February News from Rick: That First-Time Thrill
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| Your first morning in Europe is like a kid's first recess...in the best playground ever. |
Dear Traveler,
Nothing beats the sensory delights — the new sights, sounds and smells — of the first morning of your first trip to Europe.
For decades as a tour guide I met our groups in Holland. Most of them were experiencing their first taste of Europe. I can vividly remember how Haarlem's Market Square welcomed these wide-eyed travelers with a festival of flowers, bright bolts of cloth, evangelical cheese pushers, and warm, gooey "stroopwafels." The carillon bells clanged with an out-of-tune sweetness only a medieval church clock tower can possess. Savoring the merry dissonance, we wandered deeper into the market. We bought a herring sandwich piled high with eye-watering onions, contributing to the amazing ambience of the scene. Here we were, dodging flower-laden one-speed bikes, Americans suddenly immersed in Holland — with raw herring breath. Talk about an unforgettable first taste of Europe...
In this month's Travel News we'll focus on destinations and deals with the first-time traveler in mind (herring optional):
- Never been out? Sign up for any of our 2011 tours and we'll pay the $135 cost of your first-ever U.S. passport.
- Not the tour type? Save $1,000 and enjoy the freedom to design your own sightseeing with our new My Way: Europe in 14 Days "un-guided" tour.
- Want to save more? A Eurail Pass can give you the smoothest, cheapest way to cover Europe. Buy your pass from us, and we'll toss in free shipping with no minimum.
- Studying abroad? My son, Andy, is putting together weekend adventures for students who want to get a taste of Europe beyond their host city.
- Want to join the party? There's no friendlier place to meet happy travelers than a beerhall in Munich. Read all about it — and watch my oompah-charged video clip.
You'll find all this — plus advice from readers about traveling in Italy — in this month's Travel News.
Whether you're planning your first trip, or your twentieth, I hope you can join us.
Happy Travels,
Rick