Ciao and benvenuto!
Allow me to introduce ourselves – we’re Mojgan and Ross from the “Mile High City” of Denver, Colorado. I’m an artist and hair stylist. My husband Ross works as a software engineer. He and I are also singers and musicians and Ross is teaching me to appreciate Bluegrass banjo (slow and steady does it!)
We’re both very much travel enthusiasts and this trip, in October 2023, was my fourth and Ross’s fourteenth Rick Steves tour! (He started years before we met, back in 2007.)
You may ask why we have chosen to travel with Rick Steves tours so many times. For starters, his company’s travel philosophy aligns closely with ours. We’re both admitted Europhiles and try to immerse ourselves in whatever culture we are currently exploring – the people, music, art, history, and of course, the food!
Ross is convinced that, while you may be able to travel more inexpensively, and see almost as much on your own, you won’t experience as much as efficiently or as cost-effectively as on a Rick Steves tour. (In addition, you’ll miss out on some unique “Back Door Experiences” that you probably won’t get on your own. We love that much of the planning is done for us and we leave the driving to Rick’s wondrous bus drivers, who often guide their coaches down paths where I wouldn’t dare to drive a Mini Cooper! Travel by coach allows us to sit back, relax, and enjoy the scenery, which is not possible when renting a car and driving.
Accommodations tend to be locally owned, staffed by friendly folks, cozy and inviting, and, perhaps most importantly, centrally located. Restaurants for group meals tend to be chosen in the same fashion, with emphasis on local culinary specialties and an eye and ear to ‘where the locals eat’.
Tickets to most all the ‘must-see’ attractions and sites are taken care of by ‘Team Rick’ so tour members don’t waste time grinding away in long lines but instead spend time experiencing what they came to Europe to see.
But the ‘cherry on the travel sundae’ is the unmatched quality of Rick’s guides. On one of the Rick Steves tours, you’ll benefit from the knowledge, care, and enthusiasm of both the lead and local guides (who are truly experts in their home city, or authorities on a key site or attraction).
(For more information on the Rick Steves tour philosophy, see ricksteves.com/tours/ricks-10-commitments)
Allow me to introduce ourselves – we’re Mojgan and Ross from the “Mile High City” of Denver, Colorado. I’m an artist and hair stylist. My husband Ross works as a software engineer. He and I are also singers and musicians and Ross is teaching me to appreciate Bluegrass banjo (slow and steady does it!)
We’re both very much travel enthusiasts and this trip, in October 2023, was my fourth and Ross’s fourteenth Rick Steves tour! (He started years before we met, back in 2007.)
You may ask why we have chosen to travel with Rick Steves tours so many times. For starters, his company’s travel philosophy aligns closely with ours. We’re both admitted Europhiles and try to immerse ourselves in whatever culture we are currently exploring – the people, music, art, history, and of course, the food!
Ross is convinced that, while you may be able to travel more inexpensively, and see almost as much on your own, you won’t experience as much as efficiently or as cost-effectively as on a Rick Steves tour. (In addition, you’ll miss out on some unique “Back Door Experiences” that you probably won’t get on your own. We love that much of the planning is done for us and we leave the driving to Rick’s wondrous bus drivers, who often guide their coaches down paths where I wouldn’t dare to drive a Mini Cooper! Travel by coach allows us to sit back, relax, and enjoy the scenery, which is not possible when renting a car and driving.
Accommodations tend to be locally owned, staffed by friendly folks, cozy and inviting, and, perhaps most importantly, centrally located. Restaurants for group meals tend to be chosen in the same fashion, with emphasis on local culinary specialties and an eye and ear to ‘where the locals eat’.
Tickets to most all the ‘must-see’ attractions and sites are taken care of by ‘Team Rick’ so tour members don’t waste time grinding away in long lines but instead spend time experiencing what they came to Europe to see.
But the ‘cherry on the travel sundae’ is the unmatched quality of Rick’s guides. On one of the Rick Steves tours, you’ll benefit from the knowledge, care, and enthusiasm of both the lead and local guides (who are truly experts in their home city, or authorities on a key site or attraction).
(For more information on the Rick Steves tour philosophy, see ricksteves.com/tours/ricks-10-commitments)
Travel Recommendations (or “Mistakes We’ve Made in the Past”)
Now, let’s start our journey. Andiamo! (Let’s go!)
- Get a good guide book or two and start reading. You can watch past episodes of Rick Steves Europe on YouTube, download the free “Rick Steves Audio Europe” app on your mobile device (tons of free content about nearly every European country). I find the Rick Steves guidebooks a quick read and pretty entertaining. Lonely Planet guides are more comprehensive, but often dry as dust.
- Make a list of the places you want to visit (and that aren’t on the itinerary, if taking a tour). Take note of what days various sites are closed or perhaps open late. Make online reservations or purchase tickets for any activity/restaurant/site/attraction that offers this option. Don’t pack your day too tightly though – allow time just to savor the moment.
- Pack light, but thoughtfully. Remember you may be toting or rolling your bag down a cobblestone lane to your hotel. These tours tend toward the casual side but remember ‘modest dress’ is required for many churches and some other cultural institutions. Good walking shoes are a must (break in before you leave!). Clothes that can be layered are smart – for those days hiking the Scottish Highlands when you experience three seasons in three hours. (Every RS guidebook has a handy packing guide in the back)
- Stay healthy. The last thing you want to do when traveling to another country is to get sick. Get plenty of sleep, stay hydrated (a reusable water bottle is a nice item to have – most European cities have perfectly safe tap water), and boost your immune system both before leaving and during your trip (Mojgan swears by “Emergen-C” immune boosting powders)
- Make sure you are always packing some small snacks – you don’t want to risk shortening your visit to a favorite museum due to a rumbling stomach. (Ross here – learned this one the hard way. Mojgan’s tolerance for museums is at a superhuman level!)
- If on a tour, plan to arrive a day or two early to get over jet lag and ease into the culture. We generally stay a few days before and/or after the tour plan some activities not covered in the group itinerary.
Now, let’s start our journey. Andiamo! (Let’s go!)