Abandoned motorhome auctioned for 1 franc: bids soar to over 700 francs

The Swiss Touring Club (TCS) has equipped barrier-free bungalows at six of its campsites, including Bönigen and Flaach. The bungalows feature ramps, wide doors, adapted kitchen and bathroom, and hospital beds. At Flaach, a lift provides pool access. The project is a collaboration with the Cerebral foundation.

The Lazy Rancho campground in Unterseen near Interlaken has been child-free this season and is fully booked. Owners Virginia and Cheyenne Blatter received death threats and massive opposition but do not regret their decision. A market study confirmed the concept's success: the adults-only site attracts guests seeking peace and recovery after active days.

Rumors that burglars use soporific gas to drug motorhome occupants before stealing have persisted for years, but forensic evidence does not support them. European police have never arrested anyone for using such gas or found traces of it in burgled motorhomes or victims' blood. Medical experts deem the method highly improbable, as effective anesthetics would require bulky equipment and pose a lethal risk. The vast majority of motorhome thefts occur without chemical sedation.

The «Lazy Rancho» campsite in Unterseen, near Interlaken (BE), is fully booked after being converted into an adults-only (16+) zone last year. The move initially sparked a backlash, including death threats and fake bookings, but owners Cheyenne and Virginia Blatter report a calmer atmosphere and fewer conflicts. According to Schweiz am Wochenende, the site now attracts guests seeking relaxation, such as Scandinavian couples cycling or paragliding by day and wanting quiet nights.

Long-term campers at the 'La Nouvelle Plage' campsite in Estavayer-le-Lac (Fribourg canton) have filed an appeal with the cantonal court against the removal of their seasonal pitches. Operator TCS, which bought the campsite in 2024, plans to reduce the number of seasonal pitches from 108 to 20 and build luxury chalets for tourists (glamping). The campers argue that the new zoning plan was approved without a required detailed development plan. The court has suspended the contested points pending a decision.

Switzerland saw 110,000 registered motorhomes in 2023, a 50% increase since 2020, but only 104 official farm parking spots exist due to strict zoning laws. The Huber family in Birrhard (Aargau) has offered motorhome parking for nearly 20 years, recently obtaining permits for four spots after lengthy procedures. The spot costs 18 francs per night including electricity, contributing 5,000–7,000 francs annually to the farm through shop sales.