minter Sports
As a holiday centre for Winter Sports Switzerland has everything in her favour : the scenery is magnificent, the climate is healthy and bracing, and in Switzerland the £ is worth 4o per cent. more, itscif a large inducement when choosing a holiday abroad. In addition, the hotels are amongst the best of their kind, and amusements are plentiful and well organised. Until fur- ther notice, the Swiss railways are grant- ing a special reduction of 3o per cent. on tickets, purchased in advance, to visitors who are spending six days or more in the country. Swiss season tickets entitle the holder to unrestricted travel over more than 3,000 miles of rail, and to fare reductions ranging from to per cent. to 5o per cent. on all postal motor-coach services, and most funiculars not included in the general validity. Very cheap season tickets are issued during the Winter Season by the mountain railways and ski funiculars.
Ski-ing ranks first in popularity, and it is practised wherever there are snow-covered slopes. Bob and skeleton racing are also popular, as is toboganning. Curling is well provided for, and finds many followers, hockey and curling matches taking place very frequently. Skating matches, of course, are a feature of all the leading resorts, while horse-racing on frozen lakes makes good sport for everyone.
The social side includes dancing, bridge, cabarets, carnivals and seasonal festivities, and a host of other amusements. Reports on snow and weather conditions are broad- cast every Friday at 6 p.m., and the Swiss Federal Railways and the leading mountain railways issue a daily weather report. The Swiss hotels have all-in rates for a stay of a single day. These, in addition to room and meals, include gratuities, Kurtax, light and heating, &c. Skis and skates may be hired at most centres, which means that the only special equipment required consists of good boots. Petrol for cars costs the visit- ing motorist about is. 3d. a gallon for those staying in Switzerland for three days or longer. Upon entering the country, motorists should ask the Swiss Customs officer for a petrol form, which is handed back at the-frontier point of exit.
The cost of a Winter holiday in Switzer- land depends upon the requirements of the individual visitor, but a nine days' holiday at a good hotel costs about £13 to £15, and a sixteen day holiday' from £18 to £2 t.
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