The Douglas Dynasty (l to r., Carey Breon, Francy Douglas-Breon, Fran & Doug Douglas In place of our normal UnTourist of the week profile, I’d like to introduce you to the heart and soul of the Swiss UnTour program. Francy Douglas (2nd from left, above) has worked here at UnTours for 20 years. She is…
The UnTours Foundation invests in microlending in the Global South, where not all microlending is created equal. Many projects supported by microlending help individuals along the unsustainable and destructive path of Western development assisting in the purchase of dangerous pesticides, GMO seeds, cars, and the like. Instead, we look for projects that offer the Global…
Photo courtesy of jay8085 (license) If you want to see any of the great places in Central Switzerland or if, like most travelers, you arrive in Zurich on your way to a Swiss UnTour, you’ll most certainly pass through Lucerne. Just an hour away from the Zurich airport, Lucerne is brimming with reasons to visit…
When UnTours was a fledgling company, we did some pretty goofy things. One thing we did was assume that our American staff, (aka me, my Dad, and about 5 other family members or good friends) were the only ones who could manage the day-to-day overseas operations of an UnTour. In those days, we were only…
Photo courtesy of welcomegroup.ch When our clients take a Swiss UnTour and need an extra night to accommodate their flight schedule, we recommend the Allegra Hotel, just outside of Zürich. The Allegra is considered an airport hotel (it offers free airport shuttle service, after all!) , but it also has easy access to the excellent…
Tell us a little bit about your most recent UnTour. In 2011, we visited the Swiss Heartland for three weeks. This was our second UnTour and our second time in Lungern. Both times we stayed at the Gasser-Müggler apartment; the hosts are a lovely older couple, and the property is warm and welcoming to our…
And what better day to visit Media than this October 21st when Fair Trade Live 2012 will be gracing the streets of “downtown” Media with dozens of musicians and dancers. Find unique clothing, jewelry, and other items at the Fair Fair. The UnTours Foundation helped organize Fair Trade Live 2008 when over 5,000 people showed…
Although UnTours are about so much more than the great apartments you stay in, we want to give you an idea of the types of apartments we have to help you make more informed decisions when choosing your UnTour. So, each week, we’ll be featuring a property for you. Enjoy! Bonalumi UpperI’m hesitant to write…
First of all, “Swiss Cheese” is not really a kind of cheese in Switzerland. What the outside world calls Swiss cheese is usually a close relative to what is known, in Switzerland, as Emmentaler cheese. And it’s most distinctive quality is its holes. So, go on your Swiss UnTour prepared with the knowledge that not…
As I mentioned in a post last week, staying in the Swiss Heartland offers plenty of things to see, do and explore. If you happen to stay in Lungern, as I had the privilege of doing last September, you’ll notice (before you even get there) the startlingly gorgeous blue Lake Lungern. For me, this lake’s…