Alpine My Way 7/11-23

Hmmm, try looking at some of the scrapbook presentations to get a visual depiction of tour member experiences.

I took this tour the first year it was offered and kinda meandered through it. I will be 70 next year and plan on doing this again either with the tour or solo. Salzburg - no real fitness fortitude needed. I climbed the hill on the side of the river opposite from the fortress. It did go on forever, seemingly. Nice and secluded. People usually seem to have specific plans for Salzburg or they head to Berchtesgaden. I have been there multiple times and have not run out of new things to do. I have yet to do a Sound of Music tour, but never say never.

My tour actually stayed in Bolzano and it was hot!!! And I went in July. Füssen well, I think most folks head to the castles. On this tour, I went to Hohenschwangau. I like it better than Neuschwanstein, but if you have to climb that hill, it is really not too bad. I did climb that hill just 3 years ago in winter, and probably will not have to do that again. I joined tour friends in eating at a great cafe down at the lake in Schwangau. I think there may be nice hikes/walks around the lake, and I would like to explore them in the future. Füssen is really nice to wander through in the evening. Lots of restaurants seemed to be tucked away.

Lauterbrunnen: staying in Mürren may be more exciting for the views, but I know next time I visit, I want to walk the length of the valley floor. I was captivated by some YouTube videos this past winter of walking and only the sounds of waterfalls. That said, I will definitely repeat my stroll from Mürren to Gimmelwald to end up at the youth hostel cafe there and drink in the view and a beer. While I walked and strolled, some folks on my tour hiked. You can find plenty of trail guides online. I am not a hiker.

Chamonix - well it was dominated by Aiguille du Midi, which of course, a bunch of us rode up to explore. The town river ran by our hotel and there appeared to be people rafting there - looked fun! By this time on the tour, we had really bonded and we held an impromptu party on the little lawn of the hotel. Fun!

My experience was low-key. I needed and wanted a vacation. If you explore this forum, you will discover lots of threads with people speaking about the various hikes they have taken in the Berner Oberland. I know I will read up on them before I head there in the future. Anyway, my age and my kinda average fitness level worked fine for what I wanted to do and for what I did on the MyWay tour. I think there are options for robust hiking and options for meandering, like I did.

One of my all-time favorites. Enjoy.

Sandy, “bingo!” My 25 year old son and I are on the July 11th My Way Alpine Europe tour.
I haven’t been able to find any current information about the tour, only pre-pandemic. On the 11th we will receive our hotel and tour companions lists. I am hoping the Rick Steves office or someone on a current Alpine tour will provide updates, tips, or a report soon… I have high hopes & many questions.

It's nice to know there will be other young adults for them to hang with! I am hoping to be able to solidify plans once we get teh final itinerary and hotels. When do you leave Europe? Sandy

Sandy,
I’ve always found Rick Steves tour members pleasant, but it’s a nice bonus our families are the same age. We are staying extra days at the tour hotel, and leaving Chamonix on the 26th. Covid test permitting, we fly out of Geneva at 6:55am the 27th. How about you?

There is a post you should read on the forum if you are undecided about testing in France or Switzerland. A number of upcoming My Way Alpine Europe tour members have been struggling with information. Find this helpful post: Returning to the US, Covid-19 & Travel, Newbie, 6/2/22
I have been in heavy q&a exchange directly with the Rick Steves office. They try hard to help, but the answers can be ambiguous.