Nov 30 2010

Agent Trip Review: Switzerland

By: Kathryn Chavis, Travel Consultant

Recently, I was invited by the Switzerland Tourism Board to attend an Onsite Education to Switzerland.  This was one of the most vibrant and beautiful countries that I’ve had the opportunity to visit. 

It had been some time since I traveled to Europe.  This was my first visit to Switzerland and I can really say that the Swiss people are very friendly and extremely welcoming.  The country itself has a wealth of beauty and natural resources to make this a vacationer’s haven with the abundance of activities for both summer and winter adventurers.

Lucerne – Quaint city with much history…famous for its Chapel Bridge…

The Kapellbrücke ("Chapel Bridge" in German) is a 204 m (670 ft) long bridge crossing the Reuss River in the city of Lucerne in Switzerland. It is the oldest wooden bridge in Europe, and one of Switzerland's main tourist attractions.

The Lion Monument in Lucerne is a giant dying lion carved out of a wall of sandstone rock above a pond at the east end of the medieval town. It was designed as a memorial for the mercenary soldiers from central Switzerland who lost their lives while serving the French king Louis XVI during the French Revolution.

Zermatt….home of the Matterhorn…was gorgeous!  From the moment you step off your Swiss-red train, and catch sight of the cobbled streets and horses with sleighs patiently waiting for their rides, you know you are in a special place. What strikes me most often is the silence. There are no cars here. This immediately creates a welcoming atmosphere. The air is fresh and alpine. But more than this, you immediately feel a part of the village. It draws you in. Most everyone is on foot, locals and visitors alike. The main street bustles happily with pedestrians. There are no impersonal tour buses belching out noise, fumes, and package tourists. Zermatt is no auto through-route. The train stops here. All journeys on from here are on foot or ski. Everyone is here because they love mountains.

Jungfraujoch – “Top of Europe”… You leave from Interlaken, Grindelwald or Wengen, in Switzerland, and start by taking a unique, modern cogwheel railway to Kleine Scheidegg, 6762 feet up.

This picture (right) is the weather as we started and this it ended up with a lot of snow on top of the mountain with ice caves and most beautiful scenery…

The Jungfraujoch is not only one of Switzerland's most attractive excursion destinations and vantage points. The high altitude, clear air and easy access by mountain railway are ideal conditions for a wide range of scientific work. Astronomers, geologists, physicists, meteorologists and hydrologists - they all make an essential contribution towards our understanding of the environment.

You can’t even imagine the magnitude of the Swiss Alps and what the Swiss have been able to construct on these mountains until you see it.  The pictures really do no justice…but it was fun!

About Kathryn Chavis

I've enjoyed being in the travel industry for over 20+ years in both corporate and leisure sales. I have experienced the ever-changing industry and kept abreast of its demands for the travelers. My recent travels have taken me to Ireland, Switzerland, many Caribbean Islands and The French Polynesian Islands, including Tahiti and Bora Bora. I have had specialized training as a French Polynesian Island Specialist and have focused on this area of the world as a fantastic honeymoon destination. I am also an air specialist, having worked directly with airlines where I obtained knowledge of fare structures, schedules and routings.

As a cruise specialist with Holland America, Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian, and Silversea, I'm excited to help you plan your next vacation.Cruise or air group travel is also my specialty, from working with church retreats, corporate marketing incentives and family reunions. I use my travel experience and ongoing education to help you make your travel experience the best it can be. Each person deserves the best vacation and travel experience and I enjoy helping those dreams come true. Whether its your next cruise or escorted land vacation throughout Europe...I'm excited to help make your next vacation experience one that is memorable.