GRJ All Inclusive Jungfrau Express Reviews

Verified

The holiday was well organised and our Guide excellent. The group was rather large (36 of us) and we all felt that was a lot for one tour guide to deal with although he was excellent. The group also gelled well considering the size. The only downside was the hotel in Wilderswil. While acknowledging it was a very old hotel, the rooms although a good size and comfortable were very warm, no air conditioning and fans were unavailable so sleeping comfortably was impossible. Also no tea or coffee making facilities were allowed in rooms due to fire hazards which we were a little surprised about since our room had a hairdryer in the bathroom. The food was very good but limited possibly due to the size of the group. We were crammed into a dining room which barely accommodated the group. Additionally at one point we were prevented from using the garden area as the hotel wanted the space for dining guests, not us though! We felt we were treated as second class citizens at that point. We would use Great Rail Journeys again but would check out the accommodation offered more thoroughly before booking.

Verified

Wonderful, well put together tour. Tour Manager was exceptional.

Verified

Too many in Group

Verified

Everything organised well, plenty to do. The Tour Guide was always available if needed

Verified

Great trip spoiled by the hotel scrimping.Well organised journey and an amazing tour manager in Steve Thomas. Good location,fabulous group of peoplejust need a different hotel

Verified

We really enjoyed the holiday. All the arrangements were great, the holiday and excursions were well organised and Cat was a wonderful tour manager. This was our first holiday booked with GRJ and we hope to GG o on another trip with you later on.

Verified

The tour guide Cat worked really hard under difficult circumstances (cancelled train) to get 39 people (too many) to and from their destination. She also worked hard to be available to help the group cater for all the possibilities open to them on their holiday. She was excellent. The trips in Switzerland were excellent. Two of which we organised ourselves in free time. There are several criticisms of GRJ 1 No mention in the literature of the group having to get on a train and move their suitcases up winding steps to the top tier of the train in France. 39 people on the same staircase. 2 The Hotel Alpenblick was poor, the facilities were overcrowded 39 people in a small dining room sharing the space with the other hotel guests at breakfast. No air-conditioning in the rooms. 3 The food was poor. the packed lunches meagre and poor. I cannot believe that 1 slice of bread folded over constituted a sandwich. The food served to the other guests in the hotel looked special. We were treated like 2nd class citizens. One evening to get us away from the terrace area they moved the party up the hill to an overgrown garden to have some watered down wine to clear the area for other diners. 4 Our welcome in 30+ heat on arriving at the hotel was "to stand outside" the lady said that the reception was too small for us to even stand in the shade in the porch! 5 Although you quote 15 minutes walk to the hotel from the station many guests found the return journey in the heat (30+) too much, the company may consider the 2 other hotels nearer the station in view of the poor review of the hotel. The village was an excellent location for moving around the area.

Verified

The scenery is what makes this holiday good. Despite it being a bit hot we were blessed with beautiful clear blue skies which meant we were able to see the mountains in all their glory. However despite GRJ mobility ratings we found the holiday more strenuous than we anticipated. I had studied the itinerary closely but hadn't realised that the journey home involved 5 trains and a coach transfer. As a couple in our 60's we found that exhausting. On a positive note there was a good balance of free days and days with planned excursions which were well chosen and enjoyable. The hotel, Hotel Alpenblick, was a 400 year old traditional swiss chalet. Very quirky. It was clean and comfortable and I loved it. If you want modern, swish, swanky, air conditioning this isn't the hotel for you. Apart from the lunches, which were very meager, I thought the food was fine. Others in our group weren't so happy. That's probably typical for a holiday like this. At nearly 40 people in our group I thought the group was too large for both the tour manager and hotel to manage. If I booked with GRJ's again I would be phoning the office with lots of questions about trains, itinerary etc. I loved the scenery in Switzerland but came back needing another holiday.

Verified

The tour excursions included from the Wilderswil resort were excellent. However, the group size of 39 was too large and whilst the Hotel Alpenblick was a quaint old building in a good location, the food and facilities were poor. Also, the outbound and return journeys from St Pancras were very long (two days via Basel going and a long whole day on return).

Verified

Our first visit to Switzerland and overland by train. In a week wonderful sights, places, people. Lots to do by ourselves if wanted (kayak, hang gliding, hiking and more). Excellent itinerary improved by quality of our Tour guide. All trains, tickets, joint visits, languages covered and thus relaxing from St Pancas to Wilderswil our hotel base. Switzerland a delight.

Verified

Loved it. The included excursions were excellent, and we had plenty of free time to visit other areas around Interlaken. Trains were easy to navigate in Switzerland and the tour manager had lots of helpful tips for the area. Hotel was lovely, the staff freindly and some rooms had been upgraded to include air conditioning, however food was a bit hit and miss. Train from Paris was cancelled and we had standing room only on the next train, the tour manager handled 38 of us well keeping us all updated and together despite the situation occurring around us.

Verified

Very lovely journey, however, due to my age, 82, and the heat, would think twice about double it again.

Verified

The tour was probably the best that we have experienced with Great Rail. The only downside was the hotel menu selection.

Verified

We had an excellent week, despite train cancellations and a heatwave. From the moment we met Brian our tour guide, we had nothing to worry about. He was so experienced and knowledgeable, he took us on a wonderful trip across Europe to the top of the world. What an experience

Verified

Amazing views of wonderful scenery. Lovely hotel, great location, fabulous food.

Verified

Fantastic place, beautiful scenery

Verified

Excellent tour guide- wonderful trips. We enjoyed much about the hotel, but found the dinner each evening was served very slowly. It took over 2 hours which meant we could not go for an evening stroll.

Verified

Overall the activities are well planned and the free time well placed to make the break very enjoyable. Our only frustration was the lack air conditioning on the train from Strasbourg to Basel given the extreme heat. Not something within the control of Great Rail but made that part of the journey to Switzerland uncomfortable. The tour guide was excellent and very attentive to ensure everyone knew the schedule and promoted different options for free time. The hotel in Wilderswil was well located to travel in and around Interlaken. All in all an enjoyable tour with a great group of people.

Verified

Lovely scenery, nice hotel, dreadful vegetarian food.

Verified

The holiday had some highlights and some lowlights. Highlights- Hotel Ibis in Strasbourg and the meal at the restaurant next door both excellent. The trips out and the free time, Switzerland is lovely. The guide was organised, calm and knew a lot about the area. My room at The Alpenblick, very clean with a balcony. The lowlights- The Hotel Alpenblick has a good reputation for food but I was really disappointed. The group only had 2 choices of main course and I wouldn't have booked if I'd known that. I can't eat some things- I didn't go on holiday to have an omelette as my main course. Packed lunches were very basic. Until I got the final itinerary I didn't realise we'd have 5 train and 1 coach trips to get back to U.K. in one day. Tips- send your luggage ahead, expensive but worth it, the trains were busy and getting luggage on & off trains was difficult for some of the group.