Our guide sent the tape to Edmonds and the next day Rick sent a video response that was played at breakfast. "Definitely when the Swiss Alps came into full view for the first time. This was my son's first trip to Europe and he had a wonderful time. Small group size was a big plus. I think you should add that to the information you send tour groups. It was hard to sit still when there was so much to see, learn about, and explore on our own. Switzerland was a favorite for me. One noticeable difference between this and our first tour (2015) was the caliber of local guides, which in this instance really added to the overall quality and content of the tour. We really enjoyed the Gutach open air museum in the Black Forest.". WOW! The scenery was breathtaking. From there we took a cable car to Mannlichen, then hiked from Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg. The beauty was overwhelming. The rest of your day is free for wandering through Salzburg's magnificent gardens, hiking up the fortress hill for a panoramic view, or pedaling a rented bike into the countryside, singing "do, re, mi." Exchange a day in Berlin or Munich for an additional day trip or two so you can see both the city highlights and more of the region. Best things to do in Magdeburg, Berlin, Nuremberg, Munich, Vienna, Salzburg, Zurich, Bern, Interlaken, Freiburg im Breisgau, Stuttgart, and Frankfurt are: Brandenburg Gate, St. Stephen's Cathedral, Schloss Neuschwanstein, and Old Town. Outstanding sites visited, tour guide, fellow tourists and bus driver. Name should be "A Taste of" Exhausting as is. RS Tours take you to your hotel in the Swiss Alps that takes 2 gondolas to arrive, you know you're in a special place.". Hiking in the Alps was a bucket list item and it did not disappoint.". Sleep in Mrren. All of the stops were great places. Use it every day to get discounts and deals at places to shop around town from restaurant deals, hotel deals, movie tickets, and more. Our guide, Andrea, was cheerful, organized, interesting/informative and did her best to adapt to covid protocols. from $2,525 pp . 14 days in Germany, Austria & Switzerland Everything about this tour was perfect. "I think my favorite "wow" moment was in the Swiss Alps. We enjoyed everything about the Best of Germany, Switzerland, and Germany tour; including the beautiful cities chosen for our stays, informative and exciting tour excursions each day, picturesque hotels, and a wonderful cultural experience with a good mix of group and independent time. 1-800-935-2620. The beautiful mountains and wildflowers and of course the cows! RS did a good job of keeping members up to date prior to leaving US, Covid Protical's, etc. Efficient, welcoming, so knowledgeable, personable and a lovely sense of humor. Today we'll drive toward Vienna, stopping en route to visit the thought-provoking Mauthausen concentration camp memorial, where we'll learn about the Holocaust and lessons of 19331945. The variety of this tour was really amazing, we saw fantastic scenery and some of the best museums we have ever been to while learning about history and culture. "Our hike in Switzerland, The Hapsburg palaces and Lake Hallstatt. It was a wonderful dream come true for me, even with a hiccup in the beginning and losing our main guide Matthias, we were left in great hands with Thomas. Webfrance, switzerland germany itinerary. In case you wish to book pre- or post-tour hotel accommodations, the contact information for the tour's first and last hotels is included in your tour confirmation email, as well as in the Itinerary section of your tour account. 3. We believe that we received fair value for what we paid. We saw very few people on this hike. The tour was wonderful! Once tour started, it was very good. We went to bed late and got up early and I never slept on the bus! Our private outdoor accordion, yodeling and Alp horn concert (complete with us all joining in a polka train at the end), was also very memorable.". Your guide will give you a run-down of local concerts you could enjoy this evening. Take in the alpine scenery of Chamonix in the French, Italian and Swiss Alpsowned by both France and Italy, then take a trip to Mont Blanc to stand atop the highest peak in the Alps and European Union! Sleep in Munich. Duration: 8 Days; Then, spend the rest of your day savouring the sights, sounds and smells of Munichs Christmas market a dazzling display of twinkling lights, carols and a magnificent Christmas tree. We waited 3 years for this trip!!! What an amazing tour. Our group of fellow travelers were wonderful and kind! I loved that we had to take a gondola to get there, and the views were amazing. Really exceptional itinerary that mixed smaller sites with big attractions and ample free time with group activities. Every stop was interesting, educational, and exceeded my expectations. Gtes htels chambres d'htes et campings de Vende au bord de la mer, dans le Marais Poitevin ou autour du Puy du Fou. Looking out at the mountain vistas every morning was a real treat.". Its nice having a guide & driver make our vacation run smoothly! Your AAA membership is a membership for life. A direct train from the Frankfurt airport to Cologne's central train station is about an hour. I learned so much on this tour about history and geography. "The Third Man Museum. Trains from Austria to Switzerland Day trains: Railjet Xpress High-speed Railjet Xpress trains connect Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck and several other Austrian towns to Zurich, Budapest, Munich and Prague. To reach Switzerland, we recommend the route via Innsbruck as it's more scenic than the one through Munich. From the beauty of the Bavaria mountains, to the vibrant colors of flowers in Berner Overland, to the thundering water at Trummelbach Falls, the mountains in Switzerland, it was just so WOW seeing God's glory.". He was fun, knowledgeable, and kept the group entertained. It took my breath away. Every view in the Swiss Alps was stunning.". people were all great. The beautiful setting and exceptionally talented musicians just blew us away.". Our tour guide Andrea was just fantastic. ", This trip is a wonderful overview of the three countries. 12-Days: Prague & Poland, plus Vienna More emphasis on the Poland and Prague, with a few days in Vienna. We spent time in Bacharach before the tour, and I highly recommend the area. We found people in all of the countries we visited to be very friendly and welcoming. We had so much fun!. Baden Baden was my birthday, and we had fun celebrating with a picnic lunch in an amazing garden. "Lauterbrunnen Valley and our ascent to our hotel in Murren! We had been in Murren 2 weeks before and enjoyed glorious weather and great hiking. It was definitely different traveling in the age of Covid. Gerhard Strassgschwandtner and his museum are amazing and profound. Actually everything about the Berner Oberland was a "Wow" including a rather interesting hike on the North Face. He was outstanding. Explore two of the most popular mountain resorts in the country, Grindelwald and Interlaken! We had three beautiful sunny days and 70 degree weather. First - hiking through the Swiss Alps during our stay at Murren. "Two moments come to mind, first is the Schilthorn, we had a beautiful sunny day, with amazing views. Let's begin the day with a thrilling ride up the gondola lift to the top of the Schilthorn at 10,000 feet. Our guide, Iris, was very knowledgeable and this was the most punctual group weve ever traveled with. The skilled driver and tour guides were THE best, the scenery & tours were amazing. Trier was interesting with the Porta Nigra gate. Tara was very thorough and organized. B: 3 days if you plan to visit all the villages in Lauterbrunnen valley. Octoberfest was my draw to scheduling this time of year, which was a very rainy day and evening. Light walking: 24 miles throughout the day on mostly level terrain. Such an awesome day!". The spectacular views, wandering cows, pubs with the trail passing through the patios. Even watching her breathing techniques was fascinating. Sleep in Cologne. "Overall speaking for my husband and me Switzerland. We were traveling with our 3 kids (ages 15,15 and 13) and I was initially a little apprehensive that we wouldnt fit in or that the kids would be bored. The cowbells are a treat! The overall itinerary was diverse and well planned, would eliminate Baden Baden.if possible would add another day in Salzburg. I think there could be a week long immersive tour for Vienna and another for Salzburg. I would have to say that our gondola trip to Schilthorn on a beautiful clear sunny morning was the top "WOW" moment. The places visited were interesting and historical. In a tour that had a ton of great moments, the time spent in the swiss alps towers above the rest.". There was so much variety. Salzburg and Hallstatt were also highlights. The local guides were also good. Pictures dont do the scenic sights justice! Hallstatt was a beautiful area.". I feel like we just touched the surface of Salzburg.". Fastastic guide Eris and wonderful visits to Germany, Austria dn Switzerland. WebDay 11 Mon, 25 May 2020 Innsbruck -> Salzburg in morning. Our tour guide was outstanding, really a lot of fun, we had excellent hotels and the various siteseeing tours were excellent. Nothing is firm at this point and we are open to any suggestions. All three are "WOW's". Going up to the Schilthorn on a clear morning, and seeing all around us the beautiful peaks, and walking on the Thrill Walk.". Everyone there clapped. Those are my WOW moments.". Such a beautiful little village". Bus: 5 hours. I love love our guide Thomas!! Europe 10 Day Trip to Germany Austria Switzerland Itinerary Watch, Read, Listen - Best of Germany, Austria & Switzerland Tour | R food fantastic as always. "Waking in Mrren that 1st morning, opening my curtains and seeing all the snow! Hans de Kiefte was outstanding as our guide and everyone in our tour group seemed to get along very well. She would give us a map of the city we were traveling to with things to do highlighted on it. Amazingly, beautiful! It wouldnt seem right to travel to this area and not acknowledge the atrocities that are part of the history. "Each destination was very different and special. The trip opened my eyes and ears and mind once again to exploring, as well as to just being still, being alive in the here and now. Experience the splendour of Europe in a 13 days, 10 nights in Italy, Switzerland, and France with EU Holidays that does more than bring you to iconic, must-see places of Light walking: 24 miles throughout the day on mostly level terrain. It's an essential part of the Rick Steves tour experience. We got to learn some back ground on all the people we met. She has such a fun personality and sense of humor. There were many unique stops, historically educational & fun things to do: churches, hikes, luge etc. Another biggie had to be the beauty of Murren and the Swiss Alps. "Hiking the North Face in Murren! The sweetest thing was seeing how happy all the vendors and other RS tour guides were to see us since we were the first GAS tour since COVID. The only experiences I would recommend changing would be Trier and Baden Baden in favor of the Rhine Valley. Bus: 7 hours. An RS moent!". This tour was fantastic! "So hard to choose but I've narrowed it down to two! He was very skilled and personable. Munich was grand fun - loved the local guide, Brigetta. The cities we visited were interesting. Both Iris' and Francis' knowledge of European history was such an added bonus and made every day enjoyable! We loved our time in the Alps. "The Swiss Alps! "Visiting Hallstatt, Austria. Strenuous walking: 28 miles throughout the day with lots of hills, stairs, and uneven terrain. If I were asked for improvements, I would have liked more time in Baden-Baden. It was so fun to meet our guide, Tara, and our tour group members. My daughter said, "Alaska is Washington (state) on steroids, Switzerland is Alaska on steroids!"". Together, we'll marvel at the scale of Northern Europe's most massive Gothic church, Cologne Cathedral, and appreciate how it survived the city bombings during WWII. I cant stop telling my friends how awesome a Rick Steves tour is! The pace of the tour with planned activities and free time was outstanding! Just wow". Bus: 5 hours. "Both Murren and Hallstatt were unbelievable, Salzburg was really interesting too. (I might have liked it especially because, although Baroque in style, it is slightly subdued and in better taste than the over-the-top examples we saw elsewhere.)". You'll have the afternoon free to take a brisk mountain walk or explore more of the Berner Oberland on your own before we regroup for dinner. WebVisit Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Walter, our bus driver was terrific, and was missed when he was finished with driving in Vienna. The beer gardens in Munich looked like fun even if I don't like beer. Overall, the tour is a fantastic way to see a lot in a relatively short period of time. Our primary guide Matty had to leave our tour and take over another tour, the apprentice guide Thomas took over and was fantastic. My dream came true! Small towns and cities seem to have more appeal that the big cities like Vienna. "Hiking in the Alps alongside cows with their bells ringing.". "Standing on top of the world in Switzerland. "The Alps of course! The whole room teared up! It's so beautiful it doesn't seem real.". The local tour guides are great, the love for their countries shone through. I am glad I took the extra day as recommended by RS tour so I was stressed, but not worried about making it to Trier in time for tour. The concentration camp visit at the Mauthausen Memorial was beyond sobering.". "The southern Bavaria countryside and the scenery near Neuschwanstein. Great tour guide, great cities, great hotels, great food, great transportation. Excellent tour, well organized, experienced tour guide that seamlessly handled the logistics so we could enjoy every day of our trip and maximize our time. Our tours are physically active! The lake views & proximity to hotel room was so great. I still have a hard time believing it was real! This tour was fantastic. The pass is also good to Salzburg Austria and through Tyrolean So much natural beauty.". The 9 Best Castle Tours to Take in GermanyNeuschwanstein Castle. Always at the top of every list of castles to see in Germany, Neuschwanstein is packed full of tourists nearly all the time.Hohenzollern Castle. The House of Hohenzollern was the last royal house in power before the monarchy was abolished completely after the First Wold War.Hohenschwangau. Schloss Augustusburg Brhl. We had an amazing tour guide, Iris. More free elective time needed. Day 12 Tue, 26 May 2020 Salzburg -> Hallstat -> Salzburg. Also the visit to the Third Man Museum in Vienna was way too long and the local guide there was very eccentric to say the least. Adjust to constant Alpine weather changes that can interfere with sightseeing. The afternoon is yours to discover more of Cologne's history, including its famous Eau de Cologne, at one of its charming museums. Also enjoyed the Third Man Museum.". "wow moment was the underground waterfall in murren switzerland. Sleep in Mrren. Right up there though is the view of the quaint market square in Hallstatt from our hotel balcony and of course the boat ride on Lake Hallstatt.". We also loved Trier, so much to do and see.". Enjoyed the cities we visited, the sights we saw and the hotels that we stayed in. With the amount of rain that we were having, the waterfall were fast and powerful. Iris was the perfect guide, and Walter drove the bus with skill and constant good humor. Going up in the gondolas and seeing how green was the grass. WebAnswer 1 of 4: Me and my boyfriend are planning a 2 week road trip in Bavaria/South Germany and parts of Austria and Switzerland this summer and would love some advice on our route/the number of days in each place and "Several wow moments, but hiking in the Swiss Alps and experiencing the majesty of nature was a key one.". "This is a hard one as there were many 'wow" moments for me. see our FAQ. Overall, it was a very nice, laid back tour. 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