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We suggest you take at look at our brief notes on mountain weather. As well, if you're considering visiting the moutains outside the summer or winter seasons you'll benefit from a look at Timing Your Visit. bout 70% of Swiss use German as a first language, 18% French, 11% Italian, and 1% Romansch. English is understood and spoken (to one degree or another) widely in all tourist areas. English is more rare in small towns or shops off the beaten track. Like anyone else, the Swiss appreciate a few words in their own tongue, so a little language preparation for your trip has rewards. We never leave home, or our hotel
room, without a pocket phrase book and pocket dictionary. Depending on where you'll be in
Switzerland, these are our recommendations: (if you only want to pack one set German is
spoken in about 70% of the country) See Language Skills for a longer discussion of the usefulness of a bit of language prep before your trip. We also have a very basic set of phrases. Tippingo two dollar bills, please, nor Kennedy half dollars. If you were a waiter in the US what would you do with a 5 franc coin? In cabs and restaurants you may wish to 'round up' the bill (maximum 5%). For example, if the bill comes to CHF38, leave the change from two twenties as a tip. "Service" is almost invariably included in the total bill. Ordinarily you'll find a phrase like "Service Compris" or "Service Inbegriffen" or "Bedienung Inbegrift". A one - two franc per bag tip is appropriate for the bellman, as well as each added service you request of a staff person. (Concierge services should be tipped depending on the service.) For an extended stay, you may wish to leave the maid 1/2 to 1 franc per day, and in resort properties leave with the manager or maitre d' a gratuity to be split among staff at the end of the season, which includes appropriate recognition for dining room personnel. Somewhat conversely don't be afraid to leave a relatively large tip (percentage-wise) for a small purchase. For cup of coffee, perhaps three francs, you might leave nothing, 10 centimes, a half franc, or a franc. Depends on mood and how much change you have in your pocket. Don't feel obligated to tip ... as long as service is included in the price. And if you have an especially fine meal with excellent service and want to tip 5%, or more (even 10%), do so if you'd like. If you're staying long enough to get your hair cut or styled a tip of up to 15% is appropriate. Unnecessary to tip for the for the ordinary, included breakfast, whether it's the standard "cuppa-roll-butter-jam" continental breakfast or a more elaborate buffet of some sort. Should the service person perform a special service for you (specially boiled egg, etc.) you might wish to provide a small tip (not 15% of anything) as thanks. 15 and 20% tips are an American habit, and "guilt trip", arising from the fact that US waitstaff are poorly paid and depend on tips for a major portion of their income. This is not the case in Europe, and certainly not in Switzerland. Bear in mind the words/phrases for "tips" in such languages as German and French equate to "drinking money" ... something that would pay for an afterwork beer. It seems some waitstaff see Americans and expect a 15% tip ... just because you're American. Don't let them con you. We've just recently reviewed tipping with a few Swiss. You may have an interest in what we learned. f you're on a package tour you should know your guide's fixed salary is quite small. Guides depend on commissions on optional extras sold, commissions from goods purchased on shopping stops, and tips. The 'appropriate' amount for your tip is solely dependent on your judgement. A range of from a dollar a day to ten dollars a day per person would not be unreasonable. Currency and Exchangehe basic unit of currency is the franc (official international code CHF, but still often represented as Sfr.) Switzerland is not a participant in the eurozone ... the franc will continue to be the only legal currency until further notice. There are 100 rappen (German), centimes (French) or centismi (Italian) to the franc. Bills range from CHF10 through 20, 50 and 100 (and up.) Coins range from CHF5 (putting holes in your pocket) through 2, 1, and 50 rappen. Public pay toilets are common, and usually require 50 rappen, or 1 franc. 20, 10, 5, and 1 rappen coins are rarely found. The exchange rate has lately run between 55 and 60 US cents for one franc. While not cheap this rate is 30% or more lower than the peak exchange rate in the last ten years. Note that 250 rail stations will change money to and from Swiss francs from morning to night, seven days a week ... with rates as good or better than you'll get at the bank. Major credit cards are widely
accepted. More information on Money and
Exchange in Western Europe. Check the current conversion rate.
CH?hy is CH the two-letter country abbreviation (as on cars and the currency abbreviation)? Wouldn't SU make more sense from the French name for the country, La Suisse. (Or SU from Italian Svizzera, or German's SC for Schweiz?) Actually no. Switzerland has four official languages, French, Italian, German and Romantsch. It would be very un-Swiss to select one language over another (and illegal in Switzerland) and there are no common ones that would work. Hence, the choice of a Latin construct, Confoederatio Helvetica This translates as Helvetic Confederation. The Swiss form of government arose as a confederation of independent states. The Helvetii were one of the native tribes in the area of Switzeraland in Roman times, and Helvetica a Roman province. These are now cantons instead of states, and today's form of government is federal, quite similar to the US. In fact, the Swiss modeled their 1848 constitution on the US example. For instance:
Modeled doesn't mean copied exactly. There are a number of significant differences. The most notable, perhaps:
Practical Information continued on Page 2, for: Safety
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