Switzerland Travel Guide

1. About Switzerland's "Pride and Prejudice" - "Painfully expensive? That's because you haven't found the right way to enjoy it" In Switzerland, a bottle of mineral water costing 10 CHF (≈$80) is normal, but true players will tell you: "Money just accompanies you in a different way." For example: - Book a lake view suite at Burgenstock Hotels & Resort, enjoy private panoramic views of Lake Lucerne + cliff elevator, low season ¥15,000/night? Sorry, this is already a "value choice." - First class on the GoldenPass train? Too touristy. Charter a helicopter from Zurich to St. Moritz, overlooking the Alps peaks in 20 minutes - that's true understated luxury. - "Swiss people are cold? That's because you haven't understood their 'precision socializing'" Locals indeed don't like to initiate small talk, but if you happen to meet a banker in a cigar lounge in Gstaad and chat about privately cellared 1982 Lafite, they'll instantly switch to "chatty mode." --- 2. Food: The magical coexistence of Michelin and farmhouse cheese - "Swiss cuisine is Europe's culinary lowland? You definitely haven't tried the 'right cheese'" Complaining that Fondue (cheese fondue) is like melted rubber? Try Schloss Schauenstein's (three Michelin stars) chef's version made with Alpine wild herbs + 72-month aged Gruyère cheese, paired with a Dom Pérignon rosé champagne — even cheese can taste sophisticated. - Extravagant suggestion: Have a cheese with your name engraved on it custom-made at a Gstaad cheese workshop, and air-ship it home as a souvenir (shipping costs three times more than the cheese). - "The Hermès of chocolate isn't something you buy casually" Buying Lindt in tourist areas? True connoisseurs go to Confiserie Sprüngli in Zurich to order custom truffle chocolate gift boxes, or book a chocolate master class with Philippe Pascoët in Geneva to personally make gold foil-covered hazelnut fillings (perfect for social media posts). - Hidden menu: The wealthy's "wild game feast" During September hunting season, certain private estates offer venison tartare + black truffles (requires personal connections). Pair it with Swiss local juniper spirit Santis Malt, more "niche and sophisticated" than Scottish whisky. --- 3. "Money-is-no-object" checklist - Stay: - Le Richemond in Geneva (under the Dorchester group), with suite bathrooms overlooking Mont Blanc. - Badrutt's Palace in St. Moritz, ski directly back to the hotel in winter. - Transportation: Rent a Mercedes G-Class snow edition to drive through Alpine passes, or take the Glacier Express VIP crystal carriage with unlimited champagne refills. - Activities: Hire a private guide in Zermatt for night climbing of the Matterhorn, exclusively enjoying the "golden peak" at sunrise; or rent a century-old castle in Interlaken for a dinner party (yes, you really can rent it). Conclusion: The beauty of Switzerland lies in how its extreme prices filter the crowds. When you stop obsessing over "is it worth it" and start asking "do I want it," you've truly unlocked this country.