After much delibration, we finally settled on a Rick Steves tour. What made us change from a river cruise, to an independent trip, to a Rick Steves tour, you may ask? Here is a little snapshot of what persuaded us to sign up (and what we found to be 100% true!):
* The price includes nearly everything: gratutities, many meals, lodging, tickets, and more. This eliminated a majority of the planning, which was a major time saver and allowed us to focus on planning on pre-tour and post-tour activities! A bonus was not having to worry about gratuities. Rick Steves planned such wonderful local guides, it was comforting to know that they were being rewarded for their friendliness and knowledge.
* You are only allowed one carry-on size suitcase. Initially, this was scarier than any concerns about terrorism or pickpockets. How are we supposed to fit two weeks of clothing, toiletries, souvenirs, and essentials into one tiny bag?! Although we fretted over this for a long time and tried to find every way possible to avoid this rule, it was seriously the best decision we made. Honestly, packing was not that difficult (thanks to packing cubes), and it saved us a lot of hassle. In Europe, public transportation, cobblestone streets, and narrow train aisles are NOT made for gigantic suitcases. Save yourself the struggle and automatic "American" label by bringing a carry-on. Trust me, you will thank yourself in the end.
TIP: Pack clothes that you can throw as you go. This is how our website got its name. Both Susan and I packed underwear, socks, and pajamas that had holes in them and needed to be pitched. This way, our suitcase gained room from souvenirs and we cleaned out our closets! Also bring clothing that can easily be washed and dried overnight. This saves you lots of space in your suitcase too.
* The tour group size was marvelous. Normal Rick Steves' tours have 24 - 28 people maximum, and we were fortunate enough to travel on a tour with only 19 people! Susan has traveled on European tours before with almost 50 people, and couldn't believe what a difference a small group makes! Not only does each person get two seats on the bus, but it is much easier to see each sight because there is only 19 people crowding around the guide. In addition, the lines go faster, the bathroom breaks are quicker, and the food is better because we have the opportunity to eat at local-run restaurants that can't cater to larger groups.
* Rick Steves "Europe through the Back Door" travel philosophy is represented in every aspect of the tour, from staying at local-run hotels to eating at restaurants far from the main tourist spots. One of the best parts of the tour was the orientation walks at each town. This gave all tour members the opportunity to become familiar with the town and its attractions, restaurants, and transportation options. Susan and I were especially grateful for the Metro orientation in Paris. Neither of us had taken public transportation before, so we were terrified to tackle the Paris Metro. After a thorough explanation and a few practice runs with our tour group, we were metroing all over the city - saving time and money while truly experiencing the heart of Paris!
* You will experience moments I liked to call "Rick Steves moments" that will forever change your perception of travel. These moments are unique to each tour, but they certainly reflect Rick's philosophy of back door traveling. Here are a few examples from our tour:
1. Our tour guide, Graeme, bought us snacks to sample at every rest stop, such as French-specific cookies or caramels. They were a great way to get more acquainted with local culture.
2. At Mont St-Michel we stayed overnight. This gave us marvelous views of the high and low tides, the sunrise, and the stampede of tourists heading UP to the abbey as we were coming DOWN to head to our next location.
3. Rudy, our guide in Normandy, took us to a unique spot where we could see La Pointe du Hoc instead of standing right on it. Although this was a special moment in itself, it illustrates the fantastic guides Rick picks and their attention to detail. Which leads me to my next point. . .
4. In several towns we had the opportunity to take a tour with a local guide (even in Paris!) instead of having to rely on one guide knowing it all. Yes, Graeme, our main tour guide, was extremely knowledgeable; however, this gave us a chance to dive even deeper into the French culture, history, and language of each town because we were able to experience it from someone who was extremely familiar with the location.
*For more information, check out this video below about Rick Steves' 10 Commitments to a tour. Or, if you are inspired by our spectacular trip, click this link to explore Rick's tours and book one today. You won't regret it!
Rick Steves Tours: https://www.ricksteves.com
* The price includes nearly everything: gratutities, many meals, lodging, tickets, and more. This eliminated a majority of the planning, which was a major time saver and allowed us to focus on planning on pre-tour and post-tour activities! A bonus was not having to worry about gratuities. Rick Steves planned such wonderful local guides, it was comforting to know that they were being rewarded for their friendliness and knowledge.
* You are only allowed one carry-on size suitcase. Initially, this was scarier than any concerns about terrorism or pickpockets. How are we supposed to fit two weeks of clothing, toiletries, souvenirs, and essentials into one tiny bag?! Although we fretted over this for a long time and tried to find every way possible to avoid this rule, it was seriously the best decision we made. Honestly, packing was not that difficult (thanks to packing cubes), and it saved us a lot of hassle. In Europe, public transportation, cobblestone streets, and narrow train aisles are NOT made for gigantic suitcases. Save yourself the struggle and automatic "American" label by bringing a carry-on. Trust me, you will thank yourself in the end.
TIP: Pack clothes that you can throw as you go. This is how our website got its name. Both Susan and I packed underwear, socks, and pajamas that had holes in them and needed to be pitched. This way, our suitcase gained room from souvenirs and we cleaned out our closets! Also bring clothing that can easily be washed and dried overnight. This saves you lots of space in your suitcase too.
* The tour group size was marvelous. Normal Rick Steves' tours have 24 - 28 people maximum, and we were fortunate enough to travel on a tour with only 19 people! Susan has traveled on European tours before with almost 50 people, and couldn't believe what a difference a small group makes! Not only does each person get two seats on the bus, but it is much easier to see each sight because there is only 19 people crowding around the guide. In addition, the lines go faster, the bathroom breaks are quicker, and the food is better because we have the opportunity to eat at local-run restaurants that can't cater to larger groups.
* Rick Steves "Europe through the Back Door" travel philosophy is represented in every aspect of the tour, from staying at local-run hotels to eating at restaurants far from the main tourist spots. One of the best parts of the tour was the orientation walks at each town. This gave all tour members the opportunity to become familiar with the town and its attractions, restaurants, and transportation options. Susan and I were especially grateful for the Metro orientation in Paris. Neither of us had taken public transportation before, so we were terrified to tackle the Paris Metro. After a thorough explanation and a few practice runs with our tour group, we were metroing all over the city - saving time and money while truly experiencing the heart of Paris!
* You will experience moments I liked to call "Rick Steves moments" that will forever change your perception of travel. These moments are unique to each tour, but they certainly reflect Rick's philosophy of back door traveling. Here are a few examples from our tour:
1. Our tour guide, Graeme, bought us snacks to sample at every rest stop, such as French-specific cookies or caramels. They were a great way to get more acquainted with local culture.
2. At Mont St-Michel we stayed overnight. This gave us marvelous views of the high and low tides, the sunrise, and the stampede of tourists heading UP to the abbey as we were coming DOWN to head to our next location.
3. Rudy, our guide in Normandy, took us to a unique spot where we could see La Pointe du Hoc instead of standing right on it. Although this was a special moment in itself, it illustrates the fantastic guides Rick picks and their attention to detail. Which leads me to my next point. . .
4. In several towns we had the opportunity to take a tour with a local guide (even in Paris!) instead of having to rely on one guide knowing it all. Yes, Graeme, our main tour guide, was extremely knowledgeable; however, this gave us a chance to dive even deeper into the French culture, history, and language of each town because we were able to experience it from someone who was extremely familiar with the location.
*For more information, check out this video below about Rick Steves' 10 Commitments to a tour. Or, if you are inspired by our spectacular trip, click this link to explore Rick's tours and book one today. You won't regret it!
Rick Steves Tours: https://www.ricksteves.com
Source: Rick Steves