There are few things in the world as revered as Swiss hospitality, or watch making for that matter. If you want in on either, you picked a great time, because eager for tourists to revisit the Swiss wonderland known as Geneva, the city has arranged stay packages up to 65% off, including access to unique experiences. And yes, Switzerland is open to visitors from Europe, the UK and a few international countries too…
Geneva’s “Savings Boxes” For Summer Travel
Geneva is many wonderful things, but cheap is rarely a word used alongside any of them. It’s an expensive city with some of the world’s finest food, hotels, goods, and most importantly – chocolates. To boost tourism over the summer, the city is partnering with hotels and unique tours to subsidize costs for visitors, with savings up to 65% off.
Flights, trains or car rides are on you to get there, but once you reach Geneva, there are bargains to be had which bundle hotels and experiences which may not be bookable ever again, and definitely not at 65% off. Like cooking with Philippe Chevrier of Châteauvieux, a two Michelin Starred chef, and then enjoying the 9 course tasting menu, complete with five star hotel stay, transportation throughout the city, breakfast and more for around $400/£330 per person.
The meal alone would usually take a nice chunk of that, not even counting a five star hotel in Geneva. Some other unique Swiss experiences at different price points include…
- 1 double room in a 5-star hotel for 1 night for 2 people with breakfast
- Making your own watch with a master watchmaker – activity for 2 people, making 1 watch
- Initium workshop for 2 people, lunch with the watchmaker included
- Free public transport (Geneva Transport Card)
Price for 2 people: £808 instead of £2,297 (65% saving)
Taking a private boat trip (premium collection):
- 1 double room in a 3-star hotel for 1 night for 2 people with breakfast
- 2 hour private sailing trip with skipper
- Free public transport (Geneva Transport Card)
Price for 2 people: £264 instead of £498 (47% saving)
Enjoying an E-bike tour & wine tasting (discovery collection):
- 1 double room in a 2-star hotel for 1 night for 2 people with breakfast
- E-Bike rental and wine tasting for 2 people
- Free public transport (Geneva Transport Card)
Price for 2 people: £247 instead of £426 (42% saving)
It’s hard to beat summer in Switzerland, as mountains reveal gorgeous greens to match the snowy caps and farm to table food comes into full swing. And yeah, cheese, wine, chocolate, all that. With such great availability to use points this summer, this is a fun way to save on flights and unlock extraordinary experiences which you wouldn’t usually find.
The promotion runs through December 31st, 2020, and hopefully visitors from more countries outside of Europe will soon be able to join. For Europeans, including the UK, and the 14 other countries welcome to visit Europe right now, it’s great news.
they raise the prices before applying the discount ?
It’s not a bad deal if you’re into horology and need a new watch. From Initium’s website. The cheapest option for the full day workshop that includes lunch costs CHF 2290. Even if it was the half day workshop at CHF 1690 (doesn’t include lunch on Initium’s website) it’s still not bad. The hotels include the Mandarin Oriental, Four Seasons, Fairmont, Richemond, Ritz-Carlton, Beau-Rivage, etc… Even I’d be tempted haha (I’m from Lausanne).