Thanks for coming back to finish your report mjs...I know how much work goes into writing them.

We are headed to Switzerland in two weeks, and very much looking forward to it, although we've been many, many times.

Thanks for your report!

Thanks mjs, we will probably spend about 10 days in Switzerland in the first half of July next year, following some of your itinerary. Will definitely come back for a more detailed read later this year. Melnq8, you too have some fabulous reports, so I have a lot of reading to do, thanks all!

Thanks for the report which was fun to read, interesting and informative mjs. Glad you made it home safely. I picked up on your comment that in the German speaking part of the country many/most people you came across spoke English but far fewer did in the French speaking part. You are SO right!! I am bi-lingual French/English and I speak reasonable (but somewhat primitive!) German. whenever I have to call a customer service number and am answered in German I ask if we can speak French or English...putting French first because it is a national language. Everytime the answer comes back "Englisch".... (And as of yesterday with a decision in Zόrich almost all the German speaking cantons will be teaching children English first in the schools rather than French. People where I live are not happy about this!)

I know things here are expensive but it isn't because the CHF is "over valued". Contributing factor from the currency angle is that the CHF is the safest currency in the world at the moment and so people want to buy it and hold it. But the real factor is the high salaries that people are paid here, with full benefits, vacations etc that are not paid in other countries and the high cost of foodstuffs etc. Waiters for example do not rely on tips, they are well paid, have proper paid holidays, medical care plans etc. We are a small market here too and don't have anywhere like the size of the EU market for foodstuffs. (Don't get me started on drugs!!)

At least we don't have to add 20-25% to every restaurant bill!! Nor try to figure out the added tax. I suppose we have to be grateful for small mercies!!

Come back again soon (and write another report...)

Thanks mjs for taking the time to share your trip. I've been to Switzerland a couple of times (from Australia) and would love to return. Lots of good memories.

Mel - what draws you back to Switzerland each time? The scenery I guess would be at the top of the list.

Mel - what draws you back to Switzerland each time? The scenery I guess would be at the top of the list.

KayF - where to start?

The alps, the endless hiking trails, the pristine landscape, ease of travel, the country's respect for the environment, the helpful and welcoming Swiss, the cheese, the chocolate...

We've been visiting since the mid-90's and have seen most of the country (or at least the bits we're most interested in), but still manage to find new things to do in familiar locations. It's an easy, calming place to visit with many opportunities to 'escape', and I guess that's what we look for on holiday.

Mel - have you ever been to the Haut Val de Bagnes ? it is an incredible place for hiking.

Hambagahle - we haven't, but we may have to look into it, thanks for the tip. We've not spent nearly as much time in French-speaking Switzerland as we have in German, Italian and Romansh speaking Switzerland. No particular reason, we just haven't. May have to rectify that.

That would be a lovely thing to do!! Maybe plan something that includes sections of the Haute Route ? (Chamonix to Zermatt). for example - Haut Val de Bagnes, then Val d'Hιrens somewhere around Arolla and Evolθne and finish up in the Vald'Anniviers (Grimentz, Zinal etc).

Hambagahle - we've visited the Val d' Anniviers several times based in Grimentz. Evolene was on my list for this trip, but alas, was an outlier, so didn't make the cut.

Here I am planning the next trip when we've just started packing for this year's!

So why not do the hikers' Haute Route ? British friends of ours did it and they loved it.

We might just do that, thanks.

For that it makes sense to join a guided group. Guide will then take care of the huts etc. IF needed I know that my daughter, who lives in Verbier knows someone local who does this...

My kids did the Tour de Mont Blanc several years ago. They took 10 days and worked with a company who provided maps and made all bookings for their self-guided hike.

Tour de Mt Blanc is not what I was thinking of when I suggested the Haute Route... it seems that Mel likes to hike in Switzerland and she hasn't been often to the Valais. the Haute Route, after the first day, is entirely in the Valais and includes the Haut Val de Bagnes that I mentioned earlier.

I took a look at the Haute Route - it's a 14 day, 221 km trek. You very much overestimate my skill and stamina Hambagahle!

I see that the Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge is along the route; we'd considered this once, but decided the climb up to it was probably out of our comfort zone.

The walk is described as "suitable for the fittest mountain walkers who are comfortable walking between 6h and 8h 30m or more per day along continuously rocky and steep terrain on a long-distance trail. It will greatly help your enjoyment of the trek to arrive fit at the start, used to walks of similar distance, terrain and height gain to those that you are about to face"

Unfortunately, that isn't us, so we won't be hiking this one anytime soon, although it's certainly worth looking into hiking an easy section or two, should one exist.

I think that the description errs on the strength side! The English friends of ours who did it were a grandfather in his late 70s and his sons, rather not-so-fit 40ish men. I have another friend from the US who has lived in Switzerland most of her life who did it in her 60s. You can also do a section of it if you like. Probably worth considering Verbier to Zermatt? And asking a local guide what he thinks you can do...

The Haute route looks quite interesting but might also be above our abilities. Patagonia and Peru were hard enough during recent years.
Incidentally am currently visiting San Francisco and grocery prices here are Swiss !