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Rick Steves' Switzerland

Updates since the fifth edition:

Switzerland now has a nationwide ban on smoking in public indoor places. This includes bars and restaurants, but some skirt the rules a little by offering enclosed verandas for smokers.

You can no longer buy tickets on Swiss trains (in the past, you could buy tickets on board for a small service fee, as long as the train didn't display the yellow eye logo; now travelers without tickets will be fined 90 SF).

The VAT rate in Switzerland is now 8 percent.

Getting to Venice: One daily, direct Basel–Venice EuroCity train now runs, in addition to an existing, direct Geneva–Venice departure, adding an option that does not require a change of trains at Milan, though total travel time can still be shorter if you change at Milan. These leave from Switzerland at about 7:00 and from Venice at about 17:00.

Luzern and Central Switzerland

Central Switzerland

The summit at Mt. Pilatus doesn't have a "summer toboggan" run; the mountain's only luge course (and it's a doozy) is a cable-car ride down from the summit, at Fräkmüntegg. 

Berner Oberland

Interlaken

The correct phone number and email for Katy's Lodge B&B is mobile 078-604-6507, katyslodge@hotmail.com.

We're very sad to report the death of our friend Fritz Hutmacher of Hotel Lötschberg. The hotel continues to be run by his wife, Susi.

Gimmelwald

The last cable cars to Gimmelwald (from Stechelberg and Mürren) now leave at 23:45 Sun–Thu (not 23:55). The last service on Fridays and Saturday nights leaves at 24:55 (i.e., 5 minutes before 1 a.m.).

Liesi's Heart Place now charges 120 SF for a Db in high season (Tb-150 SF), with discounts for stays of four or more night. Preferred phone number: 033-841-0880.

Mürren

Hotel Jungfrau has new directors, Alan and Véronique Ramsay.

Chalet Helvetia, just below the cable-car station, on the path to Gimmelwald, now has a website: www.chalet-helvetia.com. Frau Hunziker's first name is Edmée.

Zermatt

Eurailpasses now give you discounts off train tickets (25 percent) between Brig and Zermatt, as well as on the Gornergrat train uphill out of Zermatt. Mountain lifts up to Rothorn and Klein Matterhorn (Matterhorn Glacier Paradise), however, still offer no discount to Eurailpass holders (mountain lifts are covered at 50 percent by Swiss Pass holders).

Paragliding outfitters Alpine Adventures have a new telephone number: mobile 079-643-6808.

Appenzell

Haus Lydia has new prices: Sb-68–78 SF, Db-116 SF. Lydia now has two apartments for rent (Db-67–98 SF, breakfast extra).

Lake Geneva and French Switzerland

Lausanne

Intenet cafés Quanta and Shiva Cyber Bar have both closed.

Swiss Passes do cover transportation within the city; Eurailpasses, and other multi-country passes, do not.

Bulle

The weekly produce and craft market is on Thursdays (not Tuesdays).

Gruyères

Hostellerie Saint-Georges has a new website and email address: st-georges-gruyeres.ch, info@st-georges-gruyeres.ch.

B&B Lepatchi's rooms are no longer be run by Hedwige and André, but by Le Castel, the hotel next door.

Pontresina, Samedan, and St. Mortiz

St. Moritz

Restaurant Engiadina is closed for renovation until December 2011.

Scenic Rail Journeys

The Gotthard Base Tunnel information center is now closed Sunday as well as Monday (open Tue–Sat 9:00–18:00).