From what I have read Imprint Tours has the same values as the Rick Steve tours but goes to areas not in Europe. The founder Reid Coen was a tour operator for Rick Steves tours for something like 23 years. Their tours look great and am interested in the Southern Africa tour (specifics are not out yet but a past program looked great).
Any reviews about your Imprint Tour experience would be appreciated.
Sarah Murdoch (also RS guide/light packing maven) also leads tours for Imprint. I haven't been on one but plan to do so in the near future. Google the website for itineraries. It seems as if they are structured like the RS tours, with a mix of guided and free time every day. Sarah and Reid's tours are in places Rick doesn't have tours, a big plus for those of us who have been on numerous ETTBD tours to Europe.
I'd add to Andi's post by saying if you are on FB "like" Sarah's page and follow her. She is or has just been in Morocco leading an Imprint tour. Pictures are wonderful!
Although I've never traveled with Reid or Sarah I'd trust their arrangements and their skills as guides.
I actually took a Imprint Tour in February of this year to Vietnam with an add on 4 days in Cambodia. The tours are designed very much like Rick's tours. Both Sarah and Reid still work for Rick Steves, they do these tours during the winter time when Rick Steves is not touring.
I looked at a couple of their tours to places I have been and they look like reasonable itineraries. I will keep them in mind for our trip to Morocco.
Although I sent a private message to LF, I wanted to respond here as well in case others are interested in Imprint’s Southern Safaris tour or other Imprint tours.
I took the Southern Safaris tour last year and loved it. It followed Rick Steve’s travel philosophy, which is what I wanted. I have never taken a Rick Steves tour so I’m basing my opinion on what I have read. Almost everyone on our tour, except my husband and I, had traveled with Reid in the past, on either a RS or Imprint tour. I think that speaks volumes about Reid.
I too am interested in hearing more about Imprint as a 7-time Rick Steves tour taker. However, I can't seem to find any reviews of Imprint anywhere on their website or elsewhere -- has anyone else found any?
Specifically, I'm wondering how the level/quality of hotels and amount of free time compare to Rick Steves tours. I am also curious to know the average age of Imprint travelers. I am a solo female traveler in my late 40s and like the diverse age range of my Rick Steves tour mates.
We took our first Imprint Tour (to Peru) last November and will certainly travel with them again. The philosophy is definitely similar to that of RS, as was the mix of free and scheduled time. Although Reid was on the trip, our local guide, a Peruvian named Diana, was our de facto tour leader and was absolutely superb. My guess is that that Reid’s goal is to always have experienced tour leaders (for example, Sarah Murdoch of RS) in addition to top notch, in-country guides. Hotel quality was similar to what we expected on our RS tours. The company is not large and tours seem to fill quickly. All others in our group had travelled with Imprint before – everyone was delightful. Of the 22 in our group, I would estimate that four were in their 30s to 40s and the remainder late 50s, 60s and early 70s. Several were single travelers. This tour did require a good level of fitness for climbing steps to the Amazonian Lodge and scrambling around Machu Picchu, etc. – a higher level of fitness than the RS tours we’ve been on.
I was on an Imprint tour of Thailand last February with Sarah Murdoch leading, I loved it. Our Thai guide Ae was amazing. The tour was comprehensive and I felt like I really experienced Thailand. Having been on several RS tours I can say they are very similar in terms of the the type of activities scheduled. Also I found my fellow tour members similar in disposition to those I meet on RS tours. With Imprint, I feel like I’ve found the tour company I have been looking for to see the rest of the world beyond Europe. Going to Egypt with them in March.
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