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Are you planning a vacation to Switzerland? On the Holidays to Switzerland travel podcast you'll get practical tips and advice from Swiss travel experts to help you plan your dream trip to Switzerland. Your host, Carolyn Schönafinger, the founder of HolidaysToSwitzerland.com and a Swiss travel expert, shares the best places to visit in Switzerland based on her experiences, along with all the Swiss travel tips she has gathered over 30 years and on dozens of visits, for planning a trip to Swit ...
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Most memorable journeys

Elisabeth Villiger Toufexis

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This podcast is all about stories, past experiences, and anecdotes from my trips and adventures. Because of my work as a tour guide for 11 and a conference interpreter for 15 years after that, I was able to travel the world and meet so many amazing people on the way. I will be hosting some of them on this podcast and together with my guests, we will talk about our most memorable journeys. Let me entertain you, remind you of a past holiday or activate your wanderlust. Let me remind you that l ...
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Looking for a FUN adventure for your next vacation? Active Travel Adventures curates multi-day world wide adventure travel holidays for reasonably fit folks who love to hike, bike, paddle or otherwise stay active for a more immersive experience when they vacation and explore our planet and its people. These are all adventures that YOU can do, especially if you train (I'm 64, so if I can do it, so can YOU!). It's easy to find the right adventure for you: We cover mild adventures like cycling ...
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Planning a trip to Switzerland’s Jungfrau Region can be as daunting as it is exciting. With so many beautiful destinations to choose from, deciding where to base yourself can make or break your Swiss holiday experience. In this episode, I dive deep into the charming destination of Grindelwald (towns don’t get any more authentically Swiss than this!…
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Petros Kkolas is a Digital Consultant in Engineering, working on mega projects in the UK and Greece. His expertise lies in Highways Engineering and the development of sustainable mobility solutions for the clients he serves. He is currently employed by ARUP, a global engineering consultancy with more than 19,000 employees and 94 offices in 34 count…
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We speak to four women from the Zurich International Women’s Association about social groups and expat life in Switzerland. Karin, Martha, Debbie, and Carolina offer diverse perspectives on finding a social network. They speak about topics such as how to approach your neighbours, what you can do to meet others in your community, and how to juggle w…
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Bikepacking and Bike Touring Adventures Today we discuss bike packing and bike touring (and the difference between the two). We'll cover: The difference between bike packing and bike touring Panniers versus bike bags for carrying your gear What kind of bags you'll need The six main cross country USA bike trails Rails to Trails - over 25,000 miles o…
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I met Stelana at the Diaspora Forum (once more thank you Paul Lambis) and instantly liked her. She is genuine and very authentic. Stelana Kliris is a South African Cypriot writer/director/producer and the founder of Meraki Films which is a production company based in Cyprus and established by Stelana as a banner for both her own films and those of …
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Talking to Andrea about how life doesn’t always turn out the way we expected it. After studying psychology in the UK and coming back to Cyprus, she realised that things were complicated. For fun she joins an open recruiting day for flight attendants at Emirates Airlines and gets accepted. Even though her father wasn’t thrilled with the idea, she mo…
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Boat and Bike from Venice to Mantua 8 Day Cycling Adventure What a fantastic way to explore Venice and the Italian countryside : by bike AND boat! On today's show, we learn about a super fun and affordable way to explore one of Europe's most popular countries, but since we are traveling different that the other tourists, we are usually away from th…
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Talking about growing up in Lahore and Guyana, what it means to be a third culture kid. Her childhood was informed by the Islamic call to prayer and her education at the American School had her playing with kids from all over the world of every color, creed and religion. When one grows up like this, is it any wonder that the world becomes enchanted…
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Have you ever wondered, “What is the best time to visit Switzerland?” If you're considering a trip to this stunning country, Switzerland in autumn might just be the perfect answer. In this special 100th episode, we'll explore the incredible beauty of autumn in Switzerland. During fall, the Swiss landscape transforms into a breathtaking canvas of vi…
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Nitsa Anastasiades was raised in UK, London. She holds an MSc in Creative Writing Fiction from Edinburgh. Her work has been commended by the Bridport Prize and Fish Publishing respectively. With her husband who is a school principal and her family she has worked and lived all over the world. She is the author of several books and a great storytelle…
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We speak to Carolyn Schönafinger from Holidays to Switzerland about travelling around Switzerland. Carolyn has been visiting Switzerland for over 30 years and runs her own travel podcast. She tells us about four famous places (Lucerne, the Berner Oberland, Zermatt, and Montreux) as well as several destinations off the beaten track. We also talk abo…
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8 Day Boat and Bike Tour of Provence - Carmargue France Today we head to one of the most beautiful and popular regions of France, yet away from the busy crowds in the south of France. We are heading to Provence and the Camargue region, on an 8 day boat and bike tour where we will visit fortresses and Roman ruins, enjoy local wines and cycle past vi…
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Kevin was born to an American father and a mother from El Salvador. His mother wanted him to be called Guillermo but his father decided to give the name of a basket player to the hospital administration. This is how the podcast starts. Kevin is witty and great fun with lots of stories to tell. When he received a scholarship from Georgetown Univesit…
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Planning a trip to Switzerland can be overwhelming. With so many beautiful places to see, how do you ensure you're choosing the best experiences that make every moment count? Today, we’re going to uncover the lesser-known yet breathtaking Gotthard Panorama Express. This unique travel experience combines a relaxing boat cruise on the picturesque Lak…
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She is a Marketing Expert, an Author, a Motivational Speaker, a Presenter, a Podcaster etc. but most of all a very authentic, well travelled, beautiful woman with a great sense of humour. During her time in London, she worked on some of TV and film's most prestigious international productions and had an amazing time working on film awards season in…
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A global collection of Balanced Travelers powers us. A shared ethos drives us: a commitment to wellness, sustainability, and eco-minded tourism. Our tight-knit guild is comprised of individuals who hold the planet dear and encourage mindful travel whose purpose extends beyond mere exploration. It is not the start nor the finish, but the journey in …
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Seasoned Traveler Insights with Mollie of Stay In Good Company Kit was interviewed by host, Mollie, on the popular travel podcast, Stay In Good Company. In this episode, we share the entire episode, which also features Mollie's other well traveled guest's insights about travel, including slow travel and some of the fun and unusual lodging they've e…
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Are you dreaming of visiting Switzerland but feeling unsure about the cultural norms and etiquette? As a visitor in a foreign country, it's natural to worry about unintentionally offending locals or committing social faux pas. In this episode, I chat with Kathrin Spinnler, who was born and raised in Switzerland, to get her expert advice on navigati…
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Paola Savva is an award winning public figure and the founder of Sheinspires and She Cyprus Events and Seminars. Her why is to lift herself and others to fearless living and to empower them to find their inner strength and authentic self, living a meaningful life. At the age of 17, she lost her dreams and everything that gave meaning to her life. T…
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We speak to Serge Frech, the director of the Swiss national association of ICT training (ICT-Berufsbildung), about basic and continued IT training in Switzerland. Unlike in many countries, most Swiss IT professionals complete vocational training. After achieving a basic degree, they can continue their education by obtaining a federal or advanced fe…
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I had been following him on TikTok and Instagram for a while and I met him at the Cyprus Diaspora Forum; thank you Paul Lambis for another useful and inspiring connection. Peter has a huge following on all his social media channels and says that consistency is key. Peter Kypri was born in England and is now living in Cyprus and his alter ego Souvla…
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Trek to Everest Base Camp in Nepal : An Adventure For Regular Hikers (who train!) Looking for a superb challenge, surrounded by majestic beauty and a unique culture? Consider trekking to Everest Base Camp(EBC)! You hike on the same path as the folks who are attempting to climb Mount Everest, ending at EBC, the last village before their final climb.…
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Are you planning to see scenic Switzerland by train? In this episode, Carolyn answers 15 of the most frequently asked questions by travellers who plan to travel Switzerland by train. If you’ve ever wondered if there are weight limits for luggage on Swiss trains, or have asked ‘do Swiss trains have toilets?’, these questions and many more will be an…
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Sarit is one of the people that I instantly liked and felt connected to. We met on social media and when she visited me in Cyprus and became a member of the Global Woman Club Cyprus, I knew that I had found a new friend who would inspire, motivate and support me. Sarit Shavit Qwabe was born and raised in Israel, in the Negev desert town of Be’er Sh…
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I met Emilia at the Cyprus Diaspora Forum where she was an amazing emcee; thank you Paul Lambis for getting us together. I instantly fell in love with her beautiful, honest and down to earth personality. In this podcast she talks very openly about her struggle to get pregnant. Emilia is an award-winning Television and Radio journalist and presenter…
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Guided Costa Rica Camino with Homestays and Daily Luggage Transfer PART II: Join us as we continue our 175 mile/280 km Costa Rica Camino where, over 16 days, you walk from the Caribbean to the Pacific Ocean, across the entire country (indeed the continent and over the continental divide!). You'll experience an array of ecosystems and see wildlife a…
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Are you ready to ride on the world's first and only open-air double-decker cable car? Join us in this episode as Carolyn chats with Lena Häfelfinger to learn all about visiting Mt. Stanserhorn. Lena shares the many reasons to visit the mountain which include great views over Lake Lucerne, hiking, learning about the local flora and fauna, and dining…
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I met Sarah many years ago when she was doing TV here in Cyprus and she interviewed me on “The Money Show” on Sigma TV. I have been following her on social media for a long time, and I am fascinated about all the things she does. Sarah Fenwick is a multi-talented artist living in Germany with roots in England and Cyprus. She is renowned for her sou…
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Pauline is an award-winning self-development Senior Executive/expert, Business Coach , Neuroencoding Speciaist, coach trainer, firewalker, mentor, and senior transformational trainer with over two and a half decades of experience at senior executive strategic levels in local and multinational organizations. The founder of Swift Shift Coaching & con…
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We speak to Laura Vrinceanu, who got her IT job through Rigby, about moving to Zurich, Switzerland. Laura relocated a year and a half ago to work for a bank as a Tableau developer. With seven years of professional experience under her belt, she is committed to never stop learning and strive for excellence in her field of work. Moving to Zurich has …
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Guided Costa Rica Camino with Homestays and Daily Luggage Transfer PART I: Join us as we discuss the new 175 mile/280 km Costa Rica Camino where, over 16 days, you walk from the Caribbean to the Pacific Ocean, across the entire country (indeed the continent and over the continental divide!). You'll experience an array of ecosystems and see wildlife…
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Let's go in search of five of the most beautiful waterfalls in Switzerland! In this episode, our guest, Melinda Schoutens, joins us to tell us about some of her favourite Swiss waterfalls. Each of these breathtaking waterfalls in Switzerland are easily reached by public transport - or on foot if you enjoy a hike - and will be a highlight of your Sw…
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Panayiotis Panayiotou, also known as Panikos, was born in 1979 to parents Anastasia and Mihalis Panayiotou. Panikos began this whole journey into production with the publication Amathus to Birmingham (2016) inspired by his own parents who are also refugees from the 1974 Turkish invasion. ‘A2B’ as this project is known, documented the stories of fam…
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I met Natasha at my Global Woman Club Director’s Training in Albania, she was a very established business women and gave an impressive presentation. Apart from being successful at everything she does, she has a great sense of humour and a beautiful worldview. Natasha Waldron used to be a professional ballerina at The Royal Ballet Company. Reaching …
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Patagonia Part II: Hike, Bike and Kayak Argentina and Chile In this Part II of our Patagonia adventure, we begin at the end of our W-Trek at Lake Grey, where we switch our hiking gear for sea kayaks, and venture out in this beautiful lake to kayak around icebergs and glaciers. We then move to the other side of Patagonia, from Chile now on to Argent…
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It may be the incredible scenery of mountains and lakes that has made visiting Switzerland a high priority for you but the country is also famous for its engineering prowess. In fact, Switzerland is home to many examples of pioneering innovation and design - many of which are world firsts - that you may like to include in your Swiss vacation. In th…
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Talking about her home country Malta, her trip to Peru and walking the Camino. She is a wonderful lady with a beautiful personality. Thanks to her I learned to balance my Chakras and become even happier. She is Catherine Galea, Empowerment Coach and Mindfulness Teacher in Cyprus. She shares 5 strategies to help people unlock their purpose and trans…
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Noémie Frischknecht was my guest on episode 93 in December 2022. She had just recently completed all her training for long haul and short haul flights with Swiss Airlines. She took a leap of faith and decided to become a flight attendant after being a lawyer for SWISS for a few years. In the meantime, she has visited me in Cyprus, we swam in the se…
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We speak to the Swiss education consultant Stefanie Busse about local, bilingual, and international schools in Switzerland. As a former German teacher, Stefanie has first-hand experience teaching in both public and international schools in Switzerland. She has been advising expat families for over 10 years about the Swiss education system and colla…
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Patagonia Part I: Hike the W Trek in Argentina Patagonia ranks in my Top 3 of the ‘Most Beautiful Places’ I’ve seen (and I’ve been to 50 countries and all seven continents). The rugged granite mountains are often snow capped in glaciers lit up by the sun. Those same glaciers have turned its many lakes into stunning milky blue and teal oasis that de…
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In this episode, Carolyn chats with Alan Ramsay from Schilthorn cableways to learn more about the new Schilthorn construction project that is currently underway. Alan also discusses the various ways to reach the Schilthorn, what to do at the Schilthorn and the intermediate stations, and how you can enjoy a delicious brunch in the Piz Gloria revolvi…
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I met Sebastian because I had the opportunity to speak on the Swiss Radio about my life in Cyprus. The producer of Radio Show “The 5th Switzerland” is the lovely Pascale Folke who is Sebastians wife. Every Swiss German knows Sebastian’s voice, he is the speaker in the Swiss National News and he also acted in a few movies including one of the famous…
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Marie Cosgrove is a certified Resilience Expert, Award-Winning International Speaker, Accomplished Entrepreneur, and Author. I met her 4 years ago at a Global Woman Summit in London and was fascinated from the beginning by her story and her kindness. As a single mom of four, she bought the company that fired her, bringing a unique perspective from …
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In this episode, Carolyn is joined by Hana Hurabova. With over a decade living and exploring Switzerland, Hana has become a true Swiss local. Her extensive knowledge on exploring Switzerland has attracted attention from other travellers looking for help with their travel planning. Hana shares with us one of her favourite, largely undiscovered, part…
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Growing up as the son of a winemaker, Marcos was introduced to the wine world from a young age. He first completed his Bachelor and Masters degree in Chemistry at Imperial University London, and worked for a few years in the corporate world before realizing that he wanted to spend his future making wines. He went to the Provence and New Zealand to …
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Hike and Snorkel Adventures in the Galapagos Islands: Part II Learn all about visiting the Galapagos Islands and where to hike and snorkel. We discuss what you can see and do, and in particular, we also talk about whether you should visit independently or go with an adventure tour company? We discuss the pros and cons of both options in this two pa…
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Treasure Hunter, Founder and Director of Julia Castelli Lifestyle Management, a luxury goods and services boutique firm based in London operating globally. Enterpreneur, public figure & TV personality, Public Speaker, Life and Business Coach, hypnotherapist & RTT therapist. In 2010 I began working with numerous luxury brands, partnering in the orga…
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We speak to the food experts Jessica Manurung and David Moginier about regional foods in Switzerland, particularly in the cantons of Basel and Vaud. Jessica is a Basel-based food blogger. She has been sharing her restaurant recommendations on social media since 2019. Last year, she published the Basel Cookbook, sharing a mix of innovative and tradi…
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In this episode, Carolyn shares her top 10 Swiss travel tips for 2024. Whether you are a seasoned traveller or it’s your first time visiting Switzerland, these tips will help you to plan, book and experience your dream vacation in Switzerland. Listen now to learn about: Why you should consider travelling out of peak season When you should book your…
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As one of the world’s most renowned motivational speakers, Les Brown is a dynamic personality and highly-sought-after resource in business and professional circles for Fortune 500 CEOs, small business owners, non-profit and community leaders from all sectors of society looking to expand opportunity. For three decades he has not only studied the sci…
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