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geneva-switzerland-on-line.ch
Accommodations in Switzerland
Accommodations in Switzerland tend to be expensive. There are usually fewer hotels located around train stations than in other countries. You may inspect a hotel before committing to it.
Hotel rooms in Switzerland tend to be smaller than other places, but there are usually more services available. Prices include service, taxes and sometimes breakfast.
Most Swiss hotels are members of the Swiss Hotel Association, which rates them according to their facilities and not necessarily their charm.
Swiss Currency
The Swiss currency is the Swiss Franc, abbreviated to CHF. Swiss Franc banknotes are issued in the following denominations: 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1000 Francs.At the time of writing, 1 US Dollar = 1.08 Swiss Franc (June, 2009).
Banking Hours
Business hours are from 08:00 AM to 12:00 Noon and from 02:00 PM till 05:00 PM, banks are usually opened from Monday to Friday (08:30 AM to 04:30 PM). They are closed on Saturdays, Sundays and on public holidays.
Language in Switzerland
Four primary languages are spoken in Switzerland. See the map above for the approximate areas those languages are spoken in. The Federal Constitution stipulates that German, French, and Italian are Switzerlands official languages, whereas Romansh is an official language for communicating with Romansh-speaking persons. English is increasingly taught at an early age, sometimes taking priority over a second national language.
Transportation in Switzerland
Switzerland is served by more than 13000 miles of train, bus and boat routes.
Switzerland is served by eight major airports.
Weather in Switzerland - When to Go
Due to the mountainous terrain in Switzerland, weather can vary greatly with altitude.Prediction of the weather can be tricky.
Eating in Swiss Restaurants
Although eating in a Swiss restaurant is generally more expensive than eating in
a neighboring country, you can find interesting, inexpensive food in Switzerland.
Lunches are often cheaper than the same meal at dinner. Look for the plate of the
day.
General Eating Times: Lunch: 12-2 Dinner 6-8 pm
As you might expect, Swiss cuisine is based around dairy products -- cheese, milk,
cream, butter and/or yogurt.
Beer is often cheaper and more readily available then soft drinks.
Tipping
Meals include a service charge, but tipping is common. 5% of the total is the usual
tip. According to locals in Zurich, it is customary, when paying with a credit card,
to leave the tip in cash rather than adding it to the card total.
Public Holidays in Switzerland
Public holidays
New Years: January 1st and 2nd
Good Friday
Easter Monday
Labor Day - May 1st
Ascension Day
Whit Monday
National Day:
August 1st
Christmas Eve (afternoon only)
Christmas: December 25 and 26th
New Years Eve (afternoon)
Facts and figures
Location
Switzerland is situated in the central Alpine region of Europe, bordering Italy
in the south, Austria and the Principality of Liechtenstein in the east, Germany
in the north and France in the west. Switzerland is a landlocked country with no
direct access to the sea. The Alps, situated in the south of the country, reach
heights of over 4,000 m (highest point: Dufourspitze 4,634 m). The Jura mountain
range is located in the west and north. The densely populated central plateau lies
between the Alps and the Jura.
Surface area
Switzerland covers an area of 41,300 square kilometres, which is approximately twice
the size of the German state of Hessen. The Alps and glaciers cover 60% of Switzerland’s
surface area.
Population
In 2006, Switzerland had a population of 7,508,700.
Emblems
History books document the first reference to the Swiss cross around 1339. At that
time, the citizens of Bern tended to sew two strips of white cloth in the shape
of a cross on their clothes before resolutely marching off to battle. It was only
in 1815 that politicians officially recognised the white cross on a red background
in the Constitution as the Swiss national emblem, which to this day remains a symbol
of neutrality and independence.
Confoederatio Helvetica
Confoederatio Helvetica is the Latin name for the Swiss Confederation. The Swiss
country code CH stands for Confoederatio Helvetica.
Form of Government
The Constitution guarantees the exercise of political rights in accordance with
republican principles, in the form of a federal representative democracy.
Capital city
Since the foundation of the federal state of Switzerland in 1848, Bern has been
Switzerland’s capital city and the seat of the government.
Administration
Switzerland is divided into 26 cantons and 2730 communes (situation in 2006).
National languages
There are four official languages in Switzerland: German, French, Italian and Romansh.
63.7% German (red)
20.4% French (green)
6.5% Italian (blue)
0.5% Romansh (yellow)
8.9% of the population have another mother tongue.
Currency
The currency used in Switzerland is the Swiss franc (CHF, 1 franc = 100 centimes). The safest way to use money is traveler's checks and credit cards. The most used are Visa, AMEX, Mastercard, Dinners. Many banks in Switzerland have equipped their ATM machines with Maestro and Cirrus system.
It is better to have a small amount of cash on hand for immediate expenses like bus, taxi etc.
Large stores and many petrol stations also accept euros.
VAT - Value Added Tax
The VAT in Switzerland is divided in several categories. VAT of 3.6% on accommodation and breakfast. 7.6% on meals and beverages. VAT of 2.4% on newspaper and medical products.
Mains voltage and power sockets
Mains voltage in Switzerland is 230 volts/50 hertz, single phase, for appliances
and electrical equipment up to 2,200 watts; 400 volts, 3 phase, for cookers, washing
machines, etc. The following specifications apply for plugs and power sockets: Universal
type C plugs; three-pin type J plugs for larger appliances.
The standard continental type plug with 2 round pins applied for many electrical travel products can be used without problem and adapters are available in most hotels.
Country code and Time Zone
The international country code for Switzerland is +41.
The time zone is GMT +1 . The clock time changes - Daylight Saving time - on the last Sunday in March and the last Sunday in October.
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