Hi from Rick: Holiday Thrills in London
 |
| The Royal Albert Hall lights up winter travel with affordable magic moments. |
Dear traveler,
A couple of weeks ago, a shiny new copy of my "Rick Steves' London 2007" guidebook was overnighted to me direct from the printer, and I had the joy of flying over the next day to give it a spin.
Wow, I love London. Sure, it's expensive this year, but that's where creative budget solutions make magic travel memories possible. Rather than curse my weak dollar and go window-shopping in the rain, I got a standing-room ticket for the Royal Albert Hall's sold-out "Christmas Classics" concert. Imagine a tuxedoed conductor organizing 5,500 audience members into a dozen different zones, teaching them fun motions (mine was lords-a-leaping) — then having us all sing and act out The Twelve Days of Christmas, accompanied by the classy London Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir and the brassy Trumpeters of the Welsh Guards. The finale: a thunderous round of Hark the Herald Angels Sing with a pull-out-all-the-stops pipe organ I could feel in my gut. The cost: $20 for an evening I'll never forget.
If your calendar has an opening for Europe in 2007 and your gut says GO! – we're here with up-to-date news on the best destinations and clever tips to help you distill the most fun out of every precious travel dollar. In this month's Travel News, we'll get you started with articles on Britain's Blackpool, Italy's Dolomites, Paris' Arc de Triomphe, the latest news headlines from Europe, and more. And if you're toying with a family trip, check out our just-announced Family Paris, Loire and Normandy Tour, discounted for kids 8-17.
Happy 2007! May your New Year be classy, brassy, and with all the stops pulled out.
Rick