Tour Interruption Resources

Sometimes tour members get sick, contract Covid or are injured while traveling with us and must leave their tour. Once a person has left a tour, they may not rejoin their original tour or join another Rick Steves tour in progress. If this happens to you, we've prepared some information and resources to help you get back on your feet and on to your next destination. Please carefully read the information below, so you understand what happens if your tour is interrupted by illness or injury.

Here are a few tips and resources:

  • If you need to secure additional lodging, check with your current hotel to see if they can extend your stay or ask your guide to see if they can help make these arrangements for you. (Please note that your guide will no longer be available to assist you, once your group moves on to the next destination.) You can also use booking.com to find hotels or apartments near your current location.
  • If you need to arrange transportation, try Rome2rio to find transportation (train, plane, bus, ferry, private car) to reach your destination.
  • If you need to change your flight home, check online with your airline (if you purchased your ticket direct from the airline, you can often make changes online.) You can also contact On Call (RSE's travel assistance service), your travel agent, or your travel insurance company to assist you with rebooking your flight.
  • If you have travel insurance, contact your provider to find out what documentation you’ll need to file a claim.

We provide the following resources free of charge:

  • On Call International Global Assistance Program: RSE contracts with On Call to provide 24/7 assistance for our tour members in case of illness or injury. On Call can assist in obtaining lodging, medical referrals and monitoring, language translation services, and flight rebooking. You can reach On Call using your US cell phone by calling 1-833-808-0231 or texting 844-302-5131. From a European phone, call On Call collect at: 001-978-651-1249 or text to 001-844-302-5131. For non-urgent matters or long waiting times, we encourage contacting On Call via email: [email protected] (responses may take 24-48 hours). You can also call or text them and ask for a call back. (This is not insurance and the costs for goods and services provided by a third-party are your responsibility, even when facilitated or coordinated by On Call.)
  • If you need additional assistance, you can schedule a consultation with Rick Steves On-Tour Support staff via email to: [email protected]. This service operates Monday-Saturday from 9-5 p.m. Pacific time. (For urgent needs On Call is available 24/7). In your email, provide your contact information (email/phone) and the best local time for reaching you.

Our policy regarding credits/refunds for tour interruption:

  • If you must leave your tour after it has begun for a Creditable Event, not related to the illness or injury of a traveler in your party, a pro-rated credit of $200 per day may be issued.
  • If you must leave your tour due to a documented illness or injury of one of the travelers in your party, a pro-rated refund of $200 per day will be issued instead of a credit.
  • To request a credit or refund, you must follow the “Credit Request Process” explained in the Rick Steves Europe Tour Conditions.
  • These credits and refunds are not insurance and are not intended as a substitute for comprehensive travel and health insurance.