Rick Steves’ Europe  —

Specializing in small group Europe tours, guidebook author and travel TV host Rick Steves is America’s most respected authority on European travel. In 1976, he started his business, Rick Steves’ Europe, which has grown from a one-man operation to a company with a staff of 80 full-time, well-traveled employees headquartered in Washington state.

Rick Steves’ tours are active, all-inclusive, small group (24-28 max.) guided tours, packed with sightseeing excursions to Europe’s most fascinating destinations.  Rick is adamant about hiring guides he personally knows and trusts, and who share his love for Europe and passion for teaching.    Accommodations are charming, centrally-located, often quaint family-run hotels full of personality, and with 2-night stays at each hotel, guests can enjoy a more relaxing vacation.  Be prepared for stairs though, as many of the hotels they choose don’t have elevators.  Private bathrooms are the norm, but on a couple of tours a small chance exists that for one or two nights your bathroom may be down the hall.  Solo travelers won’t pay the mandatory “single supplement” but instead share a room with another tour member of the same gender. For those who prefer their own room, they offer a limited number of optional single supplements on all tours for an additional fee.

They also offer money-saving un-guided My Way tours.  These tours combine with the comfort and security of traveling in a small group with a tour manager with the freedom and independence of exploring and sightseeing on your own. They’ll arrange comfortable rooms in centrally-located hotels, private bus transportation from city to city, and a savvy tour manager to help advise you along the way.