Dear Stevers,
We’re confirmed for Alpine Europe next year!! I’m seeking thoughts on pre and post tour activities. Something unique and memorable. Like going to Annecy after the tour and then taking a local flight to Paris and home. Would taking a bus or train through the Alps or France on the way there or back home be overkill with the tour? What about a cooking school? Spend a day or two somewhere on the Rapid train line to Salzburg from Paris or Frankfurt? Have breakfast in London before hopping British Airways to Salzburg. “See you” Monday night.
Posted by
Florida
338 posts
If you’re doing RS Best of Switzerland, I’d do something other than Annecy. It’s a beautiful place but you will have just come from incredibly beautiful scenery.
Have you explored Provence? The hill towns etc?
The Lake District in Northern Italy? Como, Stresa and a quieter aorta.
CooknWithClass in Uzes is a favorite for classes, but currently they are only doing their Week in Uzes. They offer individual classes in Paris. However Petra Carter in Uzes is fabulous. When in Paris, La Cuisune is fun.
Enjoy planning!
Posted by
Beaverton, Oregon, USA
740 posts
"quieter aorta"?
I presume that was supposed to be "quieter Lake Orta".
Posted by
Irving
2948 posts
You can take a 2h 30m train from Chamonix-Mont-Blanc to Annecy that requires two connections. From there you can take a 3h 45m direct train to Paris Gare de Lyon.
Posted by
Alexandria, VA
771 posts
I guess “unique and memorable “ is in the eye of the beholder. We probably did more or less “regular” things. We flew into Munich for 3 nights, and did a day trip to Dachau with Radius Tours on one of our days. Our guide was excellent.
We arrived in Salzburg two days before the tour. On our full day, we did a “Sound of Music” bike tour with Fraulein Maria’s Bike Tours. Not because we are Sound of Music fans, but it brought us out into the countryside with bikes, and was fun. We also went to a concert at Mirabelle Palace. On our free day after the tour started, we did the Eagles Nest Historcal Tour mentioned in the Risk Steve’s book, as did several other tour members.
When the tour was over, we took the train through the mountains to Montreux, Switzerland and spent the night, visiting the Chateau de Chillon, and doing a boat cruise on Lake Geneva upon arrival.
From Montreux, we took the panoramic train part way, and spent 3 nights in Fribourg, Switzerland, where I spent my junior year of college. Also on that same route is the town of Gruyere, famous for their cheese, and several beautiful towns/ski resorts in the mountains.
We flew home from Zurich.
Because we would be traveling in Switzerland after the tour, we got 8 day Swiss Rail passes. We could activate them on our first day in the Lauterbrunnen area and use them for lifts there (paying a bit extra on one or two.) It was valid for the train trip from Chamonix to Montreux, entrance to Chillon, the boat on Lake Geneva, the subsequent train trips, museums in Fribourg and Zurich. It was a good value for us.
Good luck with your plans!
Posted by
Sacramento, CA
671 posts
We flew in to Munich 2 days early and visited Dachau. We then took the train to Salzburg and were there about 2 days before the tour started. After the tour, we took the train to Innsbruck for another gorgeous day of hiking in the Alps. As I prefer round trip flights, we then took the train back to Munich. It was wonderful and easy.
Posted by
Charlotte, NC
176 posts
No way to go wrong on your first visit do and see and stay where you want it’s all good.