Hi all, does anyone remember if the tour size use to be 26 as the maximum number? It seems to me that it was. I'm currently on the Loire Valley tour and there are 28 people. Did the number go up post Covid?
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
14818 posts
I believe even before Covid there was always the chance for up to 28.
Are you on the Loire Valley tour with Vero? I follow her Instagram photos and will mentally give you a wave if you are with her, lol.
Posted by
977 posts
I think all of the tours can go up as high as 28. On all 3 of our RS tours we’ve had 27/28 including pre and post pandemic.
Posted by
CA, USA
1253 posts
I think it's long been that way, although some tours may have a smaller cap due to hotel size. From the wayback machine website which captures old web pages, a snapshot taken May 2nd 2019
Our itineraries have a maximum group size of 24–28.
https://web.archive.org/web/20190502122053/https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/ricks-10-commitments
Posted by
Virginia, USA
5865 posts
I think there was a time when tours were 24 (I took my first RS tour in 1991). The number has gradually gone up. I hope they don’t increase it any more.
Posted by
Virginia, USA
5865 posts
You got me curious, Here is a screenshot from the 2006 tours. You will notice most of the tours were 24 to 28 but the city tours were 22 to 24.
https://web.archive.org/web/20051226130315/http://tours.ricksteves.com/tours06/findtours.cfm
Posted by
OP
ohio
110 posts
Pam, we are on the tour with Vero! Maybe the last few tour I've been on haven't had 28 members. It just seems like such a huge group even though I know there are other companies that take up to 50 members. I also hope they don't increase the maximum number. Thanks for all your quick replies.
Posted by
Massachusetts
1102 posts
I've been taking RS tours since 2007 and don't ever remember my group having only 24 people -- it's always been closer to 28. I just found the 2009 tour catalog. Every single tour lists 24-28 people.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
14818 posts
I'm sure you are having fun but yes, to me, 28 is a lot. It just seems like it takes extra time to get everyone pottied and fed, lol.
As usual, Vero's pictures are interesting! Looks like you have had a good day, lol!!
Posted by
Bend, OR
1082 posts
Over the last 10 years, there’s only been one tour that was 28 and that was our tour last year, 9 others were 24-26 and one was 17 but it was the last Loire to the So. Of France for the season and it doesn’t look like they go til the end of October anymore.