike Trainers £40 would be $40

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Originally posted by Skyehiker:
15 countries in such a short time? I couldn't tell if that's a confine of the contiki trip or a personal ambition...if the latter, I'd vote for perhaps spending more time in fewer places & soaking up a lot more of it all.

I fully agree with above comment.
Usually, I don't bother to answer to topics like that, because saying "slow down, you're overdoing it" is not what the original poster wants to hear.
Still, that sort of "speed travel" seems to be quite popular among o/s travellers.

No, No, No! You guys must have misunderstood me. I'm not going to 15 countries on my Contiki Trip... Haha. That would be pretty outrageous. My trip goes like this:

Ireland (Galway, Dublin, and more): April 20th - May 11th.

Contiki Trip (England, Switz, France, Italy, Czech, Netherlands, Germany: May 11th - June 1st *this Contiki Trip will be used as a sneak preview of places that I want to come back to later on in my trip.

Back to Dublin to stay with my family for a few days before I head off to Southern Italy.

Italy (Sorrento, Naples, Amalfi, Capri, Ischia, Bari, etc): June 4-17th

Croatia (Dubrovnik & Island hopping): June 17 - 25th

Back to Dublin again: June 25 - July 2nd

July 2 - ?? - Open to travel... no set plans as of yet.

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But thanks for all of the replies. Great information. I hope you understand my trip a little bit better now. Sorry, I should have explained it originally.

Check out my website for more details on my trip. I will be posting blogs, photos, videos, and more. It also has my current itinerary on there. Check it out and let me know what you think!

Thanks!

You could easily spend your time in Ireland just chilling out along the west coast, with Galway as a "base".

In Italy, yep, Amalfi, Cinque Terre, etc. also places you could easily relax for a while in.

Beyond July 2, since you've already seen a good deal of europe at that point, I'd consider something like Iceland, Finland, etc. for a change of pace, with plenty of flight options ex-Dublin.

Yeah I definitely could. You're right. I'm mostly using Dublin as my home base. Italy should be a blast...

After July 2nd, I'm going to do something a little different like you said. I'd like to see Poland, and maybe even a bit of Greece. We'll see!

Be sure to tune into my website as I travel... it should be quite entertaining! www.pausethemoment.com

Thanks for all the info!

Switzerland is not a cheap country. If you go, go to Migros supermarket and by the any products in green packages from M Budget (store-brand X) they are delicous and cheap--this brand is actually quite trendy now.

If you want to do the adventure sport and are already going to be in the Balkans I would do them there by all means. For instance white water rafting in Montenegro is supposed to be good. I've heard tale of "extreme" seplunking and sky-diving for decent prices in the Hungarian countryside. Ukraine (although a bit out of the way) is awsome, and definately a place to do bungee jumping. There is an island in the middle of Kiev where there are cranes set up for jumping over the river. Also much much cheaper than otherwise. Plus a dollar will get you 10x as far there as it will in Switzerland. In other words the things you could spend your time and money doing in Switzerland can be done better for less money in the Balkans/Eastern Europe.

Thanks for the advice. I'll be in Dubrovnik in late June, maybe I'll have to get over to Montenegro while I'm there...

There is a lot you can do in Switzerland for free (!). So you can make it expensive as you would like. Inform youself at the local Tourist Centre and they will happy to help you. If I can be of any help (depending on the Canton/Area you are in) I am happy to help you (Bern / Berner Oberland Area). One tipp: jump in to the river Aare and float away :-)

I lived in Switzerland for a summer about 3 years back and the dollar was definitly stonger then the Franc then - making it not as outrageous.

If you really like extreme sports - Interlaken is not to miss though. The hostels are about standard price - its just the sports that are gonna cost you.

I lived in Montreux - and I'd recommend it (even though eating out IS expensive there) - as its a quieter town in Switzerland but during July and part of August they have their Jazz Fest which makes the town burst with life.

Despite the cost- if you're ok with putting up with the cost in the rest of Europe - I wouldn't miss Switzerland.