Alps My Way

So excited. I am going September 16-27. What town did you stay at in The Dolomites?
Any specific recommendations for what to do and see in the areas you visited? I love walking and hiking.
Any must visit restaurants?
Did you have time to hike and see Otiz the Iceman?
Thanks so much. Regina White

Hi Regina!
You’re going at a wonderful time, from what I’ve read.
We had a spectacular European adventure in the Alps!

So, in Italy, our town was Bolzano & we stayed in the most beautiful hotel I’ve ever lodged called Hotel Citta. It was amazing! The service was outstanding, the rooms were incredible… & on & on! We arrived in the late afternoon & our amazing tour guide, Laurel, recommended strongly that if we wanted to see the Otzi museum, we should go as soon as we checked into our rooms b/c, if I recall correctly, they closed at 4:30. I’m pretty sure that most everyone in our group did just as she suggested and walked directly there. It took about 6 minutes & we passed a beautiful street food market along the way. Perfect timing! The museum was open but empty. We practically had the beautiful museum (at least 3 floors) all to ourselves. There is no photography allowed inside (just so you know) and we were able to view Otzi several times with no wait through the very tiny window. I HIGHLY recommend viewing the PBS Nova special on Otzi before leaving the USA. It meant so much more to be able to see it all since we actually had a very clear understanding of the history, etc. before we ever arrived. I thought the breakfast at Hotel Citaa was the best on the entire trip & that is saying a lot because there was not a bad one! My one regret was that we didn’t take a little more time to enjoy the morning fare b/c we needed to reach the Alpe di Suise lifts & spend the day there. And, the morning of departure day is always a whirlwind so no leisurely breakfast. A piece of advice: be at the door ready to enter the buffet the moment they open so you can enjoy it for as long as you have.
Our favorite thing to do was grocery shop & eat in our rooms. The stores are so fun & it’s not very expensive (much less than restaurants) We tried so many new foods! I will say that we loved the restaurant in Hotel Citta but it was pricey. However, very relaxed and amazing! We splurged & each got the feast of Tyrol (not sure of the exact name. Shaby from the front desk recommended it) & we have zero regrets. We had the beautiful place to ourselves because most places in Europe eat SO MUCH LATER than we do in the USA. At least, a lot later than our family. So, 7:00pm, no one but us was in the restaurant until nearly 8:30. Shaby told us to make a reservation even for ‘early’. I think it helps them be staffed accordingly.

In Salzburg, we adored a restaurant called Die Weiss. It is within walking distance to the Hotel Hofwirt & so very authentic! Our cab driver from the airport told us about it and it truly does feel like a local favorite & not at all touristy. We were adventurous & tried things we couldn’t even pronounce & didn’t regret it one bit. :) Good, fast service & the beer was amazing. I don’t even drink beer in America but in Austria (and Germany!) it’s incredible!
Also went to a Biergarten 1 night that Rick talks about in a Salzburg episode. Huge, LOUD and fantastic! We adored it! It was a bit of struggle to find & we ended up walking around for about 45 minutes lost but we were so happy to be in Salzburg that it didn’t really matter!
Since I’m mentioning Salzburg, I'd be remised not to give a bit of warning about Bolzano. We went from Salzburg that felt so safe & quaint to Bolzano that didn’t have the same vibe. Granted, we were busy with the Alpe di Suise (which was amazing even on a cloudy day with no mountain in site!) & had little time to walk around like we did in Salzburg, but that “safe and cozy” feeling just wasn’t in Bolzano, IMO. However, you can stay in the touristy bubble & have a wonderful time without any worries! Just be aware of pick pockets. Nothing happened, but we had gone learning that such a thing can & will happen anywhere. Like in USA!
I hope I’ve not overwhelmed you with too much information. I am happy to answer anymore questions! I love reliving the best travel experience of my life!
Mitzi

I reached my max characters in the previous reply (HAHA!) so I can give more of the must do experiences next time :)

~M

Thanks for sharing about your tour. I’m so tempted to take it just for the beautiful scenery. Did you take many long hikes? What ages was your group? Did you tend to stay together or did y’all do different things during the day?

And how was the interaction with your tour guide/manager? it is so different from the tours that are structured, but boy, the reports I’ve read really tells me everyone loves it.

Thanks, Lynda

Mitzi,
Thanks so much for your wonderful report. Such helpful information. I really hope we stay in Bolzano because I want to see Otzi and get a chance to hike. I already fear the time in the Dolomites is way too short!! Looking so forward to this tour. It will be my second RS tour, and is part of of a 2 1/2 month long European adventure for me.
I will watch the NOVA special you recommended. I am sure I will have more questions in the next few weeks. Thanks again. Regina

Mitzi - thank you for taking the time to post this information. We are going next June and now trying to identify more specific hikes and restaurants, etc. VERY HELPFUL!

I’m so glad that reliving my wonderful RS European vacation can be some help to others on their way :)
The restaurants we ate at in Salzburg were Die Weisse (https://www.dieweisse.at/en/) near our hotel Hofwirt and we loved it! Also loved the Biergarten Augustiner (https://www.augustinerbier.at/) but be prepared for it to be loud. It was raining that day so everyone was inside. I’m sure the volume would be just fine if the outdoor seating was also available. I suggest watching the RS show where he actually demonstrates how to wash out your mug and get your beverage. I remembered seeing him do it and it made the process so much easier because I wouldn’t have known what to do otherwise. The food choices were so delicious! Also, one of my favorite eats was one night when my daughters wanted to go to bed so my husband and son wanted to go down the street and look for some desserts. Unfortunately, all the amazing bakeries we’d seen earlier in the day were closed but the ice cream shoppes were still open. My piece of advise here is to by-pass the nearest one to Hotel Hofwirt and continue on down a few minutes further near the bridge and there is a darling ice cream shoppe on the corner on the left called “Alpz Gelato and Café”. If photos can be posted in the forums, I will show a picture of the incredible crepe I got. Made fresh right there and then. Plus, it had indoor seating and many choices of flavors. If I recall, the ice cream storefront on the right closer to the hotel had 3 flavors and no outdoor seating. Also, if you want some fresh fruit, there’s a little stand on that same street that we got red currants and the best strawberries I’ve ever eaten. Truly! More about food – the breakfast at Hotel Hofwirt is fantastic! We ate very well in the morning and only had a snack in the afternoons. The hotel lobby also offers beverages 24/7. Alpine water from the mountain! YUM! My daughter and I also ate little bit from the farmers market that was near the horse fountain in the old city. It’s not a huge market but fresh greens made my day. Overall, I didn’t see a lot of salad on our trip so picking up a bag of washed greens at the grocery store or from the markets was a tip I’d suggest. I love greens so I would just snack on them out of the bag. I would ask for an ice bucket at some of the hotels and let it sit on the ice to keep it fresh overnight. I might be the strange one that likes greens but anyway… my family liked them too, especially with the fresh fruits. BTW, my family on this trip consisted of my husband and I and our 23 year old triplets. 2 girls and a boy.
Bolzano, I mentioned the restaurant at Hotel Citta was delicious. We also got gelato from the stand outside our hotel in the Waltherplaz called “Vogelino Gelato and Take Away”. My family loved it!
We ate authentic Italian Pizza in Italy at a place called Pizzera Maradona. It was really good however, I don’t recommend it because it was outside the safe-feeling bubble and about a 15 minute walk. Plus, it’s really more of a takeout place. We picked it b/c it has high ratings. Favorite food in Italy: Restaurant Panorama in the Alpe di Suisi. Ate outside with coats on. BEST FOOD! and beautiful.
Fussen is a wonderful place and I wish we’d had more time there! 1st night, ate at the Thai place our tour guide loved. It was good at the time b/c we were tired but I'd do more research next time. Next day, My daughter and I stumbled upon this amazing deli (think high-end deli) with some seating inside (it was hot outside). We loved it so much! It’s called “Vinzenzmurr” on the main street about 10 minutes from the Hotel Zum Hechten where we lodged. Our RS group ate dinner that night at the hotel and it was amazing! I recommend getting extra ice cream with the apple strudel! You’ll thank me later.
Next :Eats in Wengen Switzerland & Chamonix France

Wengen and Chamonix Foods:

In Wengen (the most beautiful place on earth!) we adored our Hotel Regina and the breakfast was wonderful. We mostly ate foods from the Coop grocery store while sitting on our balcony to enjoy the beautiful views of the gorgeous mountains! The best food we had from Wengen was from this bakery called Bäckerei Konditorei Vincenz (https://www.vincenz-wengen.ch/en/) The sweet confections were amazing but the real stars were the savory pies, or wurst (sausages) wrapped in puff pastries. Something new everyday. Loved it! The day we visited Gimmelwald, we ate at an adorable place called Pension Gimmelwald Hotel / Bar / Restaurant (https://www.hotel-pensiongimmelwald.ch/en/)
The food was pretty good, the service was ok but not great but none of that mattered one little bit because the village is so charming and the VIEW was spectacular! Plus, we were hungry! Win-win.

Chamonix, the breakfast at Hotel L’arve was great like all the other places. The one restaurant we ate (the night of arrival) was recommended by our guide during the little walk through orientation. It was called “Le Monchu” (https://lemonchu-chamonix.fr/en/). It was very authentic and probably a local favorite. We should have had reservations but we were clueless & arrived about 5:45 because we were starving. They let us stay but said they have people coming for our table at 7:00. They were nice about it. I got the best dish of the trip at this place. Escargot! The rest of the family got the famous raclettes.
The coals from those two hibachi type fires were so hot that we all got very warm and drank pitchers of water. Overall, it was very good but I still prefer shopping (Super U grocery store) for some very interesting and tasty groceries and making our own little picnic dinners. The produce is always fresh and delicious. Fun new products to try and plenty yummy french chocolates! There is a wonderful farmers/artisan food market (and crafts) on Saturdays in Chamonix, very close to Hotel L'arve. If you’re there, it’s an absolute must, IMO. We were in a hurry to get the train for the Mer de Glace so we didn’t get any food but it all looked SO delicious! Next time, for sure.

Next Post: Hikes, walks, and a wonderful day with 36,000 steps on the tracker!

Thanks for sharing about your tour. I’m so tempted to take it just for the beautiful scenery. Did you take many long hikes? What ages was your group? Did you tend to stay together or did y’all do different things during the day?
And how was the interaction with your tour guide/manager? it is so different from the tours that are structured, but boy, the reports I’ve read really tells me everyone loves it.
Thanks, Lynda

@Lynda,
We loved our tour guide, Laurel! She was just a perfect fit for this group. The interaction was lovely between my family and her as well as every one in our entire tour group. The bus driver becomes part of the "family" too and we all just got along beautifully! I don't know if that's always the case but our particular blend just hit it off. Didn't mean we all wanted to go spend every touring moment with one another (but some actually did)! Our family of 5 had been apart for several years since my kids had just graduated college so when our RS group wasn't eating a meal or riding in the bus together, my 5 went off and did our own thing. That's the nature of the MY way tours. Friendly when together but expectations are every mini group has their own agenda. We usually all headed our direction after breakfast. BTW, I'm 55 years young and my husband is 56. I'd say we were the youngest in our RS group. There was another family of 3 with a sweet girl in her late 20's and I believe most of the others were probably early to mid 60s. I'd venture to say at least 2 couples were active 70s. As mentioned in a previous post, my triplets are 23 (and a half). Sometimes, even our little family of 5 would split and do different mini-adventures. 2 of us weren't bike riders so 3 went 1 route and 2 of us another on several occasions. And the scenery ! Absolutely STUNNING! Just unimaginably beautiful! I suppose I need to start a RS scrapbook so I can post pictures. Also, German is spoken in every country we visited. Yes, French is also spoken as well as Italian but German was understood in every place we went. I have been learning German through the DuoLingo free app 4 months before departure and it really helped me feel like I could at least communicate my needs. Plus, there's a free version and it's FUN!
More later! Gotta go work to save up for another RS tour! Prost!

Hi Mitzi,

Thanks so much for this detailed information! We are going on this tour Aug. 28-Sept. 8. We are also staying in Bolzano and looking forward to seeing Otzi, so I appreciate the tip about the NOVA special. We will check it out. We are also staying in Wengen. We have been on multiple RS tours, but this is the first where there was a transportation cost to get to our hotel. I am curious whether you were given a ticket for the train to Wengen or if everyone had to purchase tickets?

Thanks again for sharing your experience and recommendations!

Sherri

Hello Sherri,
That's a great question about the train to Wengen! The initial ticket to get to our hotel Regina and then the final ticket to get back to the valley on departure day were purchased by our guide, Laurel, and not an expense we had to incur. However, all other excursions on that train we were responsible for paying for.

I highly recommend the SBB Mobile App for purchasing lift tickets, trains, etc. whilst in Switzerland. It was quick, easy and respected by multitudes.

I know you'll have a fabulous time on your RS Alps vacation ! I'm happy to answer anymore questions.

~M

Mitzi — Thanks so much for all this fabulous tour info. I am thinking I’ll have to do a lot of hiking to balance out all the good food you mentioned! We’re headed out on the tour at the end of August and I’m trying to figure out the whole jacket/sweater/fleece packing thing. It’s been a hot summer in Europe so I don’t want to take too much, but will definitely bring a good rain jacket. How was the weather and what worked layer-wise for you in June?

Hello Iceland!
I love sharing with others about the fabulous ALPs vacation we had in June! One of these days, I'm going to make a RS scrapbook!
Turns out, I weighed the morning we left for Europe and the morning after we got back and it was EXACTLY the same. So, eat what you want and enjoy the amazing time in a breathtaking place! Yes, the hiking/ walking was a great balance to the yummy food :)
Clothes. If I had to do it again (and oh, I hope we'll get to go again, someday!) I would take so much less ! Our group of 5 adults took only carry-ons and no checked luggage on our way to Europe. Even so, I didn't need some of what I took. I think I read an article on here by RS (?) that said something along the lines of put what you think are your essentials on the floor (bed, wherever) then cut that in half. Then, half again. And it's true! June (or hotter months) even in the Alps only required some warmer selections for a couple of the places. We arrived at the Alpe Di Suissi very early in the morning and it was still misty/cloudy (not raining) and we were underdressed. Didn't even bring the warm clothes with us that particular day that we'd carried in our luggage. Ended up purchasing some very nice and extremely expensive gloves, etc. in one of the many clothing stores at those lifts. Great memories but a big dent in the wallet. A nice, merino wool toboggan was $36! Gloves, $35. That was our own fault. Don't underestimate the low temps in the beautiful mountain meadows! You are really up there in elevation. So, we love our "souvenirs" but could have spent that money elsewhere. Lots of words just to tell you that most of the other places were not cold enough for more than a light jacket during our trip. I read another article on here that said a scarf can class up any outfit so I took a nice scarf and wore it often for warmth and "fashion" and it took up very little space. There is a shop in Salzburg that sold gorgeous scarfs (she had a scarf display outside on the sidewalk) where I bought a beautiful, colorful one for only $15. It was near the Mirabelle Gardens. I only took 1 heavy-ish zip up sweater but it wasn't needed except once. It took up too much room and I could have just worn layers more wisely. I took about 5 sleeveless blouses (wrinkle free) that I could just put a lite little jacket over. When it got to 90 degrees one day in Murren, I was so glad I could just shed the layers and tie the jacket around my waist as we were walking from town to town.

So, in a nutshell, I think layers are the answer- a nice versatile scarf , lightweight jacket and maybe a toboggan. All take up very little space and can be worn multiple times. Shoes. 1 good pair of tennis/hiking shoes that are in nice enough condition to wear out to eat is all I'm taking next time! I over packed and never used my sandals. Cobblestones were not a good match for such footwear. I nearly twisted an ankle.

I'm happy to answer more questions ! Prost!

I'm also trying to decide what to pack, so this is very helpful! Thank you so much for sharing your experience, and I hope you do decide to do a scrapbook. I have relied heavily on them while planning this trip. Thanks again!

Thanks for all the packing tips! I am a horrible packer so if I read your advice multiple times I am hoping it will sink in. Ha! One more question. Do you recommend taking shorts or do pants work for most of the hiking and/or walking around the towns? I don’t wear capris or own convertible pants and am just not sure if taking shorts is one more thing that just doesn’t need to be packed. Of course I’ll check the weather before I leave but it’s always good to hear from someone who’s been on the tour.

Hey Iceland,
Shorts: I wore them many times during our early/mid June Alps adventure. I checked the 10-day weather forecast for our destinations, but particularly Salzburg. Turns out that it was our coldest location (other than our destinations that required lifts, like the Alpe Di Suissi) where we ended up wearing pants, scarves, jackets most of the time we were outdoors. The rest of the towns had begun warming up and our hottest day was in Switzerland where it reached 90 degrees (F)! One might think that it would have been chilly with snow-capped mountains surrounding you but it was pretty warm most of our time in the Wengen area.

My 2 pairs of shorts were 'bermuda' length (is that even a term anymore??), not quite to the knees and not very short. Notice I said that I wore them often and I said I only brought 2 pairs. European travel is a bit like camping, really. One re-wears their clothing before they get laundered. For the most part, I didn't perspire, really... and I brought many fresh changes of under clothes.

Oh, and let me share one of the coolest packing tips I read about and then used quite successfully! We purchased neck pillow covers that had zippers. Voila! Extra packing space and everyone allows them on the plane! I got lots of socks and other little clothing items in the neck pillow covers and it served 2 purposes on the trip! More free space in my carry ons and a cushion! During the return journey, we checked some luggage so we didn't use them on the way home.

Happy to answer anymore questions! ~ Mitzi

Hi Mitzi-
This is SO helpful! We’re going July-August 2025- my husband and I (70) plus our DIL and 16 yo grandson. So excited! I appreciate your helpful tips and all the packing info as well. Did you need to reserve any activities in advance? I’m thinking particularly of those a 16 yo boy would enjoy! Thanks again!

Mitzi--thanks for providing so much information about your trip. We're taking this tour next June, and I'm bookmarking this thread for future reference. The neck pillow cover idea is absolutely brilliant!

One question--are you saying you mainly wore shorts in the towns rather than on the trails? I have hiking trousers and am thinking of investing in some hiking shorts that look more like regular bermuda shorts (yes that term is still used!), but might just bring my regular bermuda shorts if I'm not likely to use them on the trails. Our tour begins June 16.

One question--are you saying you mainly wore shorts in the towns rather than on the trails?
Leslie,
It depended on the place we were and the temperatures. The "cities" were hotter than one might imagine so, yes, we often wore shorts when walking around the city. The hot pavement is different than the hiking paths. If I was gone all day, I'd still wear shorts even if it was cool in the morning. We kept an eye on the weather forecasts. I'd wear a light jacket and, as I wrote in a different reply, would just shed the layers as needed.
Hope that helps :)

~M

Thanks for the info. I'm already weighing my wardrobe options. Since we're hoping to spend a week in Paris pre-tour and a week in London post-tour, it's going to be interesting trying to balance the hiking portion and the city portions of our trip. Of course we won't have tour mates in the cities, so I could wear the same thing every day and no one but my husband would know. :-)

Haha
Leslie,
If it makes you feel any better, I'm pretty sure everybody re-wore their clothing :) It's expected

lamusic,
We did reserve several activities before we left the USA. We purchased tickets for the Castle(s) in the Fussen area. Also purchased tix in advance for the Eagle's Nest (Kehlsteinhaus) bus. My 23 year olds all love history so 2 were glad they went with their Dad. My other daughter and I explored Salzburg and opted out of that particular tour. What one actually reserves for the Eagle's nest is the bus (which is the only way to access the Eagle's Nest). Be sure to leave plenty of time for the museum there. I know several people reserved a spot in advance for the Salzburg Sound of Music biking tour. We chose to go to the Abby instead and get pictures of the famous doorway where Maria (Julie Andrews) is leaving the convent in order to become the nanny for the Von Trapp family. You can go inside the chapel. It was silent and reverent. Lovely experience. No tix needed. We didn't really do a great deal of planning for our June '24 RS M W tour! Life was busy. Not having an agenda was not the way we'd ever done our vacations in the past but it was also nice to just be flexible and have lower expectations. That way, when the clouds were heavy and the Dolomites could not be seen or it was socked in at the Zugspitze and our tour had to skip it, we weren't devastated. At all. We were just happy to be together in gorgeous Europe. So many great things happened that a few wishes not being granted was really not a big deal.
I'm not sure what your 16 y.o. young man would enjoy the most. Be sure to watch all the RS tv shows that you can about the places you'll visit. We loved doing that as a family and learned SO much! So, in a way, we really did plan because when you're standing in front of something that you saw on the TV, one feels 'prepared' ....
But, believe me, if you've never seen the Alps up close and personal in Switzerland, nothing can prepare you for the BEAUTY! and majesty of those splendid mountains! I want to go back :)

Mitzi-
Thanks so much again for such a thoughtful and complete reply to my question! I’m looking forward to everything!

Walks, Hikes, and Steps:
Salzburg – walked so very much through this gorgeous old city & didn’t feel tired because it was absolutely lovely. 16,000 steps one day & never left pavement, except when it turned to cobblestones. Amazing history, incredibly friendly people, delicious foods, never-ending shopping opportunities, & fun biergartens! Sleep was great. But, be prepared for no A/C. I assume it varies from hotel to hotel. Our trip was in early June & we never felt hot in our rooms. Windows can usually always open wide, in case you need a cool breeze.
Tip: If you like to use washcloths in your shower, bring your own b/c only 1 hotel out of 5 had them.

Bolzano: Again, city walking. Hiking the Alpe Di Suissi is lovely and offers easy to more strenuous. Most of our RS group went to the ‘witches’ trail but our family of 5 did not. We chose the Panorama trail and loved every minute of our meadow adventure. Peaceful, nearly silent atmosphere except for the tinkling of cow bells or the birds twittering, or a goat bleating. Paths were sandy-ish. Well-defined. We ate at the hotel restaurant for our lunch after a long morning hike/walk. Heavy cloud cover and never saw a Dolomite from our alpine meadow but maybe next time! I think if one has an attitude of appreciating the beauty in front of you, the mountains you can’t see won’t be missed. Hoping all of you have clear weather but you can have a fantastic time even if it’s rainy.
Fussen: Bike riding, walking throughout the city and beyond. 3 of our 5 rode bikes to the Castles and 2 of us took the city bus. Once there, you walk a bit (5 minutes?) up the hill to the tram that takes you to Mary’s bridge where you have the famous view of King Ludwig’s Neuschwanstein. We didn’t go see Hohenschwangau this trip. It’s on our wish list for next time. The hike up to Neuschwanstein from the bridge was probably one of the more strenuous walks we did on the trip. It’s not long but it’s steep. Give yourself time so you won’t miss your assigned ticket entry.
They are sticklers for not being late. A family from our group was denied entry because they were not belly up to the rope when that clock snapped to their time. They pull the rope back. Wait about 25 seconds and then place it back, turn & walk away. There is zero late entry. We had a wonderful time in Fussen & loved the charm this Bavarian town had to offer.

Wengen: 36,000 steps was clocked on a fellow member of our tour. They were from CO and had plenty of mountain hiking experience. They would leave before sunrise and not return until the evening. They shared with us that they got in 36,000 steps that 1 single day and loved every minute of it. Just know that there is plenty to do in the Lauterbrunnen Valley area with a range of difficulty from easy to expert. We took a lift from the valley to Murren & then walked around the charming town & then onto (a bucket list item!) of visiting Gimmelwald. The weather was hot but clear & we had breathtaking views throughout our walk, the whole day. We stopped when we wanted a break & strolled when we wanted to slow down. The pace is up to you! BTW, a lot of people get Grindelwald mixed up with Gimmelwald. We had seen a RS episode where he spoke of how much he loved Gimmelwald and being so close while based in Wengen was so exciting! Probably my favorite day of a life-changing trip that didn’t contain a bad day!
Chamonix and conclusion next post....

Chamonix: This was our last city of the RS tour and the bus ride was … hmm.. how to word this… exhilarating and expertly done by a professional driver. We scaled mountains with drop-offs that took my breath away and down the other side. Safely! A long trip but worth it to see Mount Blanc! The weather was not on our side for this final stop on the tour. It was full of cloud cover and rain all the days but we wore our rain coats, took our umbrellas and made the best of it! The clouds would break now and again & we got some beautiful photos. Unfortunately, the major lifts (like the Aguille di Midi) were not running while we were there but we hope to go again someday!
3 of our 5 went on a day long hike in the drizzle and had many more steps than my daughter and I. We opted to stay in town and shop, eat lunch at our hotel and relax while we packed for departure day.

I walked, hiked, strolled. Woke early, went to bed early and made the most of every day. We ate world-class foods, nibbled our way through street markets and lived a culinary adventure for 2 weeks! I long for those days again, as those, when we were in beautiful Europe, were some of the best I've had in my blessed life.

As always, I’m more than happy to answer any questions !
~Prost!
Mitzi

Mitzi - this has been so very helpful.
We leave June 9, 2025. I have gotten very confused about the passes we will need, half-price, for what ones, etc. But decided to worry about researching that more in 2025! I also have been thinking about how many reservations are really necessary beforehand....and I'm assuming the tour guide helps you think through scheduling and that sort of thing? Information on packing very helpful. I have cut and pasted into a document your information!

Marna,
You're going to have a wonderful, magical time in the Alps! I can't wait to return someday!
Yes, our guide, Laurel, checked with people on the bus when we were traveling to the next city and asked if we had questions about reservations, etc.

I'm happy to answer any other questions I may be able to help you with~
Mitzi

What a great and helpful thread! Where did you do laundry, if at all? Thank you!

terribee,
Hi! I'm so glad you find our recount of the most fabulous European Alps adventure helpful!

Yes, we were offered a local, nearby place to drop our laundry off while in Fussen. I can't recall the exact price but it was not expensive enough to be a memory - haha! They accepted all items, including undergarments. In my younger years while traveling abroad, the laundry service we encountered would not accept such things but I suppose that's changed because undergarments are what most everyone was getting done! Our family of 5 wasn't sure there would be an option so we purchased some laundry 'sheets' online that we took with us, just in case it was needed. My daughter has since taken a different RS My Way Tour (France) and they, too, offered a laundry option about mid-way in the tour. I suspect it is pretty standard to have a laundry option about half way. I just took enough of the undergarments so that I had fresh everyday and didn't need to even have my clothes washed but others in my family did. I'm happy to answer any other questions!
~Mitzi

Thanks SO much Mitzi for you Alps My Way lovely information! We are looking at taking this trip this year or the next. Could you go into a little more detail about your breakfasts please? I have some dietary needs, ie lots of fiber LOL. Also, you mentioned it being in the 90's in June and the wonderful hotels not having AC ( think the last 3 didn't) Was that difficult? Lastly, how did you book your transport to the hotel from the airports because I don't believe that's included. This would be our first RS tour so soaking up anything we can from you !!

kjkmrgn,
I have no doubt you'll love your RS Alps vacation!

The breakfasts were absolutely outstanding! In fact, I do not ever recall having a breakfast an American hotel as wonderful as every single one we had in Europe. Always an incredible assortment with European favorites (they would sometimes have vegetables on the morning buffet which I don't see in the US) along with every imaginable offering such as bagels with smears, crepes, eggs, meats of every kind, muesli (porridge), granolas, fruits, yogurts, omelets, hash browns, pastries, muffins, juices, coffees, etc.
I consider myself a foodie & took pictures of all the buffets but we are unable to post photos here, unfortunately. It was usually a beautiful set-up (in particular, the hotel in Bolzano, Italy!) I only wish we had more time to eat the morning meal. Even though we were belly up to the door when they opened, our time was often short so we could get out the door and enjoy the sights and offerings of the beautiful towns. It all worked but there will be no sleeping in if you want to enjoy both breakfast and get the most out of your day for maximum touring.
The heat & little AC : So, when we arrived in Salzburg in early June 2024 for our RS Alps tour, my first thought was "Oh, no - it's cold and we didn't pack enough warm clothing! Guess we'll just have to purchase some wonderful European outerwear and gorgeous sweaters! :) " However, the 1 lightweight jacket we each brought was plenty for the first few days of our trip where it was, indeed, pretty cool. I had some pretty scarves (one of RS handy tips I learned - they don't take up much room and are always a nice touch to upgrade an outfit!) which helped, along with wearing layers that we could peel away and tie around our waist as the day got warmer. Mostly took sleeveless tops, mid-length pants and lightweight sweaters. Only a few of each. You'll be wise to adhere to RS advice about no overpacking! I regret taking too much & I repacked several times. For instance, never needed the sandals brought even though they were sorta athletic. The streets were cobblestone in several areas & my ankles were at risk in sandals. Not again. Sturdy, practical shoes in a muted color for me. So, after Austria we headed to Italy. The Alpi di Suise is VERY chilly even in June. I've written in some of my posts about how we had to purchase hats, gloves, etc once up the gondolas because we would've been miserable in little jackets in MUCH higher elevations & colder temps had we not. So, when we left the hotel it was probably in the high 60's but that was in the valley. The UP UP UP of reaching the meadows in the Alps dropped the temps dramatically. Don't underestimate the diverse temperatures in this amazing Alps adventure. Layers & preparation for your particular day -don't forget the sunscreen. So, we didn't need AC in Austria, we had AC in Italy, no AC in Bavaria but they provided fans and it was very comfortable at night. I don't recall ever not being able to sleep in any of our locations due to it being hot. In Wengen, we were told the "Alps are your air conditioning" and they were right! There is something about having frozen, snow-covered mountains just outside your window that make it feel amazing! The day it reached 90, I was not very hot. I was wearing long shorts and a lightweight, sleeveless top and sunscreen (28 euro in the Murren gift shop - bring your own for less $) and felt fine. Our Swiss hotel Regina in Wengen didn't have AC and we slept wonderfully. I brought a little sound machine on the trip with me. If you are accustomed to the noise of a fan in your room at home, get a sound machine in US.

In Chamonix, we had AC but I don't believe it was very warm in France - drizzly most every day.
Had excellent service getting to the airport from Chamonix using Mountain Drop Offs. RS recommends a couple services. All good.
Always happy to answer more questions!

Thanks SO much for your information and thoughts! I've read all of your post , as well as your reply, and they have been so helpful. The details are invaluable for planning, especially since we've never been on a tour and mostly have traveled independently. The buffets sound wonderful , and I've read that you need to be at the door when it opens. Question, when do this tour seem to go to the next place after the breakfasts? I understand that the days on your own you can chose when to hike, walk, go on a visit up a mountain...but when we do need to leave for the next place and how does that work? We get up early so that's not a problem. Also, do you remember how you transferred from the airport in Salzburg to your first hotel? Or is that part of the help RS tours assist with?? Many thanks!

kjkmrgn,
I'm so glad you've found my writings to be useful as you plan your adventure in Europe! It's super fun to re-live our time in the Alps region!
When it was "bus" day (travel day to the next destination), we usually had to be in the bus, ready to leave, by 8:30am. This was altered once (maybe twice?) when our drive was particularly long that day so we left at 8:00am. BTW, the rest stops are always incredibly nice areas that surpass most places along the highways and interstates in the USA. We found the stops were always wonderful places to find souvenirs, yummy foods and interesting items we didn't find anywhere else along our My Way journey. More about that another time...
We landed in Salzburg and took a taxi/van that was outside the relatively small airport. We had tried to schedule one ahead of time but they never showed up so we just took the van that was waiting and we loved the driver! I saved his business card and we are going to use him next trip! We are going to fly into Munich this coming summer and then take a train into Salzburg instead of adding another plane leg. Several on our trip did the Munich train to Salzburg and highly recommended it.
I'm always happy to help answer anymore questions! It's truly a pleasure to help plan our trips together to one of the most amazing places on earth!
~ Mitzi

Thanks again Mitzi! I will look into flying into Munich instead of Salzburg next Spring. That's a great idea!! If I read your posts correctly, it sounds like you will doing another Alpine tour this summer, is that correct? If so, please please share your travel experience again so we can all learn from : ) Another question, you mentioned the comfort breaks and the really nice travel stops. Did you find you had long enough to spend time there and browse? I've found on other types of day trips/tours that I spend a lot of time in line for the women's restrooms and then no time to look around..... : ( Love to hear your thoughts!

I found that, although I would have been happier spending longer at the rest stops, the time wasn't so short that we couldn't do some shopping. We never had to wait a terribly long time for the bathroom. A minute or 2 but they weren't crowded. Maybe it's the particular facilities that they choose to stop have plenty of stalls (?) Be sure to have some .50 euro or 1. euro coins because most every place required some coins to use the toilets. The automated machine issued a piece of paper that you could then recoup your money spent by presenting the 'receipt' when checking out at the gift shop. A lot of the gift shops were run by the same company and the 'receipts' could often be used at a different rest area. I want to say within the same country but I don't exactly recall.

And Yes, you read correctly that we are booked for our second RS Alpine Adventure this June 2025! Very excited :)

Always happy to give any insights - keep the questions coming!

I’m enjoying reading your recap and comments. I took this tour as a single in August of 2022. We stayed in Bolzano as well, and I loved the location of the hotel. I went to see Ötzi too, but almost walked past the viewing window to see his mummy! I decided to take the witches trail with a few other people. Unfortunately when we got there it was raining like crazy. We started the hike and went about ⅓ of the way and decided to turn back. Needless to say my “water repellent “ jacket wasn’t enough and my hiking sneakers were soaked too. It continued to rain on and off in Füssen, but luckily when we got to Lauterbrunnen the weather cleared and we had beautiful weather the rest of the trip.
The only activity I pre-purchased was tandem paragliding. It was something I had wanted to try so took the opportunity on this trip. The company is called Airtime Paragliding and their office is on the Main Street through Lauterbrunnen. I met my pilot at the lift up to Mürren and from there we had to hike up to the take off location. It was the most exciting thing I’ve ever done! I was 67 at the time and my kids thought I was crazy! I highly recommend it for those people looking for a thrill.
I’m not traveling until September because I’m having a total hip replacement in March. I’m having fun reading trip reports and dreaming of my next trip.

We are 3 seniors going to Switzerland. We are going to Zermatt for sure. Then we could use some suggestions. We have approximately 10 days in all. Prefer not to keep scheping our luggage from place to place all 10 days. Maybe a couple of day trips out instead

Sara,
I think this question would best be answered in a forum designated solely to Switzerland. The Alps My Way tour doesn't go to Zermatt nor do we have any opportunities to worry about storing our luggage. I hope you and your crew have a wonderful time in such a gorgeous country!

~Mitzi

I've enjoyed reading all the advice about the RS Alpine My Way tour. Thanks to everyone for sharing. I'm sure I'll keep coming back to read your posts and ask questions. My husband and I are taking this tour June 16 - 27. We are very excited!! Anyone else going these dates?

Carol

71 and a long time budget traveler. I still prefer family run, smaller, clean and safe places to stay. I am fairly healthy and in decent shape. I don't mind schlepping my own bags. When I am not traveling on my own, Rick Steves tours match my travel preferences and philosophy. Portugal was my first RS tour in 2022 and the Alps My Way was my second and it was a fabulous. I could go on it every year and not get bored! Went September 2024 with two other friends. Our tour leader was fun, knowledgable, laid back and had been with the company for 30 years as a guide. I loved that transportation, lodging and breakfast was taken care of. I also appreciated the guidance that our guide was able to give us regarding the various lifts, hikes, etc. He also adjusted bus departure times a couple of times to ensure we would get chances of better weather at the next stop. This attention to detail paid off for us and we were able to do the hikes and get to the top of all the mountains we wanted to.
I was lucky to include this tour in my 2 1/2 month retirement dream trip. Here are some tips/pointers for anyone considering this tour:
GO; you won't regret it!
Flew into Salzburg a day early. It was very rainy but we still enjoyed the Sound of Music tour!
Two nights in Castelrotto in the Dolomites. We arrived early afternoon to sunny blue skies mixed with clouds. The jagged mountain peaks were breathtaking. Perfect afternoon to take the little two seater cable car (Marinzen) up to see more views and some pygmy goats. It was a lovely hour hike back down into town. Got my first serenade by the mountain cows with their bells on.

At first I was disappointed we were staying in Castelrotto versus Bolzano as I really really want to see Otzi. But Castelrotto was a neat little town and so glad we ended up there. Stayed at the lovely Hotel Cavallino d'Oro. I wish I could show you a picture of our balcony view. The next day (our only full day there) we took a bus to Seiseralm Bergbahn (blue bubbles) cable car. Took this cable car up to an area called Compatsch. Then we took another cable car to an area called Puflatsch. Finally made it to the Alps di Siusi. From here we hiked the Trail of the Witches. It was a gorgeous hike and a spectacular day. About three hours to get back down to Compatsch. We stopped at a mountain hut (Arnika) half way down. After fortifying with hot cocoa with rum the hike down continued. From Compatsch we took the blue bubble back down and immediately caught a bus to Bolzano (about 45 minutes). Then we walked 15 minutes to the South Triol Museum of Archeology to see Otzi the Iceman. While we did not have a lot of time in the museum it was well worth the effort to see Otzi. Took the bus back to Castelrotto. It was perfectly packed day.
Headed to Fussen Germany with a stop in Austria. Took the big cable car up to the top of the Zugspitz. Took only about ten minutes. I had been up here before but many years ago from the German side. Weather was cold and clear; perfect. Could see clearly in every direction.
Fussen was a fun little place to spend a few nights. Perfect place for wandering early mornings before the crowds fill the streets. We stayed at the Zum Hecten hotel. Lots of folks went to King Ludwigs castles, I wandered up there but did not go in.
Then on to Lauterbrunner and Hotel Staubbach for three nights. What we did next was my absolute favorite part of the trip. Took the cable car up to Grutschalp. Transferred to the train to Murren. Had wonderful views of the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau. Hiked down to Gimmelwald. Visiting Gimmelwald was a long held dream of mine and did not disappoint. From Gimmelwald took another cable car down to the valley and a bus back to hotel. The next two days we visited Trummelbach Falls, went up to the top of the Schilthorn, and took the little train to Wengen.
On to Chamonix!
Running out of room, just go you won't regret it!!!

regina,
I thoroughly enjoyed reading all about your trip! Please feel free to add an additional post since you were running out of room. I'd love to read more! Thank you so much for sharing your experiences :)

Mitzi

I'm back with final report from My Way Alps September 2024.
Chamonix was the last stop on this tour. I think this was another day that our tour manager suggested an earlier bus departure so that we could catch some good weather in Chamonix. Good decision. We arrived early afternoon and were able to drop our bags at the hotel and head right away to the lift to the Aiguille du midi. We took it all the way to the top. We had clear weather on the way up the lift and upon arrival at the top. The smaller cable car crossing over to Italy was not operating that day, I think due to the change in weather that came up. On the way down we did get out at the half way point and wander around but the weather was changing rapidly.
Chamonix is a beautiful town to walk around in.
We stayed an extra day here and when the tour was over we headed out to the Mer De Glace. We took a little train to see the receding glaciers. That was really interesting and the weather cooperated so we were able to go down into the ice caves. The digging of the ice caves has been done by the same family since 1946 and takes about four months or so every year! I really enjoyed going into these caves.
In Chamonix we stayed at a hotel called Plan B. More modern and a different vibe from many RS hotels I have stayed at. Fun though.
I loved this tour. Having the transportation and lodging all taken care of made for a stress free and amazing trip. Regina