Family Europe: London to Florence in 13 Days Tour

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was special from the start because we got to be part of the memories made by all the families and generations on the tour. Traveling with grandparents, parents and kids was the richest experience we have had on 11 tours, and Lisa had the amazing talent to make it outstanding for all of us!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Singing Edelweiss as a group in Switzerland with the two gentleman who came to share music with us. It was after dinner, and we were in the beautiful front yard of our hotel. All the kids were sitting together… and I don’t think this Grandma has ever been happier!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great cross section of Europe with a perfect simplified history of each country that we went to.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Staying in the rural countryside by Burgundy after having been in the bustling and crowded cities of London and Paris."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great family itinerary, kid friendly activities, patient guides!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Switzerland landscape"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My family and I had a wonderful experience. I couldn’t imagine having better tour guides. Skylah and Jana were both outstanding. Our bus driver, Richard, was also amazing!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The boat ride in the cinque terra was the “wow” moment for me."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had high expectations and this tour exceeded them! We had so much fun and all the details were taken care of. Skyla, was an absolutely extraordinary guide and Yana was also wonderful! I was worried about the bus riding. But Richard and his bus were simply terrific. So clean and comfortable and the scenery and the entertaining company made the time go so quick. All the tours of the city and the museums were wonderful too. All together a terrific experience!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably dancing with my husband to an accordion in the lobby of an old hotel in Switzerland!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

overall the tour exceeded my expectations and i thought it was a good amount of time in each pace to see the highlights of each city.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"i think seeing the Eiffel tower for the first time was amazing and the tour guide did a great job of explaining it and its history."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Nice mix of planned activities versus free time. Great advice on how best to use free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beautiful mountains in Switzerland and the gorgeous colors of the Cinque Terre"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It’s hard to put in to words our time on the Family Tour of Europe. We booked it after a recommendation from a family friend who enjoyed the tour a decade ago and had nothing but rave reviews, and we couldn’t agree more! Being a family of introverts, taking a group tour was definitely out of our comfort zone, but beyond happy we did. Everything was perfectly organized, every moment together was so thoughtfully planned and really helped to make us feel at ease. Thank you Skyla, Jana and Richard!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It’s so hard to pick just one “wow” moment, but walking amongst the mist in the Swiss Alps was simply magical. The cow bells, the friendly people, the pristine water flowing out of front yard troughs was unlike anything I’ve experienced before. It’s a place in this world I absolutely plan to return to! Our family also really enjoyed the group experience at the French Chateau, and who doesn’t love the Cinque Terre!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I loved the tour. I had very high expectations and this tour surpassed all of them. Our tour guide Skyla was very knowledgeable and helpful through our the whole tour. I was thankful for all the fun breaks and activities strategically placed through out the tour to entertain the children and the adults. I was also thankful for free time at each stop. Sometimes we truly just rested and other times we just checked out the area at our pace or shopped. It was nice to have time to do wanted.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite experience while on this vacation was actually during our free day in Levanto. I enjoyed two things that we did that day. During the day we took a boat tour of the Cinque Terre and the guide discussed how and when each town was created. They also gave us time to swim/snorkel in the water. They served charcuterie and drinks. This was so relaxing and beautiful. .That evening after a pizza dinner we went to the free beach and collected sea glass and watched the sunset on the sea. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great trip and Skyla was amazing!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Paris and Levanto"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Perfect tour! It was just the vacation we were looking for - the perfect mix of guided tour and free time

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite was probably the Cinque Terra. But I really loved it all!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everywhere we went to had very fun food and places to go and our guides made everything as amazing as possible. I got the chance to meet every person in our tour group and everybody was nice and it made the trip even more awesome!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite part of the tour was Swizerland because the mountains were stunning. I wanted to move there because of how beautiful it was and I definitely want to go back."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was amazing

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Duomo in Italy. The alps in Switzerland"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We loved every minute of it

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Switzerland "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

organized, informative, great relationships

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Paris "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour more than fulfilled all of my expectations! The itinerary was wonderful; it allowed us to see so many amazing sights within a relatively short period of time without ever feeling rushed. The guides were fabulous! I was travelling with an 18 year old granddaughter and I feared the Family Tour would have mostly very young children, but it had a wonderful mix of ages. The most special thing for me about the tour was how well the group coalesced; everyone got along amazingly wel!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite "wow" moment was at the country hotel in St. Fargeau. I had seen most of the other sights before so they didn't wow me on this trip. Everything at the Hôtel les Grand Chênes was wonderful--the room, the food, the beautiful surroundings, the fun medieval dinner, and especially how it gave the young people a chance to bond. It was a well-timed, peaceful break after London and Paris."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guides, Skyla and Luis, were outstanding! They did an excellent job building rapport and keeping the group on schedule.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Specifically in St. Fargeau, Burgandy, France: it was amazing being the only tour group around in the French marketplace and in the mall. We felt so immersed in the French culture with the language, people, and foods surrounding us. It was very memorable! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Transitions from hotels to restaurants, museums and activities were very smooth. Lots of free time and good suggestions of what to do and how to get there from our excellent and friendly guide Skyla.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the hiking and gondola rides in the Swiss Alps. My granddaughter would probably say the pasta making in Florence and the friendships she made with fellow travelers her age."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our overall tour experience was amazing. We were able to see so many things at each place on the tour. The days were planned out perfectly with group time for sightseeing and experiences and the time on our own was great too. It was a good balance.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Swiss Alps were our favorite “wow” moment. The beauty of the area was breathtaking. Our guide suggested a 3 mile hike through the valley and it was our favorite part of the trip. We will be going back."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Skyla our tour guide was exceptional and one of the best tour leaders my wife & I have ever had. She was optimistic, knowledgeable, informative and provided just the right amount and type of information needed for the group to get the most out of our travels. She has a pleasant speaking voice, is understanding, considerate and had an upbeat manner which put tour members in a cheerful mood. Our fine Belgian bus driver, Erik spoke English, was friendly and became like a fellow tour member.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hiking in spectacular Lauterbrunnen Valley surrounded by snowcapped mountains, green alpine meadows and towering waterfalls. At night viewing the illuminated Eiffel Tower adorned with Olympic rings. Visiting/experiencing Windsor Castle, Tower of London, London's Natural History Museum, Victoria & Albert Museum, Louvre Museum, Cinque Terre, Florence's Pitti Palace/Gardens, Adam's bus & walking tour of London, lively/older 2nd guide led tour of Florence, some joint dinners were excellent . "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was wonderful! Skyla and Luis were excellent tour guides. We wanted a tour where our 14 year old would meet other kids and bond and this tour delivered. It was a great sampling of what Europe has to offer.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The medieval dinner at the chateau in Burgundy turned out to be so much fun. Our tour guide, Skyla, was the official hair braider. Seeing everyone dressed up was a hoot and the meal was fantastic. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Wonderful group of fellow travelers.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beauty of Switzerland when the sun came and the sky was clear. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our Guide (Jody) and Guide assistant (Richard) were a phenomenal pair! They really made this trip extra special in their experience, knowledge, guidance and advise and also orchestrating the group to come together very nicely.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Switzerland was never on my radar or bucket list. But after arriving there and being in such jaw dropping natural beauty I must go back for a longer vacation there in the future. The mountains were gorgeous! Also, while we were in Florence my 98 yo grandmother passed away. I heard the news during our art class. The art instructor whisked me and my daughter into her studio and created a flash art masterpiece dedicated to my grandma. She was so sincere and compassionate; it meant the world to us!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The family tour was exceptional. Our guides were fantastic at their jobs and facilitating the group. The kids bonded with other kids in the group almost immediately.

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This particular tour is a taste test of a wide section of Europe. We were able to live as temporary locals in both fast paced high energy cities like Florence while also unwinding into the backdrop of the beautiful Swiss alps. This tour was exceptional for the tour members who ranged in age from 9 to 70. This was a great experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sitting outside our hotel late a night sipping lemoncello while listening to our guide serenade us with Italian songs played masterfully on his guitar. The scene was so special that a crowd of local Italians stopped and joined in on the party. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall great experience. Tour group was friendly and nice, guides were great, bus was comfy, most destinations were exciting and fun. Very few problems or issues.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Top of the Eiffel tower was pretty amazing."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The kids had new experiences - making pasta from scratch, painting by scratching into the paint, and carving a brick. There were opportunities for kids of all ages to learn and the adults had fun too.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The day at Guedelon was fascinating, but the "dress-up" afterward was such a FUN surprise."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was really fun and I learned a lot of interesting facts.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"seeing the crown jewels was really amazing."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We loved this trip. We wanted to introduce our grandchildren to some places in Europe and this was a great selection of cities and experiences.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I enjoyed the tour of Guedelon. It is fascinating that they are building this 13th century castle the way it was truly built at that time. Passionate guide and thought it was a very unique thing to experience."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour did not disappoint, starting with our guides Saso & Togay, the places we visited & experiences we shared. We also had a wonderful group of tour members starting with an 8 year old up to grandparents. Getting to share this experience with my grandchildren & seeing their excitement with each new experience was really special. I am so happy that Rick Steves offers a tour that is geared for families, the experience was thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Their were many wow moments, but my favorite was seeing Guedelon Castle. My oldest granddaughter & I saw it 16 years ago in its early stages of construction so seeing how the construction has progressed was really interesting. What a great history lesson, getting so see first hand the tools & methods that were used for building in the 1200’s."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our little band of travelers had a merry time on our journey across Europe. The experience was heightened by the variety of participants from across America who really bonded. The kids were fantastic and easily melded into a cohesive group. They enjoyed each other and the experiences e all enjoyed.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many and it’s hard to choose a favorite. I loved Florence, and our grandson was wowed by the close up and personal exposure to classical art and the creative genius of so many Renaissance masters. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Amazing! So well organized, interesting, great itinerary and amazing tour leader. The tour took ALL the stress of planning away so my daughter and I were able to enjoy all our experiences. Plus we loved the mix of organized guiding and the free time at each location.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Levanto was WOW! Swimming in the Mediterranean with my daughter, then exploring the town on our own including renting bikes over to the the next tiny village."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a wonderful time. Great mix of tours and free time. Very informative and engaging guide!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beauty of Switzerland."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a wonderful time. We were a family of 10, with lots of needs. Skyla was a fabulous guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"For me, seeing all 10 of our family having a wonderful time despite the range of ages and interests."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Extremely well organized and operated. Could not have been better.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The overall scenery of the Lauterbrunnen valley"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Efficiently saw London, Paris and Florence. Sampled Burgundy and Switzerland and the Italian Riviera. Traveled by bus "feeling" the geography.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the ancient navigation tools at the Galileo Museum in Florence. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We enjoyed seeing wonderful Europe! We felt like we could get a good sample of the folks that live there and have lived there.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I have wanted to see Switzerland since I was young. So hearing the Swiss cow bells, seeing the amazing mountains and enjoying tasty fondue- well, kinda gets me emotional. Thanks so much for our wonderful guides and all the great experiences! Mary Kay "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Skyla Sorenson, was wonderful. She was able to communicate with the adults as well as the children. She had or was willing to find answers to all of our quetions. She had great suggestions for things to do during our free time. The itineray, hotels, meals, transportation, and guides were wonderful (with some suggetions I will highlight later). In essence, I would say the trip was outstanding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wife and I have already visied all of the sights through previous Rick Steves Tours. As always my WOW moment is turning the cormer in the Accademia Museum and seeing David. I actually had another motive for this tour. I was bringing my children and grandchildren for their first experience in Europe. I wanted to plant the seed for further interest and exploration. My real WOW moment on this trip was my famiy members talking about all they had seen and wanting "more"."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first trip overseas. The tour was an exceptional introduction to travel abroad and to each of the cities we visited. I would highly recommend the tour experience to any traveler, as it greatly enhanced our experience in each country to have a guide provide us with some of the history and highlights of each and their cultures.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's hard to pick just one! The first view of the Eiffel tower was one, the view from our balcony at Hotel Falcon was another, the sites in London that we've seen on TV a hundred times over was another, and watching the kids meld and make friendships at Hotel les Grand Chenes was a real highlight, too! I was also amazed at how quickly the bus rides passed, largely due to our guides' informative talks about what where we were headed. Lots of WOW moments strung together for nearly two weeks. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Guides were exemplary. Hotels were average to good, but acceptable for the trip. The food was good to very good (particularly in Paris, Burgundy and Levantine). Activities, history and culture differences were excellent for all including those in their early teens. The group meshed very well. Dreary cold weather broke as we entered Switzerland and the clear crisp vistas were “Wow” moments.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"See above. We also loved watching our grands become more confident, self sufficient, independent and more inquisitive as the trip progressed."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A trip to Europe and particularly France has always been my wife's dream. I reluctantly went along and by the end of the tour was wanting it to last longer. The food and sights were outstanding and the other people on our tour became like family. We both came back wanting to do another tour in the future.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"London and France were rainy and when we got to Switzerland it was a cloudy day. When we got up the next morning it was crystal clear and the view of the alps outside of our hotel window was stunning. We went hiking that day and the flowers and mountain peaks and the waterfalls in the valley were amazing. Just the perfect day. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was a wonderful tour. Being able to see as much as we did both with the group and on our own was amazing.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Being able to use the French language I learned 40 years ago in high school with people in Paris and the French country side."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This tour was a great way to introduce young potential travelers to Europe. It moved along smoothly thanks to our wonderful tour leader Tina and her assistant Katja. What makes a tour go from good to great in my opinion is the leader. And we had one of the best.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wow moments would have to be getting to experience this whole trip with my teen granddaughter. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was good except the travel days were a bit long.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the young kids get to know each other."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour did a really nice job accommodating my food allergies, which was one of my big concerns before we left home. I liked the format of the tour and saw a lot of places I'd only heard about.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The view in Wengen from our hotel (Falken)."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary by taking 14 members of our family to Europe. We had visited most of the locations on the family tour before but wanted to enjoy it through our grandchildren s eyes. it did not disappoint.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The definite wow moment was going to the top of the Eiffel Tower at 9:00 at night with the lights and sparkles. We also enjoyed our time in Burgandy with the wonderful hospitality, castles and markets."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Both our tour guides were outstanding. The meals were all good, but our the one in Levanto was above and beyond and the service there was over the top. The service at the hotel was also top notch. The other hotel and meal that was amazing was the Chateau and meal in Burgundy. Everything was amazing there and the owners made us feel right at home. The cooking class and art class in Florence were also wonderful!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The tour guides and how well they took care of our family and became one of us. Also the chateau in Burgundy, the views in Levanto and Switzerland, and the cooking class in Italy. Just riding through the alps out of Switzerland and into Italy. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first Rick Steves tour and we’d definitely do one again. We chose the Europe Family tour for the itinerary, even though it was just my husband and I joining, and we’re in our 60’s. We really enjoyed the family dynamics of the rest of the group. With kids along, the activities were engaging for all ages and the younger kids (11-12 yrs old) had great / fun questions.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Switzerland was absolutely beautiful. The weather was rainy and cold but couldn’t dampen the breathtaking waterfalls and mountains."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was Perfectly curated tour - excellent for families with young teen children!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Switzerland and the Alps"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was absolutely incredible. It was a perfect balance of guided sight seeing and individual time, with pre-arranged transportation, comfortable hotels, and fantastic meals that included wine and drinks for the kids. Our guide was a gem and made the trip truly special. The kids created special friendships, allowing the adults the freedom to enjoy another glass of wine or tea. The tour itself is everything you’d expect from Rick Steves - perfecto!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many “wow” moments that it’s difficult to pick just one. While visiting the Cinque Terre, we joined another family from our tour and followed a Rick Steves recommendation from his guidebook - we hired a captain and toured the region by boat. Stefano, our Captain, provided us with a wealth of history about the region, stopping at special places along the beach to tell us unique stories and allowing the kids to jump off the boat for a swim. It was magical!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I had a very good time. this was my first rick steves tour. Both of the tour guides were very nice and funny

Favorite "WOW" moment

"the limerick contest."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic group and world class guides. Great activities for the whole family and delicious food. Highly recommend!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the beauty of Switzerland first hand. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a great mix of guided and free choice. I learned many things that I did not even know I did not know!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hearing the "sound check" at Pisa."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Jody and Alfio were excellent tour guides, very knowledgeable and the entire tour was well planned out. John the bus driver was very professional and friendly. The views from our hotels were spectacular and the accommodations were unique and charming. Breakfasts at the hotels were plentiful. Dinner choices were excellent and allowed us to taste new things.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Eiffel tower lit up and sparkling was one. Another that surprised us was the Pisa tower, size and the tilt was more than expected. Bob really enjoyed the architecture of the old cities."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The group and tour guides were excellent, and I enjoyed the special access that Rick Steves Travel had for some places, especially St. Fargeau.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Loved the views in Switzerland! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We were on the Family Europe tour and really enjoyed every stop in London, Paris, Burgandy, Switzerland, Cinque Terre and Florence.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The drive leaving Burgandy to Switzerland was a true highlight. I enjoyed the scenic drives between the stops much more than I anticipated!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

it was fun at the end of the tour we were all freinds i really loved it

Favorite "WOW" moment

"my wow moment was when we were in the catacombs, it was super fun"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We saw amazing places, learned about the cultures, met some very lovely people. My daughters are still in contact with some of the friends she made on the trip

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beauty of thr Swiss Alps was my natural “wow” moment. I also really loved all the extra hands-on experiences that we got from Rick Steves like the cooking class, the flash art, and dressing up in medieval costumes for dinner."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was fantastic, I loved the tour guide knowledge. She was very insightful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to pinpoint a single moment. Florence was my favorite city, the Alps the best hike. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our family (ranging in age from 12 to 82) loved the experience!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many. One would be the Guedelon Castle - what a great opportunity to see the building techniques of medieval times!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I cannot say enough good things about our family tour. Every detail was perfectly curated with just enough group activities and time for n our own. Our guides Skyla and Claire were so professional, calm and full of information and tips. We felt like one big family on vacation together!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"This is hard because there were so many wow moments. Probably the Cinque Terre was so beautiful and our drive from Switzerland was breath taking. We felt so welcomed at the hotel and in Italy. We adored Levanto."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was absolutely amazing! The tour guides were incredible and it was an amazing group overall.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The first night we got to Levanto, the buffet and the views from the beach were outstanding. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very well organized with informative guides. I have only two issues: (1) covers too much ground - perhaps a northern European and Southern European tour and (2) it is hard to arrange a good flight out of Florence.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Levanto"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Really terrific tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to list. Maybe the views at the Cinque Terre."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Well organized. Excellent historical, political and cultural/geographical information of each area during bus time. The folks on our tour combined to make it a great experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The hike from Wengen to Murren to Lauterbrunnen, the tinkling bells of the cows and sheep outside our room, the Alpenhorn concert and the buffet meal at the Hotel Falken Wengen."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our family tour was a great introduction to international traveling with our 4 children. We had an amazing experience. We were able to see and do so much in the 13 day tour! We especially enjoyed how knowledgeable and personable our tour guide, Filippos was. The other families on our tour were great, traveling with a group made our trip so much more fun and memorable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our biggest wow moment was looking out of our hotel window in Lauterbrunnen and seeing the view for the first time; it was breathtaking! Switzerland was a family favorite!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour, our guides were wonderful. Very well organized.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Not sure I can pick one! As a family we tried to pick our favorite, but each city and experience was so different and wonderful. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our Guides Bea and Alfio were amazing! We later obtained Dave as an assistant guide and he was amazing as well! It takes a special sort to be willing to travel away from their families and you have guides that have an obvious passion for sharing their love of Europe. Not the fault of the guides, but I gave one less from "outstanding" because of my experience at the Louve Museum. My ticket for the Louve was for the wrong day and so I was not able to access any of the museum.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hiking in the Alps and my family loved the double decker bus tour in London!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall this was an excellent tour. A few suggestions: 1. Include hotel transfers even if a fee is required; 2. Add an extra day to each country; 3 reduce bus travel to 2 hours and replace with air travel; 4. Purchase speed line passes to museums as a great deal of time was lost waiting in museum lines; 5. Improve meal offerings; 6.Improve hotel offerings as many hotels had water leak issues, power issues and inadequate cooling. Overall it was an amazing experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Swiss Alps were truly amazing! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was amazing to experience a little of London, Paris, Saint Fargeau, Lauterbrunnen, and Florence in just a few days.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"In the Louvre I saw paintings I had only seen in textbooks."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic family tour of Europe! The guide, hotels, bus, and itinerary were all amazing!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"When a few of the guys in our group started playing soccer with my nephew in Burgundy to make him feel like "part of the group""

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The pacing and information for this family tour was perfect. Our guide was wonderful and took great care to keep us safe during summer crowds as well as provide lots of informative and fun information. We were blessed to travel with 7 families all together that got along very and looked out for each other. We had the only boy in the group, but he is very inquisitive and interested and our guide did a great job of making him feel special. We also were blessed with good weather.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to think of one wow moment since each city and experience is so different, but I think I'll join others in saying Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland. It is a long drive but so worth it and the kids loved it. The Cinque Terre was a close second. I'll cheat on this though - we loved every place and experience! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Family tour, great guides, good balance of adult and kid activities, learned a lot.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the Chateau in France, as did the kids."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Each day exceeded my expectations! The tour host's history briefs alongside the daily excursions brought new dimension to the whole experience. Our family participated in far more opportunities than we ever could have planned for on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Just one?! Guédelon, being driven around the Arc de Triumph in Paris, the spectacular landscapes of the Alps!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour guides and perfect balance of activities and rest days, just that if the breakfast can offer a little bit variety would have been perfect!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The stone work class, the art class for the kids and the perfect hotel locations as well as the feast at Levanto"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved the tour guides and most of the locations and food

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Almost every stop! It was amazing!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was a wonderful experience for the whole family! Mixing busy city experiences with more relaxed country, mountain, and seaside experiences worked well with the grandchildren!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"After touring and enjoying seeing the Eiffel Tower light up in the early evening, my granddaughters wanted to go back later at night to see it twinkling! Their parents made it happen!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I had high hopes for this tour...and it EXCEEDED them! Fantastic blend of places (cities, countryside, mountains, beach), wonderful activities that my kids and I could enjoy, great food, and outstanding guides. Good mix of structured and free time. I still can't believe everything we saw, did, and experienced.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Boat trip on the Seine when the sun was setting and the Eiffel Tower lit up! It was absolutely stunning... Closely followed by the glacier-fed mountain waterfalls in Switzerland... And the amazing views of the coastline in Cinque Terre... And the David statute in Florence..."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Generally good. Nothing to do with Rick Steve's tours, but Europe is extremely crowded this year, so we felt overwhelmed by the crowds and wall to wall people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The view from our room in Switzerland."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I don't know if there are enough superlatives to describe our experience! From beginning to end, it far exceeded our expectations. From the destinations and hotels to the group activities and tours, it was an amazing experience. Ragen and Adriana are a big part of our enjoyment of the tour. They were both entertaining, inclusive, organized and are simply just incredibly kind people. Our tour group got along so well, which made it very hard to say goodbye on our last night in Florence!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Since this was my first time in Europe, the whole tour was a "wow" moment! But if I had to pick one, it was seeing the Eiffel Tower light up while on our evening cruise along the Seine River. Truly magical!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a once in a lifetime trip for us and I can't imagine it going better. The tour allowed for a lot of free time to do what we wanted and our guide, Ragen, gave us the appropriate direction to appropriately move our family through Europe. Our tour group was phenomenal and our guide encouraged a great culture within the group for travel. He was organized yet fun and treated all members of the group fairly and equally, which is no easy feat!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I honestly think the coolest part was the combination of all of our experiences. You can't move through Europe in the way that we did and experience all that we did in the time that we had. I am a country person so London and Paris were a lot of stimulation. I was very grateful to spend time in Saint Fargeau in a beautiful airbnb with a pool. I know the non-AC rooms were hot, but the hosts were gracious and baked everything fresh. The property was a breath of fresh air after the city tours. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Perfect blend of hitting the tourist highlights, unique and authentic experiences, personal time to explore on our own, comfortable places to stay, amazing food.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"SO MANY!! Perhaps Guedelon combined with stay at the Burgundy manor"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Skyla and Ellen were great. I felt taken care of and prepared to travel.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Overall wonderful "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

:)

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Fun

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing all the sights"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a wonderful way to introduce my daughter to travel and Europe. We got to see more of Europe then I could have managed traveling as an individual. Our guide Skyla was wonderful! she was positive and knowledgeable, she created an environment that was upbeat and inclusive. The trip made it possible to travel with both my mother and daughter in a way that was exciting and well planned.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably the moment we hit the Swiss Alps. The mountains have an unreal quality to them, and hiking with the cows through small mountain top villages was honestly something I had never pictured myself doing."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a wonderful time. Skyla is very good at what she does and was always upbeat and professional. Ellen was was awesome too. We enjoyed the group activities and the other travelers were very nice and interesting people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many wow moments, we can’t pick one."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It may sound cliché, but we really did experience the trip of a lifetime with our family. Our guides, Jody, Danae, and driver Jost, were expert, friendly, and accommodating. The children on the tour seemed to bond immediately and were delighted to have each other as an alternative to our company. The pace was about right, though strenuous as advertised. There were surprises along the way, and those always introduced us to unforgettable local personalities. I can’t stop raving about the trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"For me, there were three unforgettable wow moments. First, I had no idea how captivating Switzerland would be! The Lauterbrunnen Valley is magic. Every morsel of food in Italy was a revelation. Finally, the extreme privilege of traveling and spending time with far-flung family members. A high point of the trip for me was a steamy afternoon spent doing laundry and eating gelato with my parents and brother in the Cinque Terre. As I get older, I place such a premium on the time spent with them."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Amazing! The kids and adults in the group clicked from day one - seems that Rick Steves invites a certain type of travelers that are fun, open to new people and new experiences.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The thunderstorm in burgundy, where we were all in medieval costume and everyone immediately pitched in to put up the picnic tent walls while the kids played in the rain. Also, when my 10-year-old returned from Monterosso and the hotel lady in Levanto asked her about her day, my daughter said "wow, she treats us like old friends!""

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I am an experienced independent European traveler with Rick Steve's guidebooks. This is my first tour. I was completely impressed with the guides, Jody and Danae. They were knowledgeable, kind, organized and went above and beyond. I love how Rick Steves took care of all the little things, yet left us enough free time to explore on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Every day had a "wow" moment. There were the big "wow" moments such as the castle at Guedelon, hiking the alps at Wengen, and swimming in the Mediterranean at Cinque Terre. There were also the little "wow" moments that the guides provided us, such as macarons in Paris, a brown bag lunch because it was a Sunday and the restaurants were closed, and most importantly, my impromptu birthday cake! Jody and Danae are fantastic guides!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic opportunity for me and my family. You made traveling in Europe super accessible for a first time European traveler.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The overall friendship and comradery that developed between both the adults and children. It was great to share the experience with a diverse group."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great itinerary and mix of scheduling, balancing busy cities with quieter, but still scenic, areas. AMAZING tour guides Bea and Stefan were incredible at keeping the group moving, answering questions, and bringing the group together in a very cohesive way. Great balance of planned activities with free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Stepping off the cable car in Männlichen and being surrounded by the Alps was unbelievably beautiful. It's almost a waste of time to take pictures because the pure beauty is so hard to capture on camera. Our guide helped us plan our time and we felt like that really allowed us take full advantage of the area. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My 8th RS Tour! Brought the family-8 adults and 2 grandkids. Best tour ever to watch family experience Europe for the first time. The itinerary was fabulous-some of my favorite places!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Eleven year old grandson coming out of the tube in London and saying, “Oh wow!” when he saw Big Ben. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was awesome! We did so many fun things and the dinners were always delicious! The tour guides were amazing and we met so many nice people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My "wow" moment was seeing the Swiss alps and hiking in them. We saw so many friendly cows. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

There were 12 of us from our family who took this trip. We ranged in age from 12-77. It was a total delight and we are still marveling at the experiences we had. This will have been the trip of a lifetime for our family! Thank you!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"On the boat tour of the Seine we were right by the Eiffel Tower when its lights came on! Everyone cheered on the boat. Also the men who provided music and fun at the Falken hotel in the Alps! A great evening of entertainment! So many WOW moments!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This trip is as an experience of a lifetime!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing Switzerland and Wengen was the most awe inspiring moment for me. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great time. The tour guide was amazing. All the planned events, sites, dinners were really lovely.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the group dinners and events."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guides were wonderful and the experience was fantastic. My 10 year old son told me this trip has changed his life.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hiking in the Alps. It was so beautiful, it didn't seem real!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a super time and our tour guides Tina and Richard were superb. Tina's knowledge was very interesting and really enhanced the entire experience. She truly enjoys her fellow travelers and does everything possible to make the trip more fun. you are very lucky to have such a wonderful kindhearted guide we LOVE so much. Not to forget Richard. What A great guy! Also our fellow travelers couldn't have nicer. The kids were well behaved and really enhanced our fun. Thanks for putting it together

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I know the kids enjoyed the countryside visit to the burgundy region. The dress up dinner with the karaoke was really funny, everyone had to sing one song at least. We laughed so hard!! Wow moments was the FANTASTIC Art. Peter in Chains Basilica was especially great. Pope Julius II, the warrior pope, tomb with Michelangelo's Moses.WOW.! Be sure to carry some euro change and for a dollar they will crank up the huge pipe organ with Bach or some other great number. ITs all free admission!!! LOVE"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Europe Family Tour was a once in a lifetime trip, exceeded my expectations in every way. Due largely to our tour guide- Tina Hiti , the star.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many incredible moments, hard to choose one- walking tour through Paris and group dinner in Paris was fantastic. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very well out together, a well thought-out blend of free time and guided tour time, they handles all transport and accommodations superbly and the general layout of the tour was very pleasant

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I wish we could have spent more time in the Lauterbrunnen Valley in Switzerland. That was an incredible choice of places to be, and a refreshing break from all the densely populated cities. A figurative and literal breathe of fresh air. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was the perfect blend of organized activities and free time. The activities were geared toward families which was perfect for us. Everything was very well organized and communicated. The accommodations were great and very well located. We would definitely do another family tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"All of the kids playing soccer in medieval dress, the scenery in Switzerland, the bus ride down the hill into Cinque Terre but most of all that my kids had friends to share their experiences with "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hiking in Switzerland "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Most places visited were outstanding & itinerary good when followed. Local guides were usually excellent. It was challenging, good experience to use th tubes in London and Metro in Paris. Our free time was useful. Main guide, Martin was good & bad, acted in goofy excentric manner at times. He gave our group wrong starting breakfast time on 3-4 days. In Pisa the tour bus left for 2 hours for what he said was a quick bathroom break. He was informative,witty; then sarcastic,cynical,jaded.

Favorite "WOW" moment

" Visiting Tower of London, cruising Seine at night with sparkling Eiffel Tower, Sound of Music sensations while hiking in the Swiss Alps. Enjoying fabulous Louvre art collections, being captivated by the colorful enchanting setting in the Cinque Terre, in Monterosso eating tasty gelato by moonlight over the Ligurian Sea. First sight of Pisa's Leaning Tower, Cathedral & Baptistry. Pitti Palace and Gardens on our own. Florence Walking tour provided by enthusiastic, articulate local guide. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was our first trip to Europe and it did not disappoint. I really enjoyed the family experience and I know my daughters especially enjoyed meeting new friends.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking as a group to the Eiffel Tower and seeing it for the first time in the evening. My wife had told the tours guides that it was my birthday and they broke out the champagne and everyone sang Happy Birthday with the Eiffel Tower in the background. It was a very special moment. "

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Day one, our guide let us know that he was "done". This set the tone for the rest of the tour. Having a child on the ASD spectrum who can be struggle with volume control or withholding enthusiasm for things, we thought this tour would be a good fit. We spent the entire time trying to contain our child from irritating others. The group of kids were patient and our son had the time of his life. We were stressed the entire time.

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Standing in the ocean at Cinque Terra"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The hotels and sights were wonderful. I liked the small hotels with staff who welcomed the tour - clearly the company has great relationships. Palazzo del Borgo was my favorite. The balance of programmed time versus free time was good. Sometimes there was too much repetitive instruction from the guide about subways, museum entrances, currency, schedules etc. I understand it needs to be clear to all but so much repetition became frustrating and time-wasting.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Everything about the Swiss Alps. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We booked our trip fully familiar with the expectations of Rick Steve's tours in terms of luggage, accommodations, activity level, group interactions, etc. We were able to see far more on our tour, and accomplish far more in terms of experiences, than I'd have been able to compile on my own. The kids and I were all amazed.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our favorite activity was seeing the castle-build at Guedelon, and favorite sight-seeing was probably David, at the Accademia. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had an awesome vacation. The places we visited were wonderful, the food was excellent and the people (guides, guests and locals) were all quite charming.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"That’s a tough one because this trip was one big wow after another. I must say that Wengen, Switzerland was the biggest surprise. The beauty of the Alps was an unexpected surprise. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Family Tour was perfect for us. The meals and accommodations were great. Our tour leaders were awesome and really helped make our trip so memorable. The amount of free time was good and added flexibility to the schedule.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The “wow” moment was staying in Wengen Switzerland. The gondola ride up the mountain and hike we’re amazing. Our hotel was lovely and our meal together was fantastic. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I thought it was well paced so we could see lots of countries and places. I thought Bea and Andrea were really good leaders.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the pool in St Fargeau! And the beach at Cinque Terre."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything went so smoothly. Fantastic guides and individualized experiences.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Comparing macarons from a French bakery to McDonalds. My daughter makes macarons, so this was such a treat for her. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Having my two granddaughters with me was magic. Being able to celebrate my 80th birthday in Paris with champagne and a sparkling Eiffel Tower, well, talk about magic! Being able to take a Rick Steves Tour at this stage of life is such a gift. The group we traveled with was certainly a Rick Steves group. They were friendly, attentive, adventurous and caring. This is my 6th Rick Steves Tour. Four were with grandchildren starting 12 years ago so I have a frame of reference.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My birthday in Paris not planned asI was initially on waiting lists. Serendipity?"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful tour. Great guides. Hotels were in very good locations. Food was excellent. Only unhappiness with meals was the advertised fondue dinner in Switzerland that we were greatly looking forward to. It was actually only an appetizer With everyone getting one dip in the cheese. Just enough “kids” activities to keep teens engaged. We thought there was a good mix of tour time & on your own time. Would definitely do again & recommend to others.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lauterbrunnen valley was magnificent. Loved our time there"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I thought the cooking class we had in Florence for our last meal was the BEST way to end the tour and I think that’s how all tours should end! I’m having a hard time talking about the “overall” experience because the weather was record breaking hot in London and Paris to the point it was intolerable. The rest of the trip it was just miserably hot! Except for London hotel all others didn’t seem to be RS level. Disappointing! This was our 9th tour. Tina and Danai was wonderful!

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Taking our adult daughter and our 11-year old granddaughter on this family trip was totally wonderful! It was fast-paced as we had a lot of ground to cover from London all the way down to Florence. In true Rick Steve’s’ fashion, we had so many authentic experiences from medieval stone-carving, to painting and cooking with master artists. We loved our guides, Tina and Danae, and they kept us on track and informed and delighted.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"As dusk fell and we were walking back from a fabulous dinner in Monterosso in the Cinque Terre, a musician on the walkway above the Mediterranean was playing lovely music on his keyboard. The music, the warm sea air, the village lights reflecting on the water, and the good company made for a magical, nearly indescribable moment in time. "

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

We participated in the family tour from London to Florence. It was an arduous trip during Europe’s unanticipated July heat wave, thus we spent a great deal of time inside. The guides were remarkably knowledgeable and quite good with the children.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The tour had several hands on activities for the families. These were the highlights of the tour."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My family and I had a great time. The tour was a good balance of seeing sites and museums and fun things that my kids really enjoyed. They also enjoyed that there were so many other kids around their age on the tour that they were able to spend time with.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hiking in the Swiss Alps was amazing! The views were incredible and our guide did a great job of taking us on easy trails. We also enjoyed taking the cog train and stopping at different villages on the way back to our hote."