how to become a tour guide in switzerland

Plus, the process of getting a certification can teach you new skills that you can bring to your work. Get inspired by these sample itineraries. Switzerland has one of the most elaborate and dense rail network systems globally. Free Wi-Fi is standard and breakfast is usually included as well. Are you punctual; can you stick to a schedule. & more. 30 offers from $14.69. Often referred to as the Cultural Capital of the country. Take a morning train from Lucerne to the Swiss capital of Bern, about a 60-90 minute ride. Driving in Switzerland is a breeze. A guided tour takes everything off your hands. The skiing equipment you can rent on site at the White Arenas. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. The majority of modern hotels also have wheelchair access (although budget accommodations tend not to have elevators). The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". We use cookies to analyze traffic and provide you with personalized content and ads. Whats the major industry of that little town we just passed? Some intra-Europe flights might land at Basel's airport, which is actually located just over the French border. Not many people can call the world their office or say their day job includes visiting incredible sights and attractions that the rest of us dream about. Becoming a tour guide in Singapore requires specific qualifications. . Spearhead all creative activity for online marketing (Facebook), and other social media sites5. Yes, YOU! Switzerland's accommodation options range from rustic mountain bunkhouses for hikers to luxurious 5-star hotels with spas, Michelin-star dining, and every imaginable amenity. If youre interested in working in the Northern Hemisphere, its best to apply around September, as applications will usually close before the new year to have training arranged in the first months of the year. Stamina and patience required. 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. Youll find car rental companies at airports and in cities and towns. (166) Languages: English (fluent), German (conversational), Italian (conversational) Biography: Greetings! The charge is payable (in cash, including euros) at the border, at Swiss gas stations, post offices and at Swiss tourist offices abroad. The interview round depends on the company's recruitment process. Read on to find out how to become a tour guide! Getting a certification as a First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor will help you to earn more as a tour guide. When was that building built? Read our Privacy Policy. Swiss cuisine is hearty, to say the least. Apply as soon as possible to get the process started. Your Swiss Travel Pass grants you hop-on/hop-off access to the boats of the Lake Lucerne Navigation System, which ply the lake year-round. Rating. 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. So have some confidence in yourself. Continue with Recommended Cookies. 1. It IS possible for you to achieve that dream. The Swiss scenic trains offer a wonderful way to explore the Alps. 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. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Switzerland can easily and safely be explored on your own. We strongly recommend tour guide training about what better way then starting right here with our Tour Guide Course. Receiving tips from guests is common, too; tips are usually 5 to 20 percent of the tour's cost. We are a team of travel and culture enthusiasts and would love to pass on some of our passions to you. The best of the best! 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. See Also: Most Difficult Countries to Get a Visa. Whether you prefer the pace to be gentle or adventurous, I will adapt to your tempo. You need to be patient, fierce, tenacious, and most importantly possess a genuine passion for your passengers and profession. The tour operator wants to see if you are the right fit for them and the real deal. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. Of course, your contact details will appear in the National Database and relevant provincial tourist guide association websites (many of which you will have to join and pay annual membership . Lonely Planet Switzerland 10 (Travel Guide) 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. The Swiss Tourist Guide Association celebrates its 25th birthday. Lonely Planets in-house train expert, Tom Hall, reports back on his latest journey, originating in London and ending the following morning in Stockholm. This is simply best travel-related site I have ever seen. Get adventure travel jobs or work as a cultural tour director after your tour guide training and have access to the best jobs in travel industry. To provide you the best user experience on our website we do use cookies. In fact, a little spontaneity is good. Traveling by boat is a slow and delightfully scenic way to get around. For the hiking tours a pair of strong hiking shoes are required. Complete extensive training as well as first aid, CPR and a certification. Both offer tours and museums, as does CERNthe European Organization for Nuclear Research that's home to the Large Hadron Collider. Give examples of past experiences and anything else that will make your application jump off the page. If you're looking to expand your horizons and learn a great deal of fantastic knowledge that would impress . Best of Switzerland in 12 Days Tour. Some tour operators wont require you to have any previous experience and will instead invest huge amounts of time and money in auditioning you. TripSavvy uses only high-quality, trusted sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. 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. 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. Cheese, chocolate, potatoes, and meat feature heavily on Swiss menus everywhere, and risotto is popular in the cantons bordering Italy. Find out where to go and what to do in winter. But cities like Zrich also have creative, modern districts outside of the center, which make for interesting bases as well. "Always have a backup plan in case it . For the hiking tours a pair of strong hiking shoes are required. 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. You did it! 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. Use free public transport. Switzerland is a fantastic country for two-wheel adventures, with many well-signed and highly scenic cycle routes heading along rivers and lakeshores. Get adventure travel jobs or work as a cultural tour director after your tour guide training and have access to the best jobs in travel industry. You did it! While you're there, ask the tour leader exactly what they're doing on a day-to-day basis. "Currency." 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. Okay, if youre really shy, and have never been further than the end of your road, maybe not. Patience and understanding. start somewhere. 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. Step 1: Explore tour guide education. 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. Prices start at 9 CHF for a basic plot without electricity. Travel in Switzerland isnt only beautiful its also environmentally sound. If you're up for a longer day, jump down to the town of Appenzell after lunchjust a 30-minute ride from St. Gallenfor a glimpse at the Appenzell canton, Switzerland's richest in terms of folk traditions. The Palais des Nations, an outstanding testimony to twentieth century architecture, is situated in the beautiful Ariana park in Geneva, Switzerland. Bring a reusable water bottle and fill it up at any tap. Even though most tour guides have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED. Making it to the end of your training is a huge accomplishment in itself. After that, you'll need a travel pass or ticket from the Swiss Travel System if you want to change trains. 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. You may have shed blood, sweat and tears to get here but you can finally call yourself a tour guide! 4. Other tour operators may have much shorter training periods, but will need you to know a lot about the region you want to work in: maybe youve lived there for an extended period, or speak the language, or you have a degree related to the culture or history of the region. Versatility is my strength Im your wild card! 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. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Also Czech databases because various tour guide companies and organizations are looking for guides. Come prepared with examples in your head, and be prepared for seemingly-random questions that will test your character, initiative, and even your general know how. They all require reservations, with tickets usually sold for a specific leg on the routes rather than the full journey. 60ff fo the Swiss civil right book (ZGB). Before investing your time, heart, and soul in a solid job application, make sure youve got the legal parts covered. Today you'll switch gears and locations, from busy Zurich to more sedate Lucerne, your base for the next two nights. Certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for this position. And here are 10 ways to make your money last longer in Switzerland. Youll need skills, of course, but you can learn them. Now that youre a tour guide, there are a few other things to keep in mind. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Basically we can visit every place you would like to see. Fully Guided Tours & Trips in Switzerland. It's time to convince them that you can put your money where your mouth is. The famous panorama tourist trains (with big windows) are just tip-of-the-iceberg stuff: regular scheduled services, which often ply the same routes as the tourist trains, can be just as enjoyable and significantly less expensive. 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! What Happens if Your Flight Gets Cancelled Before Your Tour? All in all, its important to choose an operator that fits your personality and travels to destinations you feel passionate about! Expect to pay anywhere between 40-100 CHF for a second-class train ticket between cities. You can enjoy fewer crowds, mild weather, and lower prices. Skirting lakes and vineyards and twisting up and over passes in the high Alps, Switzerlands roads are beautiful on a cinematic scale, and the country has plenty of drives that are too darned scenic to rush. We would be delighted to take you on our discovery tours and show you the superb insider locations of Switzerland. If youre starting out, wait until youve got some solid experience under your belt before reaching out to these companies! Education. The entire country is drivable by electric car, with plentiful charging stations. Or simply enjoy the historic Old Town and abundant shopping and dining in Interlaken before hopping the train back to Bern. Lucerne's most famous landmark, the 14th-century Chapel Bridge, is a must-see. This all-inclusive pass even covers premium trains such as the Glacier Express. The highest passes are only open from June to October and, depending on the weather, you may need to use a tunnel instead. February 12, 2013. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Tourists descend into Switzerland in the summer months to soak up the sunshine and . 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. If you're staying in Bern, Lucerne, Basel, Geneva or Lausanne, you get to use local public transport for free. a job. Your trip will likely start or end in one of Switzerland's big cities, where that history and culture are on full display. This saves you from doing the planning. My later journeys often took me in the vicinity of water I feel really at home there. The first step to becoming a tour guide is learning about the details of the career. Note that if you're traveling to Switzerland from an adjacent country, your ticket will likely only cover you until your first stop in Switzerland; for example, if you're traveling from Milan, Italy, your ticket will take you as far as Lugano. Rather, let the space and tour guide set the scene. Follow these steps to start your career: 1. Here's a taste of what you'll learn in the Tour Guide Course. To find work, you'll need to market yourself to tour operators and other employers. Take yourself back to the avant-garde era, lean back in this special car and enjoy the wonderful Swiss countryside. Its important to know that when youre looking for travelling job opportunities, many tour guide job advertisements will be looking for licensed city tour specialists, who unlike you will be looking to stay put in one city, See Also: Every Question You've Ever Had About Group Tours. With almost 700 years, it is the oldest wooden bridge in Europe. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing renovations in the Palais des Nations, our tour offers are limited and subject to changes. You can become a tour guide without any formal educational requirements. Geneva: A city full of history, diplomacy, and natural beauty. Learn about the career. Get our travel tips Delivered to your inbox. Getting There. Rick Steves Switzerland. Come with us and get to know Switzerland and its customs on tailor-made tours. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Retrieved on November 9, 2021. 3. Aid clients with matters regarding passports and visas. ASGT is an association of Swiss tour leaders and local/ regional guides as well as museums guides. Being a tour guide involves taking groups of tourists into certain areas as part of their vacation. The role of a tour guide requires a range of knowledge, social skills and physical capabilities to cover the many aspects of the job. Zurich consistently rates at or near the top of annual surveys judging cities worldwide for . Free kilometers and gasoline are included in my wage. Steps to becoming a Tour Guide 5. Celebrate the fact that youre here because experienced touring professionals believe you have what it takes to take passengers on the trip of a lifetime. Travel Guides are generally very knowledgeable in these 5 key areas. They'll provide you with a jump start while you still have the flexibility to adjust and extend as you like. privacy policy Martin Gordon has represented Ireland at the Paralympics, with Eamon Byrne as tandem pilot. In winter, it's as early as 4pm in mountain resorts. Explore and discover with me the natural beauty of Switzerlandand let me take you off the beaten track and into the hidden landscapes. Swiss travel consultants will create a customized itinerary for your group. Are you a history lover that enjoys a relaxed pace of travel with a more mature audience? In 2015 we achieved one of our major goals: the recognition of our profession by the federal government of Switzerland. From Vitznau, climb aboard the historic cogwheel train to Rigi Kulm at the top of Mt. There are literally hundreds of companies out there looking for tour guides to lead their tours. Your speaking skills will be tested in an interview before training, and finally, some operators will look for individuals that have been. You can start your own tour guide company or seek employment. (670 reviews) from $ 291.87. Switzerland Tourism. Just call me while you are in Switzerlandor book me in advance. We have placement opportunities for Canadians in a group of diverse countries which offer jobs in sectors such as: Crops, Dairy, Beef, Sheep, Equine, Beekeeping. Here's how to get around this wonderfully scenic country. Choosing the right major is always an important step when researching how to become a tour guide. A tour leader's monthly income can vary between 1000 to 10000 USD, depending on their work. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Those tour guides may then apply or request to also have some winter work. Some mountain cable cars, ski gondolas, and cog railways are also included with the pass, making car-free sightseeing in Switzerland a breeze. Take advantage of free public transport in certain cities to make your money last longer in Switzerland. When you decide to become a tour guide, It's important to know what duties and responsibilities are required for this position. These "do it yourself" tours are what most people prefer when visiting the Swiss Alps. 8. Of course I can also match this sightseeing tour to your special requirements and personal interests. See Also: Everything Your Tour Guide Wants You to Know Before You Travel. 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? Still up for the challenge? View of Mount Pilatus from Stans. Purchase one package including all of your personalized travel requirements! Address Swiss wine, from vineyards mostly south of the Alps, is so popular among the Swiss that only 2 percent is exported! The interview round depends on the companys recruitment process. 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. Prices are comparable to train fares. Switzerland is a well organized and safe country. 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! But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Great communication/public speaking skills. If you are interested in becoming a guide you might consider: First Aid/Life Guard Training. 260% Slots Bonus + 60 Spins on Plentiful Treasure. How to effectively deal with illness " your Tour Guide Guests OR yours. Whether youre looking to crawl up hills on a road bike, tear down trails on a mountain bike or simply want a gentle pedal along a shimmering lake, Switzerland is brilliantly set up for cyclists. These rail tour packages include all the highlights. Associazione Svizzera delle Guide Turistiche During the cross-over months, and off season (fall and spring), do carry a warm jacket or cardigan as temperatures drop in the evenings. In an Alpine destination such as Zermatt, Saas-Fee, or Gstaad, we like cozy, traditional hotels that really impart a sense of place. Basel: A city on the Rhine River in northern Switzerland near France and Germany. info@asgt.ch. Swiss Pass holders get a discount on train tickets to the Jungfraujoch. If youd like to work in Australia and New Zealand, applications are generally taken around mid-year in preparation for the summer. Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts. 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. Your colleagues and peers can help you when you need it but focus on the most important thing of all, your passengers! At St. Pierre Cathedral and the Museum of the Reformation, you can learn about Geneva's role in the rise of Protestantism.

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how to become a tour guide in switzerland