visa

If you are required to get a visa before you enter Switzerland then please enter ‘tourist’ as your reason for stay. To get your visa requirements for traveling to Switzerland or any other country check our visa info system .
 

currency

The national currency is the Swiss Franc. The standard international definition for the Swiss Franc is ‘CHF’. There are 100 centimes to each Franc. You can check the current exchange rate online: www.oanda.com/convert/classic . You will be able to use credit cards at most major retailers. If you have a bank account you should be able to withdraw Swiss Franc’s at ATMs; this will usually give you the best exchange rate. Check with your bank to see if your bank card will work in Switzerland. You should bring cash, traveler’s cheques or a credit card to have access to your own money. Personal cheques and money orders will not work in Switzerland.
 

time zone

Switzerland is in the GMT + 1 hour or Central European Time (CET) zone. To check the current time in Switzerland: www.worldtimeserver.com
 

power

The electrical current is 220 volts and 10 amps. The plugs are either two or three small round pins that are sometimes smaller than the standard ones in other parts of Europe. While you may be able to find plug adapters and voltage converters in Switzerland, it is usually easier to purchase these items in your own country.
 

health insurance 

We require all staff and students to hold medical health insurance. The recommended minimum is 1,000,000 CHF.  In addition to this YWAM Lausanne requires that everyone hold evacuation/repatriation insurance which is generally not included with most travel health insurances.  This coverage pays for any medical transport coverage to your home country or nearest country where acceptable treatment can be preformed if you are in a life threatening condition. It also covers the cost of an immediate family member to travel to you if you are hospitalized in a foreign nation. It is important to note that most home country medical insurances DO NOT provide this coverage.  We highly recommend an internationally recognized travel insurance policy.  Most of our students use MNUI’s Atlas Plan (MultiNational Underwriters) or the Banner Group’s Short Term Global Connections.  Both offer sufficient coverage in all required areas. 

For comparison, policy details, online quotes and application, click here or go to:

http://insurance.ywamlausanne.com

The following proof of insurance will need to be provided to us via email before your arrival or on registration day of your school based on your provider:

MNUI Atlas Series:  If you enrolled by following the link on our webpage, then we will be automatically notified via email of your policy.  For your own information, please bring a printed copy of the policy with you. Boarders DTS students need to select the Optional Sports Rider to cover mountain sports.

Banner Group:  A copy of your email confirmation is sufficient.  For your own information, please bring a printed copy of the policy with you.

Another provider:  Printed proof of insurance policy including ALL of the following:

- Policy number and dates of coverage.
- Recommended minimum coverage of 1 million CHF (or equivalent currency)
- Evacuation/repatriation coverage in case of life threatening illness or death.
- Contact phone no. for provider in case of any questions regarding your policy

We require all students who have insufficient coverage or those who do not have proof of insurance on registration day to purchase either MNUI or Banner to complete registration process.  Since travel insurance covers incidents related to your travel to Lausanne, we recommend purchasing before you depart home.

immunizations

You may want to complete, or update, the following vaccinations with your local doctor:

Hepatitis A & B, Typhoid, Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio. Some of these could be compulsory for outreach destinations if you are attending a school here at YWAM Lausanne. You may find it more cost effective to receive these immunizations in your own country.
 

language  

In Lausanne and the surrounding region the language spoken is French. The other two major languages in Switzerland are German and, to a lesser extent, Italian. Find common expressions on http://babelfish.altavista.com.
 

air tickets

For inexpensive flights within Europe check out: www.easyjet.com or www.ryanair.com. However, easy jet’s baggage allowance is only 20kg/45lbs so if you are transferring from an international flight make sure to pack lightly. Depending on your age and student status you may be able to find inexpensive international flights at www.sta.com.
 

mail/post offices

Mail is delivered daily to the mailboxes in the lobby. Stamps can be purchased at the reception desk in the Annexe. The closest post offices are Chalet-a-Gobet (about 1km away) or Epalinges (about 2.5 km. away). The post office in Chalet-a-Gobet is open weekdays 7:30 to 9:00 and 15:30 to 18:00, Saturday 9:00 to 11:00.
 

telephones

There are public pay phones in the hallway next to the dining room +41(21)784-1398 and on the very top floor of the Chalet +41(21)784-1998. These are used for all incoming and outgoing calls for Chalet residents.
 

internet

The internet café is found on the ground floor in the Chalet where you can check your e-mail and chat with your friends on MSNmessenger or Skype. The computers are available between the hours of 09:00 - 23:00 Monday-Thursday, 09:00-18:00 Friday, 09:00 - 24:00 Saturday, and 09:00 - 23:00 Sunday. In addition, we also have wireless access in the Chalet beginning at noon on weekdays and 09:00 on weekends. Wireless shuts off at the same time as the internet cafe computers.
 

public transportation

Bus:
Metro and Bus to the YWAM Base:
Travel time: 30min.

Frequency: the metro leaves every eight minutes, buses leave approximately every 15 minutes.  Cost: CHF 4.80.  You can purchase a ticket at the metro stop at the Lausanne train station that will function as both your metro and bus ticket.  On the machines outside the metro, select the "destination name" and enter "Ecole Hôteliére."  Pay the amount in exact change.  (the machines do not give change back).  Note: check http://www.t-l.ch for exact departure times.

From the train station, cross the street and take Metro 2 (M2) by the McDonald's to Croisettes.  From Croisettes, take bus number 45 and get off at the "Ecole Hôteliére" stop which is almost directly in front of the ywam Lausanne base.  YWAM Lausanne is a four-story building opposit "Ecole Hôteliére."  You have arrived!

Taxi:

Taxi service from Lausanne to the centre costs more than 30 CHF. one way because we are outside the “tarif de taxi” for the city of Lausanne. www.taxiservices.ch

You can find an interactive city map of Lausanne on map.search.ch. 

Train:

The Swiss rail system is very safe, highly developed and reliable. If you need to travel between cities in Switzerland, check out www.rail.ch for more information.
 

contact details

Our street and mailing address is:

YWAM Lausanne
Chemin du Praz d’Eau 1
1000 Lausanne 25

Phone :   +41 21 784 2323
Fax:        +41 21 784 2320

Weather

Weather-wise, Switzerland is relatively mild, though sometimes rainy.  It could be considered similar to New England in the U.S. or British Columbia in Canada in a general sense.  It can peak at around 85F or 30C in the summer and as low as 15F or -10C in the snowy winters.  This can change rather drastically, however, from where the base is situated up high in Chalet-a-Gobet (just below 900 meters/ 3000 feet) to down next to Lake Geneva in Lausanne proper as the trip down the hill from here to there is a pretty steep one.  My ears always pop.

Packing

The challenge in packing clothing for your DTS is in the uncertainty that comes with not knowing where you'll be going on outreach after the 12 week lecture phase concludes.  You could be leaving during the dead of winter here (where you have to wear your fur-lined underwear just to survive) going to the middle of summer in the southern hemisphere (where the above named underwear could have the opposite effect).  Ideally, you want to dress and pack using layers.  A warm base layer of long underwear isn't too bulky and helps a lot to keep you warm, and in the deserts of Northern Africa that sweater you wore every day in Switzerland might actually come in handy a few times at night even if wish you didn't have to carry it in your pack during the day. 

Speaking of your pack, be aware that you will more than likely have to carry everything you take on outreach yourself, so try to bring luggage that can either roll very, very well (think semi-truck tires) or be carried on your back.  Basically, bringing your entire room may make you feel more secure as you leave home, but you'll curse your 5 checked bags as you have to magically get them from the baggage carousel to the train station in Geneva airport (not to mention all those excess baggage charges).  Try to pack as light and as smart as you can!  Thankfully we do have storage areas at the base for the things you bring for lecture phase that you won't need on outreach.

Heart and Mind

Like most things, dts is what you make of it.  For some people it's the single most enjoyable 6 months of their young lives.  It will most likely be one of the most impactful and life-changing things you ever do.  As you consider attending this school, honestly ask yourself and God what you really want out of the time you spend, then take the time to listen and ponder.  It's good to prepare both practically and spiritually for something like this.  You'll be glad you did.