switzerland

[dave and mary]

hi, we are leaving next month for europe we intend to spend a few weeks in switzerland having never been there, we would like any info ie. do's and dont's

any free parking sites, cheapest super market, toilet emptying etc. anything to help will be much appreciated thanks::help:

 

[witzend]

Hi I saw your post this morning and was hoping you'd have had several answers by now I don't think there's much wild camping allowed in Switzerland but would be happy to be wrong this site is where you can purchase your motorway toll ticket prior to arriving in the country may be cheaper? any way enjoy your trip

Swiss Railway Tickets - Driving in Switzerland: Motorway vignette

 

[dave and mary]

have done that now many thanks

 

[ivecotrucker]

NOTHING is cheap in Switzerland !. I think wild camping is illegal but I'm not sure. Owing to X/S tiredness we did once overnight in a sort of parking area by a lakeside on outskirts of a village; no one complained.
If going to south Switzerland the St Gotthard is the only toll free tunnel; avoid going South on a Friday & North on a Monday if possible. There used to be an unusual motorway speed limit system (assuming you are under 3.5 ton); the maximum was whatever you considered to be safe but if your speed caused an accident then beware. I think there are now national fixed limits. Being an HGV on a daily carnet we don't aim to overnight. I'm not sure if the EHIC health card is valid ?.

 

[landydriver]

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[ivecotrucker]

Hi Landydriver, I agree - mostly shut on Sundays. May I ask where you enter/exit Switzerland that is NOT on a motorway border post ?.

 

[barryd]

Its a wonderful place, we have been twice now. Wild camping is possible but its a bit like here. A bit of a chore if your not clued up on where to go. We just make sure we go slightly out of season and use the ACSI card. There is some information but mainly just poking fun at the swiss on our blog at Hank the Tank Motorhome website in the Blog section SUmmer 2011 scroll down until after the Black Forest.

Weggis Farm site on Lucern is brilliant, like a big CL.

And the site we found up under the shadow of the Jungfrau is nice as long as you dont upset the warden (See blog)

That whole area around Interlaken, the LAkes, Jungrferau and Eiger is just out of this world but avoid the railways and cable cars unless you have deep pockets or can buy tickets before you go. I did hear somehwere that there was some centinary discount ticket available this year but you would have to google it.

Oh and if your in the Area close to the german border the Rhine falls are superb.

 

[ian81]

It is possible to pass through Switzerland without using motorways and so not needing a vignette but it will not be as quick or easy. Keep off the motorways when approaching the country!! Research routes beforehand using google maps or Autoroute software.

As for stopping we have managed a few nights when transiting there without problems.

Try looking at Toutes les aires - Aires et stationnement - Camping Car -shows some 106 place (French) or

WOHNMOBIL STELLPLATZ SCHWEIZ - Stellplatzdatenbank (german).

On our recent Balkan / Greek trip we spoke to a Swiss MH'er who assured us that over night parking was no problem.

 

[ivecotrucker]

Thanks Ian81 for the link on Swiss overnighting-"Stellplatzdatenbank" - unfortunately probably of more use to our German speaking friends; 'Ich sprecht kein deutsch, not even klein)'.

 

[landydriver]

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[ian81]

Thanks Ian81 for the link on Swiss overnighting-"Stellplatzdatenbank" - unfortunately probably of more use to our German speaking friends; 'Ich sprecht kein deutsch, not even klein)'.

I don't speak German but with google's help there is no problem.

Also note that Switzerland is part of 'Schengen' so since the end of'08 there are no border controls.

 

[ivecotrucker]

Thanks Landydriver, I'll study the map before our next journey across Switz. We're usually en route to Italy &/or further south-east so we just bash straight across on the m/way using one of our Single Day Swiss HGV carnets (Basle-Lugano-Como).

 

[ivecotrucker]

Thanks Ian81.

 

[landydriver]

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