Angel
1 year ago
We had a nice tour through some of the villages in Alsace. We learned a lot about the history, the food, the culture and had the best trout dish I've ever had. Suzele was very knowledgeable and happily answered all of our questions. Just wish the weather had been a little better. Maybe next time!
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Dion
1 year ago
Took a great food tour from Suzel in November. Could not be more pleased. Very thoughtful and diligent with her choices and destinations. I would definitely rebook with her. Loved the day.
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Rhonda
1 year ago
My Backroad Tour with Suzele was one of the highlights during my recent visit to Alsace. I was particularly focused on learning about Alsace of 300 years past when my fathers family lived in Alsace. She was knowledgeable and focused her commentary on my interests. I am delighted that I found her website when I was planning this trip. The whole experience provided me with so much information, I may need to do a follow-up visit after I do some more independent family history research. You can be sure, if I am able to make a return trip, I will definitely be checking with Suzele for her availability. Thanks!!!
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Shameka
1 year ago
I am always reluctant to post a bad experience on a Forum because the question is whether it is a one off or a representative experience. Having now read other posts reporting a a similar experience I feel it appropriate to post our experience
We (two people) decided on a two day personal guided tour of the Alsace area. Our original brief was to do a tour of villages and towns focusing on beautiful villages as I had an interest in photography so was looking for those "postcard" type pictures and the chance to generally wander about and browse and soak up the beauty and atmosphere and of course to try the foods!. One of us does not drink so wine tasting is not so suitable
Did we get driven to the places that met our brief. Yes. Did our guide know the area. Yes. Did we get a guide that engaged with us and bought the experience to life with good commentary and hospitality No. Was there a clear outline of the days programme and cross check with us on whether the day would meet our expectations No. Did we feel the normal protocols of a personal tour were met. No
Basically we received a person with local knowledge and a van.
A personal tour should be.. personal. It should be something special for that particular tour group. While technically speaking we were taken to places per our brief the tour experience was not at all rewarding nor enjoyable and it was not made a special experience with friendly hospitality that had commentary about the area and what we were seeing .
Pick Up and tour plan:
Neither day were we greeted with a personal hello and welcome and nor was there any outline of what the days tour plan would be to set the day in place and to cross check whether it will meet the clients plans. After prompting on day one we are told that today we will go north and tomorrow south. On the afternoon of day one it is 3pm and we have seen one village and had lunch with the occasional valley view stop along the way. We express our dissatisfaction and ask what the plan is for the day but nothing is clearly explained and in fact our guide gets quite defensive and does not try to see it through our eyes. This makes it very frustrating but we do at least take in a few more nice villages.
We modified day two and reduced the tour duration (on the pretext of one of us having sore feet) and while we advised this by email the night before there was no acknowledgement of this on arrival the next day nor explanation of where we would go for the part day tour
Commentary
On day one after the first little while of you, as is usual, starting conversation we notice that there is no real engagement from our guide. In fact for the second half of the day and for the next day there is generally periods of silence as we drive apart from the infrequent short comment. Even on the village walk arounds the commentary is limited and very simple. For example in Kaysersberg despite my observing the name Schwitzer as we walk it is only at the end when we are near the van and I ask what is the connection of Schweitzer to the village that we are told he was born here, followed by some vague reference ro Africa and that is the extent of the commentary.(we learnt much more on a tour in Strasbourg) . Despite being told by our guide that they were knowledgeable of local history this was not part of the commentary. In fact there was no commentary to speak of. Just long periods of silence and the odd comment along the way
Protocol:
On day one we went to lunch at an excellent restaurant in the mountains which was a very good choice. Lunch takes a long time, relaxed French style and that is fine, but time is passing and at the end of the meal Suzele asks if we are having coffee and we decline but are told she will because she is French. Rather than take her lead from her clients and depart, we stay longer for her coffee. I then check how to pay the bill and she does not even say she will pay for her lunch. I pay the account and again there is not mention from Suzele that she will pay me for her lunch or a thank you for paying for her lunch.
Summary
Technically we did get to see what we had asked for but it was not a personal guided tour. It was a driver with a van and it was certainly not very enjoyable and I would not recommend. I think the guide is more of an expert on wine so a wine tour hopefully might be a better option.
We (two people) decided on a two day personal guided tour of the Alsace area. Our original brief was to do a tour of villages and towns focusing on beautiful villages as I had an interest in photography so was looking for those "postcard" type pictures and the chance to generally wander about and browse and soak up the beauty and atmosphere and of course to try the foods!. One of us does not drink so wine tasting is not so suitable
Did we get driven to the places that met our brief. Yes. Did our guide know the area. Yes. Did we get a guide that engaged with us and bought the experience to life with good commentary and hospitality No. Was there a clear outline of the days programme and cross check with us on whether the day would meet our expectations No. Did we feel the normal protocols of a personal tour were met. No
Basically we received a person with local knowledge and a van.
A personal tour should be.. personal. It should be something special for that particular tour group. While technically speaking we were taken to places per our brief the tour experience was not at all rewarding nor enjoyable and it was not made a special experience with friendly hospitality that had commentary about the area and what we were seeing .
Pick Up and tour plan:
Neither day were we greeted with a personal hello and welcome and nor was there any outline of what the days tour plan would be to set the day in place and to cross check whether it will meet the clients plans. After prompting on day one we are told that today we will go north and tomorrow south. On the afternoon of day one it is 3pm and we have seen one village and had lunch with the occasional valley view stop along the way. We express our dissatisfaction and ask what the plan is for the day but nothing is clearly explained and in fact our guide gets quite defensive and does not try to see it through our eyes. This makes it very frustrating but we do at least take in a few more nice villages.
We modified day two and reduced the tour duration (on the pretext of one of us having sore feet) and while we advised this by email the night before there was no acknowledgement of this on arrival the next day nor explanation of where we would go for the part day tour
Commentary
On day one after the first little while of you, as is usual, starting conversation we notice that there is no real engagement from our guide. In fact for the second half of the day and for the next day there is generally periods of silence as we drive apart from the infrequent short comment. Even on the village walk arounds the commentary is limited and very simple. For example in Kaysersberg despite my observing the name Schwitzer as we walk it is only at the end when we are near the van and I ask what is the connection of Schweitzer to the village that we are told he was born here, followed by some vague reference ro Africa and that is the extent of the commentary.(we learnt much more on a tour in Strasbourg) . Despite being told by our guide that they were knowledgeable of local history this was not part of the commentary. In fact there was no commentary to speak of. Just long periods of silence and the odd comment along the way
Protocol:
On day one we went to lunch at an excellent restaurant in the mountains which was a very good choice. Lunch takes a long time, relaxed French style and that is fine, but time is passing and at the end of the meal Suzele asks if we are having coffee and we decline but are told she will because she is French. Rather than take her lead from her clients and depart, we stay longer for her coffee. I then check how to pay the bill and she does not even say she will pay for her lunch. I pay the account and again there is not mention from Suzele that she will pay me for her lunch or a thank you for paying for her lunch.
Summary
Technically we did get to see what we had asked for but it was not a personal guided tour. It was a driver with a van and it was certainly not very enjoyable and I would not recommend. I think the guide is more of an expert on wine so a wine tour hopefully might be a better option.
,
Erica
1 year ago
I really appreciated having a tailor made day tour. Everywhere Suzele took me was a treat.
Would love to do a day tour with Suzele again.
Would love to do a day tour with Suzele again.
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Edith
1 year ago
My wife and I experienced a wonderful backroads tour of the villages along the Wine Road in late May. Suzele was knowledgeable, courteous, and friendly. We were picked up at our hotel at 9:30 and dropped off at the restaurant of our choice at 6:30. After 4 trips to Europe and at least 40 tour guides, Suzele ranks in our top 5. Thank you Suzele.
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Jodie
3 years ago
Tour guide was unprofessional, untimely, rude, not knowledgeable, disorganized, refused information, etc. Completely unacceptable behavior, from an inexperienced guide who asked for quite a bit of money for a subpar experience. Tour guide insisted that we pay for her lunch, wine and coffee, and refused to translate for us. Also denied information and did not answer questions. Not a trustworthy business.