Uh, letsgeaux, in Switzerland you can see more of the Alps from trains/postal buses/boats/gondolas/funiculars/etc. than you can from the road. Cars or tour buses are the worst way to see Switzerland. But, of course, you do see something.

The OPs sound spry enough for a Rick Steves' tour. Everybody I know who has been on one liked it.

I also urge the OP to look at the Road Scholar options as recommended by Adrienne.

Well, there are tours and tours. And like anything, to a large extent you get what you pay for. Not always, my (xpensive) Smithsonian tour of China had all too many shopping ops, and I felt like I was in a coccoon, but some of that was because we were in China, not because it was a Smithwonian tour. And I believe Intourist htoels were notorious.

However, if you want a feel for RS tours, former participants have a lot of scrapbooks up on his site: http://www.ricksteves.com/tours/scra...lum-scrapbooks

I am not saying that Globus tours are THE best way to go. The OP asked about the Alpine Countries tour and I felt qualified to give an opinion because I have taken that exact tour. I would not put Globus at the bottom of the totem pole, but closer to the middle. Regarding the food: breakfast every morning is pretty good. The dinners that are included are nothing special, but, they are not every night, they are optional, and they are free. On many nights we went out on our own and ate at some very good restaurants. The best was Steirereck in Vienna which was a Michelin 3 star. The Old Swiss House in Lucerne was another good one. We have been to Europe numerous times but have only taken 2 tours, both with Globus. Maybe we were lucky but both times we had great guides and a good group of people. I am sure there are better tours out there, but I will give this one a thumbs up.

>>but closer to the middle.<<

Sorry, but Globus is not in the middle of the pack. They are at the budget / low end.

I also took the Thames to Tiber tour with Globus, with family members. I liked it a lot, it was my first trip to Europe.

It was mostly good with a few down sides, but we saw a lot, the accommodations were very nice with one exception. They meals were OK, a couple being really good. Our tour director was wonderful and there was quite a bit of free time, if you wanted to use it. My brother and I did opt for several optional tours and that was fine at the time. I also liked being able to get right in to places like St. Peters, the Eiffel Towers and others.

I haven't taken another tour, my other trips have been on our own, but under certain circumstances, I wouldn't hesitate to take another tour.

My dad is in his 70s, and not very active. For him, he would never hesitate to take a Globus tour. He gets plenty of wonder and amazement looking about him, seeing things at a cursory level, listening to what the tour guides have to say, and he is quick with his picture taking. As opposed to myself, he just would not do well sitting in lectures, sitting for longer periods of time in one place… That is just not him, and it is different but not bad. I just commend him for continuing to want to see the world at his stage, I don't expect him or anyone else to do it my way. As others have mentioned, it is up to your style. If you like to linger, get in-depth researching and area, have your choice of food and drink and wake up times, then perhaps this is not the tour for you. If you don't mind quick paced, eating what is given to you, etc., then Globus is just fine. It also depends on your goals. If you are drawn to a specific place for a very specific reason, like ancestry, or to celebrate a special occasion like an anniversary, I might not do this with Globus. But if you have a specific defined period of vacation time, and are looking for something to do, I think you'd be fine. One thing I've always found with bus tours and groups, perhaps because of our own scheduling and planning our time off, is that the first day I usually experience significant jet lag. The first day on the bus, I find myself dozing quite a bit.

Don't want to ask any questions that are too personal, but for people that took Globus and liked them, can you provide any perspective on what you spent in addition to the cost of the basic tour? For instance:

How many of the optional tours did you take and how much did Globus charge per person for each?

How much did you end up spending on additional meals - either those not covered by the tour at all - or those covered when you opted to eat elsewhere? Either per person or per couple?

How much did you spend getting from the hotel to activities in town center - either in the evening or during free time? Bus or other local transit? Taxi?

What was the total of the tips for the dedicated guide and the driver?

I won't ask about shopping since that is totally optional and very individual - but were there other significant expenses?

I would be happy to provide info from my experience - but it was so long ago that I don't remember much about costs - nor would they reflect current prices. The one thing that does stand out was that in St Pet the itinerary had mentioned the ballet. Then they tried to substitute some folklore dance program - which the group was not interested in. So we insisted on ballet - and they got us tickets - but they were more than $70 each - and this was so many years ago that the price would be MUCH higher now. (We were prepared to have the hotel arrange the tickets and a different bus from that provided by the tour if necessary for us to get there.) The bus was available and it did take us to and fro at no extra charge - but I know the guide was not happy - probably eliminated the cut he got from the folklore people.

I know these extras are often a surprise to new travelers - and might be esp difficult for someone going on a budget tour rahter than someone who has bought a much more expensive tour - and presumably has more disposable income.

<< Do you have any suggestions for us as to what TOUR you think would be better than Globus?>>

I would like to help but we don't use tours, we do our own itinerary. And so did the two pensioners who look like me when they were your ages (they take it a bit slower now - one or two cities they particularly like to revisit per trip). But my uncle, when he was in his mid-70s, would complain about Globus and Perillo tours because "they're all just a buncha old people." Read: the tourists you'll be with aren't quite capable of clambering around the national parks in the Four Corners region like you are.

That said, our style is hub-and-spoke - pick a couple of hubs and think about where you want to go from there. Much easier on the planning than bouncing from spot to spot on your own. Especially considering the ease, efficiency, and comfort of rail transport in the region.

It is not my intention to be doing unpaid Globus commercials and some of the negative comments may be justified. We have been to Europe about 10 times and only 2 have been with Globus. We have not been on any other tours so we have nothing to compare them to. Globus has a budget branch called Cosmos. We have never taken them. A major difference between the two is that the Globus hotels, while not exceptionally luxurious, are closer to the city center. In Venice, we stayed at the Savoia and Jolanda which is just steps from St. Mark's Square. Many others were either in the city center or a short walk or subway ride from it. This is why I called Globus mid-range. We never had the impression we were slumming it. We never had any trouble getting to a city center easily and cheaply. As for the nights when meals are not included, you can spend as much or as little as you want just like an independent traveler. As for the excursions, I would compare them to cruise ship excursions. They are not cheap but not ridiculously expensive either. Some of them were very good. They take you right in to some of the crowded attractions such as the Vatican and its museums without having to stand in line.. During our tour of Vienna, we got a private tour of Schoenbrun sp? Palace because they let us in 15 min. before it opened, giving us a head start on the throngs. We prefer independent travel, but we did have fun on our Globus tours.

I don't mean to bash Globus - have never used them and don't know they are worse than other tours - except the upscale ones.

But if one needs to budget an extra $500 or $1,000 per person for optional tours, meals not covered, local transit and tips - then the OP needs to be prepared for that.

Globus has seems to curtailed their tours a lot now.
Globus had a terrific tour to South Africa about 6-7 years ago.

I did not take the tour but I know that when the tour pamphlets came out for the following year , the South African Tour was much curtailed.

I called Globus personally and asked why did they omit so many places from their previous tour of a few years ago.

Globus said, "The price of the tour was too high"

I said, "Yes but at the higher price so saw so much more."

She then added that "more people will go on the cheaper tour."

So there you have it, guess if you want to see and do more then get a higher quality tour which is more expensive.

Appreciate all of your suggestions and thoughts on the Globus Tour. I did take your advice and looked into the Rick Steve's 14 day Best of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland trip he offers. I think we can get around hauling our own luggage if I pack lighter!!! Not usually my style! My only concern is the arrival in Frankfurt and the tour actually leaving from Trier. I understand the train station is there at the airport. Since we are looking at next summer dates, nothing regarding a schedule is out yet. I need to just do it for this August, but haven't done that as yet. It appears there are two different trains? Has anyone ever taken the train to Trier? I am going to our travel agent this week to pick her brain about the multiple city flying issues as we later fly out of Vienna. We will need to get home by then, so an excursion afterwards back to Frankfurt isn't in the cards. I have always booked round trip tickets for all our prior trips. When we went to Italy a couple years ago, we flew into Rome, spent most of the trip in Tuscany, but then I got us back to Rome for a few days before flying home from there. This is new for me, the multiple city thing. It is a lot more expensive to do the Steve's trip, but we do like to explore on our own so this would afford us that time. Thanks again for all your help so far!!

Flying open jaw is not a problem. If you look on sites like kayak.com, just select the multi-city option.

I doubt I would use aTA for train tickets. Sites like seat61.com and the Rick Steves site have all the info you need.

There are also packing tips on the RS site, or you can take a look at my packing list at http://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com/...take-part-one/ - I travel for months at a time with a carry-on size bag and a day pack.

Bon voyage!

If I'm not too late to comment... My husband and I don't do tours, but his sister and her husband have done 2 Globus tours (neither was the one you're contemplating) and 2 Viking river cruises. They don't like to do the research and planning for a trip; they like just to show up. Their descriptions of the Globus tours didn't appeal to us AT ALL because of the pace and early starts, but they had a wonderful time on both tours even if they couldn't always tell us what they saw where. And they saw a lot!! They met people on the first Globus tour that they joined on the second Globus tour.

I think when people say to check the hotels Globus uses, it's more about location and size and less about quality. The tour needs to be able to pull a large bus up to the front door, and many hotels in ancient city centers just can't accommodate that so the tour hotels tend to be a little farther out of the center. Also, the tour needs to be able to book a couple of dozen rooms, all fairly equal, at a cost-effective rate. That means charming, small, boutique hotels are out.

But if a tour company is looking to keep costs down, they will down-grade the hotels right after they cut down on the destinations/sights on the itinerary, as mentioned by Percy. It's always a good idea to research the hotels used for any tour. Depending on what your research reveals, it could be a make-or-break aspect to your decision.

Now that you are considering starting in Trier and ending in Vienna, you should look at the Lufthansa website, as they fly to Germany and Austria; they own Austrian Airlines and code share with United; and also look into other airlines. There are non-stop flights to and from Vienna and Frankfurt. if you look on sites such as kayak you can get an idea of who flies where..and costs of flights will vary depending.

As for getting to Trier, you can fly there from many European airports, or take the train (you may be seeing 2 trains as one may be the fast train, or you may be seeing that a transfer is necessary) or take the bus from Frankfurt airport to Trier. if you think you will be too jet lagged to deal with train transfers, then either fly into Trier from Frankfurt, or take the bus.

The website for the bus is http://meinfernbus.de/en/

While you can buy a train ticket in advance for less than on arrival, if your plane is late and you miss the train you will probably have to purchase a new ticket.

Most people who take the Rick Steves tours like them...just pack light,and plan on rinsing out a few things in the sink.

As you have probably discovered by now the Rick Steves site is up front about the time you spend on the bus, and free time,, and it does not appear that they are selling extras which really add up when you factor in the cost of the admissions, the guide and the transportation.

having looked at both tour descriptions, if you are both physically fit, and can walk or hike in higher altitudes then take the Rick Steves tour. While it does not go to as many places as Globus as , you will have more free time, less time on the bus, and will not be moving as much. Those one night stays are real killers. In addition you will get entire days in places like Salzburg rather than a few hours, and will have time to explore places on your own or just sit in a café and relax.

if you feel that you want an extra day or two, consider adding a day at the beginning to get over jet lag, or adding at the end in Vienna, as there is lot to see and do in Vienna. Its not at all difficult to take an airport bus or public transit or a taxi from a hotel to the airport.

A good way to compare the cost of the two tours is to write down side by side, the number of meals included, sights included, extra costs for excursions that may be included on one trip, and extras such as tips for guides and drivers.

also size matters, a tour of 24-28 people at the most is far different than a tour of 34-40 people

do a little research.. start with a few tour guides from your local library or online and decide what places you want to see the most

Salzburg is definitely worth a day, and Halstatt is a very nice town on a lovely lake.

" it does not appear that they are selling extras"

The only optional extra I've ever heard about on a RS tour is a gondola ride in Venice. The tour descriptions are pretty clear about what is included. Also, there is NO tipping.

I would definitely consider adding time at the beginning to get over jetlag before the tour starts (and to allow for possible problems with your flights). If you can manage the time, adding on at the end would be great - besides Vienna, Budapest is an easy train ride away.

Is Cosmos a step above Globus?

<< Is Cosmos a step above Globus? >>

No. It's Globus's budget tour company.

I happened to be at Mt. Pilatus at the same time a Globus tour was visiting the mountain. In fact, I went up with them and came back down 90 min later with them on the same cogwheel train. Since they were a group, they were allowed to board the ascending cogwheel train before the individual passengers. Once up, they were roaming around freely. Most of the folks had English or Australian accents.