Viking River Cruise not worth the time or money - Rick Steves
Feb 2, 2024 · Thank you for sharing your experiences, maddieroman2. I haven’t taken a Viking river cruise, and, despite the lavish appearance on their commercials, don’t believe I’ll be first in line to take one now. For over $30,000 one might expect a sublime tour, or at least not what turned out to have elements resembling a Viator bus tour.
Tour Company Vs On Your Own? - Rick Steves Travel Forum
Feb 28, 2017 · We research the tour company in depth and what all the tour included then booked the tour. The company has been wonderful to work with. What we really like is that the guided tour is limited to 16 people, thus in a smaller bus. I'll give you a report when we return. The 16-day tour has 5 afternoons/evenings of free time so we can explore on our ...
Travel beyond Europe - Good tour companies? - Rick Steves
Aug 26, 2023 · Knowledgeable guides, nice hotels, good itineraries. No more than 24 on a tour. We will travel with them again. Many of of the other tour members were also basically independent travelers but, like us, felt a need , especially for Egypt/ Jordan, to take a tour. We have never taken a Rick Steves tour but use his guide books when traveling in Europe.
Viking cruise Rhine getaway - Rick Steves Travel Forum
Apr 13, 2022 · Viking says that for 2022, the included tour is the walking tour around Koblenz. The optional excursions depend partly on your direction of travel, apparently. From the online itinerary for Viking's 2022 Basel > Amsterdam Getaway tour:
To tour or do it yourself around Europe - Rick Steves
Jan 23, 2009 · Only when it says "tour" will you actually tour something. When it says you have the "opportunity" to explore or tour, it means it's optional and not included in the price of the tour as does the word "option". The tour delivered exactly what it promised, nothing more. We stayed in very good American-style hotels.
Trafalgar European Whirl Tour - Rick Steves Travel Forum
May 24, 2015 · A tour director is someone who is responsible for and leads tours over multiple days and overnight stops. It is more responsibility. (A tour manager is the same as a tour director but that is the term used outside North America.) Rick Steves' guides are technically tour managers. However, he uses the term "guide" brilliantly for marketing purposes.
Viking Grand European Tour - Rick Steves Travel Forum
May 28, 2016 · The Grand Tour is the combined Rhine (Amsterdam to Basel) and Danube cruises. (Nuremberg to Budapest). I did those as separate tours in 08 and 10. There is an included excursion at every stop and usually a few hours of free time. I only remember a very few "optional" offerings.
How to tip $$$ a tour guide - Rick Steves Travel Forum
Jul 23, 2022 · For a group tour where you are being charged and the guide is salaried or the owner, I'd give no more than 2€ per person for an hour or so; you have an expected set price; a tip is icing. A private tour with a private guide, no tip is expected. You've negotiated the price and you pay the expected high price.
Tour Company Comparison - Rick Steves Travel Forum
Apr 19, 2024 · However, Rick Steves tours are limited to European destinations. A friend took a tour of Jordan with Gate 1 and had a wonderful experience. Be sure to take their “Discovery” tour which is more comparable to OAT (groups limited to 22, more inclusive of activities, better hotels).
Price comparison between a guided tour vs. booking everything …
Jun 6, 2023 · RS tour hotels are very conveniently located (and won't be cancelled last minute by flaky AirBnB owner.) If trains/metro on strike, tour manager and bus driver's job to figure out plan B. 1/2 dinners already planned (you don't have to find and make reservations.)