Frequently asked questions

How long is my flight? Most flights we book from the UK are direct and take between 1½ and 2 hours. There are also regional flights via London. Can I book specific seat numbers? With easyJet flights we reserve your seat at the time of booking. Please advise if you have a preference for window or aisle seats at the time of booking. With the SWISS and British Airways you can book your seats 23 hours in advance of travel. How can I book extra legroom? With easyJet flights, we can book the bulkhead and emergency exit row seats for you at the time of booking for an additional cost. With SWISS and British Airways you can book seats with additional legroom 30 days before travel at an additional cost. Please contact SWISS/BA directly to make these arrangements. How do I book special assistance? Please tell us at the time of booking what help you need on your journey. All airlines can arrange for wheelchair assistance from check-in to boarding the aircraft both in the UK and Switzerland. There is no charge for this service. Can I get help with my luggage? Swiss Railways will assist where there is a mobility problem. You just need to call the special number we will provide at least one hour before the service is required. What is Flight Luggage and how does it work? Check in your luggage with any airline, from any airport to Zurich and it will be automatically forwarded to the railway station of 30 participating destinations. Depending on your arrival time of your flight in Switzerland you can chose delivery the same day or next day. Extra costs apply. Will I receive a meal on the flight and can I make a special dietary request? All SWISS flights to Zurich and British Airways from London City offer a small snack and a drink during the flight. You can make a dietary request at the time of booking which will be passed to the airline. SWISS to Geneva, British Airways from Heathrow or Gatwick and all EasyJet and Jet2 flights do not include a meal although snacks are available to purchase on board. Can I book business class flights? We have access to business class fares for British Airways and SWISS. The supplement varies according to your route but includes dedicated check-in and departure lounge, increased luggage allowance and in-flight catering. It's my honeymoon, which name should I use? Congratulations! Please book your holiday in whichever name matches your passport. How long is the transfer to my resort?

This varies according to which airport you have arrived at and which resort you are travelling to. Please see our transfers to resort page for details.

What is the difference between 1st and 2nd class rail? 2nd class is already of a higher standard than you may be used to in the UK. In 1st class, there is more room with larger seats and the carriages are mostly quieter than 2nd class. Can I travel by rail or car from the UK? There are regular rail services to Switzerland via Paris. You can also drive yourself to Switzerland; we can provide a road 'vignette' as part of your holiday price if required. This is compulsory for travel on the Swiss motorway network. Can I take my own skis? Fly with SWISS for free carriage of skis, poles, boots and helmet. It is possible to take your own equipment on the other airlines for a fee (prices vary).

What is there to see and do?

With the beautiful lakes and mountains linked by a superb transport system, the possibilities are endless! Please use the resort drop down menu at the top of this page to see an overview of things to do in each destination or click here. The resort pages also have links to excursion information for the wider regions. Please do call us for our recommendations as well. If there is a particular excursion you would like to do, please double check operating dates and bear in mind that local weather conditions can affect availability.

What is scenic rail? There are several journeys which cross the country and offer stunning views en route. The carriages on trains such as the Glacier Express and GoldenPass Line have huge panoramic windows so you can really make the most of the passing scenery. Since many of the routes traverse the Alps, you can also enjoy a series of amazing viaducts, bridges and tunnels. A popular choice is to book a two or multi centre holiday, with scenic rail journeys connecting your resorts. What is the Half Fare Card? This is included in all our holidays (except self-drive arrangements). It entitles you to half or reduced price travel on most mainline trains, mountain railways, cable cars, lake boats, long distance PostBuses, and local bus travel in the larger towns. What is the Swiss Travel Pass? This Pass is recommended for visitors who intend to travel around Switzerland as it gives you unlimited travel on most mainline trains, lake boats and PostBuses. It also offers free or discounted entry to hundreds of museums and attractions, and a 50% discount for most mountain transport. You can pre-book a 3, 4, 8 or 15 day pass. Can children travel free on the Swiss transport network? Yes, they can travel absolutely free! We will issue families with a free 'Swiss Family Card' which covers children aged 6-15. Under 6's are free anyway. How can I make the most of my spending money? There are many ways to make your money go further. Book half board for excellent value evening meals. Pick a summer mountain resort which offers a free mountain travel pass such as Saas-Fee, Davos, St. Moritz, Villars or Adelboden. Choose a hotel which offers a free night's stay. Book early to ensure the cheapest flight prices and to take advantage of early bird accommodation offers. What will the weather be like? There are no guarantees of course, but the climate is generally moderate with no excessive heat, cold or humidity. Spring and Autumn: 8-15°C (46-59°F) Summer: 18-28°C (65-82°F) Winter: -2-7°C (28-45°F) Temperatures do vary considerably at altitude, so we recommend taking something warm if you are planning to explore the mountains. Do I need proper boots for walking? That depends. The most challenging alpine trails (red & white or blue signs) do require proper equipment. The yellow signposts show routes which are more suitable for all and can be enjoyed with everyday sensible footwear. Do they speak English in Switzerland? English is widely spoken in hotels, restaurants and at tourist locations. Depending on which part of Switzerland you visit, you may like to practice your French, German or Italian, or even try a few words in the local Swiss dialect, Schwitzerdütsch.

What payment methods are accepted? We accept deposit payments by debit cards and Visa and Mastercard credit cards. Balance payments can also be made by bank transfer. Please note that we do not accept cheques or American Express payments. Is there a charge for using a credit card? There is no fee for paying by debit or credit card. How much deposit do I need to pay? Your deposit is £150 per person, except if you are travelling on a low cost airline or you have an itinerary of 3 centres or more, in which case it is a minimum of £250 per person. When is my balance payment due? Your balance needs to be paid 10 weeks before travel. We will send you a reminder... Are you bonded with ABTA and ATOL? Yes, our ABTA number is W6262 and our ATOL is 3148. Your money is therefore fully protected. Do you provide travel insurance? No. Please ensure that you have arranged cover which is appropriate to your requirements. What are the cancellation charges?

If you need to cancel your holiday you will be charged at least loss of deposit. If you cancel within 10 weeks of travel further charges will be made as shown in our booking conditions.

Can I change my holiday once it is booked? Most elements can be changed for an administration charge of £20 per person plus any costs we incur in making the alteration. Certain tickets may not be changeable and will incur a 100% cancellation charge of that part of the holiday arrangement. Can I add excursions to my holiday? Yes, please do call us to discuss any trips which you would like to add on to your booking. We can also tell you about money saving travel passes which can be pre-booked. Can I pre-book ski lift passes?

We are able to offer a variety of ski, toboggan and winter walking passes for the Jungfrau region (Wengen, Grindelwald & Mürren). Please ask us for the latest prices. In all other resorts, you will be able to purchase lift passes at the hotel reception.

When will I receive my tickets? We will send your tickets and personalised itinerary 2-3 weeks before your holiday. Do I need to supply Advanced Passenger Information (API)? Advance passenger information needs to be provided to the airline prior to travel and includes your first and last name, date of birth, nationality, passport number, date & country of issue and expiry date. We will enter these details for easyJet bookings but you need to do so yourself for SWISS and British Airways when you pre book your seats 23 hours before departure. What is my baggage allowance? We automatically book 23kg per person on Swiss International Air Lines, British Airways and easyJet and 22kg with Jet2. Please note there is no allowance for infants. What are the visa and passport requirements? British citizens need a full passport to visit Switzerland for the duration of your stay, but a visa is not required. All other nationalities should check this important information with the Swiss Embassy on 0207 616 6000 or visaswiss.uk@vfshelpline.com What currency will I need?

In Switzerland the currency is the Swiss Franc, which you may see written as CHF or SFR. Of course the rate of exchange varies but it is generally between 1.2 and 1.3 francs to the pound. Euros are accepted in some places (again, exchange rate varies).

Should I check Foreign Office advice?

We recommend you keep up to date with the advice provided by the Foreign and Commenwealth Office for travel overseas. Please follow this link.