Program 490a: Travel Tech; Story of China; Take Your Child to Europe

Historian Michael Wood discusses how Westerners might better understand China, the world's new superpower, by learning more about its monumental achievements over the past 4,000 years. We'll also get time-tested advice from author Ashley Steel for taking the kids to Europe. Plus, Rick's son, Andy Steves, shares his favorite phone apps and other tech tips for travel.

• Andy Steves, tour organizer and author of "Andy Steves' Europe" (Avalon)
• Historian Michael Wood, host/producer of "The Story of China"
• Ashley Steel, co-author of "Family on the Loose" (Rumble Books)
• Tina Hiti, tour guide from Slovenia

• Andy Steves' guidebook for budget travelers to the major cities of Europe is called "Andy Steves' Europe."
• The student tour company Andy operates is called WSA Europe.
• Among the phone apps Andy Steves recommends for travelers are the XE currency converter, and the Google Translate language translation program.
• The documentary series "The Story of China" is hosted and written by Michael Wood.  PBS features interactive games related to the series on its website.
• Michael Wood is known as a popular historian in Britain, and teaches public history at the University of Manchester.  His production company is MayaVision International.
• Ashley Steel co-wrote "Family on the Loose" and "100 Tips for Traveling with Kids in Europe" with her husband Bill Richards. Their latest adventure is living in Rome as a family.
• Rick refers to Ashley Steel's article of five tips for a cross-cultural education in Europe.
• Lake Bled-based tour guide Tina Hiti's website is called PG-Slovenia.