Comparing Tours
By Rick Steves
When you're selecting a tour, the cost you're quoted isn't the only factor to consider. Investigate how many people you'll be traveling with as well as what extras you'll be expected to cover. Most tour companies include customer feedback on their websites — look around and see what previous tour members have to say.
Here is a summary of information we gathered from the websites of eight popular European tour companies (Abercrombie & Kent, Cosmos, Globus, Insight, Maupintour, Perillo, Tauck, and Trafalgar). All are advertised as fully-guided. Prices per day do not include airfare.
| Higher-end Tours | Rick Steves' Tours | Lower-end Tours | |
| Price per day | $350–915 | $200–300 | $120–285 |
| Group Size (max) | 20–40 | 20–28 | 40–50 |
| Meals | 50–75% included | 50% included | 35–50% included |
| Sightseeing | All included | All included | Most cost extra |
| Tips | All except guide | All included | None included |
Updated for 2012. For lots more tips, check out our best-selling Europe Through the Back Door travel skills guidebook. Learn more about Rick Steves Europe Tours.