How is driving in the Alps on a tour bus?

We always take public transportation in Italy, Switzerland, and everywhere, for that matter, and feel very safe in the mountains. You will ride not only buses but cableways and chairlifts to amazing views. No need for a car so you can pay attention to the views.

You will find the drivers on all the RS buses to be extraordinarily skillful and safe. I’ve been on RS buses on winding mountain roads and witnessed the drivers negotiating hairpin curves with oncoming traffic. I’ve also seen them park the buses in spaces just barely wider than we in the US would use to park an SUV, with literally inches between them and other vehicles. Have no concerns.

Thank you!

Just to confirm Patricia's experience...the RS bus drivers are awesome. Really, they are so skilled I would be comfortable anywhere with them! On the tours I've been on I felt the city traffic was WAY more hair-raising than the mountain driving. I've been on 2 different tours that did mountain driving, both the 21 Best of Europe and the Germany, Austria, Switzerland tour. On the 21BOE the driver and guide (a former RS bus driver!!) made a decision at the last moment to go over a twistier road and Pass as the weather looked like it was holding. It was fabulous.

After you are there if you feel like you will worry, just avoid the front seat.

I’ve been on the My Way Alpine tour and there was no scary driving on any leg of the trip. As others have said, the drivers for Rick Steves tours are marvelous (and I say that as a veteran of 23 tours). I, too, have taken the local bus from Sorrento down the coast to Amalfi and, believe me, there was nothing beginning to approach that experience on the Alpine tour.

Just from my own experience I know that different people feel differently about mountain roads. Some people prefer to be the driver, to feel that they are in control, and dislike being a passenger (either in a car or a bus). Others are the exact opposite and are more nervous when they are the driver and would prefer to be a passenger with an experienced driver in control. Also, how you feel about driving (or being the passenger) on mountain roads depends a lot on your direction - if you are on the mountain side it's not so bad, but if you're on the looking down the cliff side, it can be terrifying. For myself, I'm the control freak that prefers to be the driver (in a car) but I have never had any problem being a passenger on a tour bus, even on some really nerve racking mountain roads.

Thank you, everyone! Nancy (who went on the My Way Alpine tour), thanks for sharing that you don’t think the roads are bad on this particular tour. And Nancy (who did the Amalfi drive), thanks for letting me know that the Amalfi drive is worse. I think, maybe, the Amalfi drive didn’t bother me as much, since they had high fencing or guardrails. 😀 I get nervous when there’s a steep drop and no guardrails!

I've never done the RS tour through the Alpines/Dolomites. I have traveled this area with another tour company and I feel confident saying that any driver licensed to do that route is fine. It's not like driving in the States. These bus drivers are accustomed to this route, and you'll be glad at certain parts that somebody else is driving and not you.

Have a great time!!!