Picky Eater

Gretchen, no one has to eat any of those things on any tour. And the only meal always included is breakfast, all lunches are on your own and half your dinners too ,, dinner on the RS tour I took were all very harmless. I don't eat liver and don't drink beer ( acohol is on your own bill, you order what you want) . I think you are worried about nothing .. We had people on our tour with severe allergies to peanuts ( life threatning ones) and we had several people who had to eat completely gluten free because of Celiac. Taking or not taking a tour has nothing to do with it .

Liver and goat cheese are easily avoidable. Non-alcoholic beverages are always an option. Tell your husband that European meals are far more varied than mandatory liver-and-goat-cheese sandwiches served with beer...

Good answers all - - - But to be serious for just a mo ... When you go to breakfast, on your own or (I really hope) with a RS tour, if you have a buffet spread you should look out for the sausage plate or tray. Most sausages will be liver-free but it is highly likely that one or two of the softer sausages will be liver. Goat cheese has never been anything mainstream but it is available if you look for it. Easily avoided anywhere. Nobody will force beer on you. Even in a biergarten (beer-garden) it is easy to get non-alcoholic drinks, and if you drink wine that is usually easily available.

I have a picky husband...lets just say we eat lots of pasta and pizza when travelling! And the occasional McD's (boo - I know)..and neither of us drink alcohol - no taste for it...we get along fine (I will say I'm not that adventurous either, and I swear, our last trip, I think I gained 2 lbs!)

Which countries are you touring? Here in Germany e.g. we're not made to eat liver and goat cheese all the time... nor do we only drink beer ;-) Can I ask: What do you like to eat (apart from nuts)?

I don't eat liver, and I never had a problem with having plenty of wonderful food choices on Rick Steves' group tours. Breakfasts are usually European type buffets....yogurt, cheese, fruit, cereal, sometimes a meat or two, various breads, maybe egg, etc. For the included lunches and dinners, we were typically given a choice of two entries (which we usually chose that morning), so the guide could give an early order to the restaurants. You will NOT be a pain on a group tour......just let the guide know ahead of time, pack the nuts or pick up some snacks along the way, and you'll be fine. If you don't make a HUGE deal out of what you don't like or can't eat by announcing it to everyone at each meal, no one will even notice during group meals.....they will be too busy enjoying their own meals, talking, and laughing as a group. I don't eat seafood, and I just pass any seafood platters to the next person when family-style meals are served. Go, have fun, and enjoy.

We had people that were allergic to certain foods on our tour. The guy was lactose intolerant and she didn't eat onions or garlic. They were accommodated at each meal. When you do your RS medical release there is a place to write about your dietary restrictions. I don't think you should have any problem with liver. It has never been an option, that I recall, except for pate. The goat cheese has been available, just don't partake. As for alcohol, it is on your coin, don't order any. However, sometimes the guide will provide wine, I don't recall ever having a beer option. There may be one for Belgium, but not for the Best of Europe Tour.

My husband is super picky at home but becomes another person in Europe. He`ll try and enjoy almost anything over there. Have your snacks at the ready but you might surprise yourself.

I'm traveling with my sister who is a Mormon. That means no coffee, no wine and what ever else she can't have. In Italy yet, where coffee and wine are huge! I will not think she's a pain. People have a right for any reason not to eat or drink something they don't like or can't have. Please don't worry what people think. Just have a great trip!

Tom and Ralph -- Hee Hee! Gretchen, I hope that everyone's answers have given you some ammunition (I mean reasoned, logical information) to use against (oops, share with) your husband. You'll be just fine!

My husband and I both don't eat seafood, and we managed in places like Venice and Brittany just fine. We just spent two weeks in Britain and my husband hates beer. However, he found hard ciders on tap and was more than happy in any pub we went to. Just keep an open mind about stuff you don't usually eat but are willing to try.... it's easy enough to avoid the things you know you don't like or that you know you can't have.

Well I'm not an overly big fan of liver but in Venice it's fantastic. Take your protein bars or whatever and enjoy yourself. We have taken an RS tour and not once found that the lunch/dinner or whatever didn't have something we liked and could eat (OK I could eat a steel safe with garlic on the side) but husband, ah, not so much.