About Us
ALPORINI TOURS AND THE MAN BEHIND IT
Marcelo Alporini, founder of Alporini Tours, was born to parents who ran a small country hotel in a remote valley high up in the Swiss Alps. After leaving home, he apprenticed as a chef at the Dolder Grand Hotel in Zürich, and then worked at the Savoy; Baur au Lac; Quellenhof in Bad Ragaz; and for eight seasons at the famous Palace Hotel in St. Moritz (the Number one Hotel in this luxurious winter resort ) where he was in Charge of the Room service.
After taking a degree in hotel management and attendet the MDP course at University he worked in several other countries. His last position was that of a Hotel Manager and first Officer on the Ships of Royal Caribbean Cruise Line where he also was in charge as a director on their luxury sailing ship, the `Windstar'. He also worked in the Emirates and in India as a consultant on an environmental project.
Marcelo's idea of starting his own business is to providea more personalized service to customers, who, more often than not are rushed like a herd of cattle through Switzerland. Marcelo has strict requirements for guides working for him, and only those with a good understanding of Swiss history and the needs of foreign clients and their cultural background are employed. Bearing in mind the discerning visitors, Alporini offers fixed-price leisurely tours at convenient hours starting in Zürich or Lucerne, taking in popular sights at an easy pace so customers can stop wherever they like for picture-taking or have a meal at economicaly priced at restaurants of their choice. Our moto is to offer visitors an unforgetable experience and a relaxed holiday in remote areas of Switzerland which normaly are not covered by large tour operators.
A full day tour for 4 people to the Engadine Valley and St.Moritz, or to Lucerne and Interlaken, or to Ascona and the canton of Ticino is CHF 580.-- all inclusive. An extra rate of CHF 80.-- will be charged for any additional person as we are operating here with larger and more luxurious cars. So a group of eight will cost CHF 880.-- for a full day private tour all inclusive.