Rick Pops Up, Again-Good Idea

I enjoyed the whole article but this passage in particular really resonated with me.

It's a good article, but his "pack the bus" line (to make travel more affordable/ accessible) doesn't resonate with reality. RS tours are small group tours, and every other seat on the bus is empty - the opposite of "packing the bus". That's why large tour operators are comparatively less expensive and can offer very nice 4 star, albeit corporate hotel arrangements. Their pricing is based much more on volume and the savings they can squeeze out of volume.

Hi Dave, thanks for sharing this latest interview.
Like Christa mentioned, this current interview “resonated” with me as well. I live 15 mins. from RS headquarters and frequently walk beautiful Edmonds. I miss visiting the travel store and everything it’s meant to me. We can only hope for a brighter future.

I think the “pack the bus” comment was a metaphor of sorts. What he has clearly said here is RSE has one type of tour-active, usually full, immersive. Until things get back to what they were pre COVID-19 there will be no RS tours, no new guidebooks, that is my take.

Thanks, Dave; but is there a link that works for those of us who don't take the WP?

Don’t mean to pile on but.....pack the bus was used to note realistic business operations. As an example RS Tours are limited to 28 (actually up to 29). The bus size he is using is irrelevant. Pack the bus to him means 28. Can Rick run tours at 10 people, sure for a few isolated tours but if every tour was limited to 10 there would be serious financial issues. The same for flights, restaurants, even movie theaters. There are financial points aka attendance that you must hit or you fail. In CA movie theaters are limited to 25% capacity. Almost None are open despite being allowed to reopen. Why? At 25% there is simply not enough income (at current ticket prices) to run the theater. If air lines blocked every middle seat they simply could not fly unless they severely raised ticket fares.

The "before 1940/after 1945" statement maybe isn't the best way to say what I know Rick is trying to say, since about a hundred million people died in those 5 years. But I do get what he's trying to say, he means well, he's a good man. But just sayin'....

I respect the fact that RS is willing to give interviews and talk about this very sensitive subject openly, without false optimism. I appreciate the sentiment in the statement quoted, but note that it is less comforting for those of us not young.