Boating in Zurich

Advantages: Picturesque, relaxing
Disadvantages: None for me

...My recent visit to Zurich was so brief that I had to choose between a boat trip on Lake Zurich (Zurichsee) and a train ride up the Uetliberg mountain. My son and his partner had, before my arrival, made a trip to Lake Lucerne and Mount Pilatus, so they insisted I make the choice. Although I have always been a lover of land rather than a lover of water, I picked the trip on the lake. It may have had something to do with the heat and the idea that the air might be fresher on the water, but I certainly didn't regret my decision. Lake Zurich extends thirty-nine kilometres from the city of Zurich, which is at its northernmost point. From there it is drained by the River Limmat. The lake covers an area of about eighty-eight square kilometres. Its waters are surprisingly clean and are purified before being used in the city's water system...

denella 06.10.2009 (09.10.2009) · Read review
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Review of Lake Zurich

Focus on Zurich

Advantages: Good information; many colour illustrations
Disadvantages: One inaccuracy found; maps could be improved

..., and a useful month-by-month summary of annual events in Zurich. The section on Making the Most of Zurich looks first at shopping, then at eating and drinking, followed by entertainment and nightlife. These are all rather generalised, but the next sub-section on sport and relaxation lists a fair number of activities. Then comes accommodation, which suggests nineteen hotels in three price categories. My comment here has to be that for the Helmhaus Hotel where I stayed, the book says 'Ask for a room overlooking the river'; the hotel is close to the river, admittedly, but the rooms do not overlook it. The section continues with a brief look at Zurich's top ten attractions. I was able to see five of them in twenty-four hours, namely Lake Zurich, the Bahnhofstrasse, the Fraumunster, the Grossmunster and Niederdorf. I would gladly have swapped...

denella 11.09.2009 · Read review
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Review of Zurich (CitySpots) - Thomas Cook Publishing

The best wurst in Zurich?

Advantages: Good atmosphere, reasonable prices
Disadvantages: Crowded, noisy

...The Zeughauskeller would not normally be my first choice of restaurant, but it didn't seem right to go, say, to an Italian restaurant in Zurich when I can so easily do so at home. It seemed more appropriate to go to a place that had traditional Swiss/German food along with the atmosphere. The Zeughauskeller is a reasonably priced eaterie situated on the famous Bahnhofstrasse, the street that runs from the central railway station down to Lake Zurich. We arrived around 7pm to find that all the outside tables were already occupied and a queue was rapidly forming at the door. It was difficult to see the menu without disturbing people at a particular table, but we soon found another just in the doorway. Prices seemed within our means, and there was a special summer menu printed in English as well as German. We waited a couple of minutes...

denella 02.09.2009 · Read review
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Review of Zeughauskeller, Zurich

Twenty-four hours in Zurich

Advantages: A lake, a river, a mountain, beautiful old buildings....
Disadvantages: Expensive

...they were beside the 'information bubble' when a police car came past, sirens blaring. Back inside I went, unable to spot the so-called bubble. Phoning once again, I said I would wait underneath the main departure board. A couple of minutes later, we found each other. I wondered what madness had brought me to such a noisy, crowded place, but fortunately my first impression of Zurich was not a lasting one. From the railway station, the famous Bahnhofstrasse runs right down to the Burkli Platz, a square by the shore of Lake Zurich. On this street you can shop, do your banking, or take a break at the Sprungli Cafe. I merely stood at the doorway of a shop where chocolate was actually being made and was hit by the aroma; it was no good buying anything there as it would immediately have melted in the heat. The traffic on this bustling street is...

denella 16.09.2009 (18.09.2009) · Read review
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Review of Zurich (Switzerland)

"Design" Hotel Greulich, Zurich

Advantages: Style, Rooms, Staff
Disadvantages: Not in the nicest part of town

... The Hotel: Hotel Greulich is a "Design Hotel" located close to the centre of Zurich (Switzerland) and is named after Herman Greulich, a Polish social reformer who emigrated to Switzerland and founded the first Socialist Party of Switzerland (the hotel is situated on the corner of Herman-Greulich Strasse). On arrival, my wife and I were a bit disappointed with the building from the outside. Although it was a unusual and cool exterior design, it looked like it needed sprucing up a bit. The windows on the 1st floor and above looked quite old, etc. but at ground floor level, it did look "Design", with a modern looking bar and restaurant. After parking in the secure car park behind the hotel (20 Swiss Francs (CHF) per day), we checked in at reception and were taken to our room. The room was in a small interior courtyard...

psirac 29.09.2009 · Read review
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Review of Hotel Greulich, Zurich

Peace and quiet in central Zurich

Advantages: Location, breakfast, comfort, cleanliness
Disadvantages: Small; a little pricey

...Helmhaus Swiss Q Hotel is one of the hotels in Zurich offered by Expedia in their flight plus hotel deals, and this is how we discovered it. Whilst not the cheapest option, its central location meant we could save both time and money travelling to and from the city. What's more, breakfast is included in the price. Reviews on Tripadvisor were very favourable, and a look at the hotel's website further encouraged us to make it our choice. We did not regret this. My son and his partner booked a double room for three nights, and I booked a single for one night only. I cannot comment on how easy it is to book the hotel directly, as our reservations were made through Expedia. We booked in June for a stay in late August. All three of us travelled with hand luggage only, and in about fifteen minutes we were easily able to walk from Zurich...

denella 30.08.2009 · Read review
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Review of Helmhaus Swiss Q Hotel, Zurich

Zurich....or Zu reich?? An Alternative View....

Advantages: Exciting City, Great Food, Close to Slopes
Disadvantages: Um....

...various quarters, one principal boulevard, the Bahnhofstrasse, is at its centre. This ends at the shores of Lake Zurich and begins at the main train station, or Hauptbahnhof. The HB is a spectacular19th Century edifice, filled with about 200 shops, a stylish 1920's tearoom, and a public bathroom with incredibly clean and well-designed public showers. Walking up the Bahnhofstrasse, you'll pass Globus, Zurich's famous department store, set beyond a small park on the right hand side. This is definitely worth a visit. The food hall, located in the basement, is sumptuous, almost on par with the one at Berlin's KaDeWe. A good place to buy truffles, by all accounts, or cheese, but whatever you buy it will probably be beautifully packaged. Further up along the Bahnhofstrasse, there's an array of gob-smackingly expensive designer shops and massive banks...

snowbunni 14.11.2005 · Read review
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Review of Zurich in general

Zurich connect - woeful service

Advantages: good insurance package, clear information, reasonable cost (but not renewal quotes)
Disadvantages: poor customer service

...I've been with Zurich, Eagle Star then Zurich again for both home insurance and car insurance since the mid 1990s. I claimed on my car insurance in 1997 when my car was written off after someone tried to steal it.. The service was excellent and the cheque arrived swiftly. I had a similar positive experience when I claimed on my home insurance for a leaking water tank (ceiling replastered and room redecorated) in 2003. To say that they have gone downhill would be an understatement. The last couple of years renewal quotes have been high and only came down when presented with alternative prices from price comparison websites. I find the fact that insurance companies seem to put all their efforts into attracting new customers whilst taking existing customers for granted highly objectionable but stuck with Zurich because of their past...

TraceyC123 19.08.2009 · Read review
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Review of Zurich Insurance Company

Zurich, goodbye and good luck

Advantages: One of Europes largest insurance firms
Disadvantages: Lost touch with individual customers and very expensive

...Once upon a time (5 years ago), I was trawling the insurance companies looking for the best bang for my buck on car insurance. I stumbled across a company called Eagle Star Direct, and we in love. Eagle star was the perfect company for me; they gave me good deals, low cost and a ground-breaking policy which other could not live up to without added cost. My relationship with Eagle star remained strong, seeing me through a complicated claim (involving a fool with no insurance) and other queries. We remained lovers and, even when they were no longer the cheapest, I stuck by them, knowing that customer care and a strong policy with extras was there for me. Then Eagle Star cheated on me, getting into bed and being taken over by Zurich Insurance. The love affair ended, as Zurich made me pay through the nose with a premium that was...

MacUK 09.03.2004 · Read review
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Review of Zurich Insurance Company

Zurich has FALLEN

Advantages: good coverage
Disadvantages: expensive, lack of customer service

...a representative, and too many requests once a collision has occured. One month later my brother, who was insured with Zurich, gets into an accident due to icy roads. Upon contacting Zurich, th wait on the phone lines is over 1 hour. The request by Zurich is that we take the car around (in its bad condition though it could still be driven) to bodyshops and get at least 5 different opinions (visit 5 shops) in regards to prices. Zurich did not aid in the process by referring us to anyone. We finally get the quotes and Zurich only accepts the lowest - there is no market research or input asked from us on who we think will actually do a better job to provide us the car that we had before - here the lowest price is the law and no concern exists with regards to who will do a better job! And what is the end result? A 15% hike a few months later due to...

pieruccio 02.09.2003 · Read review
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Review of Zurich Insurance Company