Montreux

“For a mini immersion in the beauty and variety of Switzerland, you'd be hard pressed to find a better travel alternative or a better travel bargain. Swiss trains provide a level of comfort and flexibility that's uncommon in public transit, and the tour's hotel choices offer quaint, comfortable rooms and surprisingly excellent cuisine. Pair that with an experienced escort like Richard Hare, whose nuanced local knowledge, subtle humor, personal attention, and detailed delivery, combine to make transfers and stopovers all the more enjoyable. Of course, you can expect to do a fair bit of walking on hard surfaces, and Swiss exchange rates can make meals and souvenirs expensive, but the character of the towns and the population's general knowledge of basic English also make for many unexpected delights. We were blessed to have cool, sunny weather and a small, congenial group early in the Spring shoulder season when crowds were manageable and sites readily accessible, so our vivid memories and overall experience rates an easy five-star recommendation.