It is not legal to spend a night in a motorhome/van/caravan, etc. outside of a designated campsite here in Switzerland. You need to get a list of campsites and plan your trip accordingly. Often, people worry that sleeping in a car is illegal. But is this really the case? The maximum blood alcohol level for driving in Switzerland is 0.05%. If you are caught driving with an excessive blood alcohol level, you will be fined or revoked from your driver`s license. My tip number 3: If you plan to sleep in a car, only sleep in the back of a larger car (mine is Opel Insignia) or in the front (lower the seat as much as possible). Let me explain why: if you lie down and don`t have enough space for your legs – it will cause a lot of pain all night and you don`t want to spend the next day exploring the mountains without sleep, you`ll be exhausted. It`s better to spend that 40 CHF in a hostel on a bed than to sleep in a car and wake up every 20 minutes. I have made such mistakes many times and never again.
If you see that there is not enough space for you in the back, it is best to sleep in the front seat (lower it as much as possible), as you can completely stretch your legs. It helps a lot, even if you don`t sleep horizontally. I may have slept in a front seat 5-7 times and it`s much better than sleeping in the back with not enough legroom. My suggestion is that you always google your destination before starting your road trip. Check if it is legal to sleep in each of the places where you want to stop. The rules tend to change so much that it is very important to stay up to date. Car camping and sleeping in the car was a thing here in southern Italy a long time ago. Fold down the rear seats and enjoy the flat space. It may be a bit cramped, but it`s more comfortable than sleeping in a limousine. Al and I usually bring food banks.
The modern ones are powerful enough to charge tablets and cameras. We charge them when the car engine is on (which means less chance of draining your car battery) and we can also take them with us while we go out to eat or hike. According to a general observation, it seems that it would not be advisable to sleep at night in your car. Inflate the air mattress or unfold your sleeping mattress and place it in the desired position. If you are planning your trip in winter, pack warm, breathable clothing. Wear many layers that you can easily adjust overnight and see if you can insulate the car windows. If this is not possible, bring extra coverage. You don`t want to wake up in the middle of the night because a security guard knocks on your car window! The only thing that will get you in trouble is the same thing you do: sleep in your car while you`re drunk. What for? Check for protrusions or uneven surfaces. You can make them more comfortable by covering them with your extra pillow.
Officers might knock on your car window to wake you up because they are performing their janitorial function. Ticino belongs to Switzerland and it seems at least legal to sleep at night in the car. You must remove the keys from the ignition and put them away, otherwise you risk a fine. It is important to know that most truck stops are considered private property: you can only consider sleeping there if they allow cars or RVs to be parked overnight. From Basel to Indemini there are 271 kilometres. When I started my trip at 16:00, I knew I would arrive at the place around 20:00, so it`s not good. What for? Because when you sleep in a car, there`s actually nothing you can do. You would just go in the sleeping bag and relax or get bored. You can read a book or watch a movie, but I wasn`t ready for that. Of course, you can sleep in a car on your own property, unless there are certain resident parking laws that don`t allow cars to be camped. Of course, every ride will be different, but there are a few general guidelines that can help you choose, depending on your needs. If you do not go to a restaurant and only buy food in shops, you can move with 15-20 CHF per day for one person, but remember that then your food will be mainly fruit or bread with little meat (meat is the most expensive food here, it is the most expensive meat in Europe).
I think it`s always fun to visit local restaurants and try local food. My number 1 tip: If you plan to sleep in a car, get to the sleep point as late as possible, so just get your bed ready and go to sleep without wandering around the car looking for things to do. Even in Italy, my country, sleeping in a car is perfectly legal, unless you drive on the Autostrada (our motorways). As for hotels: If you hitchhike, you won`t have a place to sleep. You can sleep in a tent, but it`s even harder because it`s hard to find a good safe place to pitch your tent. I have done it myself several times in different countries and it is always painful to find a decent place. Unless you don`t care at all and build it in the middle of the city 🙂 or on private fields. In the mountains, it`s difficult because flat terrain is hard to find. But you can still go to campsites or hostels. If it can happen at 40-50 CHF per night, for hotels from at least 80 CHF per night (I would consider 80 CHF in Switzerland as a good deal). One tip that many tend to forget is that sleeping with your head facing the front of the car allows for more upper body space and your sleeping bag won`t slip into the trunk as easily. The temporary bed should be as flat and long as possible.
If you sleep crowded or on uneven seats, poor conditions are created for your back and circulation. Many people find it safer to sleep in a vehicle in 24-hour gyms: there are always a lot of people, but I would always ask permission first. You will be charged with drunk driving even if your car is parked and you are sleeping. What you should never forget is your pillow. Al and I prefer to bring 2 pillows each (if you`re flying, you might want to buy a camping pillow). Spending the night by car in a public car park is generally not allowed. It is therefore recommended to find a campsite or other accommodation where you can stay. In some areas, sleeping one night in the car is tolerated.