Rick Steves

jdw · Post by **jdw** » Fri Sep 24, 2010 6:53 am

Have any of you ever been on one of his European tours? Likes? Dislikes? Would you recommend it?

Thanks.

Post by **Anthony** » Fri Sep 24, 2010 7:16 am

Rick Steves lovers are all over Florence and Italy - his influence is huge here. I see more of his books walking around than most others combined.

Do they actually sell tours/vacations? Is this what you are asking about?

jdw · Post by **jdw** » Fri Sep 24, 2010 9:28 am

Yes Anthony - They have small group tours (24 ppl) to various places in Europe. Lots of countries to choose from. You pay one price and it includes everything except air fare...hotels, mosts meals, all tours, etc. Looks like a good deal but would love to hear from someone who has actually been on one.

Post by **Anthony** » Fri Sep 24, 2010 9:35 am

You should ask here:

http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/help ... index.html

Gromit · Post by **Gromit** » Fri Sep 24, 2010 4:50 pm

I am familiar with his tours but have never taken one. Mainly because he requires you to fit everything into ONE carry-on backpack style bag. It's a requirement.

Anyone who knows me, will tell you that this concept is my version of Dante's 7th ring of hell. I just can't do it. I wish I was the kind of girl that could take a week long trip to Europe with just a carry on but sadly I will NEVER EVER EVER be that girl.

I'm also not a big fan of group tours in general. If I find something I love I want to be able to stop and enjoy it at my own pace.

HOWEVER I am a big fan of his travel guides. They are THE best! Rick has expertly guided us through Italy, London, Scotland and the Czech Republic. And he has NEVER let us down.

If you're a tour person then I would guess that his tours are among the best based on his books and his popular PBS series.

But if you like to pack more than one bag, to stay in higher end places or eat at fancy restaurants it's probably not for you.

jmq · Post by **jmq** » Fri Sep 24, 2010 5:05 pm

What she said.

His Euro guidebooks are pretty good to riff on - you dont have to follow them to the letter, although plenty do.

jdw · Post by **jdw** » Fri Sep 24, 2010 7:59 pm

Surely you jest Gromit! One bag?? I can't even go away for the weekend using only one bag! Much less go to Italy for nine days with only one. That might be the deal breaker.

Thanks for the info.

Terry · Post by **Terry** » Sat Sep 25, 2010 10:06 am

Ditto on his guide books. The only draw back is that wherever he's been is now much more crowded and popular than it was before he wrote about it. A good example is Vernazza, Italy in the Cinque Terra area. I wouldn't stay there again for that reason. However I would stay in one of the other small towns there. The hotel he stays at in Vernazza is booked a year in advance.

Gromit · Post by **Gromit** » Mon Sep 27, 2010 9:43 am

I wish I was kidding about the one bag! From the web site:

Suggested Packing List

Each tour member is allowed to bring one carry-on-size bag (approx. 9" x 22" x 14") plus one day bag.

http://tours.ricksteves.com/tours11/con ... anning.cfm

PA Girl · Post by **PA Girl** » Mon Sep 27, 2010 9:54 am

Gromit wrote:I wish I was kidding about the one bag! From the web site:

Suggested Packing List

Each tour member is allowed to bring one carry-on-size bag (approx. 9" x 22" x 14") plus one day bag.

http://tours.ricksteves.com/tours11/con ... anning.cfm

OMG! I can't wrap my head around that. Even when I was younger and lower maintenance, I needed a bigger bag than that for my travels.

I can't stand to wear clothing more than once (outer layers are the exception) so there is no way I could pack in a bag that small.

Gromit · Post by **Gromit** » Mon Sep 27, 2010 9:57 am

PA Girl- sounds like you and I are cut from the same bolt of fabric

Again, I truly admire those people who can do this. I truly do.

But I also out a high value on being self aware. And I am very much aware of the fact that I will NEVER be one of those people!

PA Girl · Post by **PA Girl** » Mon Sep 27, 2010 10:28 am

Gromit wrote:PA Girl- sounds like you and I are cut from the same bolt of fabric

I do believe we are!

Growing up, the family rule was everyone hauls their own stuff, no exceptions. It has never been a problem for me but recently, a group of lady friends went to Italy (not with Rick Steves) and they were quick vocal about having to haul their own luggage all the time.

The podcasts Rick Steves did on areas of Germany where I lived and other areas that I visited frequently were very well done. I enjoyed them, took me right back!

LysaC · Post by **LysaC** » Mon Sep 27, 2010 1:26 pm

Rick Steves guidebooks rock! I did the backpack thru Europe thing in college for a month. His guidebooks give great practical travelling advice. And, yes, we were able to travel for a month with carry-on backpacks only

.

RickG · Post by **RickG** » Mon Sep 27, 2010 4:54 pm

I have friends who do the Rick Steves tours and love them, with a special YES on the three week Spain itinerary. They tend to be pretty intensive and you will cover a lot of territory. Chances to hit a favorite place a second time? No. Linger in a favorite for an afternoon of drinks and watching the shadows stretch? No. Meet some locals, make friends, have an adventure? No. But its an efficient way to see all the best stuff with a guide and have everything booked for you.

Funny, we travel to Europe all the time with one INTERNATIONAL carryon bag each (20" vs. 22"). Note, the USA standard 22" carryon has to be checked international. It's a piece of cake now that most places are non-smoking. Some packets of woolite and you're cool. Also, most European cities have cheap good laundries that do wash and fold. The Rick Steves guides tell you where to go. Three of us just did southern England, Bath and London quite nicely with his guide.

We laugh about our anti-clockwise Rick Steves tours. If you do his recommended paths through the Louvre, Royal Museum, etc. in reverse you come across the horde of blue book travelers half way through. I always buy two copies of his books. I cut out the main attractions from one book and take just that section to the attraction. No blue book, no American travel nerd label.

Cheers, RickG

Gromit · Post by **Gromit** » Mon Sep 27, 2010 5:05 pm

I will also say that Steve's also publishes a language guide for Italy that is OUTSTANDING. Really practical stuff.

@Rick- I also cut out those sections and carry them without the bulk of the book as well.

His Florence and Tuscany guide feels like taking a real live tour guide along with you.

Funny story. We were in our hotel in Florence and had the windows open to the alley below. You could easily hear people's conversations as the sounds traveled upward.

Anyway, hubby and I had been using Rick Steve's guide to Florence religiously and were half-way through the trip.

Rick had failed to let us down and we were quickly becoming devotees esp when his guide led us to peep around the corner of the Medici Chapel, behind the pulpit to see some of Michelangelo's "doodles" and improvised sketches for the Cistine chapel that had been preserved for posterity. This little glimpse into his sense of humor and randomness made him feel more accessible and human for me in that moment. But I digress....

Anyway, we heard this couple down below....

Woman: It's just up this way. It's supposed to be good.

Man: Jesus. You just completely trust this guy. NO questions asked.

Woman: yeah I do. I'm pretty sure it's just up ahead.

Man: Oh JESUS! Who the hell is this guy "Rick Steve's" anyway? What the hell does he know? (groan) How much further?

I could hear the woman sigh with exasperation three stories up.

usvi-on-line

Login or Register with your Facebook account

Rick Steves

Rick Steves