COMPASS
Germany and Switzerland
COMPILED BY PAT HENDERSON
Bernina Express at Alp Grum Station
Your source for Swiss rail adventures
Rail Source International owner Carmen Metcalf got hooked
on rail travel in the 1990s when she worked for a tour opera-
tor in Switzerland that specialized in train packages. That
experience made such an impact that, when Metcalf decided
to open her own tour company in 2006, she knew she had to
focus on rail tours showcasing the country she loved.
“Switzerland always exceeds the visitor’s expectations,”
she says. “Pictures don’t make up for sounds of the cow bells
and church bells; the smells of the sausages grilling, the fresh The 11-day tour includes rides on three scenic routes—the
Glacier Express Panoramic, the Golden Pass Classic and the
Bernina Express line—as well as tours of the Lavaux wine
region and La-Chaux-de-Fonds, which is known as the capital
of Swiss watchmaking.
Metcalf also customizes a number of packages annually for
FITs. “A very typical and popular itinerary is flying into Zurich
and taking a direct train to Lucerne for a couple of nights to
visit Mt. Pilatus,” she adds. “Then it’s on to Grindelwald or car-
crusty bread and hundreds of different cheeses; and the
breathtaking views on top of the mountains.”
The main itinerary she recommends for groups starts and
ends in Zurich and goes to Pontresina, Zermatt, Montreux,
Bern and Lucerne via Switzerland’s efficient rail system. free Mürren for two or three nights where clients get to see a lot
of waterfalls, hike through the mountains and do other thrilling
activities such as rolling down the mountain on a trotti bike.”
To learn more, contact Metcalf at [email protected] or
visit rsiworld.com.
The Appina of your eye
Since Appina Travel opened its doors in 2002, the family-owned
tour company has helped thousands of travelers discover
Germany’s history, traditions, landscape, cuisine and art.
“We pride ourselves in being able to show groups a hidden
side of Germany and take them off the beaten path,” says Luis
Lintner, Appina’s managing director. “It always makes us proud
to have groups come and end up surprised at how Germany is
so much more than bratwurst, beer and the Berlin Wall.”
He recommends the following tours, which reveal unique
aspects of German culture.
The Automobile Industry of South Germany Lovers of
Porsche Museum, Stuttgart
42
July 2017
German cars can experience the country’s renowned automo-
tive culture during visits to factories and museums in southern
Germany that are dedicated to Audi, BMW, Porsche and Mercedes.
From Baroque to Bauhaus This week-long itinerary highlights a
range of architectural styles found throughout Germany. Travelers
will see Baroque buildings in Würzburg, explore Munich’s sleek mod-
ern structures, tour the Bauhaus School buildings in Dessau and dis-
cover Berlin’s blend of concrete-slab and postmodern architecture.
Having a Feast in Germany On this tour, groups take a tasty
journey across Germany. As they visit the different regions, they
will discover local specialties such as fish in the north, beer in the
south, wurst in the east and wine in the west.
Contact Lintner at [email protected] or visit
appina-travel.com to find out more.