My First Rick Steves Tour--Did I Love it or Hate it??

TOUR MANAGER: Our tour manager, Gregoire, was helpful and patient with everyone. He was available at breakfast each morning to answer questions. On travel days, he checked in with everyone on the bus and made sure we knew what we were doing at each new destination.

He also led an orientation walk in each town, pointing out practical things such as which bus stop we’d need. When we were all worried because no online tickets were available for the Aiguille du Midi cable car, he told us more would become available—and they did. It was reassuring to have someone there when we needed help, while still being free to make our own plans.

WHATSAPP: Gregoire set up a WhatsApp chat that most of the group joined. It was useful for sharing photos and practical information. At one lunch stop, for example, someone posted where to find free WCs.

THE BUDDY SYSTEM AND NAME GAME: Everyone had a buddy so Gregoire could account for us before the bus departed. I never did get an answer to my question: If both buddies were missing, how would anyone know?

I tried to joke my way out of the name game—I said there should be no name games on My Way tours—but I went along with it, and it wasn’t terrible. We stood in a circle alphabetically by first name. Each person stepped forward and said their name; the second time around, everyone else said it.

DOING THINGS MY WAY: There were three optional happy hours and one optional group dinner. I skipped them all. My favorite way to spend an evening was alone in my room, looking through my photos and making a plan for the next day. This was a sociable group, so I felt a little awkward being perhaps the only person who skipped the gatherings. But it was a My Way t our, and I decided to do it my way. I enjoyed chatting with people at breakfast and at rest stops; I just do better with socializing in smaller doses.

At the same time, there were plenty of opportunities to do things with other tour members. Everyone was welcoming and friendly, and I spent more time with the group than I’d expected. I hiked in the Dolomites with a small group and was glad to have company in an unfamiliar area. In Switzerland, I got to show some people who were new to the area the trail from Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg.

FINAL THOUGHTS: I went in wondering whether I could enjoy twelve days on a tour. It turned out to be a great fit: the transportation and help were there when I wanted them, and I still got to spend my days my way. I would definitely consider another My Way tour in the future. Rick Steves knows what he’s doing!

I went on this tour with Grégoire as our Tour Manager too! He is a perfect guide, kind and knowledgeable. I really enjoyed him!
I too loved the hikes in the Dolomites and the Kleine Scheidegg one. Our hotels were the same as yours except for the last one in Chamonix.

Carrie, thanks for this writeup. I love that the My Way format suited your personality so well.

I've just returned from the Alps, including the Dolomites, on a regular group tour format with another company. We took a lot of nice hikes, some of which I would have been comfortable doing by myself; others, I was glad to be with the group. A few of us hiked at a similar pace and were occasionally able to set off on our own, but most of the time, the group stayed together.

If I were to go back to that region, I would consider the My Way tour. As a solo traveler, did you mainly hike alone or typically join in with other tour members, as you mentioned? Did you choose hikes that you knew you would be comfortable doing on your own?

I appreciate your solo traveler insights into My Way hiking.

Thank you for sharing this! The My Way Alps is an itinerary I've looked at so very many times. I'm glad you enjoyed it and good for you for skipping the optional happy hours and dinner since you didn't want to do them. It's your vacation!

Wow - your photos! Those are amazing.

Hi Judy, how fun that we had Grégoire as our tour manager! I agree—he was so kind and helpful. The Dolomites and the walk to Kleine Scheidegg were two of my favorite parts of the trip, too.

Hi CWsocial, that’s a great question. In the Dolomites, I hiked with a small group of tour members, which I appreciated because the area was new to me. I made a last-minute decision to take the Panorama Trail, and it was a little more difficult than I expected. I was glad to have others along! They were so nice—some walked ahead and then stopped to wait for us slowpokes.

In Switzerland, I walked the Männlichen–Kleine Scheidegg trail with a few people who were new to the area. I’d been there before and enjoyed showing them the way.

That flexibility carried over to other outings. A few of us crossed the bridge at Ehrenberg Castle together, and then my buddy and I took another funicular up higher. In Füssen, I rode the bus to the castle area with a few tour members, but we went our separate ways when we arrived. And in Chamonix, many of us took the Aiguille du Midi cable car after dropping off our luggage, then split up at the top.

That was one of the things I liked most about the tour: I could join others when I wanted company and go off on my own whenever I preferred.

Hi pbscd, it really is a great itinerary! I’d been to Salzburg and the Lauterbrunnen Valley before, but the other destinations were new to me. It was such a nice mix of the familiar and the new.

I know some people have taken this tour more than once. I’d probably try a different My Way tour next time, since Switzerland is the place on this itinerary I’m most eager to return to—and it’s an easy place for me to explore on my own.

Always enjoy your reports Carrie, your photos are incredible. I'm glad you had a positive experience on your first tour. Don't fret about doing your own thing in the evenings, it's your time, money, and holiday. And FWIW sitting out optional (or even group) activities would also be just fine on a regular RS tour.

This is great, Carrie. Thanks for sharing. I didn't really know how this type of tour worked until you shared it here.
And you described me to a T: "I can get along with most anyone, and I’m a very nice person; I just prefer to travel alone."

Thanks for showing that there is possibility to do a tour my way :-) AND for sharing these beautiful photos!!

Carrie, I always LOVE your trip reports! Thanks for taking the time to share. And I know to look for animal pictures and you didn’t disappoint, I love the pic of the cow staring down on you looking almost majestic. Your pictures are always great.

So how was the weather during your September tour, you know Switzerland so well I’m guessing you were pretty deliberate in your timing? And how were the number of tourists along the way? Crowded or not so much? And another question, did you have any tour mates who didn’t hike? This tour is one of those universally loved on the RS lineup and I’ve been tempted just for the beautiful scenery but I’m not really a hiker. Walking in the village, a nature 1-3 miles walk, yes. 5 miles up a mountain and back definitely no. More a have a cuppa in a cafe and enjoy a beautiful vista kinda gal 😉.

Now I'm intrigued. I've only been to Switzerland for a week and stuck to Lucerne and Zurich (no regrets). My wife has little interest in hiking, but since she's a social butterfly, if we could link up with with a small group at times like you did then maybe she can be convinced that walking up a mountain is a good idea.

• loved your photos.

Carrie - thanks for posting about your experience on the My Way tour. I am so glad you enjoyed it ! Thanks for sharing how it worked for you.

We just finished our 4th RS tour, Best of Switzerland. It was amazing. Ten years ago, we weren't sure we were tour people, but after our first tour, we are definitely RS tour people. We also love the idea of the My Way. Your experience is what I think the tour intended. Sounds like a marvelous time! I've suggested the My Way concept to friends who aren't too sure about group tours. I think your review will be helpful to a lot of people.

Carrie so glad you had a great time!

Allan we went on this tour a few years ago and absolutely loved it. It was our first tour ever. We hiked and most people did, but there were also some people who physically couldn’t or didn’t want to. So the spouse who didn’t hike stayed back and did something else while the other spouse hiked with other people in the group. That seemed to work out very well. The one who chose to hike would pick how long they wanted to be gone so it’s not like they abandoned their spouse for the whole day. In Chamonix going up the lifts to the top required no hiking at all. The views were amazing and indescribable really.

Lyndash I also see you had a hiking related question as a non hiker. You could easily go up the lifts in the Dolomites and just relax and sip a coffee and have a strudel 😊. There are chalets with restaurants all over the Alpe Di Suise. (Spelling probably wrong) and in Switzerland. If you take the lift to Murren etc you can have a pleasant stroll and see incredible scenery. Wengen has stunning scenery as well and the valley would be a nice stroll. Highly recommend this tour. Don’t let being a non hiker scare you away :-)

Carrie, so glad you stepped out to try something new and that it was such a positive experience for you!

Rick Steves My Way tours are a great product. If you are looking for something similar in places where RS doesn’t offer a my way tour, consider the Gate 1 Essentials tours. Very similar in format. I just did one in Poland and found it a great fit for me as well.

Ohmygosh Carrie your photos are wonderful! Love hearing about your tour, happy you enjoyed it and yes My Way sounds perfect for you. Seeing all those beautiful pix took me back to our GAS and Eastern France tours, always a good thing. Please please keep on traveling and telling us about it, I so enjoy your reports.

Such a fun report! Thank you for all the info, and also for how you organized it all for readability. A+!

I don't think anyone else answered your buddy system question: What if both buddies are missing? The answer: the guide also counts heads. On each of our tours I've seen him/her walking down the aisle of the bus, counting under their breath. Now you know!

Hi CL, I’d want to sit out for ALL the group meals on a guided tour. :-)

Hi Joy, it sounds like we’re alike! This type of tour really is a great option for those of us who prefer to travel alone and socialize when we feel like it.

Hi Lyndash, yes, I can find animals everywhere.

I’ve been to Switzerland twice in September and twice in June, and I much prefer June there. It was less crowded on my June trips, and I absolutely love the wildflowers at that time of year. I can’t compare June and September in the other countries on this itinerary, though.

My streak of near-perfect weather continued on this tour. I got my raincoat out once, but it never ended up raining. Highs were mostly in the upper 60s and 70s, with plenty of sunshine. I would have liked it 5–10 degrees cooler, but I certainly can’t complain!

The only place that felt crowded to me was Lauterbrunnen—and “crowded” is an understatement. It was jam-packed when we arrived and felt chaotic, especially for those seeing it for the first time. Mürren and Wengen felt much less crowded.

I think this tour would work very well for a nonhiker. Several people on our tour stuck to the towns and enjoyed the scenery there. You can also ride cable cars up for the views without committing to a hike, especially in Switzerland. There are plenty of opportunities to have that cuppa with a beautiful vista!

Hi Allan, I think the format could work well for you and your wife. She’d have opportunities to socialize while you went off hiking, or perhaps a few tour members could tempt her to join them for an easier walk. :-)

Hi Kim, I would have never known about this tour without having read about it here. So, I am happy to return the favor and share my experience. And I have my eye on the My Way France tour as a possibility someday.

Hi KD, thank you! I wasn’t sure I was a tour person either, so it was a pleasant surprise to find a format that suited me so well. I hope my report helps others decide whether My Way might suit them, too. If I could not only survive a tour but have such a wonderful time, there’s hope for anyone! :-)

Hi saf, I’m happy to hear you enjoyed this tour as well. I now understand why it’s so popular!

Hi Carol now retired, I should be thanking you. You made a comment a few years ago that really stuck with me. It was something really obvious about not knocking tours until you have tried one, but it really clicked for me. Thanks for mentioning the Gate 1 Essentials tours. I will definitely look into the available tours now that I know this format works well for me.

Hi Luv2Travel, thank you! I think this was my favorite trip for photography. I took thousands of pictures and still have 325 left. I set myself a firm limit of 200 per trip, so I have more deleting to do! I texted a few photos to family and friends each evening, and at one point my sister said she could see why I’d wanted to take this tour. It really was beautiful—almost impossible to take a bad picture in some of those places.

Hi KC, thank you! Mystery solved. Grégoire must have been a secret counter, because I never once caught him counting heads. I’m relieved to know that if my buddy and I had both gone missing, someone would have noticed! :-)

Carrie - you are an excellent photographer!
We did My Way Alpine last year with Axel. I thought it was a great way to travel as we, too, enjoy independent travel.
I really like that you reinforced the independence - that you even chose not to do the meal and happy hours.

I did get to jump out of a helicopter in the Alps - so it met my adventure need!
Your beautiful photos brought much of the trip back - thank you!

Hi Carrie- I love reading your trip reports because they are well written and interesting but mostly because I so relate to your "non social" side and I appreciate your honest assessments.

As a kindred spirit who has followed your journey from no tours to day tours to 3-day tours to this 12-day tour, I loved your trip report, Carrie! So glad you were able to find your happy place within the tour structure.

Your photos are wonderful—stunning pictures of stunning landscapes!

P.S. I have to admit that a hotel called Hotel Plan B would give me pause (like, what happened to Hotel Plan A?), but I’m happy to hear it passed muster. :)

Here's someone thinking - "Wow, glad you had a great time, but I could NEVER do this!"

I turn green just imagining a bus ride through winding mountain roads. 🤢

I envy people who can take any kind of conveyance without ever getting motion sickness (and yes, I've tried EVERY medication and remedy there is and nothing works.)

But glad you enjoyed your tour!

Carrie,
I loved your title. I'm so glad you had a great experience. Your pix are beautiful, as always.
What, no mention of chocolate and paprika chips (not together).?
We have done two RS Tours, one of which was Switzerland, and my least favorite activity was group dinners. I'm an extrovert, but by the end of the day, mingling with the group, I'm very ready to have a quiet dinner.
I appreciate your tips about the seasons, and may consider June, instead of the fall. Hmmmmm.
Where may you be heading next?
Thanks for another helpful and practical Trip Report!

Hi marnamc2, wow!! Jumping out of a helicopter sounds like quite the experience. I’m always a little tempted to try paragliding when I see people doing it, but I don’t think I’d ever actually go through with it.

Hi Katiecem, thank you! It’s always nice to hear that I’m not the only nonsocial butterfly. :-)

Hi NancyG, thanks for following along on my gradual journey into tours. And could they have come up with a worse name for a hotel? :-)

Hi StellaB, some members of our group experienced motion sickness, too, and I heard them talking about the remedies they were using. One person had something on their wrist that looked like an Apple Watch. There were definitely winding roads, although the ride felt smooth to me. Frank, our driver, was impressive. I looked out the window a few times and thought, “I couldn’t drive this in my little Honda Civic, let alone a huge bus!”

Hi Pat, you know I came home with a carry-on full of paprika chips for my sister. :-) I told the tour group about them, and quite a few people were eating them while we were in Switzerland.

It’s interesting to hear that even an extrovert can be ready for a quiet dinner at the end of a tour day. I know there is the option to skip the meals, but you are paying for them on the guided tours.

Next up is London in November with my mom and sister. They loved the Christmas pictures from my trip last year and both wanted to see the lights and decorations in person. And, of course, do some shopping. My sister loves to shop!

There were three optional happy hours and one optional group dinner. I skipped them all. My favorite way to spend an evening was alone in my room, looking through my photos and making a plan for the next day. This was a sociable group, so I felt a little awkward being perhaps the only person who skipped the gatherings. But it was a My Way t our, and I decided to do it my way.

I forgot to say -- I really identified with what you said here !! So that was encouraging to read as well. Maybe I should give one of these a try.

So happy you will have pre-Christmas time in London with your mom and sister !!

Hi Kim, I did feel bad about skipping the farewell happy hour, but ultimately decided I didn’t want to attend. So, I said goodbye to everyone via our WhatsApp chat instead.

The new My Way Ireland tour for 2027 looks very appealing. I’ll be watching for trip reports next year:

https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/ireland/my-way-ireland-vacation

I traveled to Ireland last year using a combination of trains and a three-day Rabbie’s tour. It worked well, but involved a lot of back and forth from Dublin. The My Way itinerary, starting in Dublin and ending in Belfast, looks much easier. That might be my next My Way tour. Like so many others, I fell in love with Ireland.

And thank you—we’re really looking forward to the London trip. It’s going to be interesting getting around with my 80-year-old mom and my sister, who is still recovering from two broken ankles. I definitely won’t be able to run them all over London! :-)

Carrie, you are an excellent photographer, and your photos are stunning! Thank you for sharing your detailed and objective trip report. I am a solo traveler who prefers limited social situations. I think a My Way tour could work for me someday.

Hi NYC Librarian, thank you! The more I reflect on the tour, the more I appreciate its benefits—especially how easy it was to get from place to place. That mattered even more to me than I expected, and the social side turned out to be something I could manage my way.

SEVEN HOTELS IN SEVENTEEN DAYS: My mom asked me about all the hotel changes, and I thought it might be helpful to share how they worked out for me. There were five tour hotels, plus a different hotel before the tour and another after it—seven hotels in all.

I was a little surprised that this turned out to be a nonissue. I enjoy traveling by train, but getting to and from stations, finding room for my suitcase, and dealing with delays or platform changes can be stressful. On the tour, I just walked out of the hotel to the waiting bus, or walked a short distance to it, and my suitcase went underneath. The ease of that was a bigger plus than I expected.

I also keep most things in packing cubes inside my suitcase and take out only what I need for the next day or two. So, I never felt as though I was constantly unpacking and repacking.

And I never had a chance to get bored in any location. I’ve taken trips where I thought, “I could have done with one less day here,” but that never happened on this tour. I also didn’t feel rushed or wish we were staying longer. For me, the amount of time in each place felt just right.

Carrie,
I also have my eye on the My Way Ireland tour for the future. The RS Heart of Ireland in 8 Days tour I took in 2017 left me with a desire to see Northern Ireland where my mother’s family came from. I love letting RS do the driving, a great benefit of tours.
I also use packing cubes and never fully unpack in any destination.

As one of your fellow tour members, your summary is spot on! My husband and I couldn’t have been more pleased with the tour itself, our guide Gregoire, driver Frank and our with special group! From a married perspective and always being the planner in the relationship and my husband always being the driver on trips, we were both completely stress-free and left to enjoy. Having the advice and assistance from our RS guide and our Switzerland expert Carrie when we needed and the ability to be social when we wanted were huge bonuses. My Way was just perfect for us. We really had a blast with you!

I loved your report, Carrie. I loved your pictures too. Good for you doing My Way your way.

Hi Judy, I took a day trip to Northern Ireland and it was gorgeous! Those two nights in Portrush sound very appealing. And of course, I’d love to return to Dingle. Maybe I’ll see you on the My Way Ireland Tour. :-)

Hi Heather, thanks so much for jumping in to share how the tour was for you and Rob. It’s great that people reading the thread can get a couple’s perspective in addition to my solo one. The format really did work well for all of us.

We had such a great time! My favorite day was our hike in the Dolomites, looking for trail 7 and the huts and never finding either. I cannot imagine doing that hike by myself. I loved that you, Rob, and Lynn always stopped to wait for the rest of us to catch up. No tour member left behind!

Hi Carroll, thank you! I’ll be honest, I expected someone to say I should have gone to the happy hours and dinner. I really appreciate the support for doing My Way my way.

Thanks for another helpful report, Carrie. While we like to hike, I’m having sporadic and unpredictable mobility issues, so it’s great to hear that the trip worked for non-hikers. I loved the Berner Oberland and think this itinerary looks great. The winding roads do make me nervous though!