How I Spent 3 Days in Zurich
Switzerland always seemed like a winter wonderland destination. If you’re like me Switzerland was all over my Instagram for you page. Images of people sledding in alps, enjoying chocolate, and eating rosti - it all looked dreamy. When United posted a points sale on Travel Tuesday I saw a deal for Zurich. I texted my best passport buddy and she was in. Here is how I got to Zurich for only $17.10 and how we spent our three days in Zurich.
How I Booked this Trip:
I booked this on Travel Tuesday (the travel version of Black Friday) using 55,000 United Mileage plus miles. I had opened a United credit card with a 60,000 sign on bonus. I never really fly United since I am in the Pacific NW but the deal actually applied for me too with a connection in San Francisco which is where I met up with my friend. After utilizing points and the Travel Tuesday sale, I was able to book a round trip ticket for $17.10!
Where I stayed: Hotel Alexander Zurich Old Town
To be honest, we booked this hotel as it had the highest rating and the cheapest price. I’ll start off with the pros. It was in a great area; close to public transport, stores, and restaurants. It was clean and the breakfast there was great. Breakfast was included in the room cost and had great, fresh options. Now for the cons, because it is so close to restaurants and bars it was noisy at night. The hotel did provide ear plugs but of course that can’t stop you from hearing drunk students ‘til 3AM.
What to do:
Day trip to Lauterbrunnen: We decided to dedicate a day to go to Lauterbrunnen which is close to Interlaken. The Alps were awe inspiring in their size. The weather was too bad for it when I was there but I recommend partaking in paragliding. I can only imagine how wonderful the views are. During the spring, this little town is surrounded by waterfalls and flowers lining the streets. We spent our day going up the mountain on the gondola, admiring the many chalets, and enjoying hot chocolate.
Hurlimannbad & Spas: We decided to spend our last night at the thermal baths. This was probably my favorite part of the entire trip. One of the pools is on the roof and you get an amazing view of the city. It definitely is a great way to finish or even start a trip after a long flight. I recommend booking reservations early (here) as there was a wait when we arrived.
Lindtt Factory: This was definitely a part of the trip that our stomachs weren’t prepared for. You get unlimited chocolate here. You can get tickets online or at the factory.
Good to Know:
Switzerland is expensive. I was warned it was but this was a different level. For example, we decided to go to McDonald's just to see what different items they had. We got six items, the total was $38 USD. For me, that is insane.
