Did this tour last Sunday.Loved it.If you love history and exploring new cities then give this tour go.Our tour guide Sabri from radius tours was excellent.

How to Go From First to Last on Gray Line

I arrived 20 minutes early at the bus, one of the first there. Two-three people ahead of me checking in with the guide. When my turn came, my cellphone internet connection failed and I so informed the guide and asked what to do to check in. She indicated that I should step aside and wait, that she would get to me after taking care of those behind me.

After checking in several others, the bus moved to another spot, leaving me standing. I followed the bus and then joined a rather long line waiting to check in. The guide saw me, but never offered to help. I patiently waited my turn in line #2, and when I got to the guide and told her the problem, she abruptly send me over to find the manager (wearing a blue jacket, she said), who was at another bus.

I arrived at the third bus, the manager told me to wait, and he then left and went to the bus I just came from, at which time I protested and said that I had just come from there to see him. He was unfriendly, annoyed, rude to me, and abrupt, but, in the end, simply told me to connect to public wi-fi, which I immediately did (why didn’t the guide listen to me and suggest the same simple fix). The officious manager took my cell phone, wrote a ticket, and sent me back to the bus, at which point I was the last to board, all seats but one were taken, the middle seat in the very back of the bus, where I sat cramped between four other people for the rest of the day.

The whole unhappy process took 25 minutes, during which time I went from being early to being late. I never should have been shoved aside by the guide in the first place, who should have listened to me.

None of this would have matter had the tour itself been any good. The first stop was at Oberammergau, the only purpose being to buy mostly cheap trinkets. No sightseeing, just shopping, preferably at the shop recommended by the guide. An annoying waste of time.

Lindenhof went well enough.

At Neuschwanstein village, we were basically dumped there by the guide, given some confusing information about a 45-minute walk up the hill to the castle, told to eat lunch at her preferred restaurant, and given a time to meet at the castle itself for the tour inside, at an extra cost of 25 euros (which was disclosed in advance). What was not disclosed was that I was not guided anywhere; I was left in the village with little understanding of what to do, and no help, the guide having disappeared.

I did find my way via a shuttle bus to a bridge was a nice view of the castle in the distance. From there, I was confused as to where to go and how to get there, and being alone, I decided to take the shuttle bus back down to the village. There was no help from Gray Line available, no maps given, just some verbal directions. I never got to the castle. Having been abandoned by Gray Line in the middle of some Bavarian mountain, I decided to call it a day and take the shuttle bus back to the village. The day was a discouraging waste of time.

My advice: stay away from Gray Line at all costs.

Our family of 4 did a day trip with Gray Line to Neuschwanstein & Linderhof castles & loved it!! The meeting point was easy to find (directly in front of the Kardstadt store). Very friendly & excellent informative tour guide (Hannah) & bus driver (Tommy) who looked after us (& a full bus load) very well. Make sure you have cash (25 Euro per adult) to pay the guide for entry/tours to both castles & to buy water or even beer on the bus! Only a short stop at Linderhof - the guided tour was 25 mins which felt very quick & then straight back onto the bus. Linderhof is quite a small palace (not really a castle) but we saw all the rooms which were showed the grandeur & opulence! A short coffee/souvenir stop in Oberamagau then onto Hohenschwangau village. We had lunch first then walked up the big hill to Neuschwanstein castle in time for our 3.05pm guided tour (you MUSN'T be late & they show the tour times for entrance via the turnstiles on a screen). The walk to the castle is a steady climb on an asphalt path/road shared with the horse & carts, & has resting points along the way for those who need it (not us!!). On entry to the castle each guest is given a personal speaker so you can hear the guide's commentary as you follow them through the rooms. Once inside there are several winding flights of stairs to climb & a few gift shops via the exit. The tour was 35 minutes - also felt a but rushed but the castle is so impressive! After our tour we walked the short distance (also uphill) to the Mariensbridge for the spectacular view of the castle & village below. A long day but we thought it was totally worth it! We loved it!