COVID Policies for Tour Members
Our goal is to ensure the health and safety of your group — and provide a successful tour for you and each group member — while acknowledging the world has greatly relaxed previous pandemic requirements.
Rick Steves' Europe Requirements
For 2024 Tours: Covid vaccines NOT required.
For 2023 Tours: Covid Vaccines: Yes!
You and each member of your traveling party will need to be "fully vaccinated" according to the CDC, meaning you have received a single dose (Johnson & Johnson/Bivalent Pfizer-BioNtech) or two-dose series (Moderna/Monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech) of an accepted vaccine at least 14 days prior to your tour start date. (Booster shots are recommended for those that are eligible but not required). You'll need to present proof of vaccination to your guide at the welcome meeting on the first day of your tour in one of the following forms: CDC (or equivalent) vaccination card, photo of the front and back of original card, or photocopy of the front and back of original card.
For 2023 and 2024 Tours:
Face Masks: Optional
Although we've found that face masks help prevent the spread of illness when traveling in a group, wearing a face mask while on tour is optional. However, please know that at any time the situation with Covid may change and your guide may instruct you to wear a mask while on the bus or in other public settings. Please be prepared by packing along your own N95/KN95 masks.
Pre-tour Testing: Not Required
We do not require pre-tour testing. But if you exhibit Covid symptoms while on tour, you'll be required to take a test and present the results to your guide. Please bring a few Covid-19 self-test kits with you (they are readily available at US drug stores but may be hard to find in Europe).
Policy If You Test Positive While on Tour
If you test positive while on tour you’re obligated to follow local protocol for quarantining. In addition to any local requirements, RSE's policy requires Covid positive tour members to leave and not rejoin the tour; cease in-person contact with other tour members, including travel partners who are remaining on the tour; and avoid public areas of the hotel when the tour group is present. RSE will provide a $200-per-day refund for you (and your travel partner if you choose to quarantine together) for the number of days missed due to Covid. Please carefully review our Tour Member Expectations and read about our Tour Interruption Resources before joining your tour.
On Call Assistance Services and Rick Steves' Europe will provide support with managing quarantine requirements, but you're responsible for the associated costs. Many travel insurance policies cover the additional expenses for accommodations, travel change fees, food, etc.
Policy updates?
We'll be reviewing these standard requirements on a regular basis and if we need to make changes, we'll do our best to notify you prior to your tour start date. There's a chance we may need to make changes during your tour as well. Most of all, while on tour you'll need to be flexible — and remember as like the rest of life — travel is subject to change.
Country Requirements
- Europe entry requirements: You're responsible for knowing and following all COVID-related requirements for the countries where you'll be traveling. The best resource for this is the US Embassy for the countries you'll be visiting.