Switzerland Tourism Offers IFWTWA
A bite of Switzerland—with Food, Culture & Wine
September 11 through 18, 2010
Applications must be received by May 10, 2010.
Switzerland has long been noted as a gourmet destination. Especially for IFWTWA, this trip is going to offer food, wine, and cultural experiences. We will tour the Eastern part of Switzerland, the Appenzell, which is famous for its authentic architecture and rural lifestyle. Heading west, we will cross the language border and enter the French speaking area. The terraced vineyards of the UNESCO Lavaux region, overlooking Lake Geneva and the Alps, have been producing wines for centuries, and are rich in history and living tradition. Itinerary is subject to change.
Saturday, September 11
Flight on SWISS International Air Lines to Switzerland (Zurich). Switzerland Tourism will arrange the flight from any SWISS Hubs in North America. Participating journalists will have to take care of their connecting flights to these hubs. You will receive a Swiss Pass (1stclass), which allows you to use the Swiss public transport system for free (trains, postal buses, ships, tramways).
Sunday, September 12
tbd Arrival. Transfer to Appenzell by train.
Appenzell:
The small town of Appenzell and the canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden are set in a picturesque landscape in the South of Lake Constance. Rambling in the surrounding mountains and the region's independent culture are among the highlights. Appenzell is a secret find for all foodies.
Afternoon
Relax and enjoy the facilities of the Hof Weissbad Hotel. Located at the foot of the imposing Alpstein and surrounded by untouched nature, this hotel, which was renovated in 2009, is the perfect place for spa vacation, seminars and recreation. It offers top gastronomy in 3 restaurants (16 Gault Millau points).
7:00pm--Welcome Dinner at the Hotel Hof Weissbad.
Overnight in Appenzell.
Monday, September 13
Morning: Discover the culinary highlights of the Appenzell Region with an authentic “foodie-stroll”. Learn more about local cheese, biberlis, and other specialties.
12:00 pm Lunch in a local restaurant.
2:00 pm The afternoon will be devoted to local traditions. You will get a chance to become an Appenzeller yourself and tackle some local traditions:
- Yodelling: Get an insight into this form of Alpine singing.
- Baking Biberli: Bake your own local pastry.
- Local crafts: Join Roger Dörg in his studio and learn how to make handmade items from Appenzell.
The rest of the afternoon will be free, with the possibility for some personalized interviews.
7:00 pm Typical Appenzeller dinner.
Tuesday, September 14
Breakfast at the Hotel.
Use the morning to discover more of Appenzell on your own. We will be happy to arrange story angles for you.
10:00 am--Group 1: Cow leasing: Did you know that you can rent your own cow in Appenzell? We will visit the farm, which is on top of a mountain. So bring sturdy shoes and be prepared to walk at least 2 hours. You enjoy a farmer's picnic.
11:00 am Group 2: Mountain views: Mt.Säntis is Appenzell's signature mountain. Easy access via cable car, followed by a panoramic lunch. When the weather is bright you can see as far as central Switzerland, with the Alps of the Bernese Oberland and the Grisons.
Dinner in Appenzell.
Wednesday, September 15
8:30 am Transfer to Lavaux Region by train.
Check-in at the Grand Hotel des Bains, in Yverdon-les-Bains.
Grand Hotel des Bains combines the elegance of history and a state-of-the-art architecture. Two restaurants and a bar twill enhance your stay, along with private wellness suite, spa treatments and massages. The hotel is situated in a park and directly linked to the Centre Thermal: Thermal pools, wellness and fitness, thermal cures. It hosts conferences and banquets up to 180 persons.
Guided Tour in Yverdon-les-Bains and region--discover the local and traditional gastronomy (fish specialties by the lake, mountain restaurants…).
Yverdon-les-Bains: Bearing witness to its long history on the shore of Lake Neuchâtel, Yverdon-les-Bains has a unique site consisting of 45 Neolithic menhirs, Celtic vestiges probably dating back to 5,000 B.C. Its cestrum, a medieval castle built by the House of Savoy, and a town centre full of medieval and neoclassical buildings, also testify to its long history. The History Museum in the castle illustrates this past. Whereas the Swiss Fashion Museum, Maison d'Ailleurs – a science fiction museum – and Espace Jules Verne transport visitors to creations of the 21st century. In addition to its building heritage, Yverdon-les-Bains has preserved an exceptional natural reserve: La Grande Cariçaie, the largest lakeside marshlands in Switzerland revealing their flora and fauna at the foot of Champ-Pittet castle.
Free time in the Wellness centrein Yverdon-les-Bains. The thermal centre at Yverdon-les-Bains was built around a sulphur spring gushing forth at 29° C, at a flow rate of 60 liters/second. This water is reputed to be excellent for the joints and the respiratory tract, as well as for the stomach and the muscles. The thermal centre offers four pools, one of which is inside. Water temperature is maintained at 34° C in winter and at 28° C in summer. Jacuzzis, bubble baths, hydro jets, and activated water currents provide moments of relaxation and wellness.
8:00 pm Dinner at the Hotel. A representative of the Swiss Travel System will hold a presentation during the evening.
Thursday, September 16
Individual breakfast in Yverdon-les-Bains.
Train transfer to Nyon.
Visit Nyon, on the shore of Lake Geneva. Discover the local and traditional gastronomy (chocolate maker, cheese maker…).
Nyon: This is in the heart of a vineyard and typical villages. Its climate being favorable for convalescence, the region boasts several leading-edge private clinics. Nyon has a lot to offer gastronomy-wise as well, from chocolate to cheese, from wines to oils and so on.
Train transfer to Lausanne.
Dinner and overnight in Lausanne at the Hotel de la Paix.
Friday, September 17
9:30 am Discovering Lausanne. A walk through the Olympic capital, the second largest city (after Geneva) on the shore of the Lake Geneva.
Lausanne: The old town is dominated by the cathedral, which is regarded as Switzerland's most impressive piece of early Gothic architecture. Shopping streets can be found surrounding the cathedral, as well as in the pretty waterfront area of Ouchy. Switzerland's only «metro» connects the various parts of the town and eases travel in this incline-based town.
12:30 pm Boat transfer to Lavaux with Lunch. Climb aboard the “Savoie,” one of the jewels of the CGN, dating from 1914. Equipped with paddle wheels, this magnificent Belle Epoque ship stands out for its spacious decks and its inviting salons. To top it all to perfection, Michelin-starred Geneva chef Philippe Chevrier and his brigade rejoice the passengers' eyes and taste buds with their refined gastronomic lunches and dinners.
Afternoon Guided visit of the Lavaux Vineyards by walking or biking. Discover the Vineyards of Lavaux, a UNESCO World Heritage site, by bike. 800 hectares of vineyards make Lavaux Switzerland's largest wine-producing area. And the views from the Lavaux vineyards, set high above Lake Geneva, provide the perfect backdrop for wine lovers and cyclists alike. Follow well sign posted cycle trails up hill and down dale, past sun drenched vineyards and fields. Visit the Lavaux Vinorama, a wine site where more than 300 Lavaux wines can be tasted.
Transfer to Lausanne.
Dinner and overnight in Lausanne
Saturday, September 18
Transfer to the Geneva or Zurich Airport by train.
tbd Flight back home with SWISS International Air Lines.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION – PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
Your gratuities are being taken care of by Switzerland Tourism. The exception to that is baggage fees and porters.
Switzerland Tourism is willing to arrange pre and post tours, depending on assignment. Once your application has been approved by Switzerland Tourism, you will be provided with contact information. IFWTWA is not charging an additional pre/post trip fee for members, since you will be dealing with Switzerland Tourism direct on this.
Guests--This trip is limited to 12 journalists. Switzerland Tourism has been gracious enough to allow us to bring guests. But the guests have to pay their own expenses. Expenses include all lodging, meals, tours, transportation, etc. They have picked up the charge on the activities that are based on a flat rate for our group. There are too many activities to break them down for individuals. We do not know whom they will pick from the applications. What we do know is that in some cases, they may only pick one of a team and the other would be considered a guest. If you apply as a journalist (part of a team) and are not picked, you can attend as a guest and pay the fee. We need to accept that Switzerland wants maximum exposure and is investing a lot in IFWTWA. They will advise status by June 20, 2010 as to whom has been accepted.
We spoke to Switzerland Tourism about our International Members attending. Their focus at this point is writers with a North American market. International members would only qualify if they have a North American market.
Guest with air from North American gateway: $3300.00
Guest without air (use points or get your own) from North American gateway: $2450.00.
When you click the online application, be sure to fill in all the blanks. URLs should be uploaded to your profile. If you do not have URLs for your clips, you can FAX them to 877-439-8929. Be sure to indicate what trip they go with and your name. Your credit card will be charged at the time of application. If our hosts do not pick you, credit will be refunded within 10 days of the IFWTWA office being notified. We will try to do it quicker, but we cannot guarantee less than 10 days.
When you fill out the application, it is up to you to indicate how much you are paying. If you put in the wrong amount, you will be advised and it can delay processing.
Early registration must be received at IFWTWA by April 30, 2010.
Late registration must be received by May 10, 2010.
Member Fee Early Registration: $150
Member Fee Late Registration: $200
Guest Fee Early Registration: $150 + $3300 with Air = $3450 or $2600 without air.
Guest Fee Late Registration: $200 + $3300 with Air = $3500 or $2650 without air.
For those who would like to look at the Gourmet Brochure
Please call IFWTWA with any questions at 877-439-8929 or e-mail: admin@ifwtwa.org.
A bite of Switzerland
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