gopack

I am looking for any feedback from people who have taken the Tauck tour to Switzerland. We are thinking of taking the 11 or 12 day tour there next June. Since our time is limited there, we thought this would give us a good overview and then, we could to back on our own. We usually plan our own trips and do them on our own, but I would like to give an escorted tour a try. I guess I a am little burned out right now from planning our Scotland trip.

Just looking for any comments on this tour! Thanks,

Ginny

gopack

I forgot to add I am looking for feedback on hotels and food. Also wondering if we will have any afternoons or mornings free to take some easy walks on our own.

Ginny

aeiger

Hi
If you're feeling a little burned out from planning your last trip, why don't your wait a couple of months before planning on a tour. I've never taken a tour, but I do get burned out from planning our trip. We usually go in Sept. so I begin planning in March or April. I start thinking sooner but planning begins in spring. I don't know how you plan but I find as summer comes up, I ramp up my planning. Enjoy your trip.

crefloors

gopack, I had a friend that did a Tauck Tour, but it was Italy. She said it was very nice and well handled. As far as free time? Try their website and see if you can see your tour and it's itinerary. I know that Globus for example, has the full itinerary for all their tours on the site so you can see what is planned each day. If that doesn't work, stop by your local travel agent and pick up a brochure...the brochures usually always have the whole itinerary listed. Sometimes it's nice to have someone else worry about everything.

crefloors

I also forgot to add, the should list the hotel where you will be staying..or the maybe two possible hotels...some groups list the hotels they use in each city but don't commit to a place until you book...so you can go online and check the hotels out.

gopack

Thanks for the suggestions. I thought a tour through Switzerland could be fun and maybe relaxing for a change from me doing all the planning and on-road navigating and Jim having to do all the driving once we get there. I also thought it might be fun to meet people on the tour.

I did check out the online itineraries and the hotels, and it looks like a nice tour. But sometimes the daily descriptions are vague so I guess I will give them a call for more details.

I will continue to read the helpful informative posts on this board as time goes along!

Ginny

jemath2

Hello there-
I've done several trips with Tauck, however never the Switzerland one. They have always been really fantastic trips- we even keep in touch with one of our guides because we loved her so much. I think they do a good job of balancing the guided tours and the free time, and the hotels have all been top notch. I have also found that once someone does one Tauk tour, they return for several more, so that also says something about the quality, for what it's worth.

Good luck!

Barbara_in_CT

I haven't done this Tauck Tour either but I have taken several. The hotels are the best available in each location. So are the restaurants. You are usually free to order from the menu.

However, Switzerland by train can be a breeze: no driving, no navigating. Settle in an area for a few days, see the sites, train to another area and repeat. Try to include the Glacier Express and the Bernina Express, 2nd class is delightful. Be prepared to picnic. Almost anywhere you stop will be a wonderful experience and the train trip will be beautiful and enjoyable.

jerseyride

Yes . I took the Tauck Alps tour in July. It was my 5th tauck tour, but not my best. The other 4 tours were much better. The scenery was great. The hotels were deluxe even though most didn't have ac, they were very nice. The major problem was the food. The advertised al l'carte dining didn't happen on this tour. We had to eat at specified times as a group in separate rooms with a very limited menu. Sometimes there was no choice. Most people weren't happy. I felt cheated. I had nice meals when the meals were on our own, but when they were included in the tour, most were not very good. People who had dietary restrictions(diabetic, kosher, alllergies, vegans) were ignored. Also, the pace was very strenuous. Not a very relaxing trip. Also, some things that the tour book said that were to be included in the tour did not happen. I like Switzerland, but I wouldn't take a tauck trip there.

travelinwifey

I haven't done Switzerland either but have done Tauck tours. I preferred Maupin because the guides are Eurpoeans and historians. Both tour companies are discounted 8-10% land prices through www.trafalgartours4less.com, you just need to contact the Travel Agency owner Charles through the website. I know he has sites for Tauck and Maupin but I can't remember their exact names.

gopack

Thanks everyone for your advice and feedback on the tours. The more I read here and in my guide book, the impression I am getting is that it is very easy to get around in Switzerland on your own. It seems like the kind of trip where you want more free time to hike/walk and take time for a break with a glass of wine, to enjoy the views. Overall, it sounds like a more relaxing style vacation, rather than a rush around style, where you try to see as many museums and castles as possible.

I am now starting to lean toward doing a car trip here rather than a tour. I may save the Tauck tour for a 2 week Italy trip, where I know we don't want to drive, etc.

Still not sure yet but thanks for the feedback! Any advice is welcomed!

Ginny