Vistas of Italy and Switzerland

Fantastic trip. In Switzerland every day got better. Scenery was perfect. Train journeys was my favourite days . Boating on the lakes close second. Only draw back for me was the non stop talking guide.

As a small group tour (17 people), this Back Roads trip was a very happy affair. It was a very amiable mix from Australia, Canada and the U.S. The highlights of the trip were the Bernina Express, the Glacier Express and a trip up the Shilthorn - stunning scenery. Also, with Back Roads we did out-of-the ordinary things such as going to a really interesting display of mask-making in Venice.

I would have given this tour 5 stars had it not been for the 2 nights accommodation at Lake ESO in the Hotel Sebino. This hotel was way below Blue-Roads standard. This was my 6th tour with this company and I was shocked and disappointed that we stayed here. 2 stars at the most. If the hotel we were supposed to stay at was full then the itinerary should have been adjusted to find a 4star hotel which we had paid for. Noisy, no AC, no internet, no hot breakfast, small rooms. Need I say more! Highlights on the trip were the 2 train rides and the cable car ride. Tour Director, Angela and driver, Ettore were great.

The tour locations were appropriate, the activities were fun and served to meld the group together and the train sectors were spectacular. Our tour leader was excellent managing issues with care and knowledgeable about the locations we visited

This was an incredible, once in a lifetime experience. I cannot recommend this trip more highly. Our knowledgeable and professional Tour Leader (Angela) and our wonderful driver (Ettore) consistently went above and beyond in every single instance. The planned tours included truly authentic cheese; wine and cooking experiences along with train, boat and cable car experiences which were all incredible. It even snowed for us!! I really enjoyed the accommodation, with the included porterage being a real bonus. Angela made everyone feel valued and included with attention and communication being next level. Thank you Back Roads. What an incredible trip!!

With the exception of one substandard hotel, I thoroughly enjoyed the tour. It was well organised and well managed by pleasant and personable individuals. They worked hard to meet the various needs of the tour participants and took us to breathtaking places and involved us in fun and memorable activities. I loved not having to think about all the details of bookings and transport and scheduling and I appreciated the knowledge shared by our caring tour guide.

X

The bus was too small, no leg room. I’m 170cm and was cramped every day. The accommodations varied- most were comfortable, three were like rocks and one was too hot and without A.C., had to open the small window on the third floor over the main road- no sleep for those two nights! A decent rest is essential for people over seventy, and that was all but two people on our trip! The experiences were fabulous- especially the cooking class and winery tour in Italy, the chocolate factory in Switzerland, & the giant cable car in Switzerland; these were amazing. We loved the boat trip to Mont Isola on Lake Iseo. Driving on the lesser travelled roads, the Blue-Roads, gave us a more rural understanding, and a comprehension of their way of life in more than just the cities. The bus driver, Ettore, was fantastic, courteous and careful. The guide, Angela, was professional, supportive and very organised.

Great tour. Lots of fun. Extremely comfortable bus and a lovely bunch of people on our small group tour. The tour showcased gorgeous areas of Italy and Switzerland. Our tour guide Chiara was extremely helpful with lots of information to share. Some guided walks were very slow, luckily Chiara was able to provide some suggestions for those of us who were more active.

Good guide Chiara. Hotels fine. Itinerary good mix of places and activities.