R S Trips For Older and Slower Travelers

Since we are not getting any younger, we too would like to see some slower paced tours. As it stands now, unless it is a matter of getting from Point A to Point B, the only option one has is to opt out of an activity. We did that once when the footing appeared to be too dicey for my old knees. And on one occasion some of the 20ish folks decided to make it an aerobic test, so we had to simply go at our own pace and enjoy an abbreviated excursion.

If you decide you want a slower paced tour you might look at Road Scholar. Not ALL of them are slower paced than Ricks but their Activity level rating is fairly accurate right now.

I appreciate a company that stays in its own lane and doesn’t try to be all things to all people, thus weakening those things that made them stand out in the first place. Age isn't necessarily a determining factor- witness the many seniors who are capable of fully experiencing the current offerings by RS. Physical ability, and the lack thereof is the problem. At that point it is time to look for other options with other companies.
And even there, there is no guarantee that your particular limitations can be catered to.

I keep hoping as Rick, too, is getting older & surely will start to slow down one of these days, he will reconsider and at least offer a few of these 'less active' tours. In the meantime, I count on my steroid shot in my knee working for me and taking along enough pain pills &/or ointments for the tour. l am determined, but have noticed a couple times I have to opt out of activities.....mostly so as not to slow others on the tour down.

We decided years ago that when we could no longer keep up with the guide, it would be time to quit Rick Steves tours. So far, so good.

We've been on tours with younger (40s) people who have had to sit out activities, and older (80s) who outdid us easily. We're in our mid-70s (well, maybe a bit more than mid lol,) and we find the pace of the tours perfect. We have opted out of some of the activities, when we thought we might not enjoy them; this is always an option on the tours, except on travel days.

I think we've been the oldest tour members on at least two tours, maybe three. I must say I'm still delighted when there's someone on the tour older than we are, and I'm amazed at the stamina some of those folks have. Well, all of them actually; I don't think we've ever been on a tour where people in their 80s were holding up the group.

I will say there was one trip where I may have been the weakest link; I evidently came down with what a doctor in Palermo called "A really ugly case of bronchitis." After treatment and a trip to the emergency room, the tour guide and I decided I could continue on the tour. I assured him that I would not hold the group up, and I didn't. I skipped excursions when I was tired, and accepted gratefully the help of tour mates when they saw me carrying my luggage.

For those who need a slower pace, what about My Way tours? I know you don't get the use of a full time tour leader, but you can schedule each day to suit your wants/needs/abilities.

And I'm noting the tour companies other folks here are suggesting for slower paced tours; we may be looking them up sooner rather than later!

Love the responses. Thank you.

I take a cruise once a year with some days pre-cruise and some days post cruise. I am not seeking an organized tour but I would consider one if Rick offered a trip for older and slower people. I would also consider a cruise offered by Rick Steves. Maybe one day. I am unable to keep up with the current trips that R S offers.

And there's always the My Way tours that allow you to go at your own pace for much of the tour, at least for the sightseeing part. And it seems that occasionally there are more My Way options becomming available and maybe in the future RS will offer more and more of them. That will make them a viable option to the more strenuous regular tours, without changing Rick's tour philosophy.

Nancy,

I am going to check out My Way tours. I do not understand what they are. Are they affiliated with R S. I have seen members in this forum posting about them.

My Way® European Vacations - on the Our Tours page, scroll down to find My Way(r) Tours. They are Rick’s tours.

Yes, they are RS tours, just not fully guided. They are basically hotel accomodations, transport between locations when required. All, or most, sightseeing is at your option and meals, except breakfasts at hotels, are not included - I think there's usually a get acquainted dinner at the start of the 'tour'. You can find them among the list of RS tours on the website. Here's a link to the page on the website that explains them.

For what a couple pays for a Rick Steves tour, you can travel independently and just use a car service to get you from Point A to Point B, if you can't easily reach your next destination by train. You don't have to be a math major to figure this out.

Sigh….. first of all, Boston Phil is a solo traveler. Secondly, it is time to give up the mindset that “ I can do it myself cheaper.” Of course you could travel from place to place, etc and it would probably cost less money. BUT, that is not the same as a tour experience. Independent travel is great and has some real advantages. That doesn’t mean that joining a tour isn’t also great and have advantages of its own.

I found My Way Tours. I like what little I saw. I will check them out later.

One problem is the stairs at hotels. How many flights of stairs do you usually have to walk up? This might be a possible problem for me.

I read that there are no toilets on the bus but there is a rest stop every two hours. Is that about accurate. Do you usually stop every two hours for a break. And are there toilets, food, beverages /???? At what kind of places do you stop at every two hours.

To be continued

I respect how RS wants to stick to his brand. Fortunately as mentioned above there are other options.

Bostonphil7, I don't think I've ever been on a tour without a stop at least every 2 hours. It's not only a bathroom issue but also a safety issue for the driver.

Carol, yeah, everyone is different. What may be expensive to me is nothing for someone else. When I tell friends or colleagues we're going to Paris, etc., they think I'm rich. Nope. Just a nobody teacher and coach who sets aside a few hundred dollars per month and drives old cars and no debt. I'd guess $1,000 to me is like $10 for some folks. Nothing.

Shouldn't it be called "Your Way Tours"?

Hi, bostonphil7! I'm older (77) and slower (bad knees + a medication that slows my heart rate) and I'd also like to experience tours of RS quality, style and price range that move at a bit slower pace. I have no problems getting around on the self-planned parts of my trips, but as I've pointed out before, there does seem to be a tendency for some RS guides to walk rapidly to a gathering place, then wait for the slower folks to catch up.

Sometimes people are slower because they are like me and sometimes they're taking pictures. What happens is that the fast group gets to rest and chat while they wait the very few minutes needed for the rest of us to catch up and we never have that luxury. Keeping in mind that the pace of a group is always affected by the slowest ones, it seems odd to me because it takes the same amount of time as it would if we walked at a slightly slower pace, one in which we never got out of range of our headsets.

Every RS tour I've been on has had someone (in addition to me) with some pacing or other issues that affected their ability to keep up with the larger group or to participate in some activities. All but one of the RS tour guides I've had were helpful with that, but to varying degrees of understanding of what was challenging and what wasn't.

I was interested in this quote from the email you got: "We’ve discussed offering slower paced tours, using hotels with elevators and/or porter service and allowing more time to complete group activities/sightsee, and building in more free time in a tour." I wonder if that's based on any research or consultation with anyone in the demographic they are excluding from their tours because of their strenuousness? To me, that sounds like their definition of that demographic is several steps down from what might actually be needed.

I'll also be taking a look at other options than a traditional RS tour, especially ones mentioned in the responses to your question. Thanks for asking it.

Bostonphil7, the buses do have toilets, but since the driver has to clean them, we are usually asked not to use them unless it's an emergency. The bus stops at (usually very nice) rest stops at least one every two hours: EU rules for the safety of the driver.

One tour we were on had a woman who had to use the bus toilet frequently; she was one of the over-80s, but other than bathroom issues she could outwalk and outhike all but one or two of the rest of us.

Another recent tour had a couple of people who did use the toilet; it's there if you need it.

Do you have any other concerns? Oh, stairs. That varies a lot. Most hotels do have an elevator, but not all do. I think the highest floor my husband and I have ever been on was the third, in Paris (so equivalent to our fourth floor.) That hotel did have a very tiny, very slow, elevator that some people used.

I respectfully disagree that a My Way tour is an alternative if you feel like a RS is too challenging physically. For those of us that are aging ( less than gracefully) the RE hotels are a part of the problem. You can opt out of a part of a day’s tour walk, but you can’t opt INTO an elevator, a walk in shower or tub/ shower with safety bars, or a bed that doesn’t leave you with aching joints. For us, the My Way tours don’t give you the most important advantage- the knowledge and insight of a guide to deepen your knowledge of what you are seeing. If you are going to forego those guided tours, you will be money ahead just traveling independently. If you like RS hotels, most of them will cost you under 100E a night. All you need to do is figure out transport.

Hi. Re hotels and stairs - you can always phone the RS office and ask about the particular hotels on the tour/date you have in mind. I did the MyWay Alpine and don't recall any hotels without elevators, but it is always good to ask. Also, the guides get a pretty good understanding of who can go where, not that you can count on that for a ground floor room, but the guides are not completely insensitive to the tour members' needs.

Why MyWay? I travelled solo and spent some time on my own and lots of time with the many, many friendly tour members I met. Our group was especially congenial, maybe because we kind of looked out for each other. The tour leader (not officially a guide on MyWay) is definitely there to provide assistance, knowledge, expertise, etc. I often spend some days pre or post tours on my own, but when I know I am joining the tour - when the suitcase goes under the bus - then the vacation really starts. The pressure is off. I just have to get myself to the bus, not run for trains, etc. Yes, I suppose being solely independent would be less costly - I can also imagine I might spend most evenings eating alone in my room, too. For me, MyWay worked out.

I must say, I already had ideas of what I wanted to see and how I wanted to spend my time in each location. While there isn't the formal schedule with tickets to museums already purchased, there is the opportunity for camaraderie, a knowledgeable leader, and less logistical agitation. If the MyWay itineraries appeal to you, it might be worth checking out some of the scrapbooks on this website and getting your specific questions together to ask this forum or the office.

Okay. I have been wondering about this bathroom issue since starting to read Rick Steves forums. The question is...why are individuals who paid to take a RS tour discouraged from using the bathroom on the bus "because the bus driver has to clean it"? Huh! Is it not part of his job? I keep reading this over and over. There has to be something I don't understand. Can someone please explain it to me so I don't have to wonder anymore?

Thanks!

Traveler Girl

travelgirl, this is way overblown. Some people need a reminder that planning ahead is always a good idea, and that the coach will stop regularly for breaks.

And I've encountered this on non RS coach travel as well. It's not forbidden to use the lav, it's just encouraged that you avoid using unless necessary. It's not just that the drive has to clean it, it's because the driver may not have an opportunity to do so or to dump the contents for a whole trip. Those coach lavatories make an airplane restroom look absolutely spacious. They are very uncomfortable and you get bounced around like a bobblehead while in there. With an un-dumped tank, they can start smelling quickly. Smelling up the bus as well. The driver sometimes stores things he might need during the day, but they dont complain if someone needs to move them. I've seen people use them on RS tours, and nothing was said to them. We are adults and all understand what needs are.

I would suggest looking into an Odysseys Unlimited tour. They stay in more upscale hotels that have elevators and they take care of your luggage (one piece) for you. The groups are small like RS tours. You could call them if you are interested in a particular tour and tell them your needs and concerns and they could advise you if that tour would work for you. The staff at Odysseys is very helpful and knowledgeable. We have done six tours with them. Their Scandinavia tour was an easy one. There was not a lot of walking and it was not strenuous. I hope this helps.

and Tauck Tours also is more of a hand-holding, luxury hotel kind of tour, with baggage handling and local transport. Much more expensive, but I think thats what it's going to be to provide the kind of service being discussed.

I wonder if Sage Traveling might be as useful a resource for the older, slower tourist as well as for those with more challenging mobility issues? Their website states in the opening paragraph:

The friendly Europe accessible trip planners at Sage Traveling use our
expertise in European accessible travel to create custom accessible
holidays for people with all types of mobility issues, including
wheelchair and scooter users, cane and walker users, and senior
travelers.

https://www.sagetraveling.com

Stacy, the service is endorsed by that guy who lets us natter away on this forum. :O)
https://www.sagetraveling.com/rick-steves-recommends-sage-traveling

Just noodling.....🤔
Editing to add: the OP is a single traveler who may enjoy the company of others versus an indy trip. She may also not particularly enjoy the research that goes into going completely solo, and might welcome a certain amount of support along the way. I might feel the same in her shoes but, Stacy, you'd need to weigh in here?

Another option is to travel without a group tour. My husband and I still plan and manage our own travel. Over the years we've slowed the pace, made certain that apartments and hotels are easily accessible, and made more use of public transit instead of driving and excessive walking. Whenever possible we opt for direct flights or fewer connecting flights. This sometimes means paying more to reach our destination but we arrive less tired.

We pack light because we're moving our own luggage. We plan periodic stays in apartments with washing machines to minimize the amount of clothing we need to pack. An occasional apartment stay also allows a welcome break from daily hotel breakfasts and meals in restaurants. Sometimes we pick up a carry out meal or put together something simple from the local grocery store. Exploring local grocery stores, cheese shops, bakeries, and markets is one of the travel experiences I most enjoy.

We've also recognized that sometimes we need to stop sightseeing and just rest. Fortunately, we both enjoy reading and watching European football. A hotel or apartment with a bit more space and some comfortable seating is helpful. On our most recent trip we enjoyed relaxing on our private patio in Padua and on our balcony at our Bologna apartment. A good book and a cup of coffee or glass of wine make for a contented few hours.

The point is, if a traveler has limitations, it may be easier and more pleasant to plan one's own trip.

Sigh….. first of all, Boston Phil is a solo traveler...

But maybe someone besides BostonPhil is reading this thread...

Hi Kathy and Stacy and everyone else

I am very independent who cherishes solitude but I am also very friendly. I like the company of others in limited doses. I like to be able to leave and go to my room or cabin when I feel the need for space. I love doing my own thing but that includes socializing. I have been known to be a social butterfly and in my younger days did close the clubs down.

I love researching my trips. I have every i dotted and t crossed when I leave for my trip and everything goes awry anyways. However I am flexible and go with the flow. I spend many months researching my next cruise, sometimes over a year. And I love it.

On my cruises, I do sign up for a ship excursion and usually get along fine with the group. Usually, there are some crabby people on the ship but that's life. There are crabs everywhere.

Would be interested in a My Way trip or a similar type of vacation but have to learn more. It sound like a My Way trip might be my cup of tea.

It is too late for 2023. My cruise is booked and coming up. I also do not travel in the summer or around holidays

For 2024, I have put a deposit on a cruise and the deposit is not refundable although i could move it to another cruise with NCL if I wanted a change.

Whatever is said on this discussion is open to everyone in the present and all those who come after me.It is for everyone on this site.

Stacy who is on the R S staff suggested Grand Circle tours and I plan to look into them. It is not engraved in stone that I must take a cruise every year. I plan to explore other possibilities.

I have heard some good things from different people about Gate 1 travel. Anyone do Gate 1?

By the way, thank all of you who has participated in this discussion. I am so glad that it had turned out to be so lively.

I plan to look into all the suggestions.

I sure would feel self-conscious using the bus toilet when it was "for emergencies only." Seems like a good plot for a Seinfeld episode.

You kind of look around gingerly with an apologetic half-smile on your face.

At times maybe I consumed too much water and coffee, so yeah 2 hours would be pushing it at times. The answer is you gotta pace yourself with the fluids. Don't drink a pot of coffee before getting on the bus!

edit: I like lively discussions as long as we're respectful. Kumbaya is a little boring.

Stan,

Thanks for the explanation. As one with a small bladder I would be using the restroom. I still don't see why there isn't enough time scheduled for the bus driver to empty the tank. Perhaps there is often no place to empty it. I've been in bus restrooms before and get that they are small. But when you've gotta go...

Okay. Back to the topic. Sorry for the detour.

Traveler Girl

Travelergirl...as a former tour director, I can tell you Stan has it right. It's not about cleaning the toilet, it's about not being able to empty it. The driver can't just empty it wherever he wants, there has to be a safe facility that allows it. They are not everywhere. It could be two or three days before he comes across one.

If the smell gets bad. Some drivers will pour motor oil into the toilet. It floats on top and acts as sort of a barrier.

One thing that I really respect about Rick is that "he walks the talk". I am really impressed by the fact that he handled his parent's situation. Excellent post.

Maybe the bus toilet rule should be no #2.

Also avoid seats near the bathroom. It can be worse than a plane. Don't ask me how I know this.

I've never taken a RS tour. I've only read the itinerary for one city ... and it's not as energetic as promoted. A 3 hour walking tour each day and tons of free time. Even the walking is stated to be a couple of miles a day ... on a 3 hour tour, thats 20 minutes of walking each hour. Half of a day is a cooking class and part of an evening is sitting on a boat. Those quaint family run hotels on cobblestone streets with no elevators are, in this one city, 4 star tourist and business hotels with bus parking within 50m of the front door. There are plenty of elevators and no cobblestone. If you do have a little trouble, there are 27 other people to help (small group?). I also noted that the description included a warning of the hills .... in a perfectly flat city.

But everyone has their limitations. I'm 65 and I suspect, G-d willing, I could handle this for another 10 or 15 years. Investigate a little, understand where you are going, decipher the itinerary a bit. Might be easier than the hype.

I'm 65 and I suspect, G-d willing, I could handle this for another 10 or 15 years.

Us 70 year olds are shooting for +15 years.

My problem with all the RS tours, including My Way, would be lugging my luggage(I travel carryon only) up stairs. This is not an issue with mainstream tours like Gate1. I am saving my knees for sightseeing.

I know all about the knees Cala. Got arthritis in my knees and the right one is really bad.

Have an appointment for an injections before my next cruise.

Happiness is pain free

Oops, bostonphil7. I confused you with Stacy at HQ in my last post but I think you understood that. Thanks for providing the helpful background about your travel style. :O)

Cala, might be good for those who worry to post the question of what hotels RS uses. I know in one city the ones that have been discussed have all been 4 star tourist or business hotels ... with bus parking near, no cobblestone, plenty of elevators.

I wish that I had looked into R S tours earlier. it is a little late for me now but not impossible.

Still a cruise.a year is not too shabby. I might one day get to add another non-cruise adventure within the same 12 month period.

I also drink a lot of coffee because I love coffee. I drink a lot of water because I have diabetes and some stress on my kidney and need to. Along with that, I have a smallish bladder so I do need to visit the toilet as they say in Europe frequently. I worry about toilets being convenient but I think that I could go 2 hours with very little problem

I also have been reading the descriptions of Rick's tours and i can most definitely walk one or two miles without any problem. The problem is that I am slow. Often when just walking, I have to stay on the right for those who need to pass me and sometimes, I have to stop and let the others behind me get by. I hold up traffic.

On ship excursions, I often end up at the back of the group trying to catch up.

My Way might be a really good trip for me.

bostonphil, you may enjoy the Rick Steves tours that stay in one city for the whole time.
No bus travel. Some guide-led walking tours, historic sights, plus free time for museums, shopping, and so on.
Many people have been pleased with the Rick Steves London tour.

https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/england/london

Rebecca makes a good point. You may also enjoy the Venice, Florence, Rome tour. I have taken it twice. Yes, some guided activities, but multiple nights in one place which IMO contributes to a more leisurely pace and time to mosey on one's own. Since the last time I took that tour was circa 2007, I am actually considering it again. I like the locations and it fits my schedule. Now, with more travel confidence, I might add more time on pre and post tour - schedule permitting.

I also drink a lot of coffee because I love coffee. I drink a lot of water

You sound like me!

Coffee, being a diuretic . . . .

Coffee, being a diuretic . . .

Even those like me who don't drink coffee often substitute other caffeinated drinks like diet coke, etc. Caffeine is a mild diuretic and I know if I drink too much diet coke it's a constant struggle to make sure I can get to a toilet when the 'urge' hits.

Well we are just home from the Best of the Adriatic, and there was no toilet on the bus. It wasn't an issue. The guide was very clear about when the frequent stops would happen, and was always pointing out toilet opportunities. Only once was someone desperate (and it was me). He made arrangements to stop but asked that the whole bus not disembark to pee unless desperate. Three of us did. And in fact I realized after I could have made it to the next stop (I guess he didn't trust the look on my face, lol).

One thing to keep in mind for those with mobility issues is that the steps in and out of the bus are quite steep. When the buses offer facilities, they are usually down the very steep steps in the middle of the bus.