Can number of days for tours be "cut short"?

Ann,

You may want to contact the travel center directly with your question(s): https://www.ricksteves.com/about-us/contact-us

You're in a forum populated with other travelers. Your question is really for the Rick Steves tour staff. I suggest you ask it by e-mailing [email protected].

For what it's worth, I'd be surprised if they would let you pay less for a shorter tour. Chances are they can sell the whole tour to someone else for full price. But what do I know?

Ann,
Another option... Have you considered planning your own trip?

You can start doing some research by reading a couple of travel guidebooks, then come back to this forum & post your questions ;-)

It seems highly unlikely that any tour company would let you pay only for the days you want to tour. Surely you could pay for the whole tour and leave early, but I wonder what Priscilla wonders...if you're only looking at the my way tour so you're mostly on your own anyways, and you only have 9 or 10 days, what's to stop you from planning your own very simple 2 or 3 location tour?

It's not hard to plan a little tour. What area interests you? If you're new to European travel, you could do something basic like London and Paris or Rome-Florence-Venice. The possibilities are endless:)

Is there the option of paying the RS company for consultation with a travel specialist to put a trip together for you that fits your time frame?

Which tours are you considering? Some tours are very hard to duplicate on your own (Alpine), some are pretty simple (Spain). Give us an idea of what you are thinking of and we may be able to help you plan something similar on your own with private guides or small tour groups as part of the trip.

Personally I think you are being unrealistic. We have left some cruises and tours a day or two early but did not expect to be reimbursed for the missed days. It was our choice. The are fixed costs associated with any tour - bus, guides, etc, - that will incurred even if you are only there for a few days. Your leaving doesn't reduce expenses. Finally there is the logistics of keeping track of everything. On Thursday we will 22 for the museum, dinner and the hotel but on Friday only 20 for the hotel. It just doesn't work that way. It is not a hop on, hop off tour.

Thanks for all the replies thus far. Our plan is to see a few highlights in Europe (Paris, Tuscan coast, maybe London, or a cool part of the Swiss Alps) in 9-10 days. I've been to Europe before, but it has been Many years. We like the idea of having a group to be a part of occasionally... just not having to spend the entire trip with a group. That 's why the Best of Europe "my way" was appealing. I am ok with getting ourselves around Europe, I just thought it would be easier and less pressure (and thus more time to really enjoy being with my daughter) if I didn't have to do all of the travel arrangements and hotel arrangements, etc. The way I understand it, the RS tours would take care of that "travel" aspect of the trip... and then I/we just "show up" and get on the bus or train or other mode of transportation... which is appealing to me! I welcome any other input from seasoned Europe travelers! :)

If you have 9-10 days, I would strongly recommend taking on of the shorter, regular RS tours. You will still have plenty of time on your own, but will make the most of that time by having in-depth orientation to the location. Read the itineraries and you will see that on most of those tours you have your entire afternoon/evening free to do as you will.
The My Way tours don't include tour guides or meals; you are paying for RS to arrange your local transport and hotel. I am sure the company has to reserve hotel rooms well in advance, which means that if you "bail" they are still responsible for paying for the number of rooms previously reserved as well as the transport buses.
If you are not interested in any of the shorter RS tours, you would be money ahead to plan your own independent travel for as many days as you have. Use the RS guidebooks to help you select hotels, restaurants, sights etc. Make use of the ample (and free) resources the company provides such as the audio tours.
It would be difficult to pull off any sort of "Best of Europe" tour in 9 days because transport consumes so much time. Consider selecting one area that is your highest priority and exploring that more comprehensively either with a RS tour or on your own. "Assume you will return."

Ann -
I agree with the previous poster's comments about covering so much ground in such a short time. We did the My Way Europe in 2013 and even with someone else doing all the driving, it was really aggressive for a 14 day trip. I think it would be a better plan to hit maybe London and Paris in 9-10 days, perhaps with a day trip to a chateau or what-have-you. Getting from point A to point B really does take more time that you think.
And I promise after 9 days on the tour, you will NOT want to leave!

Consider also a paid consult with a Rick Steve's employee....by phone or in person. See https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-help/plan-your-trip-with-our-expert-consultants