(Offers on this page are now expired and are no longer available.)
Zurich has been dubbed world’s most expensive city to live in, so it’s certainly no surprise that visiting isn’t going to be cheap either. It’s still worth visiting and there are ways of cutting down costs significantly. Here’s how you can plan a frugal trip in Zurich:
1. Low Season. Low season in Switzerland is April through mid-June and October. Everything from hotel rates to airfare will be cheaper during these months. However, since most of us are going to use points and miles, airfare isn’t going to factor into the budget.
2. Chain Hotels. Marriott has four Zurich properties, ranging from 20,000-40,000 points per night. This is a huge chunk of miles to give up, even with the fifth night free option.
Starwood currently has two properties in Zurich, requiring 12-25k points per night: The Four Points Sihlcity Zurich (Category 5) and the Sheraton Zurich Neues Schloss (Category 6). The Sheraton Zurich Hotel is scheduled to open on January 17, 2014, which will be another Category 5 hotel.
Hyatt has a single property, the Park Hyatt Zurich, which is a top-tier hotel requiring 22,000 points per night. Hilton has an airport hotel, which is a Category 6 hotel requiring 30,000-50,000 points per night. Club Carlson also has two properties, though they are both by the airport and not great for touring the city.
IHG has four properties, requiring 20,000-30,000 points per night. The Crowne Plaza Zurich is probably your best bet at 30k, affording a central location without a massive point markup.
3. Non-Chain Hotels. You can find many non-chain hotels for under $150 per night, however, don’t expect a whole lot of luxury at that level. The Guests’ House gets high marks and can be booked for around $160 per night in the summer. Though part of a chain (Accor), Ibis Budget Zurich City West offers reasonable accommodations and a great location for as low as $110 per night during high season. With these rates and the types of hotels you can book, it might make more sense to rent an apartment instead.
4. Rent a Place. Rates for apartments are surprisingly reasonable in Zurich. Take this 3 bedroom in Zurich City, which starts at $98 per night (an extra $28 per additional guest) and includes free wifi. Even if you’re traveling with two other people, you’re looking at each person paying just $51 per night for their own room. This 1-bedroom near the shopping district is also a bargain, at $134 per night.
5. Food. The city’s WikiTravel page offers some great suggestions for budget restaurants. For $7-11 you can grab fresh-grilled sausage, ribs, and chicken at Baba’s Takeaway. You also can’t go wrong with ethnic restaurants, which offer hearty portions at low prices.
6. Get a ZurichCARD. The ZurichCARD is a great money saver. You can purchase a 24 hour pass for $26 per adult/$17 for children between age 6-16; or pick up a 72-hour version for $52 per adult/$35 per child.
The card can is good for free public transportation, free admission to all museums in the city, 10% discount at select stores, discounted tours, activities and more. This card can be a great value no matter what you decide to do in the city.
For those who wish to explore on bike, the city offers free bike rentals. You’ll have to pay a small deposit, which will be refunded once the bike is returned.
Do you have any advice for visiting Zurich on a budget?
Photo credit: Zürich | Zurich | Zurigo / Foter / CC BY-NC-ND
All Articles | Follow on Google+
Delta® Reserve for Business
- Annual Fee: $450 fee
- Foreign Fees: No
- Card Type: Travel
Add to Favorites
- Earn 40,000 bonus miles and 10,000 MQMs after you spend $3,000 in purchases with your new Card in the first 3 months.†
- Earn 15,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and 15,000 bonus miles after you reach $30,000 in eligible purchases on your Card in the calendar year.
- Earn 2 Miles per dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1 mile on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
- Settle into your seat sooner with Priority Boarding and enjoy 20% savings on eligible in-flight purchases in the form of a statement credit.
- Pay no foreign transaction fees when you spend overseas.‡
- Complimentary Delta Sky Club® Access.‡
- Terms and limitations apply
- See Rates & Fees
Delta® Reserve for Business
- Annual Fee: $450 fee
- Foreign Fees: No
- Card Type: Travel
| FTG Review | Reward Breakdown | Points Breakdown |
|---|---|---|
Breakdown
Earn (pt.)
Spend
3 months
0
$3,000
Per dollar on eligible purchases with Delta Purchases
2.00
$1
All Purchases
1.00
$1
|
||
|
Already have this card? Maximize your rewards.
|
||
