Hi: We are planning our first trip with RS tour group and have a few questions re: the hotels and shared bathroom. We are hoping to sign up for the My Way Tour and wondering about the hotels and how many of the hotels have a shared bathroom. Rick Steves tours are physically active! This is an integral, essential part of the Rick Steves tour experience. On our Best of Europe in 14 Days tour -- among other things -- you'll need to happily... Carry/roll your luggage over uneven pavement (several blocks possible) and up stairways to reach your hotel; then up several flights of stairs to reach your room. Be on your feet, walking and standing for up to three hours, indoors and outdoors, in all weather conditions. Sleep with street noise and no (or weak) air conditioning. After orientation and transportation lessons, be able to navigate towns and cities on your own.
Be content with the possibility of sharing bathroom facilities at one hotel during this tour.
Posted by
Calgary
2297 posts
Alice, you may want to contact the tour department directly to get up to date information on the upcoming tours: http://www.ricksteves.com/about/contact_form.cfm?recipient=tourdept
425-608-4217
Posted by
Twin Cities, Minnesota
1997 posts
I've been on 5 RS tours and never had a shared bathroom. I don't think there are many shared bathrooms left in Europe. Also, yes the tours are active, but I went on one last year just 6 months after a knee replacement and did fine.
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9371 posts
"Be content with the possibility of sharing bathroom facilities at one hotel during this tour." This would tell me that there could be ONE hotel with shared bathrooms. There may also be none. As a previous poster said, shared baths are becoming more and more rare.
Posted by
New York City, NY, USA
5678 posts
And remember if you have a shared bathroom, you often have a sink in your room. One time in the last couple of years, I had a sink and shower and only needed to leave my room for the toilet. Also, usually a share bathroom, does not mean one bathroom for the entire facility. Usually there is one bathroom for 3-4 rooms. And there can be toilets and showers/tub separately. I'm not sure what your exact concern is. If it's just that you really, really like having your own bathroom you need to decide if it's enough to keep you traveling on this tour. If it's concern about time and sharing they usually have enough so that you won't be late. ; ) As someone suggested, I'd call the office and ask. They can tell you what the likelihood is that there will be shared bathrooms. Bear in mind though, that they may not have booked the hotels yet for next year's tours, so they will probably have to give you a "worst case" scenario. I did go on a Rick Steve's tour and only share the bathroom with my roommate. Pam
Posted by
Adelaide, SA, Australia
977 posts
Shared bathrooms is one thing, sharing the toilet in the shared bathroom is another. Especially when people spend half an hour having a shower and 'perming their ears'. This scenario leads to a a very painful experience!!!
Posted by
TX, USA
529 posts
I have been on several RS Tours and have never shared a bathroom. No one else on the tours did either. However, that said, check with the office.
Posted by
Massachusetts
1065 posts
I have been on six RS tours and have NEVER had to share a bathroom.
Posted by
Maricopa
2 posts
We did a RS 21 day Best of Europe trip in 2008 and we did have to share a bathroom at the Hotel Stechelberg in Lauterbrunnen Valley, Switzerland. 4 rooms of us shared the one bathroom. Everyone was considerate of each other so it worked out okay. And, it was just the one stop out of the whole 3 week tour.