Money

1. Currency Exchange

The Swiss Franc (CHF) is the official currency of Switzerland. Switzerland is one of those few European countries that have not joined the European Union. 100 centimes make up 1 Swiss Franc (CHF). The Swiss Franc is available in notes of denominations of 1000, 500, 200, 100, 50, 20 and 10, and coins of denominations CHF 5, 2, and 1, and 50, 20, 10, and 5 centimes. In spite of the fact that it is not a member of the European Union, many prices in Switzerland are given in Euros. All major credit cards are widely accepted in the country. There is a large network of ATMs. To get the best exchange rates for your travelers checks and foreign currency, get them changed at banks. However, you can also exchange money at all the major airports, train stations and hotels. In Switzerland, banks work from Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

2. What a Dollar Will Buy You

Cost of living in Switzerland can be very high. Buying one liter of petrol would cost you about $1.09, whereas one liter of water would cost you $1.6. A loaf of bread would cost you $2.6, a glass of draught beer $2.8, a 36 roll color exposure film would cost about $6.5, a fondue dinner would cost about $20, and a bed in a hostel dorm room will cost you about $25 per night.

3. Telecommunications

Telephones:

The international dialing code for Switzerland is +41. To dial a number in Switzerland from America, you have to dial first 011, then the area code without including the 0, and then the number. To dial a number in Switzerland itself, dial the two or three digit area code including the 0 and then the number. Swiss phone numbers have a two or three-digit area code and then a seven-digit number.

You can direct-dial almost all foreign countries from any phone. There might be a few exceptions where you will first have to call the exchange by dialing 1141 and ask them to connect you. You can also make reverse charge calls and international enquiries using this number.

You can make phone calls within the country by dialing from any public phone box, post office or private phone. There are fewer public phone booths now than there were before owing to rise in mobile phone usage. However, most railway stations, post offices, and airport will have public phones. You can use telephone cards to make phone calls from these public phones. These can be purchased from Swisscom shops, post offices, stationary shops, etc.

Telephone cards or Taxcards are available for CHF 5, 10, 20 or 50. There is a band on each side of cards worth CHF 20 and 50. On exhausting one band, you have to turn the card over and use it.

You can also be rung back in most of the public phone booths. In this case, there is a sign indicating the phone's number.

The Swiss people sleep early in the night. So, it is considered impolite to make uninvited calls later than 9 PM.

Mobile Phones:

Mobile phone penetration in Switzerland is one of the highest in Europe. The country operates on the backbone of a GSM network. So that the GSM phone you bought in your country will also work in Switzerland. However, CDMA phones from other countries will not work here.

For using your GSM phone in Switzerland, you first need to be sure if your phone is unlocked. If it is locked to your previous service provider then you cannot use it. If it is unlocked, then you just need to get a new SIM card from Switzerland, insert it and you are good to go.

Mobile phone in Switzerland have area codes. The area codes differ with the service provider. It may be 076, 078, or 079.

4. Cab Fares

Taxis have meters for all kinds of trips, short and long. However, it is recommended that you agree on the fare first when traveling out of town for long distances.

5. Currency Exchange Rates

The official currency of Switzerland is the Swiss Franc (CHF)

$1 = CHF 1.225

CHF 1 = $0.816

6. Taxes

When you buy anything from stores in Switzerland, you are charged a 7.6% value added tax on your purchase. However, visitors from outside Switzerland can ask for a VAT refund. Only if the total value of your purchases must amount to at least 400 CHF can you ask for a VAT refund. In addition, the goods bought by you must be sent out of Switzerland within 30 days to be eligible for VAT refund.

7. Tipping

In restaurants, a service charge is included with the prices on the menu itself. However, you could round off the bill when paying. For example, if the bill is $37, you could round it off and give the waiter $40. If you are paying by credit card, give a 5% cash tip to the waiter.

It is a usual practice to tip CHF 1-2 per bag or service given in hotels. This may vary with the class of your hotel. If you are staying in a top end hotel, leave CHF 1 per day as tip for the hotel maid. If you are staying at a resort, you could leave the amount intended as tip with the resort manager so that he can divide it among the staff.

Cab fares in Zurich include a service charge just like in restaurants, although this may not be the case in other parts of Switzerland. Follow the same practice of rounding off the fare or adding 5% cash to the fare as tip.