Have you recently visited Disneyland, a Broadway show, or a Michelin-starred restaurant?  All the world seems expensive now compared to several years ago, but this regrettable aspect of daily life also extends beyond the realm of tourism. Perhaps better than looking at the dollars and cents figures alone is an appreciation of the value of the return on investment in such a place as Switzerland, famed as a destination for the rich and subsequently reputed to be very expensive.  Perfect scenery cannot be bought, but happy memories certainly can be, which is why Switzerland is so famous with travellers of all economic levels.  Young travellers in Old Town, old travellers on Jungfrau, and everyone everywhere in between marvel at the variety of experiences in Switzerland, a relatively small country too often deemed boring by those who do not know it well.

Beautiful villages such as St Moritz, Gstaad, Verbier, and Crans-Montana battle it out for the most exclusive winter destination where luxury is the norm.  In a land with no shortage of astonishing landscapes, the most dramatic peaks and valleys garner the most attention; it is no coincidence that these four places are among the most picturesque in Switzerland.  Relative to the European Grand Tour concept, so popular among the British aristocracy in the late 19th century (and no less popular today, albeit in different forms), winter tourism in Switzerland is relatively new.  The thought of spending time in Switzerland at that time was only for people unexpectedly stranded on their way to the glories of Italy.  Happy were they who discovered the majesty of Swiss landscapes and the calm mountain environments in what was then a very isolated place.  Different today, Switzerland is one of the most cosmopolitan countries in the world.  Although this aspect of Swiss society is most apparent in bigger cities such as Geneva, Zurich, Lucerne, and Basel, even small villages like St Moritz attract an international cohort of visitors welcomed by international residents.  Yet, despite the cultural diversity, Switzerland maintains its centuries-old heritage and traditions with admirable zeal.

As a holiday destination, Switzerland is one of the most popular, scenic, and accessible for foreign visitors to navigate.  Returning year after year, Switzerland devotees never tire of the diversity of languages, cultures, and sights to be seen in this unique country too often portrayed in clichéd stereotypes.  Not content to rest on its laurels, Switzerland continually ups the ante in its drive to remain a top tourism destination with special events, new museums, exceptional hotels, and impressive transport infrastructure.  Although one of the clichés is that Switzerland is a costly country, it does not have to be.  Until the pandemic, it was perhaps true compared to other places. Still, since tourism worldwide has exploded and prices have skyrocketed across the continent, these days, Switzerland is not that much more expensive than other developed countries.  Don’t be put off by tales of costly hotels, restaurants, or attractions; enjoy a total package of experiences impossible to replicate anywhere else.

Written by: Robert La Bua – Global Travel Connoisseur

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