Air? Again you can search, plan and/or book on-line through BookingBuddy’s Top Travel Deals newsletter, Hotwire and Kayak. The least expensive fare on United Airlines, our carrier of choice, flew from Chicago via Washington Dulles to Zurich, Switzerland. We stick like glue to United through good and bad times because of the “perks” given to upper tier customers. Bypassing lines, priority waitlist, free upgrades from economy to business class when economy is overbooked and a dedicated 1-800 number for elite status. It’s worth it and even if you don’t fly a lot, try to concentrate your miles on one carrier.

Visas? Passports only for European travel.

Travel Insurance? We don’t buy travel insurance for independent European trips. Air and rail tickets can be used another time, granted with small penalties, and hotels are usually just guaranteed on a credit card. We do buy travel insurance for group travel to protect against tour operator default (some operators do not accept credit cards and must be paid by wire transfer or check) and always use Travel Guard. After all, in this economy, who knows!

Health? There are usually no worries traveling around Europe but I still check the Centers for Disease Control updates to see what they suggest and always keep Tetanus boosters up-to-date. It is not commonly known that you can get Lockjaw from contaminated dirt and even surface abrasions. Most people think that only a deep cut puts them at danger…not so. (I, for one, always run into objects and fall off curbs.) We drink tap water throughout Europe but also carry iodine tablets for emergency purification situations.

Rail? Booked round trip train tickets over the SBB (Switzerland) website after discovering that this was the cheaper way to go then buying a pass from Rail Europe. If travel included more than one roundtrip ticket, a pass is the way to go. The Swiss website couldn’t be easier to navigate or purchase tickets. We opted to pick up the tickets at Zurich Kloten Airport and also booked seat reservations since outbound travel to St. Anton am Arlberg was scheduled for a Friday. Have learned the hard way that second class seats on weekends are usually sold out and won’t take a chance. Read about our completely disastrous travel day in France when I didn’t make reservations.

Rail map to St. Anton am Arlberg, Austria
Hotels? We decided on 10 nights at the Hotel Fahrner in St. Anton am Arlberg and also needed one night on the return by the Zurich Airport. Discovered the NH Airport Hotel was the least expensive and booked through Orbitz.

Equipment? Nalgene water bottles to carry in backpacks while hiking up and down mountains (dehydration can be dangerous), lightweight snowshoes, Columbia Bugaboo boots and collapsible hiking poles.

Clothing? Think layers. It is a sweat-a-rama hiking up mountains and schvitz (sweat) goes flying in all directions. It’s guaranteed that you’ll be cold coming down in those wet layers. Long underwear, fleece, lightweight and heavyweight gloves including Gore-tex overmitts for really windy conditions, warm socks and liners, hats, ear warmers, etc. Night in ski resorts is very casual and we get by with blue jeans and sweaters.

What was included? Huge buffet breakfast and five course gourmet dinner based on halfboard. That should keep us stoked up.
Everything planned…it was time to fly.