neckervd

...but there are cheap self service restaurants too, even in the center and close to the railway ststion

PalenQ

.but there are cheap self service restaurants too, even in the center and close to the railway ststion>

From an American take NOTHING is cheap in Switzerland - there is NO cheap food outside of supermarkets and even then you'll pay about 2-3 times as much as at home - the supermarket route is the only way to eat cheaply - even McDonalds and hot-dog stands are outrageously expensive.

So cheaper food maybe but not cheap - at least for those of us outside of Switzerland.

Migros and Coop stores do have cheaper self-serve restaurants that IME are great deals - for Switzerland - you get down-home Swiss foods - Migros however still I believe refuses to sell alcohol - one reason I go to the Coop - for cheapest food seek out the Denner Diskount discount supermarkets (name may have changed) - there you can find rather cheap foods - supermarket food.

PalenQ

girlonthego:

Don't be too paranoid about Italian trains but be careful in stations with folks coming up to you - especially crowded stations like Rome Termini - especially anyone asking you for instructions like putting a map out in front of you, etc - working in tandem with someone else the first person distracts you and boom your bag on the ground is gone.

Unfortunately the only people coming up to you may be up to no good!

EastBayer

I had luggage stolen from right behind my back in the Geneva train station. One person distracted me by asking me a ridiculous question while his partner took my bag. I wasn't on my guard because I wasn't expecting that kind of trouble in Switzerland.

PalenQ

Caveat emptor - be careful everywhere - this also surprises me but things are changing in Switzerland as this would have been rare a few decades back!