The cheapest option: couchsurfing
You’ll be hard pushed to find anything cheaper… or friendlier. Couchsurfing is a sure-fire way to enjoy all the usual home comforts – with a twist. You aren’t just restricted to staying with relatives and acquaintances, though. Staying with strangers is a safe alternative. Several online couchsurfing platforms put travellers from all over the world and hosts providing low-cost accommodation in touch with one another. Why not make the most of this affordable option?
Dozens of private individuals in Lausanne, Geneva and Zurich offer to host travellers in their homes on sites like CouchSurfing and The Hospitality Club. Be sure to get in touch with potential hosts early on to make sure they can put you up!
The friendliest option: youth hostel
Intrepid backpackers, this option is the one for you. Check into a youth hostel in Switzerland for the night. A bed for the night in a dormitory and breakfast the following morning is still affordable – even in Switzerland! Depending on the city and the hostel, you’ll share a dormitory with anywhere between 4 and 20 beds. A youth hostel is a very accessible type of accommodation, and you’re bound to meet like-minded people who share your love of exploring.
The original option: farm stays
Sleeping on a farm is family-friendly, affordable and unusual – and you couldn’t get much closer to nature, either! All over Switzerland, a special ‘agrotourism’ programme offers visitors a wide range of accommodation hot spots, particularly in the east of the country. Discover the real Swiss countryside and rub shoulders with the locals. There are all kinds of farms available. Who knows – you might be lucky enough to sleep in a majestic, centuries-old, typical farmhouse.
Broke? Hit the hay! For less than CHF 31 (EUR 27–30), some family-run farms allow visitors to sleep outdoors. Don’t forget to bring your sleeping bag with you so you can spend the night on fresh straw. You’re guaranteed to have an extraordinary experience and to get an early morning wake-up call from the farmyard animals!
The most family-friendly option: bed and breakfast
It’s not a youth hostel – and it’s not a hotel, either. If you’re travelling as a couple, a bed and breakfast is the perfect option. Enjoy all the comforts of a hotel while staying with your local hosts on site and immersing yourself in the Swiss way of life. Treat your taste buds to a delicious, home-cooked breakfast and – above all else – have a good chat with the proprietors! Unlike the couchsurfing option, you’ll have your very own private room, so you’re guaranteed a little more privacy. And, just like when you’re couchsurfing, you can ask the locals for their top tips! They’ll be able to share their suggestions on the best places that are worth exploring.
It’s high time we proved to you that it really is possible to explore Switzerland at prices you’ll love – by being hosted by and spending time with the locals. So we don’t want to hear any more excuses about why you’re putting off booking a holiday to Switzerland!