Switzerland

Holidays by Destination Europe Switzerland Further Information 

Tourist Office

Switzerland Tourism
Switzerland Travel Centre, Swiss Court, London W1V 8EE
tel: 020 7734 1921 or (00800) 100 200 300

Offers a range of information on family holidays, including special family offers from around 40 resorts. Also acts as a travel agency specialising in Switzerland and is able for example to book REKA chalets, holiday apartments and houses, farm holidays and hotels, plus flights. The web site also allows direct bookings of accommodation of various kinds, and car rental.

Schweiz Tourismus
Toedistrasse 7, CH-8027, Zurich, Switzerland
+ 41 1 288 11 11

The web site links you a site offering information for visitors from a variety of countries and in a variety of languages.

Publications include specifically for families is a Vacances en Famille - Place aux Enfantspublication (not in English though related information is shown on the web site where it's titled Make Way for Kids ). This highlights particularly family-friendly resorts and includes listings of all kinds of resort programmes for families from marmot spotting to pizza-making courses. The Step Out Into Summer brochure includes a shorter section on family holidays.

If seeking further information there there us a Swiss search engine for Swiss items, which includes a section on travel and tourism.

Family Resorts

A number of resorts, generally smaller ones, are specifically looking to cater for families. These are:

Bernese Oberland
Adelboden (summer and winter)
Beatenberg - (summer and winter)
Bettmeralp (summer and winter)
Grindelwald (winter)
Neiringen-Halisberg (summer and winter)
Lenk (summer and winter)

Valais
Anzere (winter)
Blatten-Belalp (winter)
Grachen (summer and winter)
Grimentz (winter)
Nendaz (summer and winter)
Riederalp - (summer and winter)
Zinal (summer and winter)

Grisons
Arosa (summer and winter)
Klosters (summer and winter)

Central Switzerland
Engelberg (summer and winter)
Maloja (summer and winter)

Eastern Switzerland
Flumserberg (Heidiland) (summer and winter)
Wildhaus/Toggenburg (summer and winter)

Vaud
Leysin (summer and winter)
Villars (summer and winter)

Ticino
Tesserete (winter)

In summer to qualify as a family resort the provision must include:

• Family discounts and accommodation


• Fine and wet weather programmes.


• A children's and nature playground.


• Plenty of good quality accommodation for families at reasonable prices.


• Suitable restaurants for families.


• Buggy accessible walking paths.


• Petting animals.


• A children's activity programme


• Family activities.


• Childcare.


• Plenty of play space.


• Baby items for rental.


• Laundry facilities.


• Well priced public transport.


• Physical activities for children.

• Two play areas, one outside and one under cover


• Babysitting.


• Toys and books available on loan.


• A children's entertainment programme.

Phone Information

Anglo-Phone
(157) 5014, dialable in Switzerland costing SF2.13 per minute
A 24-hour English-speaking information and talk line for visitors, including those working in the country. It can provide help on babysitting, excursions and activities.

Reading

Switzerland Rail, Road, Lake: The Bradt Travel Guide, Anthony Lambert, Bradt Travel Guides ?12.95, covers what is arguably the best national public transport system in the world, describing every railway line, what there is to visit from each station, and connecting journeys by steamer, postbus, funicular, cableway, bicycle and on foot. It also covers in detail the Swiss Pass unlimited travel ticket and suggested cross country journeys.

The Rough Guide to Switzerland, £11.99, the usual thorough coverage, and doesn't pull too many punches about the short-comings of Swiss society, for example over issues like Nazi gold.