Holiday homes, chalets and apartment in Switzerland

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Find your Swiss vacation home or apartment

Interhome.com: an excellent Swiss holiday rental agency
VRBO.com
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Swiss apartments and chalets: the pros and cons

Advantages

Self-catering can be a cheaper alternative to a hotel. You’ll be more flexible without fixed times for breakfast and dinner. There’s more space than in a hotel room. Renting an apartment, home or chalet is very common in Switzerland.

Disadvantages

Some homes and apartments have restricted rental periods. For example, you must stay for a minimum of 3 days or even a full week, or you can only check in and out on one day of the week (usually Saturdays). Unlike most hotels, early or late arrival or departure isn’t always possible for holiday rentals.

Varying availability

The number of available properties varies by location. Some Swiss towns primarily offer hotels, while others have a huge number of rental apartments as well. An example: in my experience, there’s a larger offer in the Bernese Oberland and in the Valais than in the Lake Lucerne area.

Booking early is recommended, especially for towns and regions with a limited number of rentals.

Practical must-knows about Swiss rentals

The standard rental period is Saturday to Saturday, although many properties allow exceptions. Sometimes, you can rent by the day, but often a minimum of 3 or more nights applies. Keep this in mind while searching for properties. Searching for short stays may yield fewer results.
Catering is not included, although there are exceptions to this rule. This is where you save most, as you can cook your own meals instead of going out for dinner.
You are expected to do your own laundry. In Swiss apartment buildings, there’s often a shared washing machine in the basement. You usually need to register for the date and time you want to use it. Instructions are in your apartment or chalet.
You’re expected to separate waste, more so than in a hotel. This helps to save energy and protect the Alps.
There’s usually a charge for a final cleaning, regardless of how long you’ve stayed in the property. So short stays are relatively more expensive.