We have just returned from a driving holiday around a large part of Switzerland and I have to say I highly recommend it as a holiday destination. As usual, when I travel around, I tend to compare how things are in other places to how things are in France. And so far I find France always comes off a bit ‘behind’ in many ways. I find that France, despite it being the number one destination for tourists worldwide, basically ignores the needs of tourists and in most instances caters to the French.

For instance; tourists get hungry and want to eat at times when French restaurants/cafes deem it fit to stop serving food. One great thing about Switzerland was that we could drive a good distance and then get our lunch at about 2.30/3.pm. In France, most places wont serve you food at this time.  If we wanted a meal after 9pm in Switzerland we could get one…in France the restaurants are closed at that time.

The clothing boutiques, although too expensive for me in most cases, had clothes that were in colours other than black, brown, grey and dark green, which seems to be the trend in winter-time France. Swiss supermarkets; a wonderful range of foods from not only locally but all over the world. The milk was creamy and the butter was buttery.

And in the restaurants; not a sign of bloody duck anywhere thank god !.

The petrol stations there accepted ALL credit cards ‘after hours’; in France ‘after hours’ the filling stations only take cards issued from French banks. Tough luck if you are an American tourist in France and your fuel tank is empty close to midnight.

In Switzerland the shops are open ALL day; great when you have been driving for hours and wish to stop and shop.

Being a tourist in Switzerland is a welcoming and satisfying experience. Albeit an expensive one!.