Switzerland

Switzerland is a small mountainous country in central Europe bordered on the west by France, on the north by Germany, on the east by Austria and on the south by Italy. Each of these countries has had an influence on the culture of the Swiss. The country is known for being able to avoid involvement in European wars by maintaining a position of strict political neutrality.

The country’s climate is a temperate one with many variations due to differences in altitude. Its northern sides of the valleys are warmer than the southern sides because it receives much less direct sunlight. Switzerland’s mountains rising above 10,000 feet are snow-covered the whole year round.

One of the country’s busiest areas of tourism is the Alps. It continues to attract skiing enthusiasts to its beautiful mountain resorts, earning for it the honor of being the skiing capital of the world. Other attractions include Bern — the capital city, Zurich, Geneva and Basle. Bern is a beautiful preserved medieval city and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It has something good to offer for the serious shopper with the over 6 kms. of covered arcades. Zurich is one of the world’s financial centre and is home to the world famous Lindt chocolate factory. You will find many international organizations such as the UN, WHO and the Red Cross in Geneva. Basle features one of the most picturesque cobbled old towns in Switzerland.

The Swiss rail service is highly efficient. There are travel passes available that are valid both for rail and bus networks. The transportation system is mainly the railways supported by post buses. These are buses that connect routes between stations and towns with no rail access.

In keeping with the country’s high standards, hotels are likewise of excellent quality and in demand. Hostels are more suitable for travellers on a budget. It is highly recommended to arrange accommodation in advance due to the high demand.

Employers also expect high standards from employees but this is compensated by the higher wages given compared to other European countries. Opportunities for employment lie on tourism related jobs, fruit picking and au pairing. The health service is generally good but extreme caution should be exercised if you are within the more remote parts of Switzerland.