Switzerland

[WESTY66]

No bother. Don't expect big pitches, it is after all on the side of a mountain, but it is a lovely small site and the owners are very friendly (no English though - German only - not that that would be a big problem if you don't speak it). I'd say any van over 8m would be too large, we were OK at 7.5m. It's expensive, like everywhere in Switzerland, but what a view!

Ich spreche kleine deutche, verstahen Sie mich?

 

[Feltwell]

Ahh, you only speak to small Germans...………What's wrong with the large ones? ;-)

Ein bisschen Deutsch ist in Ordnung!

 

[Rob Turner]

Camping Jungfrau in Lauterbrunnen is a cracking site, we go every year.
Don’t find Switzerland that expensive if I’m honest.

 

[WESTY66]

Camping Jungfrau in Lauterbrunnen is a cracking site, we go every year.
Don’t find Switzerland that expensive if I’m honest.

It’s on my list, will I need to book in June or shud I chance just turning up?

 

[WESTY66]

Ahh, you only speak to small Germans...………What's wrong with the large ones? ;-)

Ein bisschen Deutsch ist in Ordnung!

That’s good, cos it’s all I’ve got!!

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[Jaws]

Ich spreche kleine deutche, verstahen Sie mich?

Proly a better way of saying it would be :
Mein Deutsch ist nicht sehr gut

My German is not so good



But this from the guy who was told by one his German friends, " John, I appreciate you do TRY but please, speak English not German, it is easier for me to understand ! "

 

[Rob Turner]

It’s on my list, will I need to book in June or shud I chance just turning up?

June will be fine, they always seem to find space, even in July/August

 

[Feltwell]

Camping Jungfrau in Lauterbrunnen is a cracking site, we go every year.
Don’t find Switzerland that expensive if I’m honest.

Agreed, it's a much, much bigger site than I usually like but still a good one, in a great location for the trains / cable cars etc. I'd ask to go next to the river at that site personally - we were there, much quieter part of the site, or at least less intrusive - the gentle "white noise" of the very fast flowing river masks the campsite noises.

If you're going to get the train from there to the Jungfraujoch the campsite does a deal for the first 2 trains of the day which is worth having - get up early and get the very first train, we had the viewing platform to ourselves. 2 hours later you could literally not move for Chinese tourists! The Jungfrau is a bit overrated to be honest, lovely views when you're up there but much of the railway ride is through tunnels. Has to be done once if you're there though, don't think I'd bother when I next go back.

Don't really agree on Switzerland not being expensive - it does depend on what you're buying - food & eating out is very pricey. Worth it I think though, well we definitely want to go back again!

 

[Feltwell]

That’s good, cos it’s all I’ve got!!

Everywhere that's even vaguely touristy will speak English to at least a basic level. My German isn't the best, understandable but grammatically terrible is probably the best description, but as is so often the case the locals do often appreciate that you at least try.

I've always found it amazing how far just knowing "Yes, No, Please, Thank You" and a smile gets you! I was in Poland not long ago with work, that is the full extent of my Polish and I managed just fine on my own in what was a very rural area.

 

[Feltwell]

But this from the guy who was told by one his German friends, " John, I appreciate you do TRY but please, speak English not German, it is easier for me to understand ! "

I get that from my French colleagues when I try and speak French! German is a lot easier for us to pronounce I think than French.

You could also say "Ich spreche nur ein bisschen deutsch" - I only speak a little German - accompanied by an apologetic smile! Works for me if I get out of my depth...….

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[Jaws]

I get that from my French colleagues when I try and speak French! German is a lot easier for us to pronounce I think than French.

You could also say "Ich spreche nur ein bisschen deutsch" - I only speak a little German - accompanied by an apologetic smile! Works for me if I get out of my depth...….

Took German at school.. Six years of study........................

After about 4 years I plucked up the courage to engage my dad in a German conversation ( he was on the first merchant ship to be sunk in the Indian Ocean, and spent the entire war as a POW so spoke German fluently )
He stood and listened to my opening gambit....

Son, you are making all the right sounds, and it really does sound like German, but I haven't a CLUE what you just said !

It was then I came to the conclusion foreign languages were NOT my forte !!!

 

[DBK]

It’s on my list, will I need to book in June or shud I chance just turning up?

You should be OK in June, it might still be in their low season I think. It cost us £32 a night a couple of years ago but that was October. ACSI card got us a 10% discount and another 20% off for being low season.

https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/two-go-to-sicily.159019/page-13#post-2543578

 

[Janiemou]

We buy the Swiss vignette annually and the price has gone down this year. It might seem expensive, but we travel through the country four times on two return journeys to Greece - it's much cheaper than using the Mt Blanc, or Frejus tunnels. From Como to Basel is the best route for us as we can control the costs better. Constance is lovely, but getting there is a bit circuitous. It's easier to travel south from Basel towards Zurich, rather than the north through Germany. When we went to Lindau though, it took forever to get through Bregenz at the far end of the lake ... wish there was a better route. We thought that you do need to carry snow chains at this time of year - just in case.

The EU is actually putting pressure on Switzerland to join the club - watch this space!

 

[Ridgeway]

As others have said just a vignette is required, buy at the border point (just follow the instructions on the reverse that shows the locations on the windscreen where it should be located).

Re June, the schools don't finish until 5th July so you should be fine.

As for tires, all main passes are already open for cars. Only the odd one that has been closed recently for trucks. Some smaller ones can still be closed but by June you'll be fine and if you just crossing the country then no worries at all, mind you we did get 30cm of snow on Wednesday night here !

And on the expensive point the food here certainly is not low cost, at all (supermarket or eating out) the later we simply avoid and the advice of stocking up before you enter CH is good. In theory the border control can confiscate any unprocessed red meat over 200grm per person in the vehicle, hence the reason why we shop with all 6 of us in the car at the weekend when we go to France.

Good luck !

 

[Minxy]

In theory the border control can confiscate any unprocessed red meat over 200grm per person in the vehicle, hence the reason why we shop with all 6 of us in the car at the weekend when we go to France.

... good reason to be a vegetarian I suppose!

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[EMS]

You may have difficulty connecting to their electricity as they have a mains socket that does not accept a standard connector, but it is usual to be able to hire an adaptor on site or make an adaptor yourself.

Yes, Switzerland has this year to decide wether to stay in the EU and accept Schengen plus the ability of EU workers to work in Switzerland.
The aspect of foreigners working in their country is the problem, something that has been mentioned in the UK I have heard..........

 

[teddybear]

Will be passing through Switzerland soon. Know I need to get a 10day pass at the border. My question is do I need Swiss franc, credit card or euro's to pay for it

 

[Ridgeway]

Will be passing through Switzerland soon. Know I need to get a 10day pass at the border. My question is do I need Swiss franc, credit card or euro's to pay for it

All 3 work as long as you're at a main border point.

 

[PepnKook]

On the French toll issue, I think by the time you've paid for all your speeding fines on the varied speed limits through remote French villages and the hours stuck behind tractors, plus the constant gear changing giving me a stiff leg, reckon I'll do what we usually do, stick the cruise to 120kph on autoroutes and pay the 40 euros up front and get to the destination in Germany, Switzerland, Italy or beyond in daylight and open a frosty one!

 

[olley]

Feeling pedantic this morning so thought I would point out that over 3.5t you don't buy a permit to go on the motorways.
It's an HGV tax for being in Switzerland which also allows use of the motorways.
You are supposed to cross off each day you are in the country, so spend 10 days on a campsite and that's your 10 day permit used up.
If you then got stopped anywhere in the country and they bothered to check, you could be fined. Never heard of that happening though.

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