Best of Europe Tour Magic Moments
Real Experiences From Our Tour Members
Our goal as tour organizers: to pack your trip with "magic moments." Here are just a few of the many magic moments our gangs experienced on a Rick Steves' Best of Europe tour recently. For the inside scoop on all of our tours, check out our uncensored tour member feedback page.
This trip was a 30th wedding anniversary gift to ourselves. In Venice, our guide arranged for a nighttime gondola cruise with musicians which we shared with a newly wed couple. In such a perfect, romantic setting we felt like newlyweds ourselves! Later we shared an after dinner coffee and brandy in St. Marks Square, listening to the competing chamber orchestras under a canopy of stars and the full moon. It doesn't get any better than that, for sure! One other thing I would like to mention: the orientation walk of Bacharach with Herr Young was a highlight. He is such a charming, caring man! He was just wonderful!
— Richard in Johnstown, OH
Europe, Oct 3, 2003
Our best moment was an impromptu picnic lunch in Wengen, Switzerland. We ate on a bench outside a little church which overlooked the most breathtaking view of the alps and the entire valley below. It was a beautiful warm, sunny day, and one I will never forget. As a group moment, I thought the wine tasting in Beaune, France was a great experience. It was fun, informative, and delicious — truly memorable. Francesca, the local guide we had in Rome, was also an unexpectedly wonderful experience. She was so informative, and had such a warm, enthusiastic personality. She truly made you love Rome, and want to come back again.
— Sharon in Brewster, MA
Europe, Sep 25, 2003
My wife singing "Come Back to Sorrento", in Italian, to the accompaniment of the hired accordionist during our gondola ride in Venice.
— Ted in Burlington, WA
Europe, Sep 6, 2003
My favorite time on this trip was meeting Analeise Freise in Rothenburg and having her show me all her Rick Steves pictures and letters. She feels special because he has written and kept in contact with her all these years. The other great memory was in Bacharach and Herr Jung's walking tour of the town. He is such a wonderful man and he takes us all along with him on his life's journeys through his personal experiences. Kurt's Tiki Disco Bar was a trip and a half. All the art and sculptures all over Europe were jaw droppers. I loved it all.
— Sandra in Hilton, NY
Europe, Sep 2, 2003
The whole entire trip was filled with "wow" moments. Our tour group just fit together like a glove from our two wonderful guides Rick and Rainer to our fabulous Bus Driver Mark who made the trip very smooth. Some of my fondest memories were the Tiki Party, Vernazza and the Sciacatra dessert wine fiasco, the tacky souvenir contest, the gondola ride in Venice, and going to Chartres!
— Cari in Collierville, TN
Europe, Sep 2, 2003
I would have to say that my favorite moment on the trip would be the last dinner because it showed how we all became a big family and not just a tour group.
— Rachel in Carlsbad, CA
Europe, Sep 2, 2003
How much time do you have? For Rick it was being alone in Orvieto, away from the hustle and bustle. For Karin it was sitting alone in the cemetery above Vernazza, looking out at the view and thinking of her father, who had died 3 years earlier on that day. For both, the Alps in general stand out as knocking the breath out of us.
— Rick and Karin in Santa Ynez, CA
Europe, Sep 1, 2003
The assistant guide, Chadd Bennett, suggested a side trip to Siena for those interested to go. When we got there, we climbed to the top of the tower underneath the bell in the fan-shaped town "square", and looked out on the glorious, golden hills — the best experience over all. And the air in Siena is much nicer than in moped-overun Florence.
Europe, Jul 15, 2003
There are so many, but if I have to choose, I would definitely say that sitting on the Champ de Mars on the last night of our tour was the ultimate "wow" moment. The fact that we had come so far, learned so much, seen so many things, and met so many wonderful people in such a short span of time was suddenly overwhelming at that moment. No longer were the places on our itinerary names of cities, they were vivid memories with distinct characteristics that will be forever ingrained in my mind. I loved that the Eiffel Tower was sparkling in the background, our trip had come to a close and it was just as fabulous as we could have imagined, and 28 of my new friends were talking and laughing about what a fun and memorable experience this trip had been. As magical as it was to explore Venice, stroll through ancient ruins, drink wine in the French countryside, and to stand before the Mona Lisa, I'm not sure anything can compare to the culmination of all of these experiences and the ultimate impact each had on me.
— Ellen in Durham, NC
Europe, Jul 15, 2003
For all the details, check out Rick's Best of Europe tour!