Stunning Austria Family Tour

Our three-week winter escapade to France, Switzerland, and Austria was nothing short of a magical journey through some of the most enchanting winter wonderlands Europe has to offer. From the romance of horse-drawn carriage rides to the charm of bustling Christmas markets, every moment was incredible.

France: A Parisian Winter Dream

We began our adventure in Paris, the City of Lights, which becomes even more captivating during the winter. The Eiffel Tower sparkled against the night sky and Paris offered a blend of elegance and festive cheer that set the perfect tone for the rest of our trip.

Another highlight was our visit to Colmar, a charming Alsace town that felt like stepping into a storybook. Its cobblestone streets, half-timbered houses, and magical Christmas market made it an unforgettable experience, with festive lights and holiday spirit around every corner.

Switzerland: A Snow-Capped Wonderland

Next, we ventured to Switzerland, where the true magic of winter revealed itself. The highlight was our trip to Jungfraujoch, the "Top of Europe." The journey up was as breathtaking as the destination itself, with panoramic views of snow-draped peaks and charming alpine villages. Once at Jungfraujoch, we were mesmerized by the endless expanse of snow and ice.

Equally unforgettable was our visit to First Mountain. The crisp air, thrilling walk, and ziplining added an adventurous touch. The view from the suspension bridge, with the mountains stretching endlessly into the horizon, was a sight that will forever be etched in our memories.

We also had the thrill of dog sledding near the Matterhorn. Gliding across snowy trails with a team of eager huskies was an exhilarating and unique way to experience the majestic mountain landscapes.

Austria: A Symphony of Tradition and Festivity

Our final stop was Austria, where the Christmas spirit was alive in every corner. The Vienna Christmas Market was a dream come true, with its illuminated stalls offering everything from handcrafted ornaments to mouthwatering strudels and mulled wine. Salzburg, with its Baroque architecture and snow-dusted rooftops, felt like stepping into a fairy tale. We also attended a classical music performance that added a touch of cultural richness to our holiday.

To top it off, we enjoyed a cozy, horse-drawn carriage ride through a picturesque Austrian village. Wrapped in warm blankets, we listened to the rhythmic clopping of hooves as we glided past snow-covered chalets and twinkling lights – a truly enchanting experience!

The entire trip was a seamless blend of natural beauty, cultural richness, and festive joy. Each destination brought its own unique charm, leaving us with unforgettable memories of twinkling lights, snowy peaks, and the warm glow of holiday cheer. Winter in Europe is truly a season to behold and this journey was nothing short of spectacular.

Our Zicasso travel representative made sure every small detail was organized and even double-checked the drivers, tours, etc, in advance. This is the perfect travel company and we will surely use them again! Our agents communicated with us throughout the trip to ensure everything was flawless! Thank you for the most magical holiday ever! We shall cherish these memories forever.

Our trip to Austria and Germany was initiated with a desire to see the Christmas markets. And yes, these were magical, but Zicasso’s travel company also included guided trips at each location to fully enjoy our trip. The private ride through Bavaria to Neuschwanstein Castle was Christmas-card picturesque. Walking through Vienna on a guided tour was as if we were visiting Franz Joseph and Sisi. The travel company created an itinerary that balanced the needs of a group with different ages, interests, and budgets, and everyone had a magnificent time.

The trip was operationally well planned and the coordination with Zicasso's travel agency was generally very good. Their proposal was significantly more expensive than the competing proposal, so I guess I expected a bit more. I would give it 4.25 or 4.5 stars if the rating system was bit more nuanced.

A few things were sub-optimal. On our first morning, the guide contacted the agent to tell them that they would pick us up at 10am (or at least that is what the guide told us), but our itinerary indicated 9am. At 9.15am, we called the agency and they called us back about five or 10 minutes later to tell us about the new 10am time. Not a great start.

That guide and the one in Munich were what I would describe as average guides – knowledgeable, but without much personality. The guide in Salzburg was outstanding.

From an organization perspective, we went to Salzburg from Lucerne, Switzerland, passing Innsbruck on day four, then trained it back to Innsbruck the very next day, basically adding four hours of driving/training for no real reason. We could have just stayed in Innsbruck on day four and then gone to Salzburg on day five and not backtracked.

Lastly, the hotel in Munich was very dated and the whole feel of the place was drab, including the decor and the lobby.

All that said, the operational people were very responsive and just about every leg happened right on time and the guides were organized. I never heard from the lady who organized it after I booked it, which I told her was odd, especially since I thought a trip to Italy, their specialty, was on the cards for my larger group that I had been with in Ireland the week before this trip.

So, all in all, a good trip, but not a great trip. I am not sure I would use our travel company again, but I have not landed firmly on that just yet.

Thanks, Greg S.

To everyone at Zicasso's travel agency, thank you, thank you, thank you! The private trip to the most remarkable European metropolises you curated for us was, well, in the words of the countries we visited, csodálatos/wunderbar/wunderbar/and trés magnifique!!!!!

Everything and everyone you arranged for us was not only to our liking, but perfect.

The hotels were as we like, boutique, not large conglomerate chains. Each was nicely situated, with the staff attentive. The one we found best was in Berlin, with the others not far behind.

The drivers were all nice, on time, and helpful. The tour guides were all informative and knowledgeable, and answered our many questions with aplomb. While all were good, we found the two guides in Berlin to be our favorites. And while she knew her subject matter, we found the one in Vienna too religious and opinionated. We suggest maybe not using her as much.

We did not really use any of the restaurant recommendations you supplied because we like to find local eateries close to the hotels. Two we went to twice because the first experience was so good – in Berlin and in Paris.

One note: there were two times we took a cab whose driver, after taking us, said they did not accept cash and passed a card scanner for me to tap. Afterward, I received an alert from Visa that the charge was $98 rather than the $9 quoted in Budapest and $168 rather than the $12 quoted in Paris. We suggest letting everyone know to only take cabs that accept cash or take an Uber.

Once again I would like to thank all of you who endeavored to make this adventure such a pleasant and memorable one.

All the best,

Rick and Barb Boyko