Great new Rick STeves Tour Option

I hope it becomes a regular addition, as I want the logistics handled for some friends and I who want to do coastal Turkey, but we are all photographers and want to be on our own.... however, after a phone call they are not ready to add any other locations. Maybe begging will help...Love to hear if anyone has done this

pat, Are you referring to the My Way: Europe in 14 Days Tour. I believe these were implemented this spring, and they are really good value for those that prefer to plan their own sightseeing. I'd really like to know how well received these tours have been? The fact that there's only one on the list and it's discounted is perhaps an indicator? I plan to continue with the fully guided tours, as I like having a guide. I normally do some unguided travel on my own before and/or after the RS tours, so I also get to enjoy the "My Way" experience. Cheers!

There were only two Europe My Way tours scheduled this year. One coming up Aug 29th and one on June 18th. I was a member of the 1st one along with only 16 others. I think we all had a really nice experience. But with only 17 total on the first one and since they have not gotten to "Waitlist" or "Filling Fast" I am thinking this concept has not caught on. A real shame IMO! (Well Rick does teach us to travel on our own.) And this trip could have been done alone, but it sure was nice and easy to have the hotels and bus transportation arranged and an escort to help with suggestions. Plus 16 instant travel buddies. A few years ago they had a similar tour called Bus, Bed and Breakfast. That only last one year as I remember. I took this tour because even though I had been to all but one of the stops before I really wanted to go back. However I didn't need a guided tour as I had seen the major sights that would have been included. There were lots of things I had not been to yet in those places. I did re-visit some places but saw a lot of new places on my own. Plus I used Rick's Audio Tours several places also. There were several people on this trip on their 1st trip to Europe, others it was their first RS tour and 3 of us had been on a RS tour before. I have been on a regular RS Tour. The one thing that worried me about the My Way tour was that on the regular tours they provided either lunch or dinner each day. And on the previous trip those meals were outstanding. The unguided tour only included breakfast. But there was sthis fellow named Rick who had these guide books that had recommendation for dining. The escort had lots of suggestions also. There were lots of great meals had by all!!! If I was going some place new I would take a guided RS Tour. But for a 2nd visit to some places this tour was just the thing for me.

I personally don't like the idea of hoping in a bus (it's worse than a train or plane, it's not private transportation ad-hoc like a car), so I wouldn't take a RS tour (or any other bus-based tour) anyway. Yet, I think the concept might be interesting. Maybe they should consider refining and offering something like this: instead of having a bus and a fixed schedule, the conciérges in each city would take care of transportation to the next place also (reserving/buying train tickets, organizing station-hotel shuttles where applicable), instead of hauling people in a bus.

I wish RS would do a couple of singles tours (and not the creepy hook-up types). I travel all the time solo but there are some places I don't want to like rural Turkey, BFE Eastern Europe, etc. My husband has no interest and since there's no bar scene/beaches/shopping, none of the friends are interested either. I'd go on a regular tour but I might end up being 3rd wheel everywhere. I'm personally not into tour groups, but something like this, I would be all over.

Leslie, "I'd go on a regular tour but I might end up being 3rd wheel everywhere." Actually, that's NOT the case. I travel solo, and will be taking my fifth RS tour in a few weeks. There are always a few solo travellers on each tour, and not once have I ever felt that I was a "3rd wheel". Everybody is considered part of the group, and since we all share a common travel philosophy (otherwise we wouldn't be on a RS tour), the groups always seem to bond well. I'd suggest trying a RS guided tour to see what it's like. You may be pleasantly surprised! Cheers!

Thanks Ken for sharing your experience. I've done a guided tour only once and that was my first time to Europe a while back. I was with my sister and we 'adopted' the one solo traveler on our trip. I guess it's easy to think we were different in this regard but I'm sure if we were not there, others would be. I'll reconsider the normal trips.

LESLIE,, NO,, you would not be a third wheel on a RS tour,, there are almost always several singles on them, and groups of women,, and the atmosphere is VERY Rick Steves,, like minded travellers. On the family trip tour I took there were three of us women alone with kids,, and we were included with and mingled with all the other people ,,, Ricks tours are really quite different and no way should you hesitate.. I am actually really sad to read your post.. its wrong and old fashioned frankly.. Read the scrap books and tour feedback on this site,, you will see how very wrong you are,, look at the photos,, really, never ever hesitate because you are afraid of going single,, you do not need a partner to enjoy the travel experience!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 Andre,, the bus is WAY better then flying,, no comparison,, I would take a RS bus tour for 6 hours over a 3 hour flight any day. You can look at amazing scenery, you can stretch out,, you stop for a leg stretch and snack every two or three hours,, ha,, flying sucks in comparison. Trains are nice though,, but once on a long ride you are on,, no nice stops every two hours.

Robert thanks for posting. And even though I go on this forum almost every day,, this is the first time I had noticed this type of tour,, frankly, I don't think Rick advertizes it much.. I would think alot of non tour types who are a bit nervous about taking a Europeon Holiday but are afraid of being herded would jump at this in between type tour.

@Pat... I don't feel it is advertised much either. I just happened to find it and thought it was an amazing idea. Logistics handled, but lots of freedom. And travel partners to hang out with if you wish. I think the independent baby boomers would be the perfect market for this. There are times I would definitely consider it, and I am not a fan of organized tours. Too restrictive for me. As for single travelers on a RS tour...although you might find other single travelers there is also a chance you will end up being the only one. I think the trips described above might be really a good choice for single travelers... You do not have to be a part of a 'tour group' but there might be people to hang out with, or you can simply hang out by yourself, but know you do not have to deal with driving, etc.

IMO you are correct about the lack of advertising. On the June 18 Europe My Way Tour the escort told me that this tour was added last spring and was not published in the RS tour catalog. Thus it seems to me that the only way you would know about this tour would be to dig a little into the tour section of the web site. My feedback would be ...I hope Rick and staff give a My Way Tour another chance next year and run a few and properly promote them in the catalog. But I am sure there are other factors we know nothing about that affect these decisions. It is a business. In my business I have people tell me they want ______. I offer it and then they don't show up and pay up. Well I paid up and put my rear in a seat and had a great time. I think others would also. And therefore am being an advocate for the Europe My Way Tour and hope they promote it hard and then if it doesn't work end it as a tour option.
Just my opinion.

Rick made a big deal of this new tour earlier this year on this website when it was introduced. To echo, Ken and Pat, I've been a single on several RS tours and have never been the only one and have made friends with other singles and couples on each tour. There is always free time on a tour and it's nice to be able to go off on my own if I want to or to hang out with other tour members. The new tour doesn't appeal to me as the main reason to take a tour for me is the tour guide. RS guides are exceptional and add so much to the travel experience especially when visiting a country or area for the first time. I can see in Robert's case not needing a guide for a second visit. When I travel on my own, I want to make my own arrangements. This tour covers too much territory for my liking. It will be interesting to see if Rick continues to offer the tour.

Rick has periodically offered tours like this on is standard routes, including some country tours. What he calls them tends to change. Does seem like a good option, and probably the only way to follow Rick's itinerary at Rick's pace.

In 1979 they were called "Bus, Bed and Breakfast" tours. My husband and I and four children took the BB&B tour of Scandinavia and it worked out very well. Jonie

I just wanted to comment on being the only single or a 3rd wheel on a RS tour. Up until this year, my 5th RS tour BTW, I had always found other singles on my tours. However, this year, I was the only woman traveling alone and I did quite often feel like a 3rd wheel. I am shy sometimes about asking to be included in other people's plans, but after a few very lonely days, I overcame it and just invited myself along. In most cases it worked out great.

Seems like a good option for a lot of people. I know my wife and I would consider something like this in the future. Go Rick!

My husband and I and our 3 teenagers went on the Bus, Bed and Breakfast Best of Italy tour in 2003. It was a great option for us because we could choose to join the group when we wanted and opt out of things that weren't right for the kids (and not have to pay for it). I was sad to see that option disappear. I'll be watching for more "My Way" tours.

Andre L said: <I personally don't like the idea of hoping in a bus> Andre, I don't like "hoping in" a bus either, as it suggests something bad is about to happen. Now, "hopping on" a bus I'm perfectly fine with, and have found it a great way to see a new place. Sorry, couldn't resist ;>)

" On a bus"? Do they set up folding chairs on the roof for you to sit on. Now, that really would be a good place from which to see a new place. I guess in London you really could be "on the bus". In fact, prepositions are probably the most inexact and confusing words in a language. They seem to have no intrinsic meaning by themselves, only in context. I'm constantly asking myself, "what preposition do I use here?" Often a direct translation of the English one is not right. A German might say, "I in live in Schiller Str." I imagine him having dug holes in the street with his furniture at the bottom. On the other hand, we say we live on Main street, and I likewise visualize our carpet rolled out between the curbs and our funiture on it, and cars zig-zagging around between our bed and sofa. In fact we all live next to, or by, the street. Can't we say that? So, when a non-native-English speaker gets a preposition wrong, have some empathy. You'd probably get it wrong in his language, too.

The 2012 Tours are now posted and I noticed that there are 2 more 'My Way' tours listed (best of Italy and best of G/A/S). Originally, I thought I wouldn't take one of these tours since the first My Way tour was places I 've already been, but one of the posters above may have changed my mind. This may be the way to go. We'll see. :)