People will want to know if you did adrenaline-pumping activities like skydiving in a beautiful place like Interlaken, they'll want to know how many pounds of Swiss chocolate you ate, and they'll probably ask how you paid for the trip in the first place.
Switzerland is known as one of the most expensive countries in the world. According to a report by online database Numbeo, Switzerland is home to Geneva and Zurich, two of the world's most expensive cities to live in. It is also home to the most expensive Big Mac, and according to Trip.com, budget travelers should expect to shell out between $820 and $2,160 for a two-night trip.
I saw the high prices in action on a recent trip to Basel, where I spent $38 on a hamburger, nearly $100 on a round-trip train ticket, and $607 for a night in a five-star hotel.
But there was one thing that helped me stay within my budget: finding a hotel that offers free breakfast.
The author's breakfast plate at Hotel Euler in Basel, Switzerland. Monica Humphreys/Business Insider
Free breakfast is usually a perk, but in Switzerland it was a game changer
Before arriving in Basel, we looked at several hotels in the city. We discussed what amenities we wanted for our four-night stay: Do we need a hotel gym? Is it essential to be close to the train station? King or queen size bed?
At first, the free breakfast wasn't my concern, as I know most hotel chains offer the basics: cereal, yogurt, and maybe a waffle maker if you're lucky.
After looking at reviews and photos of the Euler Hotel, I realized that the free breakfast would be a strategic way to save money in Basel. From the photos online, I could tell this hotel had a large menu: not only the basics like yogurt, waffles, and cereal, but also fruit, breads, pastries, smoked fish, cured meats, cheese, eggs, bacon, and espresso.
It's a breakfast I can easily afford, and if I eat a hearty meal every morning, I can have a lighter (i.e. cheaper) lunch.
And that's exactly what I did: Every morning I went to the bottom floor of the Euler Hotel and piled my plate with smoked salmon, scrambled eggs and fruit.
Then I'll have a light lunch, a sandwich or salad.
Breakfasts and cheap lunches saved us hundreds of dollars on our trip to Switzerland.
The savings on food allowed us to enjoy some lavish experiences, including a night at the historic Hotel Les Trois Rois, which has hosted everyone from Queen Elizabeth to the Rolling Stones.
