Hi from Rick: Hot Fun in the Summertime
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| Summertime brings out Europe's true character(s). |
Dear Traveler,
I am in the last throes of normalcy here as I prepare to fly to Europe next week for several months of travel. In addition to my annual TV and guidebook work, this year I'll be hopping on a Rick Steves tour — Athens and the Heart of Greece — with my wife, Anne (within a few days of signing up, I got a friendly confirmation letter...from me!)
That there were seats still open on this tour reveals an important myth about our tour company — that all of our tours sell out well in advance. True, the most popular May and September departures go to the swiftest, but we always have lots of summer seats open, even as late as April. So it's not too late to hook up with us for a great getaway to Europe this summer.
While I preach in my travel classes that spring and fall are best for avoiding crowds, that really doesn't apply to our tours, since we carefully schedule and reserve everything to bypass the tourist lines and maximize your travel thrills per day. In addition, our buses and hotels in Europe have lots more air-conditioning today, so you needn't wilt in the heat. For me the advantages of summer travel — bright sunny days, long balmy evenings, dining al fresco, lively streets, sights with their most entertaining schedules of the year (and the chance to turn teens on to Europe's wonders during summer break) — all make the extra heat well worth the sweat.
As I look forward to my 30th summer in Europe, I'll be leaving my heavy coat at home, tossing in sunscreen, and toting a new camera — expecting to capture the fun and magic of Europe at its lively best. I'm also looking forward to crossing paths with our tour groups a couple of times each week. For a taste of hot fun in the summertime, check out our April Tour News. I hope to bump into you over there.
Happy travels,
Rick