A few tour questions.

I am a single traveler who previously traveled independently with my late husband. RS tours have proven to be perfect for me. No hand-holding, plenty of free time, and others in the group have always been welcoming to single and couples. Hotels are well located to walk out into the middle of things. You handle your own luggage. I did one tour with another company that handled the luggage and prefer the RS method.
Looking forward to my 7th RS tour, hopefully some time next year.

From what you describe, you might focus on Rick Steve's My Way Tours. They take care of all of the logistics and you decide what you want to see.

Rick Steves My Way tours might be worth a look for you. However most of those probably go to places you’ve already been, if you are an experienced traveler. If you are looking at his regular tours, yes hotels are 95% centrally located. There are times hotels are agriturismos or resorts set outside a town. Then they wouldn’t satisfy your wish to walk around a town. But those are fully explained in each tour’s itinerary.

Thank you for the responses. I will take a look at My Way. For the most part in my travels I have focused on capital or larger cities. Spending a week or more at a time in places like London, Paris, Copenhagen with a few day trips. I like to wander a city and have no agenda some days. I am now thinking for seeing smaller cities and towns that are not as easily linked by public transportation. I hope to explore more of France, Spain and Germany. I like a tour the smaller places but am more than happy to explore cities on my own.

Thanks again. Its fun to think about travel again.

I am a man solo traveler. I don't have anybody who would travel with me. My top reason for traveling without a who-trip-guided-tour is, there would be too much contact with the other tour participants, too much need to talk to other tour participants. Secondary reasons may be, I could be out of place if I am only single man present, if everybody else is couples over about 60, and so on.

If those reasons stop me from signing up for a whole-trip-guided-tour, other reasons wouldn't matter.

On my own, i don't have to worry about having to converse with other tour participants during group restaurant meals, on private group transportation, while waiting with some of the group for the rest of the group to arrive, and so on.

I seem to do ok figuring out how to reserve rooms on booking.com, finding my lodging places, buying food from markets or grocery stores, navigating myself around a town, finding the sites I have advance tickets for, before the entrance time, and so on.

How were you able to manage the logistics for your previous solo trips? Why would some cities and towns be too hard to travel to on your own? (I hope that isn't too hostile sounding. I actually don't know. I have only taken 5 solo trips to 6 countries so far)

Wendy-- If you go on a Rick Steve's tour, I don't think you will be disappointed. We thought about "our way" tours, but instead decided to give an organized tour one more shot. ( We had spent alot of money on a renowned tour company only to be sadly disappointed). I went to a Rick Steves talk in SF and said, OK we will give organized travel one more shot.

Our tour was great. The people on the tour were great, our tour guide was great. We saw stuff we would never have seen if we weren't on the tour. There was no hand holding. There was "maximizing experience."

I know many single women who are traveling the world and enjoying it. I have women clients -- one goes camping in National Parks by herself , one goes on cruises alone, another is a widow who does trips that she and her husband had wanted to do. In fact on my RS tour there were many single women. But the great thing about these tours I find-- you can be alone when you want, but you have a ready made group to dine, to travel about, to talk to. You get assigned a buddy so you can't get left behind! We all have a buddy check before leaving a place.

These tours are perfect for introverts who don't want the pressure of having to be social. It just happens naturally without having to make an effort. I like to venture off by myself, and I can on these tours. Even my husband I would split up to see what we wanted. There is plenty of free time to do your own thing. I am not a group person, but I thoroughly enjoyed everyone who was on our tour. Everyone was great.

I think if you do a classic RS tour, you will not be disappointed at all and will have a great experience.

wendy, regarding location of hotels. Yes, they have been very central on all our RS tours. Thats his main criteria for locating hotels - that they be close to sights and public transport. It has to be on his tours, because the tour bus does not pick the group up every morning to take you around to sights. The group walks as a group, sometimes getting on the metro, to the sights. So its not like a handholding tour. Or you can always opt out of any day's activity. The bus takes you from city to city, but not within a city. The hotels have be big enough to accommodate the 24-26 people on the tour, so they're not the smallest, and sometimes they have turned out to be quite nice.

Each of our four tours have had 3-5 singles, some sharing rooms and some not. Yes, the age skews a bit high, but its always been a smart, low-maintenance group, and pretty fit. On our tours I'd say most of the people were experienced travelers, with only a few on their first time in Europe.

When you get further along, ask more questions, and for specific places, people who've been on the tour can tell you what hotels they've stayed at. We've not done My Way, but that sounds like a good fit for you. There are just fewer My Way itineraries. Note that you can always fit in days on your own before or after the tours, so can get good independent time.

Wendy, I have been on 7 RS tours as a solo traveler. The reason I love these tours (and I have tried a couple others) is I can have group time and solo time, I am close to the action in our hotels, I can opt out of activities if it works logistically and I let the guide know, I have people I can chat with if I want or I can immerse myself in the experience if I prefer. Rick Steves taught me to travel via his guidebooks so I love the hotels he chooses and the itineraries of his tours. I go early and stay after the tour so I have time to 'do my own thing' also. The company mission is education so you learn how to use the transportation system and other things to help you be comfortable when you strike out on your own. As to the solo vs couples or groups mix that has been different each tour. The majority is usually couples, but I have been on tours that had as many as 5 or 6 solos. I have particularly enjoyed the tours with an emphasis not on the big cities such as Village tour of Italy, Ireland tour, Scotland tour, but I also enjoyed the 7 Day in Rome tour which made me comfortable enough to return to Rome on my own a couple times on other trips.

My sample size is small as I've only been on one RS tour-Loire to the South of France and loved it. My wife and I are capable of travelling independently but wanted to give the tour a chance because it hit so many places on our bucket lists. It is pricey, but the value we got out of it was priceless. Yes, all of our hotels were centrally located, I think we only had 2 true solo travellers on our tour, but I get the sense they always felt welcome-both did make an effort to be part of the group.

I don't know if this will be useful, but here is the Trip reports I wrote on this forum about my experiences.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/tours/rs-loire-valley-to-the-south-of-france-part-1

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/tours/rs-loire-valley-to-the-south-of-france-part-2

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/tours/rs-loire-valley-to-the-south-of-france-part-3

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/tours/rs-loire-valley-to-the-south-of-france-part-4

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/tours/rs-loire-valley-to-the-south-of-france-part-5

Hi. I could echo so much of what other RS travelers have contributed. I have done both MyWay and guided RS tours. If I am going somewhere I have not travelled before, I like the added educational value the guided tours offer. Usually, my work schedule factors into tour selection, plus time of year. I frequently have my own agenda whether with a guided or MyWay tour. Haha, sometimes, I over schedule myself with to-dos. I remember doing this on MyWay Alpine. Half way through, I was exhausted and decided to kick back, go with the flow and get to know some others on the tour. It was such a relief to toss my agenda and be open to what came my way.

In my experience, hotels are centrally located with ATMs and usually small grocery stores near by. Since I am usually doing my own thing pre and post tour, the central locations have worked for me.

Alone time: I do not share a room since my alone/down time is important. One can opt out of scheduled tour itinerary items - tell the guide and be on the bus are the major requirements. There certainly have been times when I needed a vacation from my vacation - and then found out some other tour members were taking a time-out too. My time-outs included a day by the pool at an agriturismo; a day on the beach at Levanto; and a day on my own in Delft. Eating - large meals later at night are not my preference, but there really are not that many, and I suppose you could opt out of some of those, too. Usually, I enjoy the socialization. Bus time and seating - each tour I have been on with a bus has had adequate seating for each individual, though couples often choose to sit together. Sometimes later in the tour, they migrate to their own seats. I always appreciate this down time. Hanging with others - it has been rare to want company and not be able to find it. The MyWay tour was unguided, but the group developed really close connections. Equally, one can go off on one's own on the plentiful non-scheduled time.

I have my eye on a few tours - some repeats. Will I have the courage to travel if things open up later in 2021? Still on the fence....

I'll chime in with another sample size of one: On the single RS tour I've done there were a couple of times I has a specific interest that were not on the itinerary. the guide was helpful in giving me pointers and directions sending me on my way. This happened both during "free time" and also when I split off from the group activity.

I would like to add to my previous response.

Like you, I am an independent traveler who has taken tours when it wasn't that easy to get to places via public transportation. However, I may change that policy.

Rather than longer two week tours, I am now looking at either one day or 2-3 day tours that reach more of an itinerary I am interested in. I found that on the longer tours at least 1/3 of the activities/sites planned were not really to my interest and there were other stops I would have preferred. On amost all the tours I would take one or two days off from the group and go do things on my own.

I actually prefer making my own hotel reservations so I know exactly where I will be staying and try to find places that are good logistically to what I have planned in the area.

Three of the tours I took were with Rick Steves' company. Some of the hotels were not that centrally located.

Here's a ramble of thoughts:
I've travelled solo four times with Rick Steves and seven other times with my daughter. I had a great time either way. I've also done two Road Scholar European tours - which were good but much more hand holding and with fancier hotels and a different clientele.
The group size varied on my previous tours with Rick from 18 to 28. The youngest tour member was 13 traveling with her mom and grandma and the oldest in his 80s. Most people are very fit walkers - or they make arrangements to do other things during any group activity that might be strenuous. And you can opt out of anything - just be sure to let your guide and 'buddy' know when and where you will meet with them again.

Now with the whisper headphones you get so much history and other information while on a group walk. The main guide is great and some truly outstanding. The local guides are also very good. And, of course, you get the relevant RS guide book so you have some information of what to do in your free time.
During free time I usually head off to any close by hikes or see a museum that is not included as a group. The amount of free time a day varies from the whole day to just several hours.

When I took the Eastern European tour I was afraid that all those hours on a bus would be awful. But that wasn't true at all. We stopped at some interesting place about every two hours and while moving along the guide would spend 10 - 25% of the bus time either talking about history, giving us some language lessons, handing out tasty regional treats, answering questions.
I was looking forward to Bulgaria and the week long London tour last year. Although I've 'done' London several times on my own I wanted to do so again with a guide as I've discovered I enjoy and learn so much more than when I do a place on my own.
Oh and some of the hotels have been so charming. But basically you don't spend too much time in that hotel. And all seem to give great breakfasts. And the group dinners are usually very very good. Much better I thought than the Road Scholar ones. Sometimes there have been surprise lunches.

One great thing is that we usually started out early! Which meant we got to sites right when they opened. That meant on my Sicily tour that we would be coming out of a place (that we had basically to ourselves) right when 8 or more cruise tour buses would be unloading a mob of people.
I've looked at the my way tours but, for me, the regular tours are the best - although the alpine tour is really tempting!

Look at some of the old scrapbooks. They give a teensy glimpse of what a tour is like. My daughter even posted one of our last tour!
Isn't it fun to plan that future travel? I just wish it wasn't so far away.
Happy travels to you.

I have done both fully guided as well as a My Way Tour. I can say that both styles of travel have been very enjoyable. The fully guided tours are so educational and take you to places that you might not even realize are a possibility, ie. touring a water buffalo farm to see the care of the animals and making of mozzarella cheese followed by a private meal of fresh veggies and cheese. You might also find yourself at a wine pairing or pasta demonstration. These opportunities are unlikely as an individual tourist, but common on the guided tour. The My Way Tours give you care free logistics of travel between cities as well as hotel reservations. I enjoy the planning phase of travel, so the My Way Tour allows for that. As far as the hotels go I personally I find the RS hotels all part of the ambience and adventure. I have to say that there hasn't been one hotel that I can complain about. If you are looking for a stay at the Four Seasons, you will be disappointed, but the rooms where we have stayed were more than adequate, clean, and have friendly, helpful staffs in great locations. Both tour formats run smoothly, it just depends what kind of experience you are looking for.

Wendy, there is a wealth of information above but here is a description of a typical routine for a RS visit to a town.

Arrive in the late afternoon. The bus may have to drop you off outside the city walls and you walk a couple of blocks with your luggage. At the hotel the guide will sort out the room assignments, pass out the keys and you will have perhaps 30-60 minutes (maybe longer) to get settled. Then you will all meet back in the lobby for an orientation to the neighborhood, typically the city center square. You may be headed for a group dinner or just a walk around. The guide will point out good restaurants (and avoidable ones). Then you are released to find your own supper. Often informal groups will form up spontaneously based on the restaurant choice of the evening. In the event of a group dinner there will typically be large tables. Occasionally the guide may buy wine for the group from their discretionary funds or one may order from the wine list or just get a soft drink. There will be menu choices that you may have had to make earlier on the bus. Vegetarians will be taken care of and any food allergies accommodated.

The next morning you will go to breakfast in the hotel at your own time but allowing time to be able to meet at the prearranged time - usually 8 or 8:30, sometimes 9ish, The breakfast will usually be buffet style and "interesting". Then as a group walk or take the local metro (tickets provided) to whatever sites to be seen that day. You will typically have a top notch local guide. The tour will usually wrap up around 12 or 1. If you are in a museum you may have a day pass that allows you to go back to revisit or see what you missed. The guide(s) will offer suggestions, answer questions and generally point you to whatever interests you. Again, subgroups may form based on plans for the afternoon.

The above is a snapshot of what may occur. Conditions vary and the tours adapt to the sights to be seen and the time available. Sometimes you break for lunch on your own and meet back up. Other times there may be a group lunch.

You asked about the hotels - I mentioned "inside the walls". We often found this to be in France and Italy which does call for a short walk from the bus parking lot or the drop off at the city gate. Hotels are nearly always family run and smallish (20-25 rooms). Some would say the have "character". We stayed in one that dated from the 1100's. The walls were 3 feet thick and the stairs worn into a "U" shape. The room was lovely and they had added a modern bath.

I suggest you try a RS tour. I went on my first one dragging my feet but have now been on 6 and had another cancelled for Covid.

Robbie the tour sounds very similar to ones that I have taken in the past. I like the combination or guided sightseeing in the morning a free time in the afternoon. I am strongly leaning towards one in the future. No travel for me till the 2022-2023 school year when I am off. I had my first covid vaccine today and the government of Canada is spacing ours out four months or so. My second shot may not even occur before I return (hopefully) to in person teaching in the fall. So even if Europe is opened to travel this summer I will not travel.

I am good with the small local hotels. Most companies I have used stay in the centre of town. I just wondered about Rick Steves because on the few occasions I went on tours with more than the 15 I am use to it was a bus or taxi ride into town for dinner and you usually ate in the hotel for dinner.

Thank you everyone for the great advice. The tour would be part of a longer trip in Europe which would be a combination of solo travel, a 10 day food tour of Italy and maybe one or two group tours. Thinking about 2-3 months in Europe, under the 90 day limit of course.

"I just wondered about Rick Steves because on the few occasions I went on tours with more than the 15 I am use to it was a bus or taxi ride into town for dinner and you usually ate in the hotel for dinner."

I've never had this occur on a Rick Steves guided tour. On the nights where you are in a more remote location (thinking the agritourismo locations on some of his Italy tours) then there are group meals for those nights. The meals are at the agritourismo but they are generally excellent using local food. I've never eaten a group meal in a hotel on any of the 11 Rick tours I've done except for the 2 nights at the agritourismo on the Village Italy tour. No standard hotel meals at all....

I have also done 11 Road Scholar tours and they are sometimes more hotel dining room group meals, so I know what you are talking about. IF it's a food-related Road Sch tour the meals are all local restaurant meals. I did the Art of Living in Provence tour where the food was lovely and wine was served with every group meal which is unusual for that tour company.

You've gotten many replies from solo travelers on Rick Steves tours so I'll skip my praises as a solo traveler and say...just go, lol!

Your plans for 2-3 months sounds wonderful. The year I was able to start some focused international travel I wound up with 3 back to back to back Rick Steves tours over 8 weeks with some non-tour time thrown in. I started in London on my own, went to Haarlem to pick up his Best of Europe tour which ended in Paris. In Paris I did the Best of Paris tour, added a week with a friend there, then flew to Italy to meet up with family and do the Village Italy tour. I was not ready to come home at the end except I'd bought too many scarves and my convertible backpack was too heavy for me to lift any more,lol!! Fun time!