Once a Swiss holiday rep, always a Swiss holiday rep
Once upon a time, I was a Swiss holiday rep. My life was a whirlwind of welcome meetings, winter coach transfers, summer train journeys and happy (or not-so-happy) holidaymakers. I was a walking encyclopaedia of Swiss knowledge (from the best supermarket buffet to the best view of the Matterhorn), a problem solver (where can I get a proper cup of tea?) and an emergency phone line (I’ve broken my leg and need to fly home).
Between my repping duties, I swooped down Europe’s most beautiful ski slopes. I bought my first pair of hiking boots to reach sparkling glaciers, whistling marmots and high-altitude mountain huts, and I boarded so many Swiss trains that I could recite 80% of the network timetable in my sleep. Throughout my seven seasons as a holiday rep, I lived and breathed Switzerland, and almost two decades later, I’m still besotted by the country that was my home for three and a half years.
A lot has changed since my return to the UK. But I’m fortunate that my continued employment in the travel industry has kept me in the loop, sending me back to the Swiss slopes on several very welcome occasions. My appreciation for where my job takes me never fades. More importantly, I can’t keep away in either mind or body. It’s where I feel most alive. I can never tire of the views; they bring me out in goosebumps each time I round a corner. Switzerland will always be my favourite place to holiday. Whether I’m reliving my favourite hikes, re-photographing my favourite views or checking that my favourite strudel is still my favourite strudel.
As someone who loves to cling to the past and indulge in nostalgic reminiscing, I love it when the view from my favourite Swiss bench is precisely the same as the twenty photographs I snapped on my previous visits. On the other hand, as Switzerland changes, I change with it. I duck around the queue, forming in front of what was once a hidden gem and head off instead to explore a spot on my map that has long sat on my ‘one-day’ list. Or, as a recently converted trail runner, I now love to run in the footsteps of my old favourite hikes, adding a whole new perspective to our Swiss holidays.
When I’m not in Switzerland, I’ve recently discovered that writing about it is a good alternative. I’ve scoured my old photograph albums and sent my husband up into dark lofts to hunt out boxes of souvenirs from my repping days. From ticket stubs and tourist information leaflets to beer mats and scribbled recipes for cheese fondue. In my ongoing venture to keep Switzerland in my life, I’ll share tales of my past, present and future Swiss adventures. From the trails and trains to the pistes and passes. With one or two repping anecdotes thrown in along the way. I’d love you to join me!
10 of my all-time favourite Swiss places, mountain trails and experiences –
Picnicking at Kleine Scheidegg Trying (but failing) to ski moguls in Verbier 
Lazy riverside strolls in Interlaken The most amazing rösti with a view at the Brittania Hut Riverside coffee stops in Lucerne My favourite view through a train window, Lauterbrunnen Valley Saas-Fee Fasnacht Parade Hiking to the Hohtürli Pass Running one of my all time favourite trails, Schynige Platte to First Watching the sunrise over the Wildstrubel Hut
Read about my first season as a holiday rep in Saas-Fee here.