Hi from Rick: Announcing our 2006 Tours
Dear Traveler,
I’m writing to you from my hotel in Paris — just a block from the Place des Vosges. Created as a 17th-century getaway for perfumed-hanky aristocrats, today this little urban oasis is the haunt of baguette-munching artists and street musicians.
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| Rick Steves and French tour guide Sabine Leteinturier look forward to another vintage year of touring in 2006! |
My wife, Anne, daughter Jackie and I just had dinner at a little four-table place run by Agnès, who wears her chef’s hat like a crown and feeds us like we’re the royalty. As I watched her playfully teach Jackie how to pull an escargot out of its shell, I thought, "Here’s a fulfilled woman who’s really found her calling in life — 'full-filling' travelers with great food.”
Halfway through our meal, a couple from Texas popped in the door. They’d eaten here last night and were already hooked. I had a hunch Agnès would be a good match for readers of my guidebooks, and this proved it. It’s Europeans like Agnès who my guides and I work to connect with our travelers. And our European friends are eager to connect with you — in thousands of ways for 2006.
Speaking of which…I'm happy to announce our 2006 tours. Our itineraries are ready to breathe extra life into your travel dreams. As we do every year, we've completely taken apart and reassembled every one of our 25 itineraries (and 250 departures) to make sure that it is truly the best it can be. We've made hundreds of little improvements.and even invented some new tours along the way.
Our two newest tour additions are the Best of Scotland in 11 Days, and the Best of Family Europe in 14 Days. We are especially excited about the family tour, which follows our classic Best of Europe route through Italy, Austria, Germany, Switzerland and France. Kids as young as eight are welcome on this tour — and get a $300 discount. This is an ideal chance for families (including grandparents and single parents) to sidestep the logistical headaches of family travel, and focus on Europe's amazing opportunities for learning and fun. Just last week, my daughter Jackie and I dropped in on a Best of Europe tour group's festive final dinner together. This group happened to include ten teenagers (!), and I'm convinced that's a big reason why it was such a happy gang. Sitting at the "teen table", Jackie was immediately among friends, sharing on-the-road lessons and adventures. Anne and I know from personal experience that a tour that attracts families is lots of fun.and not just for the kids.
We expect our 2006 dates to fill fast, so you may want to take advantage of the special early-booking benefits that come with sending in your deposit soon:
- Your seat(s) will be reserved immediately
- Your 2006 price will be locked-in and guaranteed
- With your deposit confirmation, you'll get a code good for 15% off in our online Travel Store
- If you change your mind for any reason, you can get your entire deposit refunded up until December 31, 2005
And if you just can’t wait until 2006, we still have a few openings left on some great tours this coming fall.
If you’d been here tonight, as Agnès brought out the escargot, the duck, the fancy cheese, the sorbet, and pictures of her wedding back when her mom and dad ran this wonderful little restaurant…you’d already be planning your return.
I hope you can join us in 2006.
Happy touring!
Rick Steves