Curious about something...

There is nothing wrong with a coin flip. Sometimes the best way to make a decision.

I agree wholeheartedly, Frank.

Oh I absolutely get it. Asking for opinions. For instance, we are going on our first RS tour next year. Athens & The Heart of Greece. I was really torn between that one and Sicily. So I asked the forum. We decided on Greece first for several reasons.......the food is supposed to be fresh and great with an emphasis on seafood, its a very active tour so we figured we better do it while we are young, and many forum members said it is there favorite tour.

So, Sicily might be #2.
Anyways, asking for opinions helped us decide.

As far as advising your friends, all you can do is tell them of your experience and depending on their particular interests that will steer them in the right direction.
Of course you know what to do silly. You advise people on this forum all the time.

Thanks Tammy. I found your post where you asked for advice between the two tours. You mentioned a specific concern (about the length of bus trips), which I think helped narrow down some of the replies you got. And you made an objective decision based on activity level and food.

Maybe I'd just like to suggest to those who are torn between two different itineraries that you list out the pros and cons of each. Maybe identify the kinds of things that would tip the scales for you.

When my friends and family ask me for advice, I can have a conversation with them and try to get them to tell me what their goals are and why they are attracted to each of the options they're considering. It would be good to get some information like that from posters who need help making up your mind. In so many instances it really does feel like it's a coin toss.

One of my first posts here was asking an opinion on two different tours based on what I consider to be a great vacation. Tour companies boost that they are the best, offer things no other company does and so on. RS is no different. You really have to read the itinerary very closely as writers can make the most boring ride equal to a Disney adventure. So having input from someone who can give honest feedback is helpful. You can read RS reviews of tours on this website but they aren't the full review. Reviews on trip advisor are helpful but you have to read those carefully as well. I look for review details that are important to me, for instance museum time. I can only take so many museums before I go batty. I know I can call the office but they are trying to sell the tours. So someone not vested I trust more. This goes for any agency not just RS. I find reading trip reviews to be very helpful. Anyone answering the question offering feedback on the site seeing, length of time spent at areas of interest, amount of free time, start/end times of tour days, hotel locations.... these all help me to know if that tour suits my travel style. Without specifics, like you said, a general "It's a great trip" I might as well let a dart board decide.

When anyone asks me for travel advice. I immediately ask, "What do you like." Tell me more about what you like and don't like, and I can give you advice about what I think you should see.

As an example. My friend is getting married in a week. They are going to Europe on their honeymoon. He asked specifically about Copenhagen, one of their destinations. I know he's a woodworking artist/hobbyist, his dad was a forester, and he knows way more about wood, working with wood and woodworking tools than I ever will. My top recommendation is the Viking Ship Museum. The open air museum, where they build ships in the traditional style using period tools, will be a highlight for him.

I look at questions like this as being like starting a conversation, as opposed to looking for someone to make a concrete decision for them. It should be obvious to the poster that the best you can hope for are bits of info and opinions that might help, and from anonymous random strangers at that. I know that there were few people in my circle of friends that would have had experience to help when we started traveling more.

I think it has lot to do with the decision making process of the individual. My wife and I are completely opposite. She never likes to make a completely final decision. She likes keep the other door cracked just in case. I sometimes accuse her of always want to be right. I, on the other hand, am the type that once I make a decision it is done. I never (well almost never) look back. We made the decision. Now make it work. I am willing to spend a lot of time researching options and weighing the pros and cons but once the decision is made -- it is done.

I do think some come here and want support for the decisions that they have made. Unfortunately, with a couple of exceptions, consensus on this site is not common. Remember, if you ask the question, you need to be prepared to accept any answer.

On advice to give to friends or even strangers....it all depends on them, ie on numerous factors. Assuming there is no pressing (key word here) time constraint, health issues, or factors that could pose an obstacle to their travel desires,

I would ask about their interests, priorities, tolerance level on amenities, the trans-Atlantic flight, travel options in Europe (discount carriers, trains, buses, night trains, ferries, rental car, public transport, taxis, etc), what they can do without and sacrifice and vice versa, the financial amount they're willing to spend or not, Of course, the more they cannot do without, the more they can expect to pay.

Bottom line is how utterly desperate are they in wanting to visit the desired sights, ie see Paris, Berlin, London, Avignon, Brittany, Hamburg, the Baltic area, etc etc) before they physically can't, especially, if their finances are limited.

Would I rule out suggesting a guided tour, be it RS or his competitors, Global, ACIS, Viking, Am Ex, etc or any non-American groups? No, that is an option for them to decide to preclude it or not, depending on their philosophy on vacation, whether in their mind " travel is a political act" or they're totally indifferent or reject that view.

There are those on the issue of planning who totally enjoy it, see it as a matter of course leading to a successful trip, while others don't want to be bothered in the least by it, leaving all that tedious planning stuff to the tour company. My questions would be focused on where they stand on that and other travel factors.

Basically, I tell the friends or strangers that traveling is a trade-off of pros and cons, whether you are solo or with a guided tour group or with family/ friends. I point out that there are advantages/disadvantages to both ways of traveling...solo or with others.

If in a relationship, do you and your partner/spouse always stick together, day and day out, when out and about during the day, or are you willing to split up, each going his/her way, to rendezvous some hours later? Splitting up with the Mrs is no problem when we agreed where and when to meet up a few hours later.