Would you rather travel with a group of 48...or 28? A different hotel every night...or 2-night stays? When comparing Rick Steves tours with other companies, take a close look at what's included, and how many extra-cost "sightseeing options" and tips you'll be expected to pay for once you're in Europe.
Here's what a Rick Steves tour includes — and why it matters!
A professional guide and local experts: Our guides are carefully selected by Rick and paid a full salary so their focus is on teaching, not shopping.
Guides from most tour companies make their income from tips and merchant kickbacks.
Group sightseeing: We include all tours and admissions in the price of our fully guided tours.
Many companies charge $50 to $100 extra for each sightseeing excursion. This adds up fast.
All group transportation: We'll get you from the tour's starting city to the ending city in the most efficient ways we know.
The transportation we use helps you get the most out of every minute of your trip.
A reasonable pace: Even our fastest-moving tour will nearly always have you enjoying two restful nights in each location.
Beware of frequent, one-night hotel stops — typical with lower-priced tours. They can really wear you out!
All breakfasts and other meals as specified: We'll give you a generous taste of the best local dishes and the freedom to make your own yummy discoveries.
Mainstream, 50-person tours rely on restaurants designed for tourists, not for locals.
A small, friendly group of just 24-28 people: We've built our tours around small groups to maximize our ability to sightsee, dine, and sleep where mainstream groups can only dream.
The goal of most tour companies is to fill every seat of a 50-person bus which limits options and can feel like a mob.
All tips: The tips for your guides and driver are included.
Most companies expect you to pay out-of-pocket for tips. This can add up to several hundred dollars!
Free guidebooks: With your tour you get a Rick Steves guidebook for your trip.
We help equip you with up-to-date information so you get the most out of your free time — no other tour company does this.
Guaranteed tour price: Your tour price is set the moment you book. We won't raise your "balance due" if our costs go up.
Many tour companies reserve the right to increase your price after you've signed up. We guarantee it will not change.
Tour alum discount: We give you a $50 discount for each tour you've taken with us.*
With our uniquely "cumulative" discount, the more you travel with us, the more you'll save.
Flexibility: Sometimes plans change so we offer options should you need to transfer or cancel your tour.
You can switch to a different date or destination — with no charge or penalty — up to 60 days before your departure date.
Fine print: On a fully guided Rick Steves tour, you are responsible for the cost of your drinks and free-time sightseeing. An "un-guided" My Way tour includes no sightseeing, admissions, lunches or dinners, and a tour manager is provided (not a tour guide). Everything else mentioned above applies equally to fully guided tours and My Way tours. The Tour Alum discount becomes valid the year after a tour is completed and can only be used on one tour per calendar year. For important details regarding everything listed above, see our Tour Conditions Agreement.
