Geneva and Annecy Weekend: Chocolatiers and Pearls of the Alps

For this itinerary, you can choose the type of luggage you prefer – we always recommend a backpack, but you can also travel with a duffel bag, a holdall, or (it breaks our heart to say it) a cabin trolley case or a checked suitcase, as long as it’s moderate in size. Our Travel Coordinator will suggest the ideal luggage before departure in the WhatsApp group!

Find out the entry requirements for Switzerland, and, if needed, apply for your visa through our partner Sherpa.

Before traveling, always remember to check the government website of your country of origin for updates on the entry requirements for Switzerland – you wouldn’t want to stay home due to a bureaucratic detail!

• UK residents: review the FCDO Travel Advice.
• US residents: consult the US Department of State Travel Advice.
• Other residents: refer to your government or local consulate's travel advice.

Switzerland is in the Central European Time (CET) zone. When it's 12pm in the UK, it will be 1pm in Switzerland. If you're in the USA, time differences can vary: for Eastern Time, when it's 12pm there, it will be 6pm in Switzerland. Switzerland also observes daylight saving time, so clocks are set forward one hour in late March and back one hour in late October. Always check the current local time during your visit to ensure you’re on schedule!

Switzerland uses the Swiss Franc (CHF) as its currency. The daily exchange rate is approximately:

• 0.87 GBP
• 1.10 USD
• 0.98 EUR to 1 CHF

However, rates can vary, so it's good to check before you go. You can exchange currency at banks, exchange offices, and some hotels in Switzerland.

Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in Switzerland, so you can comfortably use Visa, Mastercard, and American Express in most places. Mobile payments like Apple Pay and Google Pay are also popular. However, it's always a good idea to have some Swiss Francs (CHF) on hand for smaller vendors or rural areas where card payments might not be available. ATMs are common, and you can easily withdraw cash if needed. Remember, some smaller businesses might not accept cards for small amounts, so having cash can be handy.

In Switzerland, tipping is not mandatory, as service charges are typically included in your bill. However, it's common to round up the bill or leave a small tip as a gesture of appreciation if you received exceptional service. For example, if your bill is 18.50 Swiss Francs, you might round it up to 20 Swiss Francs. In restaurants, a 5-10% tip is considered generous. For taxi drivers and hotel staff, rounding up is appreciated. Remember, tipping is entirely at your discretion and not expected.

In Switzerland, you're covered when it comes to internet access. Since it's part of the Schengen area, you can use your mobile roaming if you're from Europe. For non-European travelers, you might want to grab a local SIM card or an e-SIM data plan for more affordable rates. Providers like Swisscom, Sunrise, and Salt offer good options. Wi-Fi is widely available in hotels, cafes, and public spots, so staying connected shouldn't be a problem.

In Switzerland, there are four official languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansh. Depending on the region, you'll hear different languages. Here are some useful expressions you might encounter or use:

• Good morning in German: Guten Morgen
• Good morning in French: Bonjour
• Good morning in Italian: Buongiorno

• Thank you in German: Danke
• Thank you in French: Merci
• Thank you in Italian: Grazie

• Please in German: Bitte
• Please in French: S'il vous plaît
• Please in Italian: Per favore

When traveling in Switzerland, knowing a few phrases in these languages can be very helpful.

In Switzerland, you'll find Type J plugs, which have three round prongs. The standard voltage is 230 V, and the frequency is 50 Hz. If your devices aren't compatible with these plugs, we suggest bringing a universal adapter to ensure you can charge your gadgets easily. Keep in mind that some appliances might need a voltage converter if they don't support 230 V.

In Switzerland, the main religion is Christianity, with the majority of the population being Roman Catholic or Protestant. Other religions are also practiced, including Islam and Judaism. Switzerland is known for its religious diversity and tolerance. Important religious holidays include Easter and Christmas, which are widely celebrated across the country. Remember that religious practices and the prominence of different religions can vary by region within Switzerland.

Switzerland offers stunning landscapes and diverse weather, so it's good to be prepared for different conditions. Here's what you should pack in your backpack:

• Clothing:
  • Warm sweater or fleece
  • Waterproof jacket
  • T-shirts
  • Long pants
  • Shorts (for summer)
  • Thermal wear (for winter)
• Shoes:
  • Comfortable walking shoes
  • Hiking boots (if you plan to hike)
  • Sandals (for warmer days)
• Accessories and Technology:
  • Sunglasses
  • Power bank
  • Universal travel adapter
  • Camera or smartphone
• Toiletries and Medication:
  • Travel-sized shampoo and soap
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste
  • Sunscreen
  • Basic first aid kit
  • Pain relievers, allergy meds, or any personal medication

Switzerland can be chilly even in summer, especially in the mountains, so layering is key.

Switzerland's weather can vary greatly depending on the region and time of year. Here's a quick breakdown:

• Northern Switzerland (Zurich, Basel): Generally cooler with mild summers and cold winters. Best to visit from May to September for pleasant weather.
• Central Switzerland (Lucerne, Interlaken): Similar to the north, with warm summers and snowy winters. June to August is ideal for outdoor activities.
• Southern Switzerland (Ticino): Warmer and more Mediterranean climate, with hot summers and mild winters. Great to visit from April to October.
• Alpine regions: Expect colder temperatures and snow, especially from December to March, ideal for skiing.

The best time to visit generally depends on your interests, whether you’re into winter sports or prefer hiking and exploring during the warmer months.

Return international flights are not included on our trips because we want to give you full autonomy and flexibility. You can choose your preferred airline, fly from the airport that works best for you, and decide how many stopovers you want to make along the way.

As flights are not included, you also have more flexibility with your travel dates: you could arrive at your destination a few days early or return home a bit later – or even continue independently to a nearby destination!

An "Available" departure means that the trip isn’t confirmed yet and we’re waiting for a few more travellers to sign up… which could be you!

If you book the trip please wait for it to be confirmed before booking your international flights.

The question of all questions! Here’s some more information: 

• The Money Pot is a common fund collected in local currency from all travellers on the trip and managed by your Travel Coordinator. 
• It is used to streamline payments for extra activities, goods and services that the whole group decides to do. This guarantees flexibility in choosing activities and excursions at the destination in line with the mood of the group. 
• It is typically collected on the first day of the trip in local currency, although at times, the Travel Coordinator may ask for it to be paid before departure.
• You’ll find the Money Pot amount on the website under the section ‘What’s included in the Money Pot’. To find this look for ‘What’s included’, scroll down to ‘Money Pot? Click here’ and you’ll find the details.
• The amount varies depending on the destination chosen.
• It is usually used for group expenses that all travellers decide to take part in, but sometimes if you opt out of an activity it might make more sense for it to come out of the Money Pot. In these cases the Coordinator will return the amount for this activity back to you at the end of the trip. 
• It is estimated based on the experience of other groups but can vary depending on what activities your group is keen for. As such, the Travel Coordinator may need to increase the amount during the trip.
• If not all of the Money Pot is spent, the difference will be returned to all travellers at the end of the trip. 
• The Money Pot also covers the Travel Coordinator’s share of the activities included in the Money Pot, except for those activities that are free for the Travel Coordinator.
• If you pay in advance for part of the Money Pot before the trip for certain non-refundable optional activities, unfortunately, the amount cannot be refunded if the trip is cancelled. 

We offer several payment methods to fit every need:

1. Credit or debit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express);
2. Instalment payment with Klarna (you’ll pay for the trip in three equal amounts);
3. PayPal (for selected destinations);
4. Revolut Pay to pay even faster straight from your Revolut account.

Anyone who books a WeRoad trip has the option to cancel or modify the trip – including both the dates and the destination – free of charge up to 31 days before departure. In case of cancellation up to 31 days before departure, you will receive a 100% refund of the WeRoad trip price. If you make a change, a price adjustment will be applied to the new trip chosen – meaning, if the new trip is cheaper, we will refund the difference; if it’s more expensive, you will need to pay the difference.

If you’ve purchased the Flexible Cancellation Option (which you can add in the first step of the booking process), you can request a cancellation or trip change until 8 days before departure. In case of cancellation, you’ll receive a 100% refund of the WeRoad trip price, minus the cost of the Flexible Cancellation option. 

How to request a cancellation or change to your trip? Send us an email at [email protected] or a WhatsApp on +447716573700. Please share the booking reference for the trip you want to cancel or change, and, in case of a change, the new trip you would like to join.

For our trips we usually use locally owned accommodation instead of big hotel chains. It’s our favourite way to really experience the local culture and, whenever we can, support the local economy. Typically, you’ll stay in hotels, apartments, guesthouses and hostels with the same standard maintained across all trips in the same destination.

The list of accommodation for your trip will be shared with you by your Travel Coordinator 2-5 days before departure, along with other useful details for your adventure!

Yes! We might not know the flights for everyone else in the group, but there are ways to find out which flights your fellow WeRoaders will be taking. 

1. All travellers can share their flight details after booking on their My WeRoad account so that other travellers on the same trip can see these details anonymously. 

2. Alternatively you can join our Facebook group: Solo Travellers | WeRoad Community – (here is the extended link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/963298767843213 ) Look for a post about the trip you’re interested in or ask the group admin for help in getting in touch with your future travel companions!

3. If the Coordinator has already been assigned to the trip you’re keen for, you can easily find their Facebook post on the website. Click 'Ask the Coordinator' and follow the link here. 

Generally, our groups have an average of 11 people. Everyone on our trips speaks English, and travellers join us from across the UK, Europe and beyond. Our trips are open to travelers between 25 and 49 years old. The indicated age is meant to give you an idea of the type of group, but it's not a strict limit: it's possible to participate even with a few years more or less, as long as you can keep up with the pace and energy of the group you're traveling with.

Each group will be joined and led by one of our experienced Travel Coordinators, who’s there to ensure everything runs smoothly and the group feels well-supported. 

If you’d like to know more about our typical WeRoad groups do reach out to us on WhatsApp on +44 7716573700. 

Yes! If you're curious, you can take a sneak peek at the group before booking. 
You’ll find the info in the ‘Group’ section for each trip on the departures page, showing how many WeRoaders have already booked. 

Click the little arrow and you’ll even see their gender and ages – but hey, that’s exclusive info, so we’ll ask you to log in or sign up to see that!

For some trips, in the itinerary section, you’ll find the number of nights and the location (not the hotel) where you’ll be spending the night(s). The location shown is the one we usually go for on most trips, but in some cases, you might stay in a nearby town. This will depend on logistics or availability of accommodation. 

The list of accommodation for your trip (and therefore also the exact locations) will be shared by your Travel Coordinator 2-5 days before departure, along with other useful information for your adventure!

The WeRoad Travel Coordinator is an experienced and skilled traveller who will be the perfect companion for your trip. They will manage all the logistical aspects of the itinerary like transport, timings, accommodation, restaurant bookings and meeting points, so that you can enjoy the trip without this hassle. They’re there to support the group, ensure everything runs smoothly and will no doubt make the trip a lot of fun along the way too! 

The Coordinator will set up a WhatsApp group approximately 2 weeks before departure. This will be the moment to ask any pre-departure questions and get to know the rest of the group! If the trip you are interested in already has a Travel Coordinator assigned, you can contact them before booking. Their details will be on the trip page, or you can search for their name here. After booking, you will find their contact details in your My WeRoad account, under ‘Bookings and Trips’ > ‘Your Upcoming Trips’ > ‘Trip Details’.

Yes, on all our trips you will share a room with other WeRoaders in your group. By default this will be people of the same gender, unless you tick ‘I'm OK with a mixed gender room’ when you book. The bathroom will either be private or shared only with other travellers on the trip. The rooms might be twins, triples, quadruples or multi-share (up to 8 people in exceptional cases), depending on the destination and availability.

You will never share with people from outside of the WeRoad group, except in certain cases for local experiences, which are specifically mentioned in the itinerary or communicated before booking. These typically involve specific nights in unique accommodation like tents, homestays, or camping, offering a more adventurous travel experience in exchange for some comfort.

On some of our trips we can offer a private room for an additional cost. Just tick the ‘Private Room’ option at checkout to get this added. For some of our trips if you book as two travellers together you can add this private room free of charge. Look out for this option at checkout. 

Please note that if you do book a private room with a friend/partner this could be either a double or a twin room so please email [email protected] if you have a preference on this. 

When you set off on a WeRoad trip, you’re officially a WeRoader – and as we often say, 'once a WeRoader, always a WeRoader'. This means that once you’re part of the community, a little piece of WeRoad will always stay with you.

But you’re not just a WeRoader during your trips, far from it! The community is alive and active all year round: you can stay in touch by following and interacting on our social media channels, like the Facebook group or the Instagram profile. You can also come along to one of our many events that we run in different cities worldwide. Check out and sign up to our events by downloading the WeMeet app here.