Such a fun unplanned discovery which I throughly enjoyed. Still, a few tips help. My best tip is mornings: get going by 8a, or earlier, and walk. If you're bringing a second pair of shoes make it a light one. Wherever you venture, let the experience broaden your perspective. Im taking off shortly for springtime in Europe. He said that going with the local specialties gets you the best quality and service for the best price. 2023 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | CST# 2086743 | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy, Packing report 2 weeks in sizzling hot Greece, Sling bag vs backpack = no need to check bag at some sites, sale print bag- Osprey Daylite 40L wheeled duffel, RS Convertible Carry-On vs eBags Mother Lode, Yes, I packed my own pillow. While some of his advice might put travelers out of their comfort zones, he said it's worth it if it helps you see the world differently and celebrate other cultures. Sometimes a half day is all you need somewhere but too many of those in a row becomes more of a slog than a vacation. The place has become a destination for all our return trips. Something interesting if I have time and -plot anything of interest on a map. If it's more than four hours by train, I consider a flight. [222] But understand how standard tours make their money. Rick Steves European Travel Tips and Tricks $ 60.00 - $ 180.00 Rick Steves European Travel Tips and Tricks Clear Get Your Thank You Gift SKU: RSTR Category: Travel Additional Info Rick Steves European Travel Tips and Tricks And finally, Ill hop a train to Budapest to update that book, too. When you immerse yourself in a culture, you'll have a different experience than someone who just skims the surface, if at all. His mission: to empower Americans to have European trips that are fun, affordable, and culturally broadening. -Also stay out late. Eddie Bauer Travel Shirt on Sale at Costco, Packing Lessons Learned from one month in Europe. For the independent traveler who takes advantage of good guidebook, the ship can provide an efficient springboard for getting the most out of a series of quick one-day stops. European Travel Skills A copy of the passport and insurance card and emergency contact info is folded and carried in my money belt as well. Steves' advice? They're waiting to buy tickets to get in, but there are other ways to get tickets. Although I normally travel with sections from Rick's guidebooks (and sometimes others as well), I still go online to check current hours of museums and other sights I plan to visit before arriving in a city. I write myself directions too. With a carry-on-the-plane size bag, you'll never struggle with porters or cabbies, you get more respect when shopping for a hotel room, and you can share train station lockers with your partner, cutting that expense in half. Fred graduated from the State University of New York College at Oswego with a B.A. Ill give you the low-down on Budapest, as Ill have been there the prior 4 days. Do him a favor by speaking slowly, clearly. When I use Booking.com, I print the copy in their local language- just a nice gesture that is appreciated. Since 1973, Rick Steves has spent about four months a year exploring Europe. When you're traveling, lots of unexpected opportunities may arise, and, initially, it might be easier to dismiss them than accept them. I have a format that has columns for Date, day of week, Morn/aft/eve.. then Activity, and city. Click here for more information on how to enable cookies. Thieves can be mothers with babies in their arms and fast-fingered children at their sides. Before posting, please read our Community Guidelines. Early and late. I'm Rick Steves. I really wish I kept a picture of it, but when my husband and I went to Germany and Austria and also with Italy I bought the Moleskine travel journals because they had such great Maps in it and I could mark them with where we wanted to go and where we stayed. Pick two.". Pack light. Here's about half a kilothat's roughly a pound. In Madrid, as I wanted to do some day trips, and most of my interests were the museums; I booked an apartment closer to Atocha train station than the central old town. If you don't want to pay for a data plan and turn data off, you can still look maps that you downloaded from many apps and see a blue dot marking your location that moves in real time. Travel with a Mobile Device I begin with a large piece of paper and write the cities I might like to visit in one country on spots on the paper similar to how they would look on a map. And now you've got to fit it with your vacation time. A more intimate Europe survives. Travel faster in the more expensive north and hang out in the cheaper southern and eastern countries. 2023 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | CST# 2086743 | Our next stop: Siena. For travel guidebooks to have with you during your trip, I always pick one or two from Rick Steves and Lonely Planet. Years ago, Rick Steves taught me the art and science of prepping a guidebook to be updated. For some days I put "if time" and then listed one or more additional sites. Your email address will not be published. But after you take the photo, stow your phone and actually be in the moment.". Five hundred years ago, Italy was the center of humanism. Almost any popular tourist destination is bound to have a never-ending line, which can really eat into your travel time. I start with one tab for the initial plan - then as plans evolve I can either adjust within that tab - OR start a new one. Walking tours are usually cheaper and better than big bus tours. Before posting, please read our Community Guidelines. "Go to the less-famous places,. (16:58). D) if I get board I can drop this in with little to no effort at the very last minute. in six countries in 18 days means less than three days in each city. Big bus tours are sold at a nearly no-profit price. Bristols Empty Plinth: Why Black History Matters, On Arrival: The First, and Worst, Few Hours of Any Trip. Evening walks are great, long, late dinners are great. Baggage insurance is statistically the worst value among the many bad values in travel insurance. A pair of shorts doubles as a swimsuit. It sure helped with narrowing things down and making looking up things quick and easy. On the desktop I can plot up to @ 12 cities at a time. I'll do more than that, but there's flexibility - during "wander and explore", I'll pop into sights, eat something interesting for lunch, and so forth, but there's nothing I HAVE to rush around for, nothing scheduled between the morning museum and the evening dinner. Essentially creating a personalized travel log that I can reference on the road. Reservations are also kept in the binder. 1) I plan the entire trip, with lodging (with free or inexpensive parking for our B&B or small hotel), day tours and travel from one city/town to the next. 3) I do a mapquest from each place to the next at home and print out each one, just in case. Learn key words and numbers in the local language. Rick Steves is a longtime writer of travel guidebooks and the host of the series "Rick Steves' Europe." He told Business Insider 10 of his best pieces of travel advice to . As a veteran tour guide and guidebook researcher for Rick Steves' Europe, as well as leading groups for Imprint Tours, Trish relishes the good fortune of sharing all that with fellow travelers. The retail price is often too good to be true designed just to get you on board. Currently you have JavaScript disabled. Or, since we all slip a goofy little extra in, which soothing, handy, or fun packing extravagances can you justify? But it rained and I bought one. See the modern art in Paris, London, Venice or Madrid, not in Bilbao. They have wonderful small 'mini market' type locations with good extended hours. [225] Anywhere in Europe, you can stay in touch easily with the Internet. Instead, consider using your credit-card's built-in insurance. The line up to get in as I was leaving (and the parade had been completed) was very long. A lot of these have already been mentioned but my favorites -. [249] While it's nothing to brag about, I speak only English and manage fine. Things take a lot longer than you anticipate so we plan just one thing a day, between getting there, eating, shopping we rarely have time for Plan B, but what shame it would be to miss "X" just because we did not know it was two blocks away! -If you have the kindle app (free), it comes with an email address that you can send files to and they show up in the app as PDFs. If it is about packing for your big trip, discuss here. I type out my hotel name, address and phone number on an index card and show to the taxi driver. For plane, hotel and event reservations, etc. He also offers tips on transportation, finding hotels and restaurants, and much more. Most of their profit actually comes in Europe. I also use TripAdvisor forum for the cities of interest and check when I am on the road as well. They'll spill something on you or shove a cardboard sign in your face, and so on. Going beyond the sights, Rick shares some practical tips to help make European travel fun and hassle-free. Then I board a plane for Sofia, where Ill be working with Rick and his film crew to produce two new public television shows on Bulgaria and Romania. So I went to the Palace instead and that was fortuitous. "And you'll win the respect of the locals," he said. I have a packing list that stays pretty consistent, so I just print two copies - one as Im gathering items, trying on clothes, etc. Your various mobile devices are important travel tools. [255] You'll see all kinds of travelers and bags on the road. -before I get there, use google street view to "walk" around the neighborhood. I rent short let apartments with some sort of kitchen facilities. This way, I make sure Im allotting enough time in places (and not thinking I have more time somewhere than I actually do). Dine with students. Start a New Topic [208] Most lines you see like this one at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence are not people waiting to get in. Suddenly, the palette with which we paint the story of our lives has more colors." - Rick Steves 3. Learn now or you'll learn later the importance of being mobile with your luggage. "For many, this is a radical concept," he said. You're only concern is physically plugging it into the wall. In many countries, parking signs indicate how long it's free to park providing you place the cardboard clock on your dash set to the time you arrived. "Buy a used car instead of a new car, and you've got enough money for three months in Europe.". It keeps away the most high-maintenance travelers those who demand all the four-star comforts. Rick Steves Travel Forum Connect with fellow travelers to discuss tips and tricks for successful travel, and to share your stories! I like creating these one of a kind travel notebooks as each one has the locale and year of the excursion. "You'll never meet a traveler who, after five trips, brags, 'Every year, I pack heavier,'" Steves said. I travel off season, so rarely have to book a site ahead of time; but I do when I don't want to be disappointed. An afternoon rest gets you away from the worst crowds and lets you rest so you can be out at more fun times. I prefer medieval over 17th century buildings). -GPS on smartphones is not dependent on having data. [224] Each ship carries thousands of tourists effortlessly from famous port to famous port. Scandinavia Next step when Im happy with the previous is to load the days into the TripIt app. We're the ones with all the goodies in our day bags, wallets, and purses. Support the local entrepreneurs. Rick Steves. Even budget hotels use email to advise travelers on room availability. Terms of Service | Privacy, European Travel Skills: Planning Your Itinerary, European Travel Skills: Hurdling the Language Barrier, European Travel Skills: Avoiding Lines and Crowds, European Travel Skills: Finding Back Doors, European Travel Skills: Hostels, B&Bs and Pensions, European Travel Skills: Numbers and Stumblers, European Travel Skills: On Your Own vs On a Tour, European Travel Skills: Sorting Through Hotel Options. Greece Travel Guide by Rick Steves Home Explore Europe Greece Athens Greece Greece offers sunshine, whitewashed houses with bright-blue shutters, delicious food, and a relaxed lifestyle. While wine, beer and coffee are wonderful parts of the European experience, drinks cost travelers about $15 a day. Connecting with people whose cultures challenge ours. Before your trip, try this test. When I travel in the area, I go back to Google Maps and try to include those flagged places in my itinerary. And for me that means connecting with, and learning from friendly locals. "No matter where you go whether a bustling city like Paris or a midsize destination like Siena the neighborhood and hotel you choose help shape your experience," he said. I also limit my overall travel to keep it manageable. When I see a travel article about a place, or a mention on a forum, I'll look at it. Offer to catch a line And leave the crowded main street. I can insert additional rows for additional info (restaurants, hotels, reservation numbers, museums, day trips etc.).. When you watch Rick Steves: European Travel Tips and Tricks, you can learn about a special VIP opportunity ahead of his virtual conversation on March 24 with WITF. 2023 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | CST# 2086743 | Each town is a character. Use the telephone to double-check guidebook information, availability of English-language tours, to make reservations and to comparison shop. I try to limit travel time to no more than four hours on a travel day. For the traveler, Europe is casual. [243] I love the charm of the Cinque Terre five remote and traffic-free villages wedged in the most rugged bit of the Italian Riviera, trying to hide out from today's modern world as they did from pirates centuries ago. Great thread and thanks to everyone for your posts. A day before the performance went to The Royal Albert Hall ticket office ( had confirmed opening hours) and by having the printed proof of purchase copy retrieved my ticket. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. If anyone knows how to deal with those feelings, it's Rick Steves. If you feel overwhelmed when you're traveling How can I possibly see everything? But between budgeting your trip, staying on top of a tight itinerary, and trying to make the most of your experience when you finally arrive, it can often be hard for travelers to be fully invested. Speaking of food, don't you hate it when everything on the menu looks appealing but you can choose only one thing? Amazing how fun it is to quickly find the hotel we stayed in 12 years ago and is no longer on Booking.com.. but now I can search the web for their new site. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. No one wants to be stressed out when they're on vacation. They make their money throughout the tour on commissions from your shopping and by selling you optional sightseeing. And you might as well make your numbers European style: cross your sevens because a one looks like this. We seldom stay anyplace more than three nights, we visit smaller and out of the way places, and usually have a rental car. You may think it's impossible to pack light. But be aware, while handy, their purpose is to help you spend money in their town. At the end is the ever-changing "to do" list before the trip, which hopefully gets shorter as time passes, and lately I've added a packing list which also shrinks as the suitcase fills up. Keep the map on my phone (I use an app called citymaps2go, but there are plenty of other ways to do this). I tried it early in its life, but wasn't a fan. While these seem like friendly freebies, they're carefully tallied. After all, you're going to Europe for two weeks, and you'll need plenty of changes of clothes. One-night stops are hectic. For each day I listed the first site I would see, and the time of the day I expected to show up. [209] Travel is fraught with cultural differences. In Europe, each region has its own gestures. ", Natalia is a contributing dating and relationships, personal finance, travel, and lifestyle writer at Business Insider and Insider. The great Guggenheim Modern Art Museum in Bilbao is impressive for its architecture, but the art is no better than what you'll see in other art capitals. And when I'm out and about, I have a day bag. Epidavros Best-preserved theater of the ancient world, with unbelievable acoustics. If you want to experience a city as it is when the crowds are gone, go out in the morning. very easily. Steves suggests embracing them. Rick Steves European Travel Talk | Rick Steves shares the essential skills for smart European travel: itinerary planning, venturing off the beaten path, packing light, avoiding crowds (and. And your fans are still awaiting the release of your finds from last year. I might be a bit beyond the physical ability to travel the Rick Steves waybut I can still enjoy armchair travel via your posts and the Rick Steves guide books! [258] If you run out of toothpaste, that's not a problem. [229] Start your travel experience early by enjoying the planning stage. And Ill do it again, Lightweight Clothing Packing List for Men (or whomever), Osprey Daylite 40L wheeled duffel vs Eagle Creek Int'l Expanse, Packing report what worked and didn't June 2023, Rain pants in West and South Coasts of Ireland. Then in the morning (or night before) I pull the sleeve for the days activities. Most tourists don't want to get up that early, and those on bus tours staying outside the city, or day trippers, can't be there that early. These aren't efficiency tips, but they are 'value added' to me. I printed maps from google maps before my last 2 trips to Europe. All over Europe wherever there are tourists, you'll find tourist information offices. "Often, my travel partner and I will order one high-risk and one low-risk dish and at worst, we'll split the edible one. Play backgammon in Greece and Turkey. Nafplio Greece's first capital is a cozy port with an elegant old town, energetic street life, and a cliff-topping fortress offering dramatic sea-and-mountain views; handy to nearby ancient sites (Mycenae and Epidavros). He said this is the key to not wasting time in line and, instead, waltzing right in. You can also view all the collections of flowers that had been added to the external memorial at the church the days prior. "You can't see it all, especially in one trip, and that's a blessing," Steves said. I still have to cut one day. [226] It's time to say ciao to Venice and head for Tuscany. Switzerland I've also found many videos on YouTube showing a walking route from place to place including airport walks from the terminal to the train into town. Rick produces a best-selling guidebook series, a public television series, and a public radio show, and organizes small-group tours that take over 30,000 travelers to Europe annually. If you can't do that comfortably, go home, spread everything out on the living room floor, and reconsider. Toward Racial Justice: Voices from the Midstate. For me, I can remember places, first person, visually much better than reading maps. Don't buy new clothes, an overly fancy camera, or pricey gear for your trip. Rick Steves' European Travel Tips and Tricks - Twin Cities PBS Rick Steves' European Travel Tips and Tricks Watch Schedule About Watch Your Shows Many Ways Click over to tpt.org/shows to watch your favorite TPT productions and PBS shows, anytime and anywhere. With so many people traveling these days, if you're not on the ball, crowds can be a real problem. For major purchases this can be well worth the paperwork. Fred manages the schedules for our radio and television platforms. Lastly, I always look at church bulletin boards flyers. Good tours come with expert, passionate teachers for guides, small groups, and take full advantage of the built economy and efficiency that can come with group travel. Leave home healthy and rested. All of those go into a mesh zippered bag, and I throw them away as I reach the subsequent town. Favorite Rick Steves Carry-On Spinner/Wheeled Bag? Who knew the French CarreFour was a big deal in Spain? One reason I do this is that, except for my first and last stop, I often do not know when I will arrive in a given city or even, in some cases, what cities I will visit before I begin my trip.

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