Budget Travel in Switzerland – Where to Find Cheap Stays

The expenses associated with your lodging accumulate rapidly. Particularly when traveling to an expensive country such as Switzerland. Fortunately, there are numerous methods to save money on accommodation during your stay.

Budget Travel in Switzerland:

1. Stay in hostels

Hostels in general

Hostels are a timeless classic among vacationers. They are an exceptional location to engage in conversation, exchange humorous travel anecdotes, seek guidance from other travelers, or ultimately address the unpleasant laundry, which will enable you to cease wandering around with flies following you.

Most importantly, dormitories enable you to save a substantial amount of money by sharing a room with other individuals. Dorms typically accommodate four to ten individuals, and you have the option of lodging in a mixed dorm or a gender-separated residence.

I am particularly fond of the complimentary items that hostels frequently provide. Whether it be a free breakfast, the occasional yoga class, a public transport ticket, a weekly rooftop barbecue, or a complimentary walking tour of the city.

Backpackers are particularly fond of lodging in dormitories.

Check Also: How to Use SBB Day Passes in Switzerland – Check Here

Hostels in Switzerland

The preponderance of Swiss hostels are in the Hostelling International (HI) group. Non-members are required to generate an additional 7 CHF, while members are charged between 30 and 40 CHF per night.

This markdown is certainly worth becoming a member of. An annual membership in Switzerland is priced at 30 CHF, with a discount of 15 CHF for individuals under the age of 27.

I recommend that you apply for membership in HI abroad if possible. It is typically significantly less expensive than in Switzerland. I recall paid 5 € for mine in Luxembourg.

However, the advantages do not conclude with a more affordable mattress. In addition, membership grants you access to discounts on local activities, language courses, outdoor stores, bike rentals, and rail passes with Eurail and Interrail.

2. Sleep at an Airbnb

Renting an apartment or room through Airbnb can be significantly less expensive than paying for individual mattresses in a hostel or hotel, provided that you can divide the expenses with another individual.

This may also serve as an opportunity to engage with residents, obtain insider information, and reduce one’s sense of being a tourist, contingent upon the individual with whom one is lodging.

This informative article by Nomadic Matt provides additional details regarding Airbnb and offers advice on how to locate a host.

Click here to register and receive a $40 discount on your initial Airbnb booking. Airbnb is an excellent resource for locating a cost-effective lodging option.

3. Sleep on straw

Sleeping on straw is an unconventional method of spending the night. Accommodations are available in the stables or residences of over 300 farms on Agrotourismus. Everything from a pillow on a bale of straw to an entire residence is included in the offers.

The most cost-effective method of residing on a farm is undoubtedly the option of resting on straw. Some accommodations provide bedding or additional blankets, while others necessitate that you bring your own sleeping bag to enjoy a comfortable night’s slumber on your straw bale.

Breakfast is typically included in the price, which ranges from 20 to 45 CHF per person. This is marginally more cost-effective than lodging at a hostel, contingent upon your location. Additionally, the views that are occasionally available on these farms are certainly worth the slight detour from the metropolis.

The ideal location to spend a budget-friendly night out of the ordinary is by sleeping on straw. (Eselhof Säge provided this photograph.)

4. Go camping

Swiss campsites in general

Another excellent method of spending the night without breaking the bank is to set up your own shelter. Discover the precise location and amenities of each campsite by consulting helpful websites such as Swiss Camping or Swisscamps.

Prices vary from 6 CHF to 20 CHF per person or tent. During the summer holidays, certain campsites are marginally more expensive, particularly in the Canton of Ticino.

If you are a spontaneous traveler, you are not required to make a reservation; you may simply arrive at a campsite. Nevertheless, it is advisable to contact the establishment in advance to determine whether they have a space available for you if you are traveling during school breaks or public holidays.

Glamping

If you are a fan of glamping, visit the TCS (Touring Club Switzerland) website. Those campsites provide a variety of accommodations, including teepees, yurts, containers, and cabanas.

Given that their website is available in French, German, or Italian, I will provide a brief overview of how to navigate the site.

Utilize the link provided and peruse the images to identify your preferable lodging option. Clicking on any of the images will reveal which campsites provide them.

The descriptions of each campsite and its amenities are provided in German, French, or Italian once more. Therefore, if you are satisfied with merely knowing the address, you are finished with this section. Alternatively, return to the Swiss Camping website in English and locate the campsite you discovered on TCS. Swiss Camping does not offer any glamping alternatives; however, it is the location to obtain general information about the campsite and its surroundings.

It is evident that glamping is significantly more expensive than traditional camping. Expect to pay between 35 and 50 CHF during the low season and 40 to 60 CHF during the peak season.

Wild camping

Individuals frequently inquire about the permissibility of untamed camping in Switzerland. In a technical sense, the answer is affirmative.

There may be specific restrictions that apply to the canton or municipality in which you wish to establish your site. However, adhering to the subsequent guidelines should suffice.

• To determine whether camping is permissible in the vicinity, consult the municipal administration, the tourist information center, or a neighboring farmer.
• Fire restrictions are occasionally implemented by the government, and it is important to bear this in mind. Lighting a fire is prohibited during arid periods, and the penalties for violating this prohibition are exorbitant. In the range of several thousand dollars.
• Avoid areas with a high concentration of untamed animals, hunting grounds, or natural reserves. Not wild in the sense of hazardous, but wild in the sense of deer and other free-living animals. Additionally, I would avoid cows and their offspring. It is never advisable to place oneself in the way of a protective bovine and their young.
• When erecting your tent, it is important to be aware that lightning, flooding, landslides, and falling boulders may disrupt your peaceful nighttime. The local tourism authority will be able to assist you with this matter, as they are familiar with the region.
• The Swiss Alpine Club concludes with the following statement: “Leave nothing but footprints; take nothing but memories.”

Switzerland permits wild camping. As long as you demonstrate reverence for your environment…

5. Try Couchsurfing

Couchsurfing is likely the most prevalent participant in the accommodation sharing community. It is a platform where individuals donate their couches, surplus beds, hammocks, or air mattresses for free.

Previously, Couchsurfing membership was free; however, it is now necessary to pay a nominal charge to become a member. You have the option of paying $2 per month or $15 per year. This fee will be more than compensated for by spending one night on a sofa in Switzerland.

Couchsurfing is a concept that may be unfamiliar to you. Here is how it operates:

• Visit Couchsurfing.com and create an account.
• Select “find host” and input the city to which you are traveling.
• If you are aware, you may either choose your travel dates or leave this field blank.
• Adjust the filter to “Accepting Guests” and “Maybe Accepting Guests.” As well, select “Wants To Meet Up” if you are content with simply engaging in conversation over coffee.
• Set the filter to reflect your preference for a female or male partner.
• One additional filter that I consistently establish is the “Last Active” one. I typically refrain from attempting to communicate with an individual who has not been online for more than a year.
• Before contacting an individual, I also verify their response rate. I am aware that there is a high probability that they will not respond if their response rate is 28%. This does not prevent me from submitting a request to them. However, I will reach out to a variety of hosts in order to increase my likelihood of securing a host.
• Couchsurfing is not merely a matter of locating a complimentary lodging. Interacting with others and establishing friendships are also important. To increase your likelihood of being accepted, refrain from sending messages such as “Hey, I’m planning to visit your city and am in search of a free place to stay.” Is it possible for me to reside with you? Personalize it to a greater extent. Review their profile, discuss your shared interests, and introduce yourself. Subsequently, those individuals may make their residences available to you.
• It is advisable to initiate your inquiry in advance, as responses may take a few days to arrive. It is feasible to locate an impulsive host; however, the likelihood of doing so is enhanced by providing them with additional notification.

For additional details on how to succeed on Couchsurfing, consult this post by Nomadic Matt.

Sleeping on someone’s sofa is a free way to stay.

6. Join “Host a Sister”

I recently discovered a charming Facebook community named “Host a Sister.” This particular platform is exclusively for women, as its name implies. It essentially provides a platform for providing or seeking accommodations.

It’s an exceptional method of connecting with individuals from around the globe and locating a complimentary sofa, bed, hammock, tent, or any other item that “your sister” is offering.

Please try it out and inform me of your opinion.

7. Stay with friends

Consequently, this leaves me with my preferred method of lodging during my travels.

Prior to embarking on a journey, I consistently verify whether I have knowledge of anyone in the vicinity. It is always a pleasure to reconnect with individuals I encountered during previous journeys and to reflect on our time spent together on the road.

Are you friendly with any Swiss individuals? Please do not hesitate to contact them. They are likely to provide you with one of the following responses if you inform them of your arrival:

• “Are you planning to visit Switzerland?” It is advantageous for you. Have a good time. (While it may not be precisely what you are seeking, it is acceptable.)
• “Are you planning to visit Switzerland?” Superb! We should arrange to meet while you are in the area. (It already sounds more appealing, doesn’t it?)
• “Are you planning to visit Switzerland?” That’s great! Please inform me of your arrival time. You are welcome to reside with me. (Lucky! Is it possible to save money while also spending time with a friend? Days of joy.

Whichever of these ways to spend the night you pick, they’re definitely going to be cheaper than staying in a fancy hotel. Except for maybe the glamping part.

Frequently Asked Questions: