Europe Through the Back Door Tour Reports: 2004
Are you an ETBD tour survivor? Report on your experience here! Was your time used wisely? How was your guide? What kind of people were your travel partners? If you've taken several ETBD tours, how did they compare? Please share any favorite hotels, meals, sights, and "magic moments" too!
Please note: This board is for feedback on Rick Steves' guided tours only. If you have questions about our tour program, you can contact our Tour Department by email.
Swan
I've taken several RS tours and have high praise for itineraries, transportation, and leadership. Every trip has had highlights that I would not have experienced or known about on my own. The only negative experiences involved roommates assigned to me. It is not always smooth rooming with a stranger--different sleep habits and social expectations lead the list of problems. On four tours I had seven or eight different roommates. Half were just great; others weren't. I would advise anyone planning a trip with RS to take their own roommate if possible. Free advice:If you don't take your own roommate, plan to be flexible and talk over needs and expectations rather than "suffering in silence."
USA Sun 12/19/2004
Paris and London City Tours
Just got back from the Best of Paris Tour (week-long). Took the Best of London Tour last year. Both were great! All of the guides (main guide plus additional guides)have a wealth of knowledge at hand, both the big historical facts as well as the juicy tidbits you don't usually hear about. They also had an engaging sense of humor, which really put everybody at ease. Good mix of structured tour time as well as free time. I arrived a day early and stayed several days extra to see additional sites. Felt comfortable enough this year to go back to London on my own and felt very comfortable with public transportation, etc. Both times I travelled at the end of November, which wasn't the best for weather, but many sites were practically empty. Places where it was a little crowded, I really can't imagine being there in high season. I hate waiting in long lines, and don't think I had to wait more than 5 minutes, no matter where I was! Got right up close to see the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, etc. I wouldn't hesitate to take another tour.
Sue
Philadelphia, PA USA Fri 12/10/2004
Ireland 082904
Just returned from IRE082904. The time flew by. Darbi was a terrific guide and Dennis was a fantastic driver. I stayed a few extra days at the Albany House Hotel on Harcourt just a couple of blocks from St. Stephen's Green. It is clean, quiet, and the price is excellent for the location. Good breakfast! Individual French Press for coffee! As a single female, I was delighted to find that the other singles on the trip were such nice women! Darbi did an excellent job of sorting out the room allocations. Great travel partners from all over the US!
Laura Scott
Portland, Or USA Sat 09/18/2004
Best of Europe June 2004
We've just returned from the June 8-28 2004 "Best of Europe" tour. We spent 21 days touring Europe with 25 of the best friends we will ever have (and we hadn't any of them previously). The entire tour was a glorious experience made almost effortless by our superb guides, Rick Gorman and his lovely and trusty assistant Daniella! I can remember thinking as we left Venice, halfway through the tour that if we had to fly home at that point, the tour would have been a tremendous value! But wait, there's 6 more cities to come! We felt absolutely safe in the skillfull hands of our bus driver Matteu (of DVD fame!) The food was consistently good and plentiful. After reading other posts on the board I expected the hotels to be "Motel 6" quality or worse. I was pleasantly surprised that every hotel was very nice and each had its own charm. So, now that I'm a fully qualified "Rick Steves Travel Ranger" I am ready for more adventures in Europe "through the back door"!
Karl & Louise Rugaard
Houston, Tx USA Fri 07/09/2004
Rick Steves' The Tour Experience
This is in answer to dozens of questions we have had from friends and people we have come in contact with who have seen "Rick Steves" Europe: The Tour Experiences" DVD.
Yes, we did have as much fun as it shows on the DVD and much more. Our Rick Steves tour was so much more than just fun. It was the experiencing of Europe, its histoy and its people. This was everyting we wanted and more.
Our tour guides Reed and Amy made Europe, its people and its history come alive to us. We enjoyed our tour so much that we are taking a Rick Steves tour to Ireland this year and hope to take a tour every year as long as we are able.
The only regret we have on taking a Rick Steves tour is that we waited so long to do so.
George & Ginger Rademacher
George & Ginger Rademacher
Bellevue, WA USA Sun 04/25/2004