Lost and Found: A Trip to Zurich Full of Sweet Surprises

The Roles We Settled Into on the Road

Ash, my husband, is a numbers guy. When I got stressed, I organized things. Back home, that might have meant tackling the linen closet, the kitchen, or—if things were really bad—the garage. But during our family vacation to Zurich and beyond, it became suitcase organization, straightening our toiletry cases, and debating with Ash about how often hotel rooms needed cleaning. I preferred daily; he was more of an "only when it feels necessary" person.

I also ended up as the keeper of passports and visas, tracking entry requirements to avoid unexpected fees. Ash and the kids each had two passports—his were Australian and Czech, while the kids had Australian and U.S. I only had the U.S., but we learned quickly that different passports opened different doors. Sometimes, entering a country as Australians saved us a lot of money.

Beyond that, I managed vaccination records. Some countries required proof of yellow fever vaccination, so we carried a yellow card. While we never needed it, I had it ready, along with proof of other vaccinations and anti-malarial medication. It didn’t escape me that I carried our lives in my backpack on travel days. My $30 Amazon backpack held my laptop, wallet, phone, passports, vaccination records, and visas for our next destination. I never put it in an overhead bin—it stayed at my feet, where I could check on it in moments of panic.

Meanwhile, Ash tracked every expense in a massive spreadsheet, breaking down flights, accommodations, taxis, and meals by country. He even accounted for long-term costs like school tuition, storage, and medical expenses. By the end of our adventure, we would have a full financial picture of what a year-long family vacation truly cost.

How Our Family Vacation to Zurich Began with a Lost Bag

Because we weren’t working, we could travel whenever we wanted, so we usually opted for the cheapest flights. We avoided unnecessary layovers when possible and stuck to Star Alliance where we could—but in the end, cost won. That’s how we found ourselves sitting on the floor of an airport at 5:30 a.m., waiting for a lounge to open before our flight to Zurich.

The twins, ever the troopers, pulled out their iPads and entertained themselves. I dropped my things beside me, used them as a makeshift pillow, and attempted to get some sleep. When the lounge finally opened, we grabbed seats and much-needed coffee. The kids opened their laptops to start the dreaded schoolwork routine. Cooper couldn’t remember his password and asked me to look it up. As I reached for my phone, a heat wave rushed through my body. My green crossbody bag was missing.

I couldn’t speak; my entire body froze in panic. My backpack was at my feet, but the small green bag was gone. Without a word, I sprinted for the door, nearly knocking over a group of Japanese businessmen entering the lounge. Just outside the doors, my bag lay crumpled on the floor. I must have dropped it in my rush to get inside. Relief flooded through me. I was beyond grateful nothing had happened, and someone—or something—seemed to be watching out for us.

With the bag safely back in hand, we boarded our flight to Zurich without further incident.

A Sweet Start in Zurich

By this point, we had all settled into our roles. Ash, handled hotel and flight bookings. I researched activities and entry requirements. Lila, always sweet and easygoing, volunteered to walk with anyone who needed a break from the chaos. And Cooper—our diplomat—charmed everyone he met.

On our Swissair flight, Cooper chatted with the flight attendants, excitedly sharing his enthusiasm for Switzerland. Before we knew it, he returned to his seat with a giant bag of Swiss chocolate—there must have been 200 pieces in there. He couldn’t stop smiling. We thanked the flight attendants for their generosity and immediately added hot cocoa-making to our plans.

Once in Zurich, we checked into our hotel and headed to our first stop: the Lindt Chocolate Museum. The 30-foot chocolate fountain at the entrance was jaw-dropping. Even Lila, who didn’t like chocolate, couldn’t help but appreciate the sheer coolness of it all.

For hours, we marveled at the displays and, of course, ate way too much. There were chocolate fountains to sample from, levers that dispensed beautifully wrapped chocolates into our hands, and more free samples than we knew what to do with. By the time we left, I couldn’t even look at chocolate anymore. We stepped out into the sun, stuffed, and decided to walk off some of our indulgences.

Exploring Zurich by Tuk-Tuk

Later, we found a cozy café, sipped drinks, and people-watched before heading back to the hotel for the kids to tackle schoolwork. Our culinary adventure continued that evening with fondue and wine aboard an electric Tuk-Tuk. The gleaming white vehicle was sleek and modern—exactly what you’d expect in Switzerland. Our driver, Lina, expertly prepared the fondue pot in the back, and we spent the next two hours touring Zurich, learning about the city, and dipping bread, potatoes, and vegetables into melty cheese.

As the sun set, Lina stopped at a fountain so the kids could refill their water bottles and experience Switzerland’s famed drinking water. When she dropped us off at the tram station, we were full, content, and grateful for another perfect Swiss day.

Our family vacation to Zurich had started with a moment of panic, but in the end, it had been filled with adventure, chocolate, wine and cheese indulgence, and a reminder that, no matter where we went, we were in this together.