• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Abandoned Cubicle

Abandoned Cubicle

Strategies for Financial Independence and a Good Life

  • About
  • Contact Me
  • Recommended
  • Podcasts & Guest Posts
  • How to Host on Airbnb

Our Amazing Rick Steves Inspired Switzerland Vacation (Photos!)

February 19, 2018 by Cubert

rick steves switzerland - Bern

Fondue, anyone? Today I’m going to share some photos and blather on about our incredible 5-day Switzerland itinerary. What a neat chunk of the planet this place is. So for those of you aspiring to Financial Independence, keep saving up and put this destination on your travel list.

For those of you already debt-free and looking to travel somewhere truly amazing, look no further than Die Schweiz!ย Much of what I’m about to recount is from nine years ago.

I don’t think Switzerland has changed all that much since then. They still use Swiss Francs for their primary currency and most places take dollars and euros. And credit cards. The people are nice and speak English, especially those YOU will interact with as tourists.

Ever since our ’09 trip, I’ve referred to this lovely country as Disneyland for Grown-ups. That’s right. Disneyland proper is for kids, so stop kidding yourself that you need to keep going back as an adult.

Switzerland is what you need to mature into, Pipsqueak. It’s just as pricey as Disneyย but more grown-up friendly. It is like a well-manicured theme park there. The trains are clean and run on time. The scenery, especially in the Alps, is spectacular. And the food is pretty dang good. (Why am I comparing this to Disneyland again???)

 

5-day Switzerland itinerary - Appenzel
Somewhere in the Alps

 

Switzerland Travel Tips: Getting There

This part sucked. The one time I was irked with President Obama was when he visited NYC the same day we were to fly out of JFK to Zurich. You can guess what happened. The traffic, both street and air, got hosed up for hours.

Our only recourse, with our flight delayed for HALF A DAY, was to get an earlier connection to Atlanta and then skip over the pond around tea time (or tee-time in Georgia.) I’ll never forget how crummy it was trying to sleep on cylindrical benches at JFK, before our 4 AM flight to Atlanta.

The flight from Atlanta to Zurich was uneventful. I had a fleeting moment of wishing I’d voted for McCain but it must’ve been drug-induced. At any rate, we get to Zurich and our luggage hadn’t arrived with us. But of course!

We didn’t get too wound up about it. Zurich is a highly efficient airport with English speaking help at every corner. And it sure didn’t hurt to clear Customs and have our friends waiting at the door to pick us up. Finally, we’re on VACATION.

 

5-Day Switzerland Itinerary Day 1: Zurich and Appenzell

I like European cities. We’ve been to Paris. I’ve seen Oslo. Zurich is similar to both in its way: Pretty old buildings, a fairly efficient and easy to use mass transit, and tourists everywhere!!!

Rick Steves is one of my favorite people. His books are supremely useful, and “must-reads” for those visiting a European country for the first time. We use Rick to help us navigate our walking tours. He picks good restaurants across different price ranges, and most importantly, he keeps us from coming off as Americans in Socks with Sandals…

 

Switzerland
“I can play anything by Bob Dylan, JA!” (in Bern, Switzerland)

 

Steves gives his best advice in his Switzerland guide by advising us to skip the cities and head straight for the Alps. Based on our experience, he was spot-on. Granted, you can’t beat a fine European city. You could do worse!

But when you have the Alps within reach, don’t fart around at sidewalk cafes. Save that for Paris!

If you have the time, a day-trip to the nearby small town of Appenzell is worth the effort. Try to rosti topped with Appenzeller cheese. It’ll knock your socks off!

 

5-Day Switzerland Itinerary - Appenzell
5-Day Switzerland Itinerary Day 1: Appenzell!

 

Switzerland itinerary - Zurich
It is pretty in the city. But get to the Alps, Mein Freund!

 

5-Day Switzerland Itinerary Day 2: Pilatus and Luzern

On our way out of Zurich to the Alps (the Berner Oberland, to be specific) we took the train and my oh my, did the scenery get ever more spectacular as the trek moved on. A stop at Mount Pilatus is a fun little day trip.

There are lots of activities for the whole family, and a neat observation deck at the top of the mountain. We didn’t climb it. Why would you, when Switzerland has mastered the art of cable car technology?

 

switzerland itinerary - pilatus
The top of Pilatus was kind of a preview for the Alps

 

After a few hours of taking in the fine views atop Pilatus, we ambled down the mountain, not in a cable car, but instead on a cogwheel train. That was pretty cool. Slow, but fun.

Luzern awaited. What a pretty town. We would spend the night here at one of the cleanest, and spartan hostels on the planet. You don’t mind sharing bathroom facilities in Switzerland, and this hostel was no exception. Not that I minded sharing facilities in Peru, but at least Switzerland had hot showers.

 

rick steves switzerland - luzern
Luzern’s famous medieval bridge (Mount Pilatus in the background.) Way-old art adorns the covered-bridge ceiling. A Swiss “Sistine effect”, if you will…

 

5-Day Switzerland Itinerary Days 3-5: Swiss ALPS!

After the overnight in Luzern, we were off to the Berner Oberland. We had chosen to stay roughly halfway up the mountains in a little town called Gimmelwald. We pretty much followed the Rick Steves’ script – and so glad we did. The views alone were worth staying in this quiet farming community. A more ritzy, ski resort town called Muren was just a short 15-minute hike up the mountain.

 

rick steves switzerland - Alps from Gimmelwald
Hanging out in Muren. Rick Steves is our third companion.

 

Hiking in the Alps is incredibly fun. You can amble about on easier hikes with limited undulation, or go full-on alpine. We stuck to the easier stuff but got our walk on, putting in a good 10 miles or so one day. Gotta earn your fondue dinner. That stuff is rich!

There is so much going on here in the summertime, but you never feel crowded by tourists. The wait times at restaurants were very reasonable, and hiking trails were far from congested. Sometimes it felt like we had the whole mountain to ourselves.

 

Swiss Alps
Contemplating early retirement back in 2009.

 

Swiss cows
Rick Steves Switzerland Books Reveal Friendly Cows Everywhere. Amazing, It Doesn’t Smell Like Wisconsin.

 

Bond, James Bond

One of the highlights was taking a cable car up to the top of Schilthorn – Piz Gloria. This was the set used in the Bond film,ย On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.ย It is crazy to think about the effort to put this sophisticated, modern structure atop an alp. With a rotating deck, no less!

 

switzerland itinerary - piz gloria
Atop Piz Gloria: Windy outside, but toasty and warm inside!

 

There is an option to hike your way down, but we wisely chose the cable car option. Even then, it was so windy coming down, we were stuck for about 5 minutes. Add a few nearby lightning cracks for terrifying effect and you start getting nervous. Again though, something about confidence in all things Swiss-engineered kept me from freaking out.

 

Rick Steves Switzerland - Gimmelwald
Back safe in our home base of Gimmelwald

 

Switzerland Itinerary Tips

We LOVED Switzerland. And we only got to see some of the highlights. Granted, these were highlights suggested by travel guru Rick Steves. Once you’ve stepped foot in the Swiss Alps, you wonder why you spent a hot minute in the fine Swiss cities.

What made our trip as affordable as it came down to a few tried-and-true tactics that I highly recommend:

  1. Stay at a hostel, and stay with friends. We are so fortunate to have friends who live just outside of Zurich. They are gracious hosts, and we anticipate getting back soon, with the twins about ready for a Transatlantic adventure. Oh, and hostels here are better and cleaner than most US hotels. Back then we paid about $100 a night – not sure if that rate still holds in 2018…
  2. Buy and prepare your breakfast and lunch. With hiking, it’s kind of a no-brainer to hit the grocery store beforehand and buy some fancy Swiss bread, hard-boiled eggs, and gruyere to make a tasty sandwich. (If only their bread came pre-sliced for travelers without serrated bread knives in tow!)
  3. Use mass transit options. It’s so easy to get around by train and cable car in Switzerland. I won’t tell you the trains are cheap, but it’s a better deal and less hassle than renting a car. Sit back and enjoy the rails!
  4. Don’t blow your money on souvenirs. Buy some mass-produced Lindt chocolates at the supermarket for cheap if you have to. Otherwise, photos make the best and most lasting souvenirs.
  5. Get stranded at JFK so you can write a complaint letter to your chosen airline. You might get some compensation. But then, ideally, your flight goes off without a hitch.

Let me know in the comments if you’ve ever enjoyed a Rick Steves Switzerland vacation (guided or by book), and what you’d recommend checking out. I’m also happy to answer any general questions for those thinking about a trip there. Auf Wiedersehen!

 

  • Share
  • Tweet

Related

Previous Post: « Frugal Money Saving Tips: Substitutions that Work!
Next Post: Pursue Financial Independence or Retire Early? »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Miguel (The Rich Miser) says

    February 19, 2018 at 7:06 pm

    Guten Tag Cubert!

    This article made me want to travel! I’ve been to Switzerland, but it was well over a decade ago – though I do remember it as being extremely harmonious, pretty, and orderly. I think I went to Zurich.

    I’d probably share a bathroom, as you say. But, still, I don’t think anything beats Japanese bathrooms, because of their Toto Washlets ๐Ÿ™‚

    Prost!
    Miguel

    • Cubert says

      February 27, 2018 at 10:47 pm

      Hey Miguel! Guten Abend from Nevada! Funny – we might have been in Switzerland at the same time, if you were visiting in June?

      You and that Toto washlet. I guess I will have to try one some day to figure out what all the fuss is about! ๐Ÿ™‚

  2. dividendgeek says

    February 19, 2018 at 10:36 am

    Nice review. Switzerland is an awesome place. Need to visit someday. I am not much of a hiker.

    • Cubert says

      February 19, 2018 at 5:06 pm

      Thanks man! You should check it out. You don’t need to be a hiker. You can enjoy the Alps in any number of ways. It was fun to see all the European campers clustered in tidy / compact zones in the valley in our Alps visit. Some just like to hang out and relax while being surrounded by beautiful mountains. Idyllic to the Nth!

  3. DaveMwM says

    February 19, 2018 at 10:01 am

    Alright Cubert now I want to go to Switzerland. Thanks for blowing up our 2019 travel plans, I think I’m goin to pitch this to my wife instead of the trip we’d had thought of (Ireland/England/Scotland). Heh.

    • Cubert says

      February 19, 2018 at 5:04 pm

      Ha! Sorry – I hope I didn’t blow up 2019 TOOO bad?!? For sure, I’d hit Switzerland before the UK. The UK seems interesting to me, but almost something I’d better enjoy in my 70s.

  4. Peter says

    February 19, 2018 at 8:48 am

    A few years back we did a Mediterranean cruise and were able to see a bunch of countries on our bucket list including Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Croatia. We absolutely loved it but we didn’t see some other countries on our list that aren’t on the Med. A couple of countries in Europe that we still wanted to see after that trip included Sweden, Austria, Germany and Switzerland. Thanks for the quick preview – it looks gorgeous! We’ll have to make sure Switzerland is on the list once the kiddos get a bit older!

    • Cubert says

      February 19, 2018 at 5:03 pm

      Ahh yes! The Med! I’d love to hit that itinerary. We have Italy on our list for the next big trip. Just mom and dad though. We’ll see if we can pull that one off. I would definitely suggest Switzerland and Norway having visited both. Norway over Sweden since Norway lucked out with the beautiful mountains, fjords, and coastline. You can’t miss with Switzerland, Peter. Take the kids on an itinerary by Rick Steves’ and you won’t be disappointed.

  5. [HCF] says

    February 19, 2018 at 7:56 am

    A good summary. Switzerland is on my bucket list for a while, but we are postponing the sightseeing type of journeys until the girls get older and will appreciate it. But of course, you started my brain to think of this trip and just checked transportation options. It seems that there is not a big difference in the price going by plane or car (~$300-400 for our family of four), so taking into account the roundtrips maybe traveling by car would be a better option. Looking forward to this in a couple of years ๐Ÿ™‚

    • Cubert says

      February 19, 2018 at 5:00 pm

      Wait a minute – where are you located again, HCF? England? I’d still see about getting a Euro Rail Pass for Swiss Alps adventures. That country was seemingly tailor made for rail transport.

      • [HCF] says

        February 20, 2018 at 1:33 am

        Unfortunately(?) no. My homeland is a little bit less prestigious place, I am Hungarian guy from the northern borderlands of Serbia. The locations you mentioned are roughly 1200 km away from me ๐Ÿ™‚ Checked the Eurail Passes and I am sure that would be a lovely trip too (I love to travel by train), but still, it would cost ~670-970 (5-10days).

      • Cubert says

        February 27, 2018 at 10:43 pm

        You still live in a very interesting place, by US Midwestern standards! I hope you make it to Switzerland soon, my friend!

  6. Tread+Lightly,+Retire+Early says

    February 19, 2018 at 7:12 am

    I think I may have you beat on JFK – we had an overnight at Oโ€™Hare a number of years ago, and there are literally armrests between every. single. seat. In comparison, that curvy bench looks downright comfortable ๐Ÿ˜‰

    • Cubert says

      February 19, 2018 at 4:58 pm

      O’Hare – the bane of my existence. Not a big fan of that place, even though they have an impressive array of unhealthy food choices to temp a delayed traveler…
      I would much rather have had that seat than that bench from hell! You couldn’t lie on it – and if you tried “hugging” the center, you found yourself sliding off the edge. ๐Ÿ™

  7. Matthew in Michigan says

    February 19, 2018 at 6:48 am

    Nice write up and great pictures. I’ve always wanted to visit the Alps. Also, glad to hear you also enjoy Rick Steve’s…he does a great job representing our country and his weekly podcast is one of my favorites..

    Cheers

    • Cubert says

      February 19, 2018 at 4:56 pm

      Thanks, Matthew!
      Say, there’s still some quality ski time left in Northern Michigan… * hint hint * ๐Ÿ™‚

  8. Tom+from+Dividends+Diversify says

    February 19, 2018 at 6:41 am

    Nice review. My wife and I love to hike and she wants to see the Alps too. Tom

    • Cubert says

      February 19, 2018 at 4:55 pm

      Get on it man – You’ll LOVE IT!

  9. Team CF says

    February 19, 2018 at 6:39 am

    Nice pictures! Love that country too, been there many times and have similar photos to share. It’s still bloody expensive thou!

    • Cubert says

      February 19, 2018 at 4:54 pm

      Thanks my friend! No windmills there that I recall, but I’ll be on the lookout next time. It is such a beautiful place – and equally expensive just as you say. For two of us it was not bad. The whole family of four might be a bit much for this guy’s wallet!

  10. Susan+Bee says

    February 19, 2018 at 6:37 am

    I have been to Luzern, and agree with you 100%! It is a beautiful, clean and friendly place and I would go back in a heartbeat!

    • Cubert says

      February 19, 2018 at 4:53 pm

      Yes! It is so impressive. Then you get to the Alps and the amazingness goes up yet another notch!

  11. Maverick says

    February 19, 2018 at 6:35 am

    Fully concur, Switzerland is very nice, and the Alps are better than the cities IMO too. We also agree Steve’s paperback books are very helpful. I found that I preferred the lower half of Germany just as nice and slightly cheaper. I also drove a manual car EVERYWHERE…love the Autobahn (except on holiday). We stayed at a castle on the Rhine, visited medieval villages, ate real food, good bread, pastries, and had more than one dunkel beer. Did a lot of walking. Prost!

    • Cubert says

      February 19, 2018 at 4:52 pm

      Hey there, Maverick! (Ice Man here…) We actually did cross into Germany briefly while visiting our friends. Very pretty, and love the ease with which you can cross borders thanks to Shengen laws. I have the Rhine on my list – one of those slow river cruises with biking day trips or something like that?

  12. BusyMom says

    February 19, 2018 at 6:19 am

    Loved that post. And the pictures. Just yesterday, I was telling my husband that I didn’t want to travel any more. Looks like I will have to eat my words!

    • Cubert says

      February 19, 2018 at 4:50 pm

      Thank you! Travel is amazing. That said, I don’t think I could jet set all the time like some folks do. That’s just too much. Before kids, we took one “fancy” trip every year. We’ve gone five years since our last overseas venture (if you count a cruise?) So, we’re due ourselves for a little adventure!

Primary Sidebar

Thrive in Your Career, Retire Early!

CubertAre you tired of the daily cubicle grind? Does retirement seem so far off into the future that you feel trapped? If so, you’ve come to the right place.

Check out the full post archive for all of my published posts, covering Early Retirement, Personal Finance, Real Estate, AirBNB, and Cubicle Job Survival.

Twitter | Pinterest | Facebook

Cubert is a proud supporter of Children’s HeartLink. All blog earnings go to this incredible cause.

Host Your Way to Early Retirement

airbnb hosting

Search

Get Updates in Your Inbox

Categories

Make Money by Hosting on Airbnb

airbnb hosting

Copyright © 2021 Abandoned Cubicle · Terms of Use · Privacy