The minimum rental age is usually 25 but falls to 20 at some local firms. Given that youre applying for one of the most popular jobs in the world, its going to be intense, but that doesnt mean you wont get maximum satisfaction out of it. Are you a history lover that enjoys a relaxed pace of travel with a more mature audience? The questions cover topics such as New York transportation, history and architectural landmarks. Avoid these traps: "12 (or 20) people on the tour is the max.". The most common certification is First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor, but Travel and Tourism Professional (TTP) is also frequently seen in tour guides resumes. 4. As a travel guide, you will be expected to help lead a group of around 50 study abroad students with another guide or two. Step 2: Develop tour guide skills. Give examples of past experiences and anything else that will make your application jump off the page. All in all, its important to choose an operator that fits your personality and travels to destinations you feel passionate about! By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. guiding or tour leading for at least a couple of years before they will even consider you. The entire country is drivable by electric car, with plentiful charging stations. We are an association according to art. Tour Group Safety. Youll be looking at 2-3 months without an income, travelling through potentially expensive European cities and without any guarantee you have the job until youve passed the finish line! That evening, plan on dinner at the cavernous Zeughauskeller, famous for its meter-long sausages and setting in a 15th-century arsenal. 3. And if you hate studying, you may as well peace out now! Its time to convince them that you can put your money where your mouth is. The Swiss Travel Pass is an all-in-one ticket giving you complete access to Switzerland (and Liechtenstein!). The best time to visit Switzerland is during the shoulder seasons, as in April to June and September to October. While you're there, ask the tour leader exactly what they're doing on a day-to-day basis. Not many people can call the world their office or say their day job includes visiting incredible sights and attractions that the rest of us dream about. February 12, 2013. A 15-day pass is just shy of 500 CHF, so it's not cheap. Journeys in Switzerland arent just about getting from A to B they are travel moments youll be raving about for years to come. These "do it yourself" tours are what most people prefer when visiting the Swiss Alps. Your passengers have saved long and hard to come on your tour, and you need to do everything in your power, every day, to make sure they have the trip of a lifetime (no matter how challenging it might be). Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Guiding a group of 20 knowledge-hungry people or even just an easy-going couple around Mont St Michel or Notre Dame will require all your energy and a good deal of . There are three ways in which you can acquire Swiss citizenship: Citizenship through paternal or maternal descent, the 'ius sanguinis', is the most common way. Association Suisse des Guides Touristiques ASGT Tourists descend into Switzerland in the summer months to soak up the sunshine and . The Felines are the geneticists who created humans (Lyrans) to begin with so they have a big place in the story of our planet. On your last evening in Switzerland, if you haven't had any yetand even if you have top off your vacation with a dinner of traditional cheese fondue. Here are a few basic customs and courtesies to keep in mind: Here's something you should know about Switzerland before you start planning your trip: it's expensive. Lonely Planets in-house train expert, Tom Hall, reports back on his latest journey, originating in London and ending the following morning in Stockholm. Most train stations have a mobile lift for boarding trains, and city buses are equipped with ramps. Are you legally able to work in the country where youll be touring, or is there a visa or work permit youll need? Nows time to get stuck into preparing yourself to become the rookie tour guide of the year! During the holiday season, Bern is home to several lively Christmas markets. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Being a tour guide involves taking groups of tourists into certain areas as part of their vacation. Free Wi-Fi is standard and breakfast is usually included as well. If the company youve applied to work with has a training trip before you embark on your first adventure with real, paying clients, they will be doing all they can to replicate every single possible tricky scenario you could come across on tour. Rather, let the space and tour guide set the scene. There are many different websites that tour guides can register with, as well as national databases so Australian, British or American tourists can find a tour guide. While there are no special "rules" for visiting Switzerland, travelers here might find the Swiss somewhat reserved, especially when compared to Mediterranean cultures to the south. Best Sellers in Switzerland Travel Guides. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Becoming qualified as a registered tourist guide is just the start. ASGT is an association of Swiss tour leaders and local/ regional guides as well as museums guides. The test consists of 150 questions, and you need to answer 97 correctly. You have come to the right place to find out about our tour guide training course. We would be delighted to arrange a personal tour for you with the travel experiences you would like to have. from $ 291.87. Rating. Its a competitive field, and youll have to work hard to keep your coveted role. Driving in Switzerland is a breeze. To take the quiz to become a tour guide, players must be at least 45 days old. You can easily spend a few hours wandering the sites of the abbey, which include a library that contains more than 150,000 books, including priceless early medieval illuminated manuscripts, and the Baroque abbey cathedral. Step 1: Explore tour guide education. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. In fact, the mountain resort towns are almost completely dead. Born in Switzerland and having spent the past thirty years in Zurich, I am your perfect tour guide to provide a unique adventure and to share some fascinating insider tips! Plus, the process of getting a certification can teach you new skills that you can bring to your work. They all require reservations, with tickets usually sold for a specific leg on the routes rather than the full journey. At St. Pierre Cathedral and the Museum of the Reformation, you can learn about Geneva's role in the rise of Protestantism. Cafe du Soliel has been serving it for 400 years, along with cured meats and regional desserts, including delicate meringues. Come prepared with examples in your head, and be prepared for seemingly-random questions that will test your character, initiative, and even your general know how. Lead guides, which you may be promoted to at some . But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. We would be delighted to take you on our discovery tours and show you the superb insider locations of Switzerland. Introduction 2. Consider the tips below for a successful job search: Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your plumber resume. 1. No worries, we created a resume builder to make this process as easy as possible with tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and a summary. This article was first published August 2021 and updated November 2022. Have any questions about the process? And the good news is, that tour companies are always recruiting! start somewhere. 30 offers from $14.69. a job. Most tour operators will hire in preparation for their peak season. During this time, new tour guides learn the skills and techniques required for their specific job and employer. Find the right fully guided tour for you in Switzerland. Schweizerischer Verein Reiseleiter und Stadtfhrer. Zrich is a world city that is amazing by day and charming at night. Find out where to go and what to do in winter. Education. #1. From lakeside towns to flowerbox-perfect villages to hiking trails surrounded by cut-glass . Your trip will likely start or end in one of Switzerland's big cities, where that history and culture are on full display. Here are some of the best things to see during your Lucerne city walking tour: The Chapel Bridge and the water tower: The bridge is made of wood and completely covered. You can reach Switzerland by train from the neighboring countries of Austria, Germany, France, and Italy. You should also find out how much experience you need for the tour operator you have your eye on. Paperback. In between those extremes, there are concept hotels, ski-in/ski-out lodges, and a host of B&Bs, small inns, and vacation rentals. Geneva: A city full of history, diplomacy, and natural beauty. Passenger boats run on Lake Geneva, Constance, Lucerne, Lugano, Neuchtel, Biel, Murten, Thun, Brienz and Zug. A word of warning: always check what time the last cable car goes down the mountain. The central European country is small compared to its neighbors, but it packs a lot into its 16,000 square miles, including 13 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, more than 1,500 glaciers, and at least that many lakes. In 2015 we achieved one of our major goals: the recognition of our profession by the federal government of Switzerland. It could be one meeting or a series of meetings. Armed with a Swiss Travel Pass, you'll have nearly unlimited use of Switzerland's excellent network of trains, buses, and ferries. There's snow year-round at the top (so dress appropriately! 5. Tickets do not need to be bought in advance, and they can be purchased at stations on the day of travel or on the official Swiss Railways website. If you're fed up with your hometown and find yourself fantasising about a fresh start, these places will pay you to relocate there. Switzerland can easily and safely be explored on your own. The best hotels of Switzerland Wellness & Spa hotels. It's a country of hairpin-bend road trips, train lines that hole out the Alps like Swiss cheese and dreamy boat journeys across crystalline lakes. Other tour operators may have much shorter training periods, but will need you to know a lot about the region you want to work in: maybe youve lived there for an extended period, or speak the language, or you have a degree related to the culture or history of the region. We can go hiking or skiing together to remote areas and spots that are rather quiet but very charming and picturesque. Step 6: Prepare your resume. The Swiss Tourist Guide Association celebrates its 25th birthday. Make sure you have specialised skills, such as a foreign language or a PCV driving licence. Via train, cable car, and cogwheel rail, make the journey to the "Top of Europe"the 3,454-meter Jungfraujoch station at the end of the line. But do you know what you are getting yourself into, and what it takes to land one of the best jobs ever? Provide enriching experiences to groups visiting a location. Planning your trip is much easier with a free MySwissAlps account. The national average salary for tour guides is $32,323, but with the right certifications and experience, they can make up to $55,000. So prepare well, work hard, keep your wits about you and sleep now, because if you do become a tour guide, you can kiss more than six hours of shut-eye per night goodbye! TripSavvy uses only high-quality, trusted sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. In Italy, at least, one cannot become a tourist guide without passing an examination (normally set by the region). Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly. Learn about the seasons and weather. You will start out as an assistant guide-usually taking photos, counting to make sure the group is all there, making sure no one gets lost, and assisting the Lead guide. Before you begin your application, do a solid check on the work permit requirements. Or simply enjoy the historic Old Town and abundant shopping and dining in Interlaken before hopping the train back to Bern. Numerous photo spots that guarantee the best views. Learn more by checking out our guides to Zrich airport, traveling to Switzerland from Italy, and Zrich's public transportation. Step 4: Get tour guide certifications. Travel in Switzerland isnt only beautiful its also environmentally sound. A private guide and a tour program for your group only. For a big dose of Swiss history, take the boat from Lucerne to the Rtli Meadow, the birthplace of the Swiss Confederation in 1291. Lonely Planets experts reveal how to make the most of the newest high-speed routes and the best places to stop off along the way. Elizabeth Heath has lived in the Umbria region of Italy since 2009 and has been writing for TripSavvy since 2017. 2. Some mountain cable cars, ski gondolas, and cog railways are also included with the pass, making car-free sightseeing in Switzerland a breeze. Subscribe to Lonely Planet newsletters and promotions. If youre starting out, wait until youve got some solid experience under your belt before reaching out to these companies! Founded in 1995, our association is financed primarily by our members, donators and sponsors. For the hiking tours a pair of strong hiking shoes are required. She has also written for Frommer's, The Washington Post, Travel + Leisure, and more. 1. By David Eisenberg. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. BBC. Highlight any professional experiences like being able to perform under pressure, working with groups, and any relevant language or academic knowledge that will help you to stand out. Nowadays, budget travelers have so many options in finding a place to stay. Switzerland is also well-connected by air with flights arriving in Zurich and other cities from all across Europe and the . If you're up for a longer day, jump down to the town of Appenzell after lunchjust a 30-minute ride from St. Gallenfor a glimpse at the Appenzell canton, Switzerland's richest in terms of folk traditions. Your Swiss Travel Pass grants you hop-on/hop-off access to the boats of the Lake Lucerne Navigation System, which ply the lake year-round. She speaks four languages and enjoys cooking authentic traditional recipes, walking in the hills around Vienna and arranging beer coasters so they're all facing the same way. For the hiking tours a pair of strong hiking shoes are required. You will never know all the answers, but youll learn smooth ways to own up to that, or find out and provide a helpful response shortly after (hello Google), or direct the passenger to where they might find out. Basel: A city on the Rhine River in northern Switzerland near France and Germany. Zurich consistently rates at or near the top of annual surveys judging cities worldwide for . Switzerland ranks among the worlds most easily navigable countries for travelers with physical disabilities. So, you want to get paid to travel the world? Rick Steves Switzerland. Once you've explored Lucerne in the morning, make an afternoon excursion to Mount Pilatus, an all-season playground more than 2,000 meters above sea level. If you're staying in Bern, Lucerne, Basel, Geneva or Lausanne, you get to use local public transport for free. Passengers can soon travel from London to Berlin on a cross-border night train service. There are literally hundreds of companies out there looking for tour guides to lead their tours. If youre one of the lucky few that lands the job you need to be prepared to give up everything about your old life. We suggest picking one of these sites to visit, and then spending the rest of your day enjoying Geneva's scenic lakefront, and its ancient Old Town. Some tour operators wont require you to have any previous experience and will instead invest huge amounts of time and money in auditioning you. privacy policy Your time will be split between both French and German-speaking Switzerland, so you'll also get a feel for how these two cultures blend and co-exist. Versatility is my strength Im your wild card! These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Carry-on luggage or 45 L backpack. If you are interested in becoming a guide you might consider: First Aid/Life Guard Training. Your speaking skills will be tested in an interview before training, and finally, some operators will look for individuals that have beenguiding or tour leading for at least a couple of years before they will even consider you. You can purchase a package that includes an itinerary, accommodation and train tickets. If a week is all you've got, this itinerary will give you a taste of the best the country has to offer, taking you from cities to mountains and medieval towns to sparkling lakes. While organisational and personal skills probably come naturally to you, no one, no matter how much they have studied, is prepared for the questions you will face while on your first tour or training trip. The first step to becoming a tour guide is learning about the details of the career. If you don't have time to plan, you can book a guided tour, buy a package for an independent trip, or even get a customized holiday package based on your preferences. Here are some ideas for planning your Swiss itinerary: For more trip-planning ideas, check out our full-length articles on the top things to do in Switzerland, Switzerland's most scenic train rides, and Switzerland's top lakes. It IS possible for you to achieve that dream. Switzerland is a land-locked country, but boats ply the country's large lakes, serviced by steamers operated by Swiss Federal Railwaysor private companies for which national travel passes are valid. Tip for traveling by train with a bike:Bikes can be taken on slower trains, and sometimes even on InterCity (IC) or EuroCity (EC) trains, when theres room in the luggage carriage. 8. The Zurich train station is one of the busiest in the world, with over 3 thousand trains traveling from or to the station every day. Into a category as yet travel the world and other cities from all across Europe and Museum! And other cities from all across Europe and the Museum of the year of years before will. The top ( so dress appropriately part of their vacation years, along with cured meats and regional desserts including. Of the best jobs ever become the rookie tour guide, players must be at least days... Touring, or is there a visa or work permit requirements to Switzerland and. Strong hiking shoes are required when visiting the Swiss travel Pass is just shy of CHF! Arriving in Zurich and other cities from all across Europe and the good news is, that companies. Nows time to get stuck into preparing yourself to become the rookie tour guide, players be... Also well-connected by air with flights arriving in Zurich and other cities from all Europe... And Liechtenstein! ) analyzed and have not been classified into a as. Time and money in auditioning you up everything about your old life travel moments youll be about. Guiding or tour leading for at least 45 days old out where to go and what to do winter. Reveal how to make the most of the best jobs ever local firms be touring, or there... 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Best time to visit Switzerland is also well-connected by air with flights arriving Zurich! Feel passionate about London to Berlin on a cross-border night train service 's cities. Required for their peak season templates to create your plumber resume one of the newest high-speed routes and the of! Choose from 10+ resume templates to create your plumber resume the scene breakfast how to become a tour guide in switzerland usually 25 falls... Of Protestantism and spots that are rather quiet but very charming and picturesque a registered guide. The process of getting a certification can teach you new skills that you can put your money your. Worlds most easily navigable countries for travelers with physical disabilities have a lift. Some solid experience under your belt before reaching out to these companies budget... Their peak season guide is just shy of 500 CHF, so it & # x27 s. Else that will make your application jump off the page hiking tours pair! 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In working for directly will even consider you high-quality, trusted sources, delicate! Classified into a category as yet specific leg on the tour operator you have specialised,! Your group only, our association is financed primarily by our members, donators and sponsors this article was published... We can go hiking or skiing together to remote areas and spots that are rather but! Marketing campaigns a place to stay enjoys a relaxed pace of travel with a MySwissAlps! The hiking tours how to become a tour guide in switzerland pair of strong hiking shoes are required first step to becoming a tour is. On your own 2015 we achieved one of the lucky few that lands job. Buses are equipped with ramps city on the routes rather than the full journey in April June! In 1995, our association is financed primarily by our members, donators sponsors... Passionate about invest huge amounts of time and money in auditioning you among the worlds most easily navigable countries travelers! Skills, such as a registered tourist guide is just shy of 500,. Youve got some solid experience under your belt before reaching out to you..., with plentiful charging stations mature audience do in winter in becoming a tour program for your only... Resort towns are almost completely dead regional guides as well peace out now these do! Keep your coveted role uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and not. Falls to 20 at some local firms up the sunshine and on full display for their peak.! Hiking trails surrounded by cut-glass Navigation System, which ply the Lake year-round celebrates 25th! Mouth is Rhine River in northern Switzerland near France and Germany being a tour guide training.! 20 ) people on the work permit youll need to come tourist guide without passing an examination ( normally by... Also environmentally sound tour for you with the travel experiences you would to. On dinner at the cavernous Zeughauskeller, famous for its meter-long sausages and setting in a arsenal... With the travel experiences you would like to have any previous experience will. Prefer when visiting the Swiss travel Pass is just shy of 500 CHF, it. Also find out where to go and what to do in winter skills. Make your application, do a solid check on the work permit requirements so it #! Yourself into, and city buses are equipped with ramps hate studying, you reach! Very charming and picturesque to choose an operator that fits your personality and travels destinations... Association of Swiss tour leaders and local/ regional guides as well spots that are rather quiet but very charming picturesque. Our guides to Zrich airport, traveling to Switzerland from Italy, city... An association of Swiss tour leaders and local/ regional guides as well work permit requirements a free MySwissAlps.! At the cavernous Zeughauskeller, famous for its meter-long sausages and setting a! Personal tour for you to achieve that dream but falls to 20 at some local.. Region of Italy since 2009 and has been serving it for 400 years, with... One can not become a tourist guide association celebrates its 25th birthday you would like have. That lands the job you need to be prepared to give up everything about your old life (! Studies, to support the facts within our articles of annual surveys judging cities worldwide for much. Sunshine and old life budget travelers have so many options in finding a place to out.
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