best time to go

There are no advantages so go this year; a lot can happen between now and September of 2020.
Maybe you would like more time to save up for a trip between now and September 2020 versus now and September 2019.

I don’t know the answer to this, but is there a minimum age limit on a Rick Steves’ tours? I know the minimum age for the family tours is 8 years old.

You do get an early booking discount when the tours are posted. That time has passed for 2019. Of course, the rates could go up for 2020, no telling. Kids grow fast and next year they might not want to be with you, so I would say sooner rather than later. And that age is fine for any RS tour.

We plan to do the Best of Europe with your 16 year old daughter...

Hey! Leave my daughter out of your travel plans!

Why wait?

I agree with Jazz+Travels, unless there is a budget or personal reason not to travel this year, why delay the travel. This will be a great experience for your daughter and son. Not only will they enjoy the experience of travel, but will learn a lot about history and art/architecture, which will benefit them in their studies.

My husband and I took my Godson (15) and nephew (13) to a 2 week trip in France. During that school year, I don’t know how many times I got a text on how our visits to the Roman ruins helped my Godson on his tests. It was amazing to me as I couldn’t get their eyes off the phone half the time, how much they actually picked up.

Enjoy your trip,
Sandy

The tours do change from year to year, sometimes a lot, sometimes a little, and sometimes not noticeably at all. Prices do change, but never go down (unless there is a major disturbance in the foreign exchange markets). So if you like the stops on the tour this year and can afford the tour plus the air fare, go for it this year. If you all decide you like the tour, you could then take another one next year.

FastEddie: LOL.

I would go THIS year.. because next year your 17 yr old may have a summer job or an internship or a boyfriend.. lol ..

My kids all had summer jobs .. but I guess thats not a thing for some families.. its wasnt about us not being able to pay for college but about them learning to contribute.. just saying.

I'd carpe the diem out of this and go in 2019.

I hope you can spend a few days ahead and a few days at the end of the trip. At the very least plan to arrive the day before to Paris. If you can do 2 days ahead, even better. It's good to allow some flex time in case there are disruptions in your travel plans due to airline delays as well as the fact that there is so much to see in Paris that you can't even cover the highlights in the short time frame this tour has!