Why a Rick Steves Europe Tour?

I included this list in the first scrapbook I made in 2016 for our Best of Italy tour. I wanted to repeat it here because it is all still so true!

With a Rick Steves' Europe tour, all the logistics are done so you can truly live in the moment and experience the local flavors and atmosphere without having to worry about finding a hotel, deciding what time to get to the train station, or where your next meal will be. Also, these tours give you enough free time to explore on your own and pursue personal interests that might not be included in the group activities.

No stress - we all know traveling can be stressful, especially in a foreign country with a different language and culture. Your guide, or the local guides, will give you a tour of the areas surrounding your hotels so you can find your way back on your own, give you a crash-course on navigating either the local bus or subway systems, and introduce you to some of the local customs, history, and unique quirks about each area. This way you can feel more comfortable and make the most of the limited time when you venture off on your own.
Educational and informative - The tour guides and local guides are fountains of information. Sometimes there is so much that it's hard to absorb it all. But you will gain a valuable look into the local history, customs, and people that would be hard to do on your own.
Awesome tour guides - Being a tour guide must be challenging. They have to be "on" all the time, learn to deal with different personalities, handle last minute changes and challenges, all while remaining upbeat and enthusiastic. Our guides have all been incredible!
Skilled drivers - The drivers are always amazing. They are able to maneuver these giant buses around some hairy turns, through impossibly narrow streets, and down some very steep and curvy roads.
Transportation - It's all arranged for you. Primarily bus, but there are a few situations where a short train or boat ride is needed. You don't have to worry about learning the local road rules if you rent a car, or watching the clock so you don't miss your train.
Hotels - All the hotels have been vetted by Rick Steves' Europe pros and tour members can provide feedback after their trips so there is constant quality control on the hotel selections.
Shorter lines at major attractions - As a group, you can get into many tourist attractions via the quicker group entrance, bypassing the general admission line and potentially saving yourself several hours.
Local guides - Rick Steves' Europe has relationships with many local guides to give you tours and introductions to the cities you visit from a resident's perspective. Some of them you could hire on your own, but that just means more research and scheduling tasks for you.
Special events - We experienced several special treats we'd never be able to do on our own, such as having dinner at the home of a local chef or a personal demonstration from a local craftsman.
New friends - These tours tend to attract like-minded people and we've made some lasting friendships. We met another family from Washington state on our first tour who have become our travel buddies. This Sicily tour was the fourth tour we've done together...the last two tours without the kids who have all grown up and gone off to college and beyond now.
Did I mention no stress? Not only during your trip, but before it as well. It would likely take many hours to make all these arrangements on your own, and the cost savings is probably negligible. Let the pros do it for you!

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