Zrich is a world city that is amazing by day and charming at night. Switzerland Tourism. 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. 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? Getting a certification as a First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor will help you to earn more as a tour guide. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. During the cross-over months, and off season (fall and spring), do carry a warm jacket or cardigan as temperatures drop in the evenings. You can become a tour guide without any formal educational requirements. It does not store any personal data. To find work, you'll need to market yourself to tour operators and other employers. To provide you the best user experience on our website we do use cookies. Prices start at 9 CHF for a basic plot without electricity. If youre looking to expand your horizons and learn a great deal of fantastic knowledge that would impress anyone at a dinner party, then this is the place for you. But cities like Zrich also have creative, modern districts outside of the center, which make for interesting bases as well. Those tour guides may then apply or request to also have some winter work. She has also written for Frommer's, The Washington Post, Travel + Leisure, and more. Guided bus holidays allow you to see the best of the Alps in a comfortable way, and without any planning. Your speaking skills will be tested in an interview before training, and finally, some operators will look for individuals that have beenguiding or tour leading for at least a couple of years before they will even consider you. During this time, new tour guides learn the skills and techniques required for their specific job and employer. This morning, take an early train from Bern to Geneva and get there in less than two hours. download Lonely Planets free Accessible Travel guide, Buy Lonely Planet's Guide to Train Travel in Europe, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. We are an association according to art. guiding or tour leading for at least a couple of years before they will even consider you. Best Time To Visit. #2. If youre lucky, theyll tell you they can take an application anytime! Some mountain cable cars, ski gondolas, and cog railways are also included with the pass, making car-free sightseeing in Switzerland a breeze. Communicating in an effective and entertaining manner. Driving in Switzerland is a breeze. With your ready resume, it's time to start searching for a new job. WebYou can become a tour guide without any formal educational requirements. If a week is all you've got, this itinerary will give you a taste of the best the country has to offer, taking you from cities to mountains and medieval towns to sparkling lakes. While there are no special "rules" for visiting Switzerland, travelers here might find the Swiss somewhat reserved, especially when compared to Mediterranean cultures to the south. Rating. The Zurich train station is one of the busiest in the world, with over 3 thousand trains traveling from or to the station every day. Here are a few basic customs and courtesies to keep in mind: Here's something you should know about Switzerland before you start planning your trip: it's expensive. Complete extensive training as well as first aid, CPR and a certification. If you decide to stay in Interlaken, you can still soar high above the city and its lakes, thanks to several paragliding outfittersyou see tandem riders in the skies from dawn to dusk. We can go hiking or skiing together to remote areas and spots that are rather quiet but very charming and picturesque. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. You will never know all the answers, but youll learn smooth ways to own up to that, or find out and provide a helpful response shortly after (hello Google), or direct the passenger to where they might find out. 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. Just like any other job, you will need certain know-hows to excel at your job. People will still come, even in the snow. Steps to becoming a Tour Guide 5. Founded in 1995, our association is financed primarily by our members, donators and sponsors. My later journeys often took me in the vicinity of water I feel really at home there. Youll meet people from everywhere, wake up in a different city every other day, and truly become a citizen of the world. Getting paid to travel and visit fascinating sites can be enticing, but it's important to consider other aspects of the career. Your passengers have saved long and hard to come on your tour, and you need to do everything in your power, every day, to make sure they have the trip of a lifetime (no matter how challenging it might be). New Orleans, LA. Irregular hours means keeping in touch with loved ones or having a routine isnt easy, but standing at the foot of the worlds greatest wonders will outweigh the crazy hours and lack of routine. Passengers can soon travel from London to Berlin on a cross-border night train service. 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. The Swiss scenic trains offer a wonderful way to explore the Alps. This all-inclusive pass even covers premium trains such as the Glacier Express. For a big dose of Swiss history, take the boat from Lucerne to the Rtli Meadow, the birthplace of the Swiss Confederation in 1291. Address You can enjoy fewer crowds, mild weather, and lower prices. Many cities have free or inexpensive bike-rental schemes, and bicycle and e-bike rental is usually available at train stations. "The city that I've been in my entire life, I get . If youre one of the lucky few that lands the job you need to be prepared to give up everything about your old life. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 5.3% of tour guides have master's degrees. There are very few other jobs in the world where people work so independently of their managers presence from the beginning of their employment. If you'd like to apply for this job, please send us an email with your cover letter, your resume, a letter of reference and a scanned copy of your driver's license, all of those items assembled into one single file. Read on to find out how to become a tour guide! Tour operators invest a huge amount in their tour guides. Tickets are purchased from the driver, though on some scenic routes over the Alps (for instance the Lugano to St Moritz run) reservations are necessary. Maintain alertness for any problem solve calls via radio and communication with management. With almost 700 years, it is the oldest wooden bridge in Europe. If youre starting out, wait until youve got some solid experience under your belt before reaching out to these companies! See Also: Most Difficult Countries to Get a Visa. These jobs are highly sought after by many young, enthusiastic adventurers, so the stakes are high. Basel: A city on the Rhine River in northern Switzerland near France and Germany. Seven years ago, Michael Dillinger was in search of a way to make some extra money so he chose to get licensed as a tour guide in New York to show visitors around his home state. 1. 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! 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. sailing, cultureevents, winter-activities. Heres what you need to do next! As a travel guide, you will be expected to help lead a group of around 50 study abroad students with another guide or two. ASGT is an association of Swiss tour leaders and local/ regional guides as well as museums guides. Use This TemplateUse This TemplateUse This TemplateUse This TemplateUse This TemplateUse This TemplateUse This TemplateUse This TemplateUse This TemplateUse This TemplateUse This TemplateUse This TemplateUse This TemplateUse This TemplateUse This TemplateUse This Template. All in all, its important to choose an operator that fits your personality and travels to destinations you feel passionate about! You will be on call 24/7, your own needs will always, always,be the last priorityand youll find yourself with little to no time to speak with your friends and family back home. Versatility is my strength Im your wild card! The central European country is small compared to its neighbors, but it packs a lot into its 16,000 square miles, including 13 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, more than 1,500 glaciers, and at least that many lakes. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. From Kriens, a short bus ride from Lucerne, take the Panorama Gondola on a breathtaking 30-minute ride to the top of Pilatus, where you'll find hiking, an adventure park, restaurants, and soaring views. Day 2: Day Trip to St. Gallen and Appenzell, Day 6: Day Trip to Interlaken and the Jungfraujoch. We accompany them in continued education and in professional and social progress and promote their professional reputation. 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. Youll be looking at 2-3 months without an income, travelling through potentially expensive European cities and without any guarantee you have the job until youve passed the finish line! Charismatic and genuine. If you're staying in Bern, Lucerne, Basel, Geneva or Lausanne, you get to use local public transport for free. For the hiking tours a pair of strong hiking shoes are required. If you have time to plan, our website explains how to do so. Manage Settings In the Altstadt, don't miss the mighty Grossmunster cathedral, and take time to wander the main drag, the Neiderdorf, and the mostly pedestrian streets that fan off from it. Learn about the career. One Week in Switzerland: The Ultimate Itinerary, The Piemonte Region of Italy: Planning Your Trip, The Best 17 Places to Visit in Switzerland, How to Travel From Florence to Paris by Train, Bus, Plane, and Car, How to Travel Between Italy and Switzerland by Train. You can reach Switzerland by train from the neighboring countries of Austria, Germany, France, and Italy. This article was first published August 2021 and updated November 2022. Lonely Planet Switzerland 10 (Travel Guide) Employers may also view on-the-job experience as valuable as an education if you are very experienced in a related career. Still up for the challenge? Schaffhausen, Rhine Falls and Stein am Rhein. Lead guides, which you may be promoted to at some . This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Prices are comparable to train fares. And the good news is, that tour companies are always recruiting! Apply as soon as possible to get the process started. Switzerland ranks among the worlds most easily navigable countries for travelers with physical disabilities. Bern is less than an hour away by train from Interlaken, which bills itself as Switzerland's "adventure capital"and that's saying a lot in a country rich with opportunities for active travel. Today you'll switch gears and locations, from busy Zurich to more sedate Lucerne, your base for the next two nights. Step 1: Explore tour guide education. 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. Are you a history lover that enjoys a relaxed pace of travel with a more mature audience? A private guide and a tour program for your group only. Many thanks to the curators of MySwissAlps. They can also make you a more competitive candidate. 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. Of course I can also match this sightseeing tour to your special requirements and personal interests. The pros of this job cant be counted on just one hand, but becoming tour guide doesnt mean a permanent vacation. How to effectively deal with illness " your Tour Guide Guests OR yours. When you decide to become a tour guide, It's important to know what duties and responsibilities are required for this position. Before you begin your application, do a solid check on the work permit requirements. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing renovations in the Palais des Nations, our tour offers are limited and subject to changes. 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. The month with the most departures is August, making it the most popular time to visit Switzerland. That said, look out for sizable discounts when booking supersaver tickets ahead of travel. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. If paragliding sounds a little too spine-tingling, try a scenic boat ride on Lake Thun or Lake Brienz, which is included with the Swiss Travel Pass. Youll live out of a suitcase, answer hundreds of questions every day, and work with many different personalities and cultures from all over the world. Many now rent out electric cars, too. There are 44 trips to choose from, that range from 3 days in length, up to 16 days. This experience translates very well for those that wish to become . Advance booking is sometimes necessary. 60ff fo the Swiss civil right book (ZGB). . Your colleagues and peers can help you when you need it but focus on the most important thing of all, your passengers! Stroll the Bahnhofstrassereportedly Europe's most expensive shopping streeteven if it's just for window-shopping, and duck into Zurich's other grand cathedral, the Fraumunster. (1325 reviews) from $ 184.81. see . If you gain their respect and they can see you know what youre doing, youre well on your way to being a roaring success. Completing our Tour Guide Course will open up worldwide travel job opportunities for you. If you love travel, like other people, and are willing to learn, then. If becoming a tour guideis for you, maybe its time to start doing your research on which companies youd like to apply to! The Association is politically and confessionally neutral. You need to be patient, fierce, tenacious, and most importantly possess a genuine passion for your passengers and profession. Please read the below information carefully and check this page . Tip for traveling by train with a bike:Bikes can be taken on slower trains, and sometimes even on InterCity (IC) or EuroCity (EC) trains, when theres room in the luggage carriage. Apply to help you to see the best places to stop off along way... Train from the beginning of their employment carefully how to become a tour guide in switzerland check this page charming at night genuine passion for group. A history lover that enjoys a relaxed pace of travel managers presence from the beginning of their presence. 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