Zicasso Travel Stories: A 3-Week Journey Through Festive Winter in Europe

In Paris, the city’s winter elegance set the tone for the family’s vacation, but it was the transition to the storybook intimacy of Colmar that revealed how each destination and experience was thoughtfully layered to deepen the family’s sense of enchantment.

"We began our adventure in Paris, the City of Lights, which becomes even more captivating during the winter,” Cheryl said. “The Eiffel Tower sparkled against the night sky and Paris offered a blend of elegance and festive cheer that set the perfect tone for the rest of our trip.”

Because the family began their adventure surrounded by Parisian elegance and festive cheer, they were primed to appreciate the charm of Colmar, which offered cozier, more intimate holiday spectacle. Stepping into the medieval streets felt like a deepening of the enchantment they first encountered in Paris. This evolution from city to town wasn’t accidental; it was the result of a travel expert’s understanding of how to build a journey that grows more meaningful with every stop.

Captivated by its old-world charm, Cheryl described Colmar as "a charming Alsace town that felt like stepping into a storybook.” The cobblestone streets and half-timbered houses created such a wonderful backdrop that when combined with the Christmas festivities, it delivered what she called "an unforgettable experience”, the type you could enjoy on our Discover Eastern France Tour.

The seasonal spectacle unfolded further in Switzerland, “where the true magic of winter revealed itself”. Their excursion to Jungfraujoch, aptly nicknamed the "Top of Europe", became one of the tour's defining moments. "The journey up was as breathtaking as the destination itself, with panoramic views of snow-draped peaks and charming alpine villages. Once at Jungfraujoch, we were mesmerized by the endless expanse of snow and ice,” she said of a tour similar to Zicasso’s Swiss Alpine Traverse.

Perhaps the most unique adventure was dog sledding near the iconic Matterhorn. As Cheryl put it, "Gliding across snowy trails with a team of eager huskies was an exhilarating and unique way to experience the majestic mountain landscapes”.

From Vienna’s out-of-this-world Christmas markets to Salzburg’s musical heritage, each experience was chosen to meet their desire for authenticity and wonder, with Cheryl underlining her point regarding their travel specialist’s seamless organization, "This is the perfect travel company and we will surely use them again! Our agents communicated with us throughout the trip to ensure everything was flawless!"

Her sentiment highlights how Zicasso’s experts ensure every moment of the vacations they create is stress-free. They also provide flexibility and, if their clients do encounter challenges, empathetic, human solutions.

When asked what she would do differently if the family were to take the trip again, Cheryl was adamant, “We would change absolutely nothing”,  a testament to the value of working with people who care about making memories, not just itineraries.

While AI travel planning offers speed and convenience, it can’t match the emotional intelligence, local expertise, and personal care that a human travel specialist brings to a luxury vacation. Zicasso’s approach is built on relationships, insider knowledge, and a commitment to creating life-enriching journeys designed just for you.

Cheryl’s thoughts demonstrate that the most wonderful travel experiences aren’t just about where you go and your experiences in a destination, but about how you get there and who helps you along the way.

Our travel experts are ready to do the same for you. Explore our Europe travel guide or our custom European tours and vacations for inspiration before connecting with our experts. They will design a journey tailored to your interests, making it just as extraordinary as the one they created for Cheryl and her family.