Our Alpine Countries Adventure
Let's travel with Rick Steves
01.
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When & how many days of travel ?
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Travel destinations & weather condition ?
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Means of Transport ?
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Accommodation & prior booking ?
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Accompanying persons, Elderly, Children ?
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Small or Bigger Group ?
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Package tours & Itinerary ?
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Rick Steves' Europe tour options ?
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Cost & payment options, Visas, Insurance ?
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What to bring, packing & luggage requirement, spare spectacles ?
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Vaccination & medicines ?
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Money & Local currency ?
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Phone & camera battery charger ?
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Overseas SIM card ?
02.
Resources
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Travel Guide book
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Language Book
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Visa requirements
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Vaccination requirements
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Day excursion Apps
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Flight & Hotel Booking
Our Hotels served with Breakfast
Our Transport
Swiss Half Fare Card
During the hikes at the Swiss Alps, we sometimes needed to pay for train rides to reach the starting station or to return to Mürren from our hiking endpoint.
Thanks to the Swiss Half Fare Card, I received half-price travel for myself on these routes. My two kids who were under 14, when accompanied by me, traveled free thanks to the complimentary Swiss Family Card benefit.
I also used the pass for later trips to Mount Rigi, Interlaken, and other cities in Switzerland, enjoying the same discounts and family advantages.
This made family travel much more affordable and convenient !
Our Tour Director Matthias & American companions
This tour… it’s one of those rare, beautiful experiences where everything just feels right, like the universe lined up a perfect little group for me to fall in love with. The buddy system paired us all up, and I ended up with Adam — this kind, talented guy with a proper professional camera. We’ve been taking turns capturing each other in the best light. I brought my little tripod along too, and every time we set it up for a group photo with our tour leader, I get this quiet rush of gratitude that we’re all here together, smiling, frozen in this moment forever.
I keep snapping little candid photos of the two sisters, Martha and Addy. Addy’s a retired maths professor with the gentlest eyes and the most wonderful stories tucked behind them, but what gets me every time is the way they quietly look after each other — a hand on an arm, a shared glance, a soft laugh. It’s the kind of bond that makes you believe in forever a bit more.
And then there’s Jason, Suzanne, and little Mia — that family is pure warmth. The way Mia runs to her parents, the way they scoop her up, the way they all just glow when they’re together… it fills my heart in ways I didn’t know I needed.
I look around at this group every day and feel so lucky — so deeply, quietly thankful — that our paths crossed right now, in this place, at this time. I’m already treasuring these days like they’re fragile treasures, because I know how fast they slip away. But right now? Right now I’m just soaking it all in, heart wide open, and it feels like home.
❤️
Betsy’s buddy is Joe, and Joe and his wife Laurie have these bright yellow-and-green raincoats that look like they stepped out of a sunshine painting. Betsy nicknamed them Lime and Lemon when they showed up in their matching raincoats.
Joe and Laurie… they just have the biggest, most beautiful family heart you can imagine. Joe III — carrying on that name with such quiet pride — and he’s already a grandfather to a few little ones who light up his whole world. You can see it in the way his eyes soften when he talks about them.
Laurie’s right there with him, the steady, loving center of it all, and together they carry this sense of legacy that’s just… touching. Being around them feels like a reminder of how love keeps growing, generation after generation, wrapping everyone in something bigger and deeper than any one trip could hold.I caught this one moment on the coach that I’ll never forget — Joe gently caring for Laurie’s legs, resting his hand there with such tenderness as the bus rolled along. It was so simple, so quiet, but it said everything: decades of love in one small gesture. ❤️
Post-Tour Interaction
We have a private Facebook group created for tour members, and we shared photos and videos taken during the tour. Some of us become friends and we also communicate through Whatsapp.
I am excited to read their encouraging feedback when I informed our new friends about the Scrapbook contest
Feedback
He provided excellent service during the tour, kindly offering us refreshing beverages and local snack such as chocolates.
His bottom line is to steer clear of politics, even though he's German. The obvious reason is the strained relationship between Europe and US due to higher tariffs on imported goods.
Our Tour Director, Matthias
LOST & FOUND
I'm incredibly grateful to Matthias for going above and beyond—he helped me recover my red travel folder that I accidentally left behind on the cable car. Right after realizing it was missing while reviewing my camera photos that same evening, I messaged him on WhatsApp for help, and he stepped in without hesitation. We're still happily in touch on WhatsApp even after the tour ended—what a wonderful person!
Further travel plan
The twins are currently pursuing the IB Diploma Programme, which includes the requirement to study a second language. Bobby is learning German, while Betsy is studying Spanish.
Following our first family trip with Rick Steves to the three German-speaking Alpine countries, Bobby will have another exciting opportunity to visit Berlin this coming fall, traveling with his German teacher. Meanwhile, Betsy will embark on a school trip to Spain with her teacher.
Betsy is also set to participate in the 26th World Scout Jamboree, taking place in Gdańsk, Poland, from 30 July to 8 August 2027. I'm very eager to return to Europe in the summer of 2027 and explore several Eastern European countries—including Poland—together with the twins around the time of the Jamboree.