• Kids jumping in Paris

November Tour News

Hi from Rick: France’s Undeniable Joie de Vivre

This month is a great time to look back on 2023 travels, and to feel thankful for all the amazing experiences we enjoyed this year in Europe.

This spring I ate my way through many of my favorite corners of France: escargot, foie gras, my favorite wines (you should hear me say "Bandol" with my sexy French wine expert voice) and called it work! I was with my guidebook co-author and Francophile friend, Steve Smith for our annual rendezvous to update our guidebook.

If you're looking back on your own vivid memories from a 2023 Rick Steves tour, we have a great incentive to organize those memories into an online scrapbook — your chance to win a free tour! Every year we give away prizes for the best tour alum scrapbooks…and first prize is always a Rick Steves tour. We're now accepting submissions for our Tour Scrapbook Contest… Read more

In this issue

Five Tempting Tastes of France

From its remarkable wines and cuisine to its sophisticated cities and countryside charms, France is simply irresistible. But where does one start? Here's a sampling of our five itineraries… Read more

A couple outside of Chenonceau castle

Slideshow: Loire to the South of France, Day by Day

Everyone knows that France is blessed with beautiful sights. But what will you see when you're on our Loire to the South of France tour? Well, we start in the cozy, historic town of Chartres… Read more

Tour Member Raves About France

France serves up a rich tapestry of fine culture, sublime cuisine, dramatic natural beauty, thundering history, jaw-dropping art, and an undeniable joie de vivre. Take it from our tour members… Read more

julie sonveau

Meet France Guide Julie Sonveau

Originally from Kansas, Julie and her family ended up settling in the French countryside, where she began leading tours. Rick Steves found her when she was guiding tours of Guédélon — one of our favorite… Read more

france-nice-cocuple-strolling-in-old-town

Video of the Month: Nice's Beaches, Pasta, and Perfume

Nice, the big-city highlight of the French Riviera, is much loved for its blue seas and blue skies. Join Rick for a stroll along Nice's Promenade des Anglais and its pebbly beach, through the Italianate… Watch the video

Save Big on Early Spring Tours

Beat the peak season crowds and higher prices! We have discounted seats available on select February and March departures for Italy city tours, Sicily, Barcelona & Madrid, Holland & Belgium, Paris, and London… Browse tours

Win a Rick Steves Tour!

Have you traveled on a Rick Steves tour this year? Share your experience by creating an online scrapbook! Enter our contest by Feb. 29, 2024, and maybe you'll win your next tour… Read more

cameron hewitt

Ireland, Iceland, and Poland, Oh My!

Join Cameron Hewitt on Nov. 20 for his Monday Night Travel trip report covering changes in travel from Ireland to Iceland and from Poland to Norway — plus we'll kick off the Christmas season on Nov. 27… Register