
Debra Lamb, 45, Crindale QLD Was Switzerland everything you'd imagined it would be?
Yes! It looked like a spectacular film set - the mountains were huge, magnificent and beautiful. Everything was so green and the hills were never-ending.
Where did you stay?
At the Hotel Alpenblick, which means 'mountain view'. Michael and I had our own room while the kids, twins Tim and Simon, 15, Nicole, 13, and Sophie, nine, slept in an adjoining loft which was perfect. Arriving at night meant we were in for a surprise when we peeked out of the windows in the morning. Our room overlooked the incredible Eiger Mountain which stands an impressive 3900 metres high. It was spectacular waking up to a view of snow-covered peaks.
What was the weather like?
Travelling in July during the European summer, most days were warm and comfortable. At night it did get chilly but we didn't mind because the cold weather meant there was still enough snow on the mountain tops to try out some skiing.  Did you take advantage of the snow?
Having never seen snow before we had an absolute ball! We built snowmen together and had snow fights. We also bought all-day passes at Jungfraujoch - it's the lowest point of the mountain ridge. There we tried our hand at skiing and tobogganing too. The kids picked it up right away and were soon speeding down the slopes. I had a bit more trouble and fell over a few times, but that only added to the fun!
What else did you do?
We rode the Grindelwald-First cable car, which is one of Europe's longest gondola lifts. It has breathtaking views so we made the most of it by going all the way to the top and stopping for a picnic. Eating out can be expensive, so we prepared the day before by stocking up on basics like fresh bread, cheese, fruit and chocolate from the local village. After lunch we took advantage of the beautiful walking trails nearby.
 Which tourist spots did you visit?
Smack bang in the middle of a forest, the Ice Palace is a must see as it boasts castles and towers made purely of ice - the kids were spellbound! We also took a trip to the Aletsch Glacier which covers 120 square kilometres, making it the largest in the Alps. While they were there, Michael and the kids enjoyed a thrilling ride on a flying fox, which was suspended hundreds of metres above the ground on cables.
What was the food like?
Although we didn't get to try a famous fondue, we made up for it by sampling lots of Swiss chocolates! We also tried some traditional bratwurst sausages along with sauerkraut, which is a dish of chopped and pickled cabbage. It sounds unusual and it's a bit of an acquired taste, but I really loved it!
 What advice can you give families wanting to visit?
If you're there with the family, invest in a Swiss Pass for the train, which allows kids under 16 to travel free with their parents. Make sure you visit the Swiss countryside too. It's not as bustling as the cities and there are lots of fun activities for the family to enjoy. It was a very child-friendly holiday and the kids had a brilliant time.
Facts about Switzerland:
- There are 32 mountain peaks above 4000m in Switzerland.
- The country boasts more banks than dentists.
- Switzerland's official name is Confoederatio Helvetica - it's Latin!
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