Top ten tips to travelling on a budget in Switzerland

Hi readers, its Amy here. 
I recently went on a photography tour around Europe, and thought I'd share one of my most favourite destinations along the journey! 

To most people, the image of Switzerland consists of majestic mountains, delicious fondue and chocolate, fancy watches and an orderly society. To others (including me), it is an overly expensive destination where you spend a minimum of $15 in the local McDonald’s.

Switzerland is rated the most expensive country in the world to visit, no wonder tourists skip over the country and wait until they have a few more coins in their pockets before visiting. However, it is possible to see this country’s beauty on a relatively light budget… 

Here are some of the ways I was able to budget while in Switzerland! 

1.   Using Couch surfing -  this is a service that allows travellers to stay with locals for free! As long as you put in requests for hosts early, you are guaranteed a free nights sleep in a traditional Swiss household. Link to their website
2.  Using BlaBlaCar – This is a ride-sharing website that allows you to avoid trains and meet locals. You can say a good $50 and make a new French friend along the way! BlaBlaCar Website
3.  Using hotel points – hotel reward points are a lifesaver. Rack up a few points prior to your journey and earn several nights stay in chain hotels.
4.   Don’t drink – alcohol is mighty expensive; rather use those dollars on excursions, accommodation or transport. Fortunately when I went, I wasn't at the legal age to drink so I didn't have to worry about this! 
5.   Buy groceries and cook – buying your fruit and veg at the local grocer and cooking your own meals can save you a lot of cash. Especially if you’re planning to stay a while.. I became a frequent buyer at the local grocer. 
6.  Use lunch specials – Stick to ethnic restaurants who give the best deals and bigger portions! There's always a cheeky takeout just  around the corner.. 
7. Travel in the off season - We travelled during off peak times and it reduced our costs dramatically! Not only were flight prices cheaper, but tourist activities tend to reduce in prices during these times too 
8. Check out the free museums - For a budget friendly activity, explore the several free museums Switzerland has to offer! Its definitely worth a shot. 
9. Buy your train tickets online - tickets tend to be a lot cheaper online and this way you can use the money you would of for transport, for a tourist attraction or bite to eat!
10. Do your research - There are plenty of cheaper hotels and hostels, tourist attraction and eateries that offer affordable prices, you just have to find them! 

I hope my tips help you out in your future travels!