Alps Tours by Moto-Charlie

I do not have any brochures. All my tour information is on this website. I've tried to organize the information as logically and completely as possible with links to related subjects spread throughout the various web pages. If you don't see the info that you're looking on the website please feel free to contact me with any question big or small.

If you just want a quick overview of my website this one-minute version will tell you the key facts about my tour offerings.

ABOUT MOTO-CHARLIE

You are welcome to read about me at my bio. The year 2010 will be my 14th year of providing organized tours as Moto-Charlie and will mark more than 30 years of Alpine motorcycling experience.

MY MISSION

My goal is to provide some big picture structure to the tour by way of securing motorcycles, taking the hassle out of finding good, well located hotels and providing guidance/opinion on the best roads to ride in the region that people have chosen to tour in. The tour members are welcome to utilize that structure to either ride along with me (I ride all day, every day), do their own daily thing or something outside of that if they want to. I will help as much as I can every day throughout the tour with what ever they chose to do. I also try to save them money, usually $600 - $2,600 off of what a total tour cost would be with a big name operator.

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TOUR TYPES – THE INTENSITY FACTOR

My tours are strictly for experienced riders. Tour members want to focus on the riding and the occasional Kodak moment. If that’s you then don’t let this “Intensity” thing worry you. I use the word “Intense” to describe how much riding there is per tour. We ride at a brisk pace, in the rain and slush if need be (hotel-to-hotel days) on some of the most wonderful, technical roads you can find anywhere. My tours offer three different riding options: Intense, More Intense, and Most Intense. The “Tour Details” give you more info on each type of tour but here’s a quick breakdown:

• Intense – The riding, the food, the scenery, everything in the Alps is an intense sensory experience. An “Intense” type tour for me means a limit of 9 motorcycles, relatively direct hotel-to-hotel routes, multiple day layovers where you can ride all day, half a day or take the day off to do whatever you want. Most likely to appeal to tour members traveling two-up and single riders looking for a blend of riding and local sightseeing.
  
  
• More Intense – A limit of 7 motorcycles and fewer layover days, which means more one-night stays. An “Intense” tour might have 4 layover days spread across 10 touring days while a “More Intense” tour will have 4 layover days spread over 14 touring days, which equals more riding. The direct hotel-to-hotel routes might be a little longer. Some of the layover day route loops might be all day rides instead of 2 half-day loops. Most likely to appeal to two-up tour members who want a lot of riding, less sightseeing, and single riders looking for a fair bit of riding but still want to get in a couple of beers before dinner time.
  
  
• Most Intense – These are the “Recon” tours. A limit of 3 motorcycles per tour. The tour route varies from year to year and may, or may not, have any layover days. The plan is to ride all day every day most likely getting in to the hotel just before dinner. The small group pace will be similar to me riding on my own, which means we can cover a lot of ground in one day. The emphasis is on exploring new roads and out-of-the-way places, so expect lots of small narrow roads, high speed autobahn hops, and reasonably quick bathroom and meal stops – although expect to be awed into stopping from time to time because that is what the Alps do to you. Most likely to appeal to hard core single riders who just want to ride and that rare two-up couple that like to fly.
  
  Note: Experienced riders like to ride - that is what my tours are all about. You can't do that when when a lot of motorcycles try to ride together. It takes longer to pass, to have lunch, to gas up, etc. Many tour operators advertise "small groups", which to them means 10 - 15 motorcycles. When I say small I mean small - my upper limit is 9 bikes.
  

THE TOURS

ITALIAN ALPS Tour focuses on the Alps of the Italian Tyrol and the Dolomites of northeastern Italy with some combined R&R (rest and/or riding) in the lakes region at Riva del Garda. The dates are:

• June 30 - July 10, 2012 (11 Days) - Limit 9 Riders - Tour Type - Intense

TOP 10+ focuses on the 10 highest passes in the Alps + 50 to 80 other passes along the way. The TOP 10 are located in France, Italy and Austria so we spend time in all of these countries plus Switzerland. We also combine some routes from the Italian tour by spending time in the Dolomites of northeastern Italy plus the mountains north and west of Lago di Garda. The dates are:

• September 8 - 21, 2012 (14 Days) - Limit 7 Riders - Tour Type - More Intense

RECON Tour - France 2012 - focuses on exploring the nooks and crannies of the real high Alps in southern France and along the Italian border plus the Euro-rider Mecca surrounding the Grand Canyon du Verdun.

• September 25 - October 2, 2012 (8 Days) - Limit 3 Riders - Tour Type - Most Intense
  

BASE OF OPERATIONS

Thun Switzerland. It is just south of Bern in the heart of the Alps. The location is in the mountains, next to stunning alpine lakes and accessible to everywhere in the Alps. Most tours start on a Saturday and everyone is encouraged to arrive at least one day early on Friday. You are obviously welcome to come and stay longer at either the beginning or end of the tour or both.

THE MOTORCYCLES

You can pick from a full line of BMW and Honda motorcycles suitable for touring. They are all current year model bikes, fully ensured and dealer maintained. For motorcycles that do not come standard with side cases hard and/or soft luggage is available for rent for a small additional charge per day.  Other makes and models may available (please e-mail me if you have your mind set on something special).

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THE TOUR COST

The dollar has declined against the Euro by approx. 10% and against the Swiss France by approx. 20% since 2010. The cost of insurance on the motorcycle rentals has also increased. I negotiate the best group rate I can get for the motorcycles and hotels. Everyone on the tour, including me, pays the same cost. I do not charge a mark-up of any kind. The only money paid to me is the Moto-Charlie fee. It is included in the cost below and discussed further down the page.

ITALIAN ALPS TOUR (11 Touring Days)

• Single rider in a single room - $4,620
• Passenger riding two-up sharing a double room - $2,420
• Couple riding together two-up sharing a double room - $7,040

TOP 10+ ( 14 Touring Days)

• Single rider in a single room - $6,020
  
• Passenger riding two-up sharing a double room - $3,080
• Couple riding together two-up sharing a double room - $ 9,100

RECON TOUR - France 2010 (8 Touring Days)

• Single rider in a single room - $ 3,600
• Passenger riding two-up sharing a double room - $1,760
• Couple riding together two-up sharing a double room - $ 5,360
  
  

PRIOR TOUR  MEMBER DISCOUNT

Tour members save money on my tours by paying their own expenses directly to the hotels and travel vendors. There is no mark up of any kind built in so I can not offer a discount for the daily cost of travel.  The only money paid to me is the Moto-Charlie Fee discussed below.  I keep that fee at $85 per day for the rider and $65 per day for the passenger for any tour member who has toured with with me before - the exception being the RECON tours.  I don't make a lot so I can't give big discounts but I do appreciate the continued support of previous tour members.  This discount is my way of saying Thank You and paying for some of your food and gas. 

WHAT THE TOUR COST COVERS

My tour cost includes EVERYTHING THAT YOU WILL SPEND FOR THE ACTUAL TOUR (excluding gifts, phone calls, side trips, etc). The cost shown by most other tour companies does not. They usually do not include the cost of all your dinners, gas, incidentals or the single room supplement. These costs can come to more than $100 per day person or $1,000 to $1,400 over a 10 to 14 day tour. My estimated tour cost includes theses items and gives you a pretty good idea of the total touring cost.

On my tours you pay for all your own expenses. Even on an all-inclusive tour you have to settle your drink and bar tab at the end of each hotel stay. So, why not pay for the hotel itself at the same time. Most motorcyclists like to visit the motorcycle shop (the one we use is huge with lots of accessories and a cafe) so you may as well pay for the bike while you are there.

This way you know exactly what the trip costs and you have some control over what you spend.

I share any motorcycle or hotel discounts I can negotiate with you so your cost for the motorcycle, hotels, food and gas is the same as my cost. The use of estimates below for dinner and incidentals is based on real world, year after year experience.

The tour cost includes:

• The cost of the motorcycle. By way of example this cost would get you a BMW F800ST or a Honda CBF 1000. There is a large selection of BMW's and Hondas to choose from. I can price out your particular bike and tour cost for you.
  
  
• Transportation when arriving from either Bern Airport or the main train station in Thun is included with the cost of the rental motorcycle.
  
  
• The cost of the specific hotels we stay at with breakfast included
  
  



• Dinner is included with the cost of many of our hotels. When not covered by the hotel I include an estimate of $40 a night per person for the food portion of dinner. My experience has been overwhelming that tour members want to select from the menu rather than be locked into pre-arranged menus like they frequently are on all-inclusive tours. Bottled water, beer, wine etc. is extra whether it be an all-inclusive tour or my tour.

• An estimate of $65 per day for lunch, snacks, and gas, which should be more than enough.

• The Moto-Charlie fee, which is the only amount paid directly to me. It varies by tour. Overwhelming feedback indicates that tours members are willing to pay more for smaller groups and more riding. That is why I offer several different tour size options. I have certain costs to cover so my variable fee increases a little bit when the group size decreases. My fee for a 9-bike tour is $90/day, for a 7-bike tour $100/day and for the 3-bike Recon tours $120/day.
  
  The Moto-Charlie fee covers all the questions you want (before, during and after the tour), any pre-trip planning, arranging the motorcycle rental, making the hotel reservations and providing daily guidance either by riding with me or by helping to plan a route at the start of the day that gets you to the hotel by nightfall. Any one who has been on my tours will tell that I love ride all day every day so I'm good to go when you are.

• E-mail me at Charlie-n@comcast.net
  
• Telephone me at 603.483.4813
  
• Fax me at 603.483.5967

HOW TO PAY

• By check
  
• By PayPal

SEE BELOW FOR LINKS TO OTHER RELATED PARTS OF MY WEBSITE

• For testimonials click here.
  
• For terms click here.
  
• For more information on the details of touring such as the daily mileage, what to bring, the expected weather, etc. see my "FAQ" section by clicking here.
  
• For pictures click here.
  
• For links to other Alpine motorcycle sites and related Alps touring info. click here.

Hopefully this quick summary will give you an idea about my tours. Please check out the Tour Details or FAQ section for more information.