Above: The Museum Tinguely in Basel and the sculpture ‘Gwendolyn’ by Niki de Saint Phalle. Photo by swiss-image.ch/Christoph Schuerpf We love to talk (and write) about the sylvan beauty of small Swiss mountainside villages, pristine lakes and hiking trails, and the old traditions of the Alps. Don’t ever doubt our love of cows and their pastures….
Author Archives: Andrea Szyper
40th Anniversary Memories: 20 pivotal moments in the making of Untours
UnTours has always been a mom and pop shop, and we pride ourselves on our by-the-seat-of-our-pants successes over the years. It is a proud part of our founder Hal Taussig’s approach to life, travel, and business. As we’ve tightened up our operations and gone professional, we have never lost our sense of wonder or fun….
From the Vault: Untours pics from the 70s – early 90s
In celebration of our 40th anniversary, we’ve busted out the old photo albums and are scanning our hearts out to bring you some of our favorite photo memories from the early days here at UnTours. Take a peek at some of the gems we’ve found in the backs of our closets and file cabinets. It…
Remembering Norma Taussig (1923-2015)
It is with great sadness that we report our co-founder, Norma Lee Taussig (Black) has passed away. She died July 22, 2015. She was 92. Norma helped found UnTours with her husband Hal 40 years ago, and they blazed a trail as pioneers in the industry with their apartment-based, cultural immersion travel. Norma also helped…
The Ring of Kerry, Made More Fun and Less Scary
The Ring of Kerry drive on the Iveragh Peninsula is one of the best known scenic drives in Ireland, if not the world. And for good reason! The views it offers–of the sea, rugged mountains, cliffs, lakes and farmlands–will stay with you for a lifetime. So it only stands to reason that it is a…
Keep Left! Tips for driving on the other side
Repeat after me: Keep left. Good. Now a few more words about driving on the left side of the road. Travelers to Ireland and the UK may dread the idea as they plan their vacations, but it doesn’t have to be as scary as it sounds. After all, the driver side of the car is…
Amsterdam or Bust: Shake the chill with the Winter Light Festival!
Holland is magical year round, but it may well be at its best in the short, chilly days of winter. No culture on earth does cozy quite like the Dutch, from the inviting interiors you’ll glimpse through open curtains to the warmth of candle-lit brown cafes. The Dutch bundle up and bike in the snow….
Your Italian Bucket List: See These 12 Places Before You Die
Montalcino, Top of your Bucket List So much to see and do in Italy. Of course you will likely start with Venice, Florence and Rome, what we knowlingly call The Big Three. (Wink. Nudge.) You may have gotten into the Tuscan countryside or the Amalfi Coast. If you’re lucky (and/or savvy), you’ve dug more deeply into these places….
6 Old School “Devices” You’ll Need for Europe
Internet is like oxygen for many of us, it is that essential and taken for granted. But when you travel to Europe, a lot of things leave your control. Internet can be spotty. The tools we take for granted, like GPS and e-pay, can fail us. While new technology is an indispensable tool for today’s…
Travel Like a Native: 15 Tips for Fitting in in Europe
Your European vacation is almost here? Great! You’ve followed our tips to boost your Cultural IQ, and you’ve reached new understandings of the places you will visit on your trip? Fantastic! You are ready to connect with the locals, make new friends, and travel deeply and richly. Here are some tips to bring along with…