14 Days, 14 Do's & Don't's !

Last month, I got a chance to be in Switzerland and France for 2 weeks.

As it was my first time outside India, there was a lot of excitement mixed with curiosity. This blog is a result of that excitement+curiosity. This blog is a sort of summary of the lessons learnt from the trip. 

Through this post, I would like to share the 14 Do's & Don't's from my 14 day trip. 

Here I go:

1) Don't forget/loose your luggage in trains/bus/boat/anywhere else.

The reason I have put this as the first point is because it is VERY IMPORTANT. It happened with me and I hope it doesn't happen with anyone else. I forgot my newly purchased suit in one of Swiss trains. Always keep your passport with you at all times. This is the MOST IMPORTANT document/piece of luggage you have.

2) Don't panic if you loose your luggage.

It would sound a bit odd seeing this point, especially when I considered the previous point to be very important. But, this comes from my own experience. Panic would not get you your luggage. I forgot my suit in the train and realized it soon after the train left the station. In Switzerland, and in most other European countries, you can lodge a lost-and-found complain either at the station (which could be costly) or through internet (which is free). If you are lucky (as I was), and if you lose your luggage in the right place( for example Switzerland), there are high chances, you will get your luggage back, no matter how valuable it may be. Till this date, I can't thank enough Swiss authorities for locating and then returning my luggage safely to me.

3) Don't convert foreign currency into Indian Rupees while making a purchase.

This is something which as Indians, we can't help. Foreign travel is EXPENSIVE, and some of the European countries are too EXPENSIVE. But that's it. We can't help it. If we are there, we have to accept it, and then get along. Many restaurants in Switzerland, for example, don't offer water along with the food. A glass of water can then cost you 3 Swiss Francs (approximately Rs 180). In such cases, you can either use your own water (if you are lucky enough carrying it) or get it from supermarket. 

4) Don't use ICICI Bank Travel Card for your foreign trip.

If don't have a credit card (as was the case with me), you can either carry foreign currency in cash or in form of travel cards offered by several banks. But from my own experience, I will recommend to carry cash instead of a ICICI travel card. Don't buy the hollow claims made in the ICICI travel documents. You stand to lose upto Rs 5 per unit of foreign currency in the travel card when you wish to return the card and claim refund. Local currency exchange dealers offer you better value for your foreign currency. PS: Don't buy foreign currency from airports, as it is VERY EXPENSIVE

5) Don't buy separate tickets for public transportation in Paris/Zurich. This holds for many other European cities as well. Instead of separate tickets, try purchasing a 1/2/3/3+ days pass, which includes different forms of transportation. Cheap & Convenient !

6) Do carry a water bottle with you always. Refer point 3. A simple and a very handy lesson. Water is EXPENSIVE in most European countries. Plus point: Many countries, one can drink tap water. 

7) Do go for a boat/cruise ride in at least one of Swiss lakes. Because you would not want to step out of the boats ! Go to point 13 for more details !

8) Do try to visit Louvre Museum on first Sunday of a month, if you are in Paris. Because it's free ! I don't need to write anything on Louvre; you know it better than me. Just two words: The Best !

9) Don't forget to carry a 3 pin-to-2 pin travel adapter with you. A technical point, but a very important nonetheless. Most European countries have 2 pin plugs, so the conventional chargers and plugs used in India would be rendered useless there, but for the 3-pin-to-2-pin adapter. Where to get: any decent branded electronic store. Price: Around Rs 100-200.

10) Do travel on Golden Pass Express in Switzerland. One of the best railway journeys in the world. I guess that sums it all. Stunning views + beautiful lakes + breathtaking landscapes + fantastic train = Golden Pass Express. Go to point 13 for more details.

11) Do remember that meaning of 'Vegetarian food' in Europe is not the same as in India. This is extremely important if one is a "Indian" vegetarian (which means no-meat/egg/fish/chicken). In Europe, vegetarian could mean anything. In most places, vegetarian includes Fish/Eggs/Chicken. So, it's always do a crosscheck before trying anything in restaurants/outside food.

12) Do go to Monteparnasse Building in Paris, preferably in evening. Everyone knows about Eiffel, but the same cannot be said about Monteparnasse. But believe me, Monteparnasse is one place which one must go while in Paris. At a height of 201 metres from the ground, it offers a STUNNING view of almost everything in Paris, including the Eiffel. The best time to visit it: that time in evening, when the light just starts fading.

13) Do Visit Interlaken if you are in Switzerland. If you are going to Switzerland for 3-4 or more days, you will anyways visit Interlaken. But in case you are pressed for time, Interlaken is the first place you should visit in Switzerland. Try using the Golden Pass to reach Interlaken, & do go boating in either of the two lakes. Lots to do/visit in and around Interlaken. No need for me to elaborate on that here ! Check out MySwitzerland Tourism website.

14) Do memorize few words in the language of the country you are visiting. This is one of the easiest thing to do, but very few actually do it. It's strange ! Some common words like 'thank you' and 'excuse me' can be, and should be easily memorized. Just as we feel good if some foreigner makes an attempt to speak to us in our native language, foreigners feel the same. Another benefit of doing this: one might be able to get some help from foreigners they see us making an attempt to learn their language.

So, that's it !

:-)