Staying in Switzerland, and Within Budget Too

Switzerland has a reputation as an expensive place to visit, but there are bargains for young travelers, from free rental bikes in Zurich to low-cost temporary accommodations in a train at the Swiss National Exposition, Expo 02 (which runs until Oct. 20).

The Swiss National Youth Hostel Assn. has set up a youth hostel in a train beside the Neuchatel rail station. This is one of four towns where travelers will find an Expo 02 Arteplage, which is what the exhibition sites are called. The others are in Biel, Murten and Yverdon. A fifth arteplage is mobile and sails on the lakes between the four cities.

The Auberge de Jeunesse “expo sleeper” can accommodate up to 240 people in four rail sleeper carriages with six beds each in its compartments. Rates are about $20 per person, breakfast buffet included, and there are discounts for families. For booking and information, log on to www.youthhostel.ch/neuchatel.

A one-day Expo 02 pass is about $30; students get a 10% discount. They are sold at railway stations. By rail, Neuchatel is 45 minutes from Bern, 90 minutes from Geneva and two hours from Interlaken.

“Go to Interlaken,” says Natalie Sacks, 17, a Canadian student who spent the last year at school in Switzerland. “There’s lots to do--ice climbing, skydiving--and good hostels.”

Packages from Swiss Youth Hostels Assn. can help you save money if you are visiting Basel, Bonigen-Interlaken, Grindelwald, Lucerne, Montreux, Saanen-Gstaad, St. Moritz, Schaan-Vaduz, Zermatt or Zurich. The three- and five-night packages include lodging in dormitory rooms at hostels, buffet breakfasts and the extra fee that nonmembers of an affiliated hosteling association (Hostelling International) must pay. The three-night package costs about $53, the five-night $86. Reservations at least one day before arrival are required. Information is available from www.youthhostel.ch.

Another good source of information for backpackers is the English-language Backpacker News, a free tabloid distributed at rail stations. You can learn about Zurich’s free bike rentals (available year-round at the main rail station) or how your Eurail Pass can be used for a free ride on Zurich’s lake steamers.

Backpacker News also has an online version (www.backpacker.ch) that gives region-by-region highlights and information on independent hostels throughout the country.

Rail Europe (www.raileurope.com) has introduced a Swiss Pass for youths younger than 26, which is valid for four, eight, 15 or 22 days or one month of first- or second-class travel. Four days of second-class travel costs $120. For details on youth rail fares that you can purchase after your arrival in Switzerland, log onto www.rail.ch/sts.

There are thousands of deals for students who travel, but few allow you to go first class. Now you can, if you are traveling to New York City before Sept. 2.

The luxury Plaza Hotel is offering 2002 high school and college graduates a room rate of $269 for the first night and $20.02 for the second.

Maximum occupancy is four people per room. If you and three friends or family members stay two consecutive nights, the cost is about $36 per person, per night (about $8 more than youth hostel accommodation rates).

To be eligible you must be at least 18 years old, arrive on a Sunday or Monday, and present a copy of your degree or diploma and driver’s license.

For reservations, call (800) 759-3000 or (800) 441-1414 and ask for the 2002 Graduate Package.

One way to stretch your travel budget is to stay on campuses during school holiday periods. Many are open to students and nonstudents.

Campus rooms, usually singles or twins, offer privacy at budget rates. Stay on Campus (www.stayoncampus.com) is an online source for many campus accommodations in North America. New are brief listings for New Zealand, Australia, England, Ireland and Scotland.

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Lucy Izon is a Toronto-based freelance travel writer and author of “Izon’s Backpacker Journal.” Her Internet site is www.izon.com.