Meet our Travel Advisors
Whether picking the perfect hotel in Paris, or choosing just the right travel gear, our expert team of Travel Advisors has just the right suggestion for customers. With a combined 50 plus years of working and traveling for Rick Steves, they know Europe frontwards, backwards and, most importantly, Through the Back Door. Discover what makes our Travel Advisors the best in the business!
Aaron
6 years at ETBD • Has traveled to Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, England, Germany,Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Wales, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Japan & Mexico
Perfect Travel Day: 1) Skiing powder on a crisp day in Chamonix or Switzerland's Berner Oberland, followed by a hearty dinner and laughs with good friends, capped by a stroll, a mellow soak in some hot water and some quality late-night conversation. Or 2) Hiking and lounging by the water in Salema, Portugal, followed by amazing seafood.
Favorite travel product: Convertible Carry-On
Abe
4 years at ETBD • Has traveled to Germany, Greece, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Guatamala, Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Canada
Perfect travel day: So far, one of the best travel days I have had was in the Dominican Republic. I spent the majority of the day in the hot sun painting the roof of the school and joking with my brother. At lunch I bought a pineapple from a guy driving by in a truck and shared it with my brother and a friend. After painting, I visited a nearby Vacation Bible School program and played games with some of the local kids. Very tired at the end of the day but very fun.
Favorite travel product: Travel Journal & Thumb Beam Illuminator
Ann
10 years at ETBD • Has traveled to Canada, Nepal, Thailand, Tanzania, Botswana, Mexico, Ecuador, Argentina, Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England, France, Spain, Portugal, Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovenia, Greece, and Turkey. (Plus 37 of our united states and impatiently waiting for Cuba!)
Perfect vacation day: warm sun, moderate temperatures, birds chirping, water, clean air, good beach-type book, naps, good food, family laughter, peace.
Favorite travel product: Packing Cubes, Packing Cubes, Packing Cubes!
Heather
2 years at ETBD • Has traveled to England, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, Spain, France, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Netherlands, and Canada.
Perfect vacation day: 1) Visiting my favorite painting at the National Gallery in London, followed by dinner and a Pimm's Cup in a local pub. Or 2) Sitting in a sunny piazza in Tuscany with my husband and mother eating gelato and people watching, followed by a meal of bruschetta and fresh pasta.
Favorite travel product: Velocé Guide Bag
Jennifer
16 years at ETBD • Has traveled to England, Wales, Scotland, Portugal, Spain, France, Monaco, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Austria, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Liechtenstein, Turkey, Greece, Canada, Mexico, and Tahiti & Moorea.
Perfect travel day: sleeping in and going to the local bakery, a walking tour, picking up a picnic lunch at Harrods or Mark & Spencers, shopping at H&M, getting a spa treatment, dinner out without kids, ending the day at the theater going to a musical.
Favorite travel product: Hide Away Tote. It holds so much and keeps my H&M purchases safe. I wouldn't travel without it.
Kevin
First year at ETBD • Has traveled to England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Canada, Mexico, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Australia and Egypt.
Perfect travel day: Being the only tourist who didn't take the 5pm boat back to the mainland from the Aran Islands in Ireland. Leaving me alone to discuss with old Irish fishermen the differences and similarities between fishing in the Straits of Juan de Fuca and the Atlantic Ocean. OR swimming with sharks off the coast of Oahu Hawaii and even touching a 10ft long Galapagos shark.
Favorite travel product: Rick's European Travel Maps
Pat
13 years with ETBD • Has traveled to Ireland, UK, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Portugal, Spain, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Slovakia, Costa Rica, St. Lucia, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Columbia, Mexico, Canada, Australia...and, of course, Omaha.
Perfect travel day: a photo safari hike among the cliff perched ancient monastic ruins of isolated Skellig Michael off the County Kerry coast, followed by an evening of Irish traditional music in the pubs back on shore.
Favorite travel product: This must be the moneybelt because it's the most essential thing we sell to ensure a happy trip...a second choice would be the Europe 101 read-before-you-go book which does such a great job of making European history and art accessable and fun.