Anyone tried Untours? Tell me about your experience. Thanks.

Incredible! Fantastic! Philanthropic! Cheap! <BR>Okay, so I've only been on one Untour so far (to Reuti, Switzerland, summer of 2000) but I liked it so well I'm taking one to Portugal this summer. They give you what you need to be comfortable and then let you alone to enjoy the place. It's a terrific company to deal with. <BR>Nope, I'm not on the staff.

There's been good feedback on prior threads re this company. I've sent one to the top for you, but do a search for "untours" to see more.

I also took an Untours trip to Switzerland and thought it was wonderful. They deliver everything they promise in their catalog at a very economical price. I'm anxious to take more of their trips in the future.

Terrific company. We like to travel independently and stay at apts. They really take all the trouble out of planning/finding an apt. We stayed in the Hasliberg area of Switzerland - near Meiringen - and never would have found this lovely, untouristy area without them. They provide a list of all the local events going on in your area while your are staying there - this was invaluable. Also loved the hiking guide they provided. Very reliable.

Has anyone taken an Untour to Italy? <BR>Tell me about it please!

Untours is the only way to go. All the positives of tour travel without any of the negatives. We have been on two, to Switzerland and Prague/Budapest and are going to do the Castles on the Rhine this Sept./Oct. Re Italy, go to their web page, www.untours.com and click on idyllchat. It's a "chat room" where you will get tons of info - just post your question and sit back and wait. Also, they have just started a trip log/diary thing where people send in their detailed reports of various trips. Great organization. While obviously I haven't been to Italy with them, I've seen many comments on the chat line -- all glowing. For some trips they issue rail passes to cover your transportation, for others they provide a car. Italy is a "car" place because their apts. are in the country and the places you will want to visit are accessible mainly by car. You'll love the whole experience -- I guarantee it! <BR>

Thanks for your glowing comments. We've arranged a month stay in Provence, 2 weeks at the Hermann apartment and 2 weeks at Chabal. Want to post a query on the Untours board, but can't find a way to post a message. Can you help?

Like I said above, go to http://www.untours.com and click on Idyllchat. Then sign up. You will receive verification from them probably tomorrow with instructions as to how to post. <BR>

Great to hear such positive feedback - we've thought about Untours, but haven't yet committed. Mostly cuz of the one-week (i think it is) minimums...but maybe.....

We have just returned from our second untour and want people to know what a great organization it is. We are independant travelers and they gave us just enough support that we were able to do our own thing. We had historians, artists, and photographers on our tours and everyone had a fabulous time. My husband had a medical emergency and they were there at our side through the whole thing. It is not just for retirees, I really think families would enjoy these locations.

We just spent two weeks (5/23-6/6) at our first Untours apartment in Kandersteg, and it was everything promised down to the bread, milk, cheese, meat, coffee and other food incidentals needed for the next days breakfast.

Their rates are based on land/air or land only. We selected land only since we could fly nonstop IAD-ZRH. We met the other arriving Untourists at the designated spot where two Untours reps would ride the trains with us to our towns in the Oberland and Heartland. Apartment owners then met the trains and escorted us to our chalets. Our landlady also went back to the station later in the day to get our luggage which had fly-rail tags from IAD to Kandersteg.

Untours also provided a book with things to see and do in the area and one listing hikes.

We are completely satisfied with Untours and have a hold on an apartment in Leiden, The Netherlands for next April/May.

I have not taken an Untour but one of the morning news stations, I think the Today show, just had a feature about the founder. It seems he is still a simple man who has given his fortune away to poor people who just need a little financial help to start their businesses. He owns only one suit, one pair of shoes and rides a second-hand bike because he gave his car away many years to someone who needed one. Now if all CEO's could be the same. Bravo to him. Makes me want to take an Untour.