Start Here
Hi there, and welcome to the Cross the Border Blog! If you’re a Swiss resident and new to the notion of cross-border benefits, this is the page to start with.
Let me first give you a brief intro so that you understand what I'm talking about. You'll learn why it's worthwhile to compare and to take advantage of both Swiss and foreign offers.
Further down, you'll find an overview of this site directing you to specific subjects of interest. So let's get started!
Why This Blog is for You
Switzerland is a pearl in the middle of Europe. Together with Liechtenstein, it's completely surrounded by the European Union (EU). Therefore, as Swiss residents, not only are we blessed with exciting opportunities within Switzerland’s borders, but we also have easy access to plenty of marvelous opportunities in neighboring countries. If you'd like to get the most out of both worlds, you’ve come to the right place!
Whether you’re new to Switzerland or a long-time resident, it's always a good idea to compare shopping, dining, and leisure possibilities as well as financial services at home and abroad. Important decision-making criteria include:
- Availability
- Quality
- Cost
- Convenience
- Personal preference
For instance, you could have a delicious dinner and buy groceries in Germany, both for half the price you'd pay in Switzerland, but you have to account for travel time and Swiss import limitations on alcohol and meat. Or let's say you couldn't find your favorite home cinema system on the Swiss market—you still have the option to buy it from a foreign online store like Amazon.de. Oh, and by the way, have you ever done a cross-border tour around Lake Constance? It's lovely!
Whenever you’re outside Switzerland, you can make use of your free German credit card, which can be charged with Euros using an optimized currency conversion service. Say adiós to unreasonable fees and limitations related to foreign payment, currency conversion, and cash withdrawal!
Though Switzerland is an expensive country, it’s not always possible to grab a better bargain abroad. Swiss meat and vegetable products, for example, tend to be of superior quality, justifying their higher prices. Cameras, smartphones and other consumer electronics are often even less expensive in Switzerland than abroad. And I don't need to tell you about the unique alpine and lake sceneries right at your doorstep, do I?
This blog aims to provide you with all the useful information and resources you need to make your choices easier and to support your cross-border endeavors. It also encourages you to broaden your horizons physically, digitally, and culturally. In this way, you'll benefit to the fullest.
How to Broaden Your Horizons and Benefit
Let me offer you a preview of the topics you’ll discover in the blog sectionof this site:
- Inexpensive foreign shopping possibilities close to the Swiss border
- Convenient online stores abroad that provide a huge selection and great deals
- Tax refund procedure for products purchased offline and online
- Smooth logistics with foreign parcel shops at the Swiss border
- Overview of Swiss and foreign customs checkpoints and offices
- Enticing leisure activities and travel destinations in and around Switzerland
- Clever solutions for foreign banking, as well as credit card and currency conversion needs
- Comparison of all these offers with their domestic equivalents
As this site is currently under development, you won't find an abundance of posts yet, but I'm steadily working on filling the gaps.
It's also worthwhile to keep an eye on my resources page, where you'll find a structured list of links and recommendations that I personally find useful. I'm going to reference this page in my posts and continuously add to it as my blog evolves.
Last but not least, if you'd like to learn more about me and why I've created this site, head on over to the about page.
I hope that my efforts end up being helpful and that every one of us finds ways to tap into our full cross-border potential.
In this spirit, enjoy!
Art