Plan Your Trip with our Expert Consultants!
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| Our consultants make your trip-planning a breeze! |
Planning your dream trip should be enjoyable. If the complexities of railpass features, sightseeing priorities, or even packing are stressing you out, we can help.
We've been to Europe — many times. If you have lots of questions and/or a complex trip to plan, or if you're a first-time traveler and are not sure where to begin planning, consider a personalized in-depth trip consultation with one of our experienced advisors. Our team has helped thousands of travelers put together great itineraries tailored to their special interests, budgets, and time constraints.
You can arrange a consultation in person at our European Travel Center in Edmonds, Washington, or by phone. The in-person cost is $50 per half hour (which is enough time for most trips), or $75 for a half hour consultation by phone (which also covers extra time the consultant spends before your call, looking over your itinerary). Appointments exceeding 30 minutes will be charged $25 for each additional 15 minutes.
Rick Steves' Tour Members get 50% off trip consulting. If you have signed up for one of Rick Steves' European Tours, your tour benefits include 50% off the standard rates (as shown above) for one in-person or phone consulting appointment associated with your travel plans for right before and/or after your tour. Our travel experts are a great resource for assisting you with your pre- or post-tour travel plans.
To schedule a consultation, call our Travel Center at 425/771-8303 ext. 298. We'd love to do a little travel dreaming with you!
All consultations require appointments in advance. During the busy travel planning seasons our consultants can be heavily booked. Try to make your appointment a week in advance to secure a date and time that fit your schedule.
Meet our Consultants
Lisa Friend
13 years with Rick Steves
Traveled to Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Scotland, Sicily, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Wales plus Aruba, The Bahamas, Canada, The Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Dutch Antilles, Jamaica, Mexico, and Panama.
My perfect travel day: That would be waking up in London, eating a lovely English Breakfast, browsing through the Spitalfields Market looking for art and offbeat crafts and chatting up all the stallholders, going on a walking tour through one of London's great neighborhoods, taking a black taxi to St. Pancras Station and traveling on the Eurostar train through the Chunnel to Paris while taking a highspeed nap. In Paris, I love going to the Orsay Museum with its Impressionist paintings, then sitting down to a nice dinner topped off by a late night cruise on the Seine River holding hands with my husband.
Favorite travel product: Toiletries Kit in bright Red. I have a place for everything in it and have given one to everyone in my family. Runner up: Quick Fresh spray for stinky shoes, etc.
A customer raves about Lisa: "Lisa saved me hours of reading and guessing and not being sure. Totally worth it, very efficient and FUN!"
Rich Earl
7 years with Rick Steves
Traveled to Austria, Belgium, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey plus Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru and Uruguay.
My perfect travel day: After a leisurely morning sipping cappuccinos at the harbor in Vernazza, hiking up to Monterosso and spending the day at the beach, swimming, relaxing and drinking limonatas. Take the train back to Vernazza in the afternoon for dinner of pesto lasagna at Il Castello, then wandering the winding streets of Vernazza with a gelato di caffe and people watching.
Favorite travel product: Hide-Away-Tote Bag. I use it for laundry, shopping and pack it with dirty clothes at the end of my trip as another piece of checked baggage.
A customer raves about Rich: "Rich was FANTASTIC! He was VERY helpful and was able to answer all my questions. I KNOW that he will improve my trip tenfold!"
Pat O'Connor
15 years with Rick Steves
Traveled to Ireland, UK, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Portugal, Spain, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Costa Rica, St. Lucia, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Columbia, Mexico, Canada, Alaska and Australia.
My perfect travel day: An Irish photo-safari hike with puffin-spotting stops among the cliff-perched ancient monastic ruins of isolated Skellig Michael off the County Kerry coast. Follow that with a scenic, late afternoon drive to Dingle town for a hearty fresh fish dinner in a friendly restaurant. Then cap that off with an evening of Irish traditional music, cold pints and playful conversation in a local pub.
Favorite travel product: It has to be the Moneybelt because it's the most essential thing we sell to ensure a happy trip. A second choice would be Rick's "Europe 101" read-before-you-go book, which does such a great job of making European history and art accessible and fun.
Mary Carlson
21 years with Rick Steves
Traveled to Austria, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech and Slovak Republics, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey plus Canada, Colombia, New Zealand and Hong Kong.
My perfect travel day: For me, that would include one or more of the following… Italian coffee, freshly made crêpes, a walking tour with a good local guide, hiking in the French, Swiss or Italian Alps (or a hike + swim at the calanques of Cassis), an aperitif at an outdoor café, chatting with locals over dinner at a restaurant with long communal tables, and an evening "Velib" bike ride along the Seine.
Favorite travel product: Veloce Guide Bag for iPad and Packing Cubes.
Cynthia Ballard
5 years with Rick Steves
Traveled to Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Netherlands, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal and Turkey, plus Bahamas, Barbados, Canada, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Jamaica, Korea, Mexico and Virgin Islands.
My perfect travel day: A sunny morning in Kardamyli, Greece, I am sipping coffee and dining on Greek yogurt and fresh fruit from the tree. I head down to the beach after breakfast for a refreshing dip in the warm sea. I then pack my day bag with lunch delights and head for a hike on the Mani Peninsula, exploring little villages along the way. My evening is capped off sipping a glass of wine while watching the sunset followed by an enjoyable seaside dinner under the stars at Lela's Taverna.
Favorite travel product: Packing Cubes. They keep all my clothes organized and I can get re-packed in 5 minutes!
Paul Orcutt — Currently out of the office on a personal leave of absence
15 years with Rick Steves
Traveled to Russia, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Greece, Turkey, Spain, Portugal, Liechtenstein, Hungary and probably a couple more that I can't remember. Outside of Europe my travels have been limited to Canada, Mexico, British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and the Asian portions of the former Soviet Union and Turkey.
My perfect travel day: While I have enjoyed many perfect days, I would have to say that I never tire of being in the hilltowns of Provence or Umbria. After beginning with a good breakfast, the balance of the day would certainly include visiting a local market in the morning, a slow paced, leisurely lunch with some local wine followed up with visits to a couple really cool nearby villages or major sites. Then, I'd head back to a comfortable hotel before a relaxed evening meal trying some of the local food items and wines.
Favorite travel product: Civita Day Pack and our city guidebooks.
A customer raves about Paul: "Especially for first-time Europe travelers, it's comforting to have someone like Paul, with extensive knowledge, help plan your itinerary — and make sure what you are thinking is doable!"