Saving Money In Switzerland and France

If you want Alpine scenery but want to spend less money, go to a different country. Seriously. The prices of food in Switzerland, even take-away from a grocery store, are some of the most expensive in the world. My suggestions? Get your Alpine fix in neighboring France and/or Italy, where prices are much lower. The scenery is just as spectacular.

Just another note: Right now, we're thinking of doing maybe 3 days in Switzerland, 4 or 5 days in the French countryside, and 2 or 3 days in Paris.

Actually, if you are in a city of any size, you would save money by eating your lunch in a restaurant and have your dinner be the picnic. Many restaurants offer lunch specials that will be a lot cheaper then the dinner menu.

Stay in hostels. Many have family rooms or other private rooms, if you don't want to stay in a dorm, and they have kitchens. Apartments can sometimes be cheaper than hotels, too--I got an amazing deal on an apartment that Rick recommends in Murren this fall, and it's half the cost of a hotel. Then we'll be able to eat breakfasts we make ourselves, and can choose to eat dinner in (Swiss restaurants are expensive).

It sounds a bit like you don't have accomodation planned, which would worry me--it's the height of vacation season, and the best value lodgings usually require booking well in advance because they're so popular. Unless you have a car and can get wayyy off the beaten path, people without reservations are sometimes left having to pay more than they otherwise would, because everything else is booked.

Marie, Switzerland is considered one of the most expensive countries in Europe. It is possible to travel there on a budget (I have), but it takes effort. FYI, the CHF (Swiss Franc) is presently worth $1.07, so as you explore costs, that can help you calculate dollar costs. Whether in France or Switzerland, look for farmers' markets--better food at lower prices. In Switzerland, and some parts of France, you'll find Co-Op grocery stores which are much like our supermarkets. For lodging, along with Christy's suggestion about hostels, you might also look for convents/monastaries that host guests. They are usually inexpensive and include a simple breakfast. I do share Christy's concern about finding cheap lodging this close to your departure date and during peak travel season. Check out the website Eurocheapo.com; you have to give it city/town and dates where/when you want lodging. It will give listings and ratings. As for train versus car, that depends on so many factors such as how often you'll be on the go and to where. Remember that petrol is expensive in Europe. Also, as Tom says, for alpine scenery, France and Italy have mountains that do not play second-fiddle to Switzerland. If you do not go into the mountains, you can still find very good walking in cities and towns or along lakes. Local people also walk the country roads from village to village. I'll also add this: my own experience is that it is less expensive to spend more time in two or three places than to do a lot of moving around. If I'm in one place for several days, I find where the cheaper food is, etc.

I would recommend not renting a car. Don't get me wrong, I am not opposed to driving and have used a car for a portion of two out of three trips to Europe. The problem with what you want to do is that you will pay considerably more to rent in one country and return in another. If you want to see places off the beaten path you could rent for a portion of the time and use the train the rest of the time. I STRONGLY recommend not driving Paris. If you have not purchased your airfare you should consider flying open jaw, flying into one airport and out of another. That way you don't have to backtrack to your original destination. As others have said, you have waited rather long to plan a trip like this in the peak of tourist season. I wish you luck in doing this and hope you have a good time.

Thanks for all the responses everyone! My family and I talked things over tonight and took all of your comments into consideration, and we've decided to base in Paris and go for day trips to the countryside and maybe a few days to the French Alps (using the rail system rather than a car). We are much more comfortable with France as my daughter and I were just there last summer for a few days, and we are confident that we can plan in a short time and save money in a country we know. Thanks again everyone!