Switzerland

Holidays by Destination Europe Switzerland Accommodation 

Swiss hoteliership is renowned and with good reason. Not for nothing did Cesar Ritz of the Ritz Hotels hail from here. However, if you are on a budget there are ways of staying cheaply in Switzerland, without having to go somewhere where children are only tolerated. There are family-friendly youth hostels and budget hotels, plus the option of staying on a farm. In all cases, the focus is on quality, not cost-cutting, so even somewhere cheap will be very acceptable. You can also ask about discounts for stays of three, seven or 14 nights.

Hotels which welcome families, except chains like Novotel and Movenpick, are almost all outside town centres, probably because less central locations have to make more effort to attract customers.

Tourist offices provide comprehensive lists of accommodation options and will generally make a booking for you. You should definitely book ahead for high season, including in summer - July and August in the mountains, mid May to mid October by the lakes and in the towns. Ask always for the local guestcard as this offers discounts on local attractions and transport.

The tourist office services are particularly useful if you want self-catering as there are limited options from UK tour operators with only Interhome operating as a self-catering specialist. If this doesn't offer what you want, try one of the tourist offices, particularly in the Bernese Oberland.

Hotels

Swiss Hotel Association
Monbijourstrasse 130, PO Box CH3001 Berne, Switzerland
+41 31 370 41 11

The main governing body. This publishes Holiday Fun with Kids (available from the tourist office), which lists family friendly hotels in the various regions. At these properties under sixes stay free if sharing with parents, 6-12 years at a 50% discount and 12-16 years a 30% discount with one child reduction per paying adult.

The Association's main publication is a guide to all 3,500 or so members, available at SF15. If you don't need lots of kids care this will be more useful as listings do indicate whether families are welcome and there are considerably more family-friendly options listed than there are of the more expensive, specialist establishments.

The web site includes last minute offers, including for families.

Kids Hotels and Restaurants
Die Kinderfreundlichen, 8784 Braunwald, Switzerland
+41 55 643 38 44

A specialist group of 19 hotels offering facilities like a children's room, babysitting, changing tables, childminding for children of 3+, facilities to cook baby food, children's evening menus, high chairs, cots, games, and daily entertainment. Note that although this is the given web site address, we have not been able to access the information and you may find it easier to obtain details via the tourist office.

E&G Swiss Budget Hotels
CP160, CH-1884, Villars Switzerland
+41 24 495 1111

Offers 0-3-star properties, including some which list themselves as welcoming families. The web site allows searching specifying ages of children.

Top International Hotels
Seestrasse 129, CH-8712, Stafa/Zurich
+41 1 928 27 27

A group of 80 three, four and five-star hotels including some which welcome children. The web site allows searches for hotels offering child-minding.

Farms

Ferien Auf dem Bauernhof/Vacances a la Ferme/Swiss Holiday Farms
+41 31 329 66 33
There German Language web site
Listings of around 250 members throughout the country, some of them real Heidi chalets, others more sophisticated concerns. Symbols indicate whether there is a children's play area but it is assumed that children are welcome. Other details include whether food can be bought direct from the farm, languages spoken, if there are opportunities to help with farm work, and what animals there are. Electricity, heating and linen are generally included in the price and under twos stay free b&b.

Federation Du Tourisme Rural de Suisse Romande
+41 26 660 61 61

The Vacances a la Campagne brochure includes details of around 200 farms (listings also in English), a majority including a children's play area and detailing for example number of cots, as well as the types of animals on the farm, whether access to own kitchen and/or meals offered. Options include self-catering apartments and bed and breakfast.

Sleep in the Hay
Christian Stahli-Fehr, Bois du Fey, CH 1430 Orges, Switzerland
+41 24 445 16 31

The scheme runs May to October, costing F18 b&b, children F12, a shower F2. You take your own sleeping bag and sleep in the barn on the straw and wake up to a country breakfast. There may also be beds in the farmhouse if parents prefer and the farm may also be able to arrange a picnic and a dinner, horses per day, bike rental etc. 300 farms are members of the scheme.

Some tour operators also book farms.

Youth Hostels

Schweizer Jugendherbergen
Schaffhauserstrasse 14, 8042 Zurich
+41 1 360 1414

There are around 70 official youth hostels in the country, of which 25 welcome families (though on the web site almost 60 indicate that they welcome families), including for stays of six nights in rooms with four to six beds, half board and linen. Extras for children vary but under twos are free, 2-6 years see a discount of 50% and adults pay around SF33.

Swiss Backpackers
Postfach 530, CH8027, Zurich, Switzerland

A group of around 30 alternative youth hostels, generally in town centres. It also produces The Swiss Backpackers news, a free sheet with listing on the likes of budget restaurants, available on line.

Schweizer Verein fur Familienherbergen
Poststrasse 1, 4460 Gelterkinden
+41 61 981 25 25

A selection of options for families (not just in Switzerland though the web site is currently only in German). Details can be searched on line or you can simply order the brochure.

Other

Another cheap option in Alpine resorts is a dormitory annexe - Massenlager in German, dortoir in French, if you feel your children would settle in one of these. You will probably find these is mountain inns (Berhaus/Berggasthaus, Berggasthof, Berghotel, auberge de montagne) where prices are generally for dinner, b&b. Contact local tourist offices for details.

Camping is an attractive option as there are plenty of sites and they are kept neat and tidy, regardless of the level of facilities provided. However, if staying here you will almost certainly need a car, as sites tend to be away from public transport services. For UK camping tour operators to Switzerland, see Camping.

Guides

Charming Small Hotel Guide: Switzerland Paul Wade and Kathy Arnold, Duncan Petersen, £9.99
Includes only hotels with no more than 15 rooms in an attractive and peaceful setting. Listings detail whether children are welcomed, merely accepted, or if there is any age limit, most falling into the first category.