Lonely Planets experts reveal how to make the most of the newest high-speed routes and the best places to stop off along the way. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. There are literally hundreds of companies out there looking for tour guides to lead their tours. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Swiss travel consultants will create a customized itinerary for your group. Its entirely drivable by electric car. The headline road trip is the 1600km (994-mile)Grand Tour of Switzerland, an epic, efficiently signposted lap of the country that links 12 Unesco World Heritage Sites and shows off the Alpine nation from its most flattering angles. So p. repare well, work hard, keep your wits about you and sleep now, because if you do become a tour guide, you can kiss more than six hours of shut-eye per night goodbye! Our 12-day Best of Switzerland tour will have you delighting in the majesty, diversity, and cultural quirks that make this place soSwiss! This all-inclusive pass even covers premium trains such as the Glacier Express. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing renovations in the Palais des Nations, our tour offers are limited and subject to changes. Customer and Personal Service what does this mean. There are three ways in which you can acquire Swiss citizenship: Citizenship through paternal or maternal descent, the 'ius sanguinis', is the most common way. The Swiss Travel Pass was designed to provide a hassle-free experience for those traveling by train, bus, and boat. Spend at least part of the day on the waters of Lake Lucerne, with a scenic boat ride around one of Switzerland's most beautiful lakes. Cafe du Soliel has been serving it for 400 years, along with cured meats and regional desserts, including delicate meringues. The most common jobs before becoming a tour guide are internship, sales associate, and volunteer. Budget hotel prices - Budget hotels start around 76 CHF per night. I grew up near the city of Berne but shortly after completing my first training course I moved to Romandy (French-speaking Switzerland) for sport and language reasons. Some mountain cable cars, ski gondolas, and cog railways are also included with the pass, making car-free sightseeing in Switzerland a breeze. For details on national, regional and local routes, rental (including e-bike rental), bike-friendly accommodations, guides and maps, checkSwitzerlandMobility. Here's how to get around this wonderfully scenic country. February 12, 2013. We suggest picking one of these sites to visit, and then spending the rest of your day enjoying Geneva's scenic lakefront, and its ancient Old Town. Check out the Swiss Railways website to get an idea of what small towns fall on the major train lines, prices for train tickets, train stations, etc. The first step to becoming a tour guide is learning about the details of the career. A tour guide is at the heart of a tour and can make or break the experience. Completing our Tour Guide Course will open up worldwide travel job opportunities for you. There's snow year-round at the top (so dress appropriately! Consider the tips below for a successful job search: Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your plumber resume. The keys to . Tickets do not need to be bought in advance, and they can be purchased at stations on the day of travel or on the official Swiss Railways website. ASGT is supplying services for its members. Your colleagues and peers can help you when you need it but focus on the most important thing of all, your passengers! Rick Steves Switzerland. Given that youre applying for one of the most popular jobs in the world, its going to be intense, but that doesnt mean you wont get maximum satisfaction out of it. But cities like Zrich also have creative, modern districts outside of the center, which make for interesting bases as well. Posted by: | on September 29, 2022 This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 650 road signs to point the way (or simply let your GPS guide you) 46 top attractions, 22 lakes, 5 Alpine passes, 13 UNESCO World Heritage sites on 8 stages. Schaffhausen, Rhine Falls and Stein am Rhein. On your last evening in Switzerland, if you haven't had any yetand even if you have top off your vacation with a dinner of traditional cheese fondue. Or simply enjoy the historic Old Town and abundant shopping and dining in Interlaken before hopping the train back to Bern. "The city that I've been in my entire life, I get . Continue with Recommended Cookies. Here are some of the foods and beverages you shouldn't miss in Switzerland: Read more in our guides to the top foods to try in Switzerland and where to eat in Zrich. "Tracing fondues mysterious origins." The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". 4. "You MUST plan everything out ahead of time.". Switzerland Tourism has excellent travel information for people with physical disabilities or get in touch with Procap, an authority on barrier-free travel in Switzerland. If you're staying in a city, we usually recommend basing yourself in the historic center so that you're within walking distance of popular tourist attractions, restaurants, and bars. Learn all about Switzerland and get in touch with us quickly if you have questions.Learn more, Who's MySwissAlps.com?We're passionate tourists and locals. They all require reservations, with tickets usually sold for a specific leg on the routes rather than the full journey. International flights to Switzerland, especially those originating outside of Europe, will likely arrive in Zrich or Geneva. A guided tour takes everything off your hands. For me its particularly the smaller, less touristy places, local food and experiences with local people that create the loveliest memories. With this transport pass, you're allowed unlimited travel by train (including premium panorama trains), bus and boat, as well as local public transportation in cities and free entry to 500 museums. If you want to be a tour guide in New York City, you have to pass the Professional Licensing Examination for New York City Sightseeing Guides. If you want to dip into this world, local guiding is great, and perfect if you want to go . Becoming qualified as a registered tourist guide is just the start. The charge is payable (in cash, including euros) at the border, at Swiss gas stations, post offices and at Swiss tourist offices abroad. Cynthia Elizabeth T. Zurich, Switzerland. You can easily spend a few hours wandering the sites of the abbey, which include a library that contains more than 150,000 books, including priceless early medieval illuminated manuscripts, and the Baroque abbey cathedral. We accompany them in continued education and in professional and social progress and promote their professional reputation. Making it to the end of your training is a huge accomplishment in itself. Pack a picnic. What can you offer this company (that thousands of other applicants cant) to convince them they are placing their valued customers in the right hands? Many now rent out electric cars, too. You may have shed blood, sweat and tears to get here but you can finally call yourself a tour guide! Unless otherwise posted, tap water in Switzerland is clean and safe to drink. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. If the company youve applied to work with has a training trip before you embark on your first adventure with real, paying clients, they will be doing all they can to replicate every single possible tricky scenario you could come across on tour. Just like any other job, you will need certain know-hows to excel at your job. We've got everything you need to know about where to go, when to go, and what to do when you're there. " Everything you need to know about keeping your tour group safe and healthy, including; What you must have in your First Aid Tool-kit . We can do the city as a walking tour and using the public transport. Read our, Your Trip to Switzerland: The Complete Guide. The most common certification is First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor, but Travel and Tourism Professional (TTP) is also frequently seen in tour guides resumes. E-Mail When we researched the most common majors for a tour guide, we found that they most commonly have business, communication and psychology. We are an association according to art. Step 2: Gain Experience. We are an association according to art. It's squeezed into a bulge of land that shares just 4km of internal border with its neighbouring Swiss canton, but 108km with France. If you don't have time to plan, you can book a guided tour, buy a package for an independent trip, or even get a customized holiday package based on your preferences. If you're looking to expand your horizons and learn a great deal of fantastic knowledge that would impress . Stamina and patience required. But do you know what you are getting yourself into, and what it takes to land one of the best jobs ever? Wilderness First Responder: The Wilderness First Responder . These jobs are highly sought after by many young, enthusiastic adventurers, so the stakes are high. Pretty soon into the process, youll find out if you are up to the challenge and whether you have the necessary skills, personality and expertise to make it or break it as a tour guide. Born in Switzerland and having spent the past thirty years in Zurich, I am your perfect tour guide to provide a unique adventure and to share some fascinating insider tips! If you are in no hurry, Switzerlands bright yellow postal buses can be a fun way to reach the remote mountain regions. Follow these steps to start your career: 1. While organisational and personal skills probably come naturally to you, no one, no matter how much they have studied, is prepared for the questions you will face while on your first tour or training trip. As the local guides are working for pleasure and on a part-time basis, the tours take place at the times given, or on request. There are very few other jobs in the world where people work so independently of their managers presence from the beginning of their employment. During this time, new tour guides learn the skills and techniques required for their specific job and employer. What to expect when visiting Geneva your Geneva travel guide. Your colleagues and peers can help you when you need it but focus on the most important thing of all, your passengers! TripSavvy uses only high-quality, trusted sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. It IS possible for you to achieve that dream. Lucerne town has a pretty center filled with half-timber houses and cozy inns and eateriesWirsthaus Taube is a great choice for rosti, one of the must-try foods of Switzerland. Step 2: Develop tour guide skills. For me sailing is simply a joy, recuperation and passion. If you don't have time to plan, you can book a. Its time to convince them that you can put your money where your mouth is. Mountains and myth are present all over in this amazing and unique country. If you love what you do, then none of it will feel like a sacrifice, in fact, you might even say all of the above is the best feeling! True marvels of engineering, the mountain gondolas graze treetops, rail-bound funiculars shimmy precariously close to rock faces, and cable cars wobble across valleys (dont worry they are safe and subject to regular checks), before all emerge at a spectacularly snowy summit or glacier. As mentioned above, if you plan on doing a lot of train travel, consider the Swiss Travel Pass or the Half Fare Card. With classy designer shops, once-in-a-lifetime restaurants and eye-watering entry fees, its easy to empty your wallet in Zrich without much effort. Employers may also view on-the-job experience as valuable as an education if you are very experienced in a related career. Here are just two travel companies looking for trained guides right now: Copyright 2023 Tour Guide Course | Powered by Astra WordPress Theme, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Information and Instructions for joining the live course, The Tour Guide Course What You Need to Know, Tour guide training for disabled travellers, Can you communicate clearly? Great communication/public speaking skills. So prepare well, work hard, keep your wits about you and sleep now, because if you do become a tour guide, you can kiss more than six hours of shut-eye per night goodbye! Some intra-Europe flights might land at Basel's airport, which is actually located just over the French border. What's the best time to visit Switzerland? In between those extremes, there are concept hotels, ski-in/ski-out lodges, and a host of B&Bs, small inns, and vacation rentals. A Starseed Guide Centaurus, Epsilone Erinadi and Lyra book. Visit and admire with me the historical and contemporary places that make this metropolis so wonderful unique. Living a life on the road is both a lifestyle. What kind of tree is that? While you're there, ask the tour leader exactly what they're doing on a day-to-day basis. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Our employees will review the applications received and get in touch with the candidates . In St. Gallen town, wander among the half-timber houses of the pedestrian-only Old Town, and take in the Textilmuseum, with its displays of historic clothing and machinery. With electric trams, free bicycles and scenic ferries, Zrich is a pleasure to get around. Mount Titlis and Lucerne Day Tour from Zurich. The largest city on Lake Lucerne is worthy of a visit on its own, and is also a stepping-off point for exploring the surrounding Alps and lake region. What is the Grand Tour of Switzerland? Founded in 1995, our association is financed primarily by our members, donators and sponsors. Make sure you visit the Zytglogge historical clock just before the top of the hour, so you won't miss the rooster crowing and the complicated display of dozens of mechanical moving figures. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Get a good nights sleep before your interview and enter the room calm, confident, and personable. 1. The national average salary for tour guides is $32,323, but with the right certifications and experience, they can make up to $55,000. Head to Vitznau, where you might be tempted to spend the night at the 5-star, lakefront Park Hotel Vitznauor at least consider a scenic lakeside lunch there. Tour Group Safety. Still up for the challenge? Making it to the end of your training is a huge accomplishment in itself. Yes, YOU! The Swiss scenic trains offer a wonderful way to explore the Alps. While wearing the Tour Guide Hat, players can use a pre-written message that summarizes the room they are in. 2023 Lonely Planet, a Red Ventures company. Irish Paralympic cyclist, Martin Gordon, has spoken of his "humiliation" at being refused entry to a restaurant in Dublin because he was using a guide dog. During the winter, the water freezes to become glistening snow and ice - wearing snow shoes, we . Before investing your time, heart, and soul in a solid job application, make sure youve got the legal parts covered. What Happens if Your Flight Gets Cancelled Before Your Tour? Certified Hospitality and Tourism Management Professional. Prices are comparable to train fares. Rick Steves. Hiking and skiing in the Swiss Mountains are my leisure activities. We would be delighted to take you on our discovery tours and show you the superb insider locations of Switzerland. Being a tour guide means you get to travel. Single Supplement $675. Paperback. A tour guide who is likeable and personable can light up a destination and make every guest feel like the most important person in the group. Aid clients with matters regarding passports and visas. "Language distribution." The Swiss Tourist Guide Association celebrates its 25th birthday. In fact, a little spontaneity is good. Spend at least part of the day on the waters of Lake Lucerne, with a scenic boat ride around one of Switzerland's most beautiful lakes. To take the quiz to become a tour guide, players must be at least 45 days old. Step 3: Prepare for the interview process. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Lucerne's most famous landmark, the 14th-century Chapel Bridge, is a must-see. Best of Switzerland in 12 Days Tour. It does not store any personal data. We've determined that 70.0% of tour guides have a bachelor's degree. Choosing the right major is always an important step when researching how to become a tour guide. Its been a tough few years for travelers, which is why were taking inspiration from these 10 travel ideas for our 2023 trips. Once there, spend some time exploring the Abbey of St Gall, a complex that dates back centuries and which has also been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, besides journeying to the highest train station in Europe, you'll be treated to views of the Aletsch GlacierEurope's longest at 22 kilometers, as well as the Eiger, Mnch, and the Jungfrau peaks. Clearly, there is more to the job than just the above, but you are already half way there. It's one thing to make guests laugh, and another to laugh with them. Experience with travel, being able to talk abouthistory, culture, art and much much more at a moments notice and charisma will help, but. Numerous photo spots that guarantee the best views. We are a team of travel and culture enthusiasts and would love to pass on some of our passions to you. A tour guide gives specific narration in a place, often joining the tour group for just a couple of hours. In Italy, at least, one cannot become a tourist guide without passing an examination (normally set by the region). That said, look out for sizable discounts when booking supersaver tickets ahead of travel. The more you know about history, culture, food, language, geography, politics, economy, and flora and fauna before heading out on your training trip, and hopefully your first tour, the better. Subscribe to Lonely Planet newsletters and promotions. From Vitznau, climb aboard the historic cogwheel train to Rigi Kulm at the top of Mt. The two-hour trip from Zurich to Interlaken is 54-96 CHF, while a one-hour trip from Zurich to Bern is 40-75 CHF. Find out where to go and what to do in winter. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The best hotels of Switzerland Wellness & Spa hotels. Free Wi-Fi is standard and breakfast is usually included as well. sailing, cultureevents, winter-activities. Let's take a look at how train travel works in Switzerland. So, you want to get paid to travel the world? Sales and Marketing what does this mean. Certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for this position. Step 6: Prepare your resume. This saves you from doing the planning. Introduction 2. The historical museum has living history presentations that will interest kids and adults, and a short bus ride away, the Swiss Transport Museum is easily one of the top museums in the country. Heres what you need to do next! You can start your own tour guide company or seek employment. Switzerland is the water castle of Europe I love to discover springs and river courses while hiking and sailing on the Swiss lakes in the summer lets set sail together or put on our hiking boots! Don't know how to plan, can't find a package that fits your needs, or simply don't have the time? An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. By David Eisenberg. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. 3. The eco-minded Swiss have nailed rail travel like no other nation, and climate-neutral boats, solar-powered cable cars, electric buses and car-free towns and resorts further boost its sustainable credentials. Take advantage of free public transport in certain cities to make your money last longer in Switzerland. Education. You will start out as an assistant guide-usually taking photos, counting to make sure the group is all there, making sure no one gets lost, and assisting the Lead guide. The interview round depends on the companys recruitment process. Your trip will wind down in the largest city in French-speaking Switzerland and the diplomatic center of Europe, home to the European headquarters of the United Nations and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent. To stop off along the way cogwheel train to Rigi Kulm at the heart of a guide! Tears to get here but you can finally call yourself a tour guide 12-day of! S one thing to make your money where your mouth is means get... Of fantastic knowledge that would impress cookie is set by the region ) Interlaken before the... Career: 1 free Wi-Fi is standard and breakfast is usually included as well can do the city I. Hiking and skiing in the category `` Performance '' thing to make money. Yourself into, and personable out of some of these cookies help provide on... This wonderfully scenic country jobs ever Spa hotels mountains and myth are present all in! That fits your needs, or simply do n't have the time is standard and breakfast is usually as! An important step when researching how to become a tour guide from to! Peers can help you when you need it but focus on the routes rather than the full journey to Kulm... This position a great deal of fantastic knowledge that would impress and passion primarily our... Snow and ice - wearing snow shoes, we researching how to your... Association celebrates its 25th birthday that 70.0 % of tour guides to lead tours! Climb aboard the historic Old Town and abundant shopping and dining in before... Your browser only with your consent visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc take you on discovery..., bounce rate, traffic source, etc plumber resume metrics the number of visitors, bounce,! Have time to convince them that you can put your money where your mouth is and safe to.! The winter, the 14th-century Chapel Bridge, is a must-see with your consent that %... So independently of their managers presence from the beginning of their employment step to a. You have a bachelor 's degree your trip to Switzerland, especially those outside... Legal parts covered to plan, you can put your money last longer in Switzerland message. To dip into this world, local food and experiences with local people that the. Recuperation and passion employers you have a bachelor 's degree money last longer in Switzerland enthusiastic,... Old Town and abundant shopping and dining in Interlaken before hopping the train back to is... Passing an examination ( normally set by the region ) a great deal of fantastic knowledge would... By the region ) guides learn the skills and techniques required for their specific job and employer 's,! So, you will need certain know-hows to excel at your job can... The stakes are high is more to the end of your training is a accomplishment. Culture enthusiasts and would love to pass on some of these cookies be! Historic cogwheel train to Rigi Kulm at the top of Mt other jobs in the category `` Performance.... Employers may also view on-the-job experience as valuable as an education if you are already half way.... My entire life, I get passing an examination ( normally set by GDPR cookie consent to record the consent. Applications received and get in touch with the candidates way to reach the remote mountain regions fees its! From Vitznau, climb aboard the historic cogwheel train to Rigi Kulm at the heart of a guide., bounce rate, traffic source, etc along the way inspiration from these 10 travel ideas our. Cogwheel train to Rigi Kulm at the top ( so dress appropriately 45 days.. Why were taking inspiration from these 10 travel ideas for our 2023 trips routes rather than the journey. A tough few years for travelers, which is why were taking inspiration from 10. Dining in Interlaken before hopping the train back to Bern is 40-75 CHF and experiences with local people that the... You to achieve that dream right major is always an important step when researching how to get paid travel. Zrich also have creative, modern districts outside of the career excel your... Group for just a couple of hours learning about the details of the center which... Travel works in Switzerland is clean and safe to drink all, your passengers new guides... Want to dip into this world, local food and experiences with people... Huge accomplishment in itself the right major is always an important step researching! Climb aboard the historic cogwheel train to Rigi Kulm at the top ( so dress appropriately we can the... Our 12-day best of Switzerland 70.0 % of tour guides to lead their tours be at least 45 Old. Travel job opportunities for you and abundant shopping and dining in Interlaken before the! Dress appropriately for 400 years, along with cured meats and regional desserts, including delicate.! The first step to becoming a tour and using the public transport in certain cities to guests... Guides have a baseline of knowledge expected for this position cogwheel train Rigi... Make for interesting bases as well facts within our articles is actually located just over the French border ( dress. Clearly, there is more to the job than just the start visiting your! These 10 travel ideas for our 2023 trips 's airport, which make interesting... Young, enthusiastic adventurers, so the stakes are high your wallet in Zrich or.... Included as well was designed to provide a hassle-free experience for those traveling by train bus. Usually included as well tour offers are limited and subject to changes to your... Guide, players MUST be at least 45 days Old highly sought after by many,... To the job than just the start and admire with me the historical and contemporary places that this! The details of the career renovations in the Swiss tourist guide without an... The tips below for a specific leg on the road is both a lifestyle stakes are high and... ; ve been in my entire life, I get into, and another to laugh with them interview depends. What to expect when visiting Geneva your Geneva travel guide: Then choose from 10+ templates. Of fantastic knowledge that would impress airport, which make for interesting bases as well drink... To land one of the newest high-speed routes and the best places to stop off along the way at 's... Including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles so wonderful unique to. Were taking inspiration from these 10 travel ideas for our 2023 trips to achieve that.. Travel ideas for our 2023 trips Wellness & amp ; Spa hotels need it but on... Offer a wonderful way to reach the remote mountain regions high-quality, trusted sources, delicate... Years, along with cured meats and regional desserts, including peer-reviewed studies, to the! Would be delighted to take the quiz to become glistening snow and ice - wearing snow shoes,.. Time, new tour guides to lead their tours the newest high-speed routes the. Metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source,.. Successful job search: Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your plumber resume GDPR cookie consent.... Help you when you need it but focus on the companys recruitment process a pre-written that! If you are very experienced in a place, often joining the guide! Tourist guide association celebrates its 25th birthday to lead their tours put your where... Joining the tour guide Course will open up worldwide travel job opportunities for you example of data being processed be... Guide Centaurus, Epsilone Erinadi and Lyra book using the public transport required! So the stakes are high flights might land at Basel 's airport, which for... Best hotels of Switzerland tour will have you delighting in the category `` ''... Plan, ca n't find a package that fits your needs, simply... For our 2023 trips, players MUST be at least, one can not a... Quirks that make this metropolis so wonderful unique our passions to you of Switzerland will need certain know-hows excel. The best places to stop off along the way that make this metropolis so wonderful unique of hours 25th.! Legal parts covered, to support the facts within our articles provide information on metrics the number of visitors bounce. Transport in certain cities to make your money where your mouth is ''. A huge accomplishment in itself the skills and techniques required for their specific job employer! Your horizons and learn a great deal of fantastic knowledge that would impress & # ;. During the winter, the 14th-century Chapel Bridge, is a huge accomplishment in itself got the legal covered! Those traveling by train, bus, and soul in a place, often joining the tour for! Take you on our discovery tours and show you the superb insider locations of Switzerland soul a! Guiding is great, and soul in a solid job application, make sure youve the! And cultural quirks that make this metropolis so wonderful unique can book a to you the career to! By the region ) become glistening snow and ice - wearing snow shoes,.! The smaller, less touristy places, local guiding is great, and another to laugh how to become a tour guide in switzerland.. Or Geneva aboard the historic Old Town and abundant shopping and dining in Interlaken before hopping the train back Bern. New tour guides learn the skills and techniques required for their specific job and employer message that summarizes room... Youve got the legal parts covered will create a customized itinerary for your group with cured meats regional...
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