Switzerland and Greece – Why We Planned the Trip All by Ourselves!!!

If you know us by now, you will know that we, as a couple, have always nurtured our dreams to travel far and beyond. We pack our bags at the slightest possible opportunities. Since we are working professionals, we plan our calendars months in advance and try to make use of every possible window, however small, that could help us fly to and discover some place new.

We have never been keen on the number game though, but always too invested in the experience that we carry back home. Exploring nook and crannies of a place, meandering through hidden alleys, reading a classic novel by the lakeside or watching the mighty sun go down the horizon in each others arms while sipping our favourite hot coffee – that is the drill we fancy when we take our trips.” Could we ever get this experience while taking a Package Tour?” —- “Not in a Million Years!!!”

Before we put up our detailed blogs of our planning, budgeting and experience, we would like to objectively share with our readers the detailed reasons of why we planned this extensive trip all by ourselves.

1. Making our Own Combination of Countries (Switzerland & Greece)

A Beautiful Scenic Stop-Over in Wengen Village, Switzerland. . .

Maddy, Enjoying the Historical Marvels of Athens City, Greece

For most people, Switzerland and Greece were a strange combination, mainly because the two countries do not share a border. However, it was our first time visiting Europe, and we really wanted to scrap the best deal for ourselves. While we were eager to drive through the iconic mountains, alpine sceneries and fairy tale castles of Switzerland, we also wanted to experience the history of Athens, the mysticness of Meteora and the romance of Santorini and its beaches. This ‘Luxury of Choice’ gave us the perfect vacation we had dreamt off for all these years. And no two countries could be better combined for our First Dreamy Euro-Trip!

2. The Dream to take a Road trip throughout the length and breadth of Switzerland

Roadtripping Through this Paradise, -‘Heavenly’

Most Tour groups and Tourists concentrate their time to Central Switzerland, also known as the Bernese Oberland. The Interlaken area and Jungfrau thus becomes their only exposure of their Swiss Bonanza. However, we could drive upto the Rhine Falls bordering Germany in the North, hike along the Alpenstine region in Appenzel bordering Austria to the East, experience a complete shift in the montage, music and architecture with a French influence in Geneva (West), a complete Italian setting in the village of Zermatt to the South of Switzerland. All because we hired a car and took the matters of planning into our own hands.

3. Hiking Through the Dreamy Swiss Alps

Hiking Through the Most Scenic Swiss Alps!!! Can you Beat the View???

Switzerland is home to some of the best hiking trails in the world. Be it the Bernese Alps, the dreamy alps in Appenzerland or the lone mountains near Zermatt, each hike provides a completely different but equally enchanting panaromic experience. We did the Sealpsee Lake Hike, The Schaffler Ridge Hike in Appenzel, the five lake hike from Zermatt (Sunnega) and the cozy Swiss Villages in the Bernese Alps. Hiking along the trails and witnessing the change in scenery first hand has always been my partner’s and my dream. Could we have ever experienced this had we come on a package tour with a group. I highly doubt. . .

4. Experiencing the Culture of Places in their Entirety

A Car-Free Village in Gimmelwald, Isn’t is just Lovely?

A Bougainvillea Draped Cute Orthodox Church in Greece. . .

You can never experience the ‘Culture’ of a place in its entirety unless you have travelled in their local transport, eaten their local food, stayed in their traditional homes and walked in their happening streets. Gladly, we did them all. Athens reminds me of rebel slogans painted across the walls and the lively musical streets, Switzerland speaks volumes about the panache and finesse with which the locals lead their lives, very punctual but extremely relaxed.  – A concept alien in group travel.

5. Trying out the Cullinary Delicacies to our Heart’s Content

Some Wine’n’Dine on the most Colourful Streets of Plaka, Greece? Yes Please!!!

A delicious buffet breakfast with the tastiest cheese in Appenzel, a cup of Swiss Milk Tea while overseeing the enchanting panaromic landscape in Gimmelwald, most delectable Swiss Chocolates blended with the choicest nuts in Geneva or the Cup of Strongest coffee in Greece. We savoured every Cullinary Delight to their last bit. So much so that we still miss the savoury Chicken Gyros served with Greek Wine, Souvlaki served with the Classic Greek Ouzo when we sit for dinner.

6. Exploring Europe Our Kind of Way

Maddy Relaxing at the Gorgeous Kamari Beach, Santorini – Greece. . .

I spent an Entire Morning reading this novel by Lake Brienz. . .

Although we had a day-wise fixed iterinary in place, each place could only hold us as little or as much we desired. For instance we quickly shuffled through the paintings and statues ornately placed in the Museum of Art and History Geneva, but spent an entire morning reading a book by the lakeside in Iseltwald. We spent a major part of the day basking in the mild sun at Kamari Beach while giving Perivolos a complete miss. Our Holiday, Our way – is our motto. A luxury we would be blatantly and inevitably denied if we were on a group package tour.

7. For the Love of Researching and Planning

There we said it! We have a tremendous interest in researching about new places. It all starts with brewing a hot cup of coffee, making an initial sketch, taking notes and revisiting them with changes as our research progresses. I know it sounds crazy, but trust us it is not – atleast not for us. And we throroughly enjoy the whole grind to the tee.

Parting Thoughts

We are two very opinionated Ninjas with extreme clarity on how we want to experience our lives despite the inevitable restrictions that life comes with. Thankfully , our opinions for the most part align with each other. But one thing in which we both swear by is , “The Freedom of Choice” for the one thing that we cherish the most – ‘The Love for Travel’.

However, if you don’t like struggling like us kids, we will put a detailed blog describing the planning, packing, visa processing, budgeting, car-hiring, excursions, must-dos in our subsequent blogs. So, stay tuned! And much Love . . .