Most days are moderate to strenuously paced with 28 miles of walking, including hilly terrain and lots of stairs. When I kept thinking it couldn't get any better it did. Hopefully I'll have an opportunity to discuss that more in the review. WebChristmas Markets of Austria, Germany and Switzerland . Make sure to reserve a day of your Switzerland in five days itinerary for Chamonix and Mont Blanc. "The luge .. just kidding coin toss - either Murren or Hallstatt". Sleep in Mrren. FABULOUS! Really exceptional itinerary that mixed smaller sites with big attractions and ample free time with group activities. Web14 Days 3 Country 8 Cities Troms (2N) Alta (1N) Honningsvg (1N) Quick Quote Lowest Price 17 Jun, 2023 SUPER DEAL PRICE 4,25,000 per person on twin sharing GROUP TOUR EUMS Family Scandinavia Midnight Sun 16 Days 4 Country 15 Cities Helsinki (1N) Kuopio (1N) Rovaniemi (2N) Quick Quote Lowest Price 18 Jun, 2023 SUPER DEAL Hans/Trier, Michael/Munich, and Bridgette/Salzburg really brought those venues to life with their knowledge and stories. We rode a train up from the Lauterbrunnen valley to Wengen. Eris (our tour guide) was organized, personable, knowledgeable, helpful and humorous (even though she said Germans have no sense of humor!). She was so organized, knowledgeable & able to keep the entire group on task with ease. All of this can be done in a 10 I'm looking forward to my next Rick Steves vacation. To find photos, where to stay, other places to Loved the Switzerland portion enough that I think well return for that tour. Gerhard Strassgschwandtner and his museum are amazing and profound. Andrea is an amazing tour guide, extremely knowledgeable and a genuinely nice person. I felt the balance between guided tours and free time to explore museums and hike on our own was perfect. February 27, 2023 new bill passed in nj for inmates 2022 No Comments . "Switzerland was probably the biggest 'wow' for me. There was so much variety. ", outstanding itinerary, very professional guides great group of fellow travelers, "When I found out that joining a Rick Steves Tour was a little like joining a cult. I enjoyed everywhere we went". Hey, it's just hard to distill the trip into a single WOW.". ", Hans our guide did an excellent job despite a diverse group and the added stress of Covid requirements. Those are my WOW moments.". Switzerland was a favorite for me. We also learned so much history and culture and tried new food, that we wouldnt have on our own. We covered a lot of territory within GAS so spent a lot of hours on the bus. Our tour guide made the experience so much better because of his outstanding knowledge of the history of all 3 countries. 14-Day Northern Italy and Switzerland Itinerary: Bern Interlaken Milan Venice. Any time between May and October is a good time to take a Best of Germany, Austria & Switzerland tour. Also all the Roman history of Trier: the museum and the baths. Excellent trip: tour guide, city guides, variety of locations and experiences, co-travelers. We enjoyed the trip very much but if we do another in the future will probably focus on those with less travel time / more time to explore the destinations. Iris was the best guide you can have. It was foggy when we started and I now understand why Swiss farmers put bells on their cows. Donald was an excellent tour guide, very patient, helpful and organized. This was our first experience with a group tour, and we found it to be an excellent balance of great education and leadership from our guide, Thomas, and local guides, as well as ample free time to explore on our own. Stay in Vienna for 3 days Day 2: Explore Vienna Day 3: Wachau + Lower Danube Valley Day 4: Travel to Zurich from Vienna (train ride is 7+ hours) Day 5: Explore Zurich. Sleep in Cologne. Salzburg and Hallstatt were also highlights. At the end of the deep Lauterbrunnen Valley, we'll take a thrilling gondola lift up to our hotel in clifftop Mrren, where we'll enjoy amazing views and have dinner together. It lived up to all that was promised! It was not what I expected. Your AAA membership is a membership for life. Our experiences seeing new places and meeting new people (both on and off the tour) was fantastic. Best things to do in Magdeburg, Berlin, Nuremberg, Munich, Vienna, Salzburg, Zurich, Bern, Interlaken, Freiburg im Breisgau, This was our 5th Rick Steves Tour and as with the others it was well run. Andrea was an excellent guide - informative, knowledgeable, very upbeat, and organized. Our primary guide Matty had to leave our tour and take over another tour, the apprentice guide Thomas took over and was fantastic. We also loved Trier, so much to do and see.". 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.". So much natural beauty.". What kept me from giving tour an outstanding rating had to do with short time in Baden Baden, arrived early evening, would have liked an afternoon and evening there. The hotels were very good especially in Murren and Vienna. And a special shout-out to Iris, our tour guide, who was so generous in what and how she shared her vast experience (and her patience) with us. Light to strenuous walking (your choice). We'll begin our day with a walking tour of Cologne, tracing the city's Roman origins and cultural rise to Germany's religious center in the Middle Ages. The tour is well organized. "Lauterbrunnen Valley and our ascent to our hotel in Murren! Looking out at the mountain vistas every morning was a real treat.". Click here to see offer Terms & Conditions. This was a repeat tour for me, with my 'first time on a tour' husband. No bus. We had a guided hike with a picnic and it was amazing. Also enjoyed the Third Man Museum.". ", Loved the food, scenery, group and guide, she was excellent, "Looking out of our hotel room in Murren Switzerland at the Alps. Walking through Grindlewald and the Red in the Roses and the Purple colors. He went over and above to provide us with the best experience imaginable.He even changed up our schedule due to the weather so we would have better views of the mountains in Switzerland. "Even though it was very foggy most of the time were at the Schilthorn I will still say the time spent in the Alps. The scenery was spectacular. Well spaced out and planned with stops and durations, felt like really maximized our time. Dont leave this attraction out of your Switzerland We found some wonderful friends on the tour, tooand we fell in love again with Germany, Austria, and Switzerland! Our two guides made a point to make sure the kids were engaged and interested and the rest of the group was wonderful as well. Bus: 7 hours. Absolutely beautiful.". Octoberfest was my draw to scheduling this time of year, which was a very rainy day and evening. He was always cheerful and upbeat, and very knowledgable about the history of the places we visited.There was a good mix of cities, history, castles and beautiful scenery, plus lots of free time to do our own exploring. Everything about the tour contributed to the overall educational experience: the cities & towns visited, the in-between stops, the narratives of both the tour and local guides and the clever little surprises sprinkled throughout. Moderate walking: 26 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. Enjoy in-flight meals and entertainment while anticipating the trip of a lifetime! Henri, our bus driver is a skilled driver and was willing to engage with our group. The mixture of planned activities with personal explorations is what sells us on your tours. The accommodations and meals were all fantastic. I would have to say that our gondola trip to Schilthorn on a beautiful clear sunny morning was the top "WOW" moment. Be on your feet, walking and standing for up to three hours, indoors and outdoors, in all weather conditions. 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 had a great time with all 28 people on our trip. Even watching her breathing techniques was fascinating. What an amazing tour. Overall, the tour is a fantastic way to see a lot in a relatively short period of time. Web10-Days: A Journey to Germany & Austria Our classic Munich (Bavaria), Salzburg and Vienna tour - a definite favorite! The second was our boat ride on Lake Hallstatt, again with sunny weather and gorgeous views.". Hans, our guide, was very witty, and did a fabulous job organizing activities despite the challenge of some bad weather in Switzerland (it was chilly & rainy like Seattle in December). Other than that, I loved every place the tour took us. They sounded like wind chimes!". WebTo receive the Good Buy Plan savings, you must pay in full by check or electronic funds transfer within 14 days of reserving your adventure. "Each new venue was a "wow" because I thought hotels, natural beauty, information presented couldn't get any better than the venue we were at - - but they did, every one!". It was an awesome tour, Hans did a wonderful job guiding us. We had 20 in our group and everyone was great. The view from our room was beautiful & the town quaint & fun to wander. My main regret was that we didnt have more time in Vienna,I felt that we really didnt do it justicepartly due to time constraints but also because as our last stop, I think the whole group was kind of exhausted! But most unusual experience would have been up in the Swiss Alps.". She has such a fun personality and sense of humor. RS takes us to places we didnt know we would want to go. "My favorite wow moments were many. The tour guide, Hans, was fantastic as well. Really enjoyed the whole trip.Too bad about the Covid infections ramped in our trip. "The Alps were our wow moment. Accessibility Information Skip Navigation. Credits to Klook. The group became like a "family". Sleep in Munich. WebLow Unpublished Prices on Trafalgar - Christmas Markets of Austria, Germany and Switzerland by Trafalgar Tours with 16 Reviews - Tour Id: 184954. "Murren and the Alps. We thoroughly enjoyed all of the experiences on our tour and the friends & memories made along the way made this a great trip. The Germany Visa issued from Chicago is based on the duration and purpose of the visit; Short-stay Visa: Any trip for not more than 90 days. It goes by fast, then you look back and wonder how did we do all those things! Since we all wore our masks religiously on the bus and around any gatherings one has to guess where the Covid infection started. Great guide, excellent group of travelers, comfortable bus with lots of room to spread out. My first look at the mountains was OMG. Also, good food, good beer, and good company! This was our first RS tour and it did not Disappoint. Our guide, Hans, mixed things up a bit, with different sights/experiences than on my previous tour. Bryan was an excellent guide, hotels were very nice, Frank was an excellent bus driver! The afternoon is yours to discover more of Cologne's history, including its famous Eau de Cologne, at one of its charming museums. ", "Being with my wife is always my favorite wow moment". Simply put it was the best vacation I've ever had. This was not a deterrent as we had many great conversations with the entire group and saw a lot of beautiful places. Light walking: 24 miles throughout the day on mostly level terrain. Strenuous walking: 28 miles throughout the day with lots of hills, stairs, and uneven terrain. Have been on tours where things were scheduled so tightly, sometimes there was very little time to explore on our own. "That's hard to pin point, but, I guess it was our stay in Murren, Switzerland. WebAustria, Germany and Switzerland Tour Description Spend two weeks extensively exploring some of Europe's most beautiful landscapes. 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. food fantastic as always. In Bavaria two to five people can travel on a "Bayern Ticket" daypass all day for 28 Euros total. It was an absolute joy of my life and I would recommend it to anyone.". I learned so much on this tour about history and geography. Wonderful tour, great people, caring and well informed guide. The best surprise was Murren. Mix and Tempo of the Trip was classic Rick Steve's! Breathtaking!!". I had heard Switzerland was gorgeous, and it lived up to expectations. The tour offered a wonderful variety of experiences, from the natural beauty of Murren Switzerland to the history-rich sites of Mauthausen and Vienna. The scenery and views were breathtaking- no picture could do it justice. 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. Inspiring and dedicated owner made it a special experience. Call us at 1-800-955-1925 to take advantage of these limited-time savings. There is the perfect amount of time with the group, and time on your own. Every stop was a highlight and we left with that "Rick Steve's Feeling" of knowing that if we go back, we could do it ourselves. "There were so many "wow" moments but my favorites were the Swiss Alps and Lake Hallstatt. WebChristmas Markets of Austria, Germany and Switzerland . I think there could be a week long immersive tour for Vienna and another for Salzburg. We visited small cities, medium cities, large cities, and small villages in the Alps. Neuschwanstein castle with the fall colors shrouded in fog. Great people. Then you'll have the rest of the evening free to wander along the shaded riverside promenade and enjoy dinner on your own. Lake Hallstatt was great but, I would not advertise the salt mine anymore that was to underwhelming. More free elective time needed. Neither of us expected such power and beauty when she opened her mouth to sing. "The Swiss Alps were even more incredible than I had hoped. I have celiac disease and can not eat gluten. "Our time in Murren was breathtaking. Our guide Donald was excellent! "The town of Murren in Switzerlands Alps was a wow moment of our tour which was jaw dropping and beautiful. Every view looked like a postcard. "Going to Hallstatt, Austria was my favorite part of our trip. Carry/roll your luggage over uneven pavement (possibly several blocks) and up stairways to reach your hotel, then up several flights of stairs to reach your room. Baden Baden was my birthday, and we had fun celebrating with a picnic lunch in an amazing garden. Group sightseeing events subject to change. Of course, this can change depending on the route you are Use it every day to get discounts and deals at places to shop around town from restaurant deals, hotel deals, movie tickets, and more. Opportunity to enjoy Oktoberfest in Munich! Bravo Iris and Francis! It was hard to sit still when there was so much to see, learn about, and explore on our own. She gave history behind every place we were visiting. We had not been to many of the places we visited on this tour. We'll spend our morning getting a behind-the-scenes look at Munich with a walking tour through its historic Old Town, learning about the "checkered" history and traditions of Bavaria. Swimming for free at the local sports center after our hike was perfect, and listening to a late evening rainstorm from our bedroom window lulled me to sleep.". We loved the variety of experiences of the tour. The tour may not return until after midnight. We checked into our hotel and went to our room. Overall this was another fantastic Rick Steves tour experience. Beautiful, green, valley bordered by steep Alps. "Flying umbrella handles! So beautiful. We had a fantastic guide and he made what was already a wonderful tour outstanding! Accessibility Information Skip Navigation. Excellent guide, great variety and wonderful travel companions. Spend a free afternoon communing with Mother Nature on foot or by boat or hike up to one of the world's oldest salt mines before tonight's dinner together. "The southern Bavaria countryside and the scenery near Neuschwanstein. I would have rather gone to Rothenburg over Munich. The beer gardens in Munich looked like fun even if I don't like beer. Enjoyed adventure of getting to Trier & the city itself. A direct train from the Frankfurt airport to Cologne's central train station is about an hour. Everyone there clapped. Your afternoon is free to explore another world-class museum or two, or to slow down and enjoy sipping a coffee in the city where Europe's caf scene was born. Our final destination is the old resort town of Baden-Baden, famous for its mineral baths and games of chance. "We loved Hallstatt--the private boat ride for an introduction to the area, the old-world hotel, and the winding "back streets"--just so relaxing and unique.". Nothing is firm at this point and we are open to any suggestions. We were very fortunate to have only 14 persons in our group. 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