Off To Switzerland

Saying Goodbye to England & Hello to Switzerland

After time spent in the English countryside with my friends, the time came to say farewell. True to her thoughtful nature, Vicki offered to drive me all the way to London Heathrow for an early morning airport drop-off—a gesture that meant so much to me. We hugged goodbye at the terminal, and just like that, it was time for the final chapter of my Highlands to Alpine Adventure. I settled into the airport lounge and then it was wheels up in style with a first-class short flight from London to Zurich.

Once I landed, things took a slight detour—literally. A representative coordinated by my Collette tour manager met two of us at the airport to get us on a train to Neuchâtel, where our tour would begin. Unfortunately, she gave us the wrong directions and put us on the wrong train. What should’ve been a smooth transition quickly turned stressful, especially for seasoned Collette traveler like myself (this is my 9th tour with them!). Luckily, I figured it out and made the right choices to find my way to Neuchatel.

Thankfully, our tour manager met us at the final station in Neuchâtel. I checked into the hotel, took a short walk to explore the area, and enjoyed a much-needed drink at the hotel’s rooftop bar—soaking in panoramic views of the city and lake.

That evening, we gathered for our welcome meeting and dinner, officially kicking off our Collette Explorations small group tour: “Switzerland: Hidden Trails & Majestic Peaks.” While the start didn’t quite meet the high standard I’ve come to expect from Collette, I’m optimistic that the days ahead will bring the magic and seamless experience I’ve always loved about their tours.

Let the Swiss adventure begin!