I think we are going to do the 13 night Germany tour next summer and will add days before and after. One of the hotels the tour may use in Berlin is a little spendier than I’d like to pay for my add on days, if I book it through RS tours, do they usually offer a better rate than what I can find online? Otherwise I may want to change to a less expensive option...
Thanks for your input!
Posted by
8 posts
I have been on 4 RS tours and each time we have arrived a day or two early and stayed a day or two after the tour ended. We have always booked those extra days directly with the hotels that the tour stays at. We have always found the rate to be lower than what is posted on the website. We say that we are part of a RS tour and ask if will there be a discount if we add days to our stay. The answer has been yes so far and usually we get to stay in the same room. Be sure to ask if breakfast is included as on the tour. You can make initial contact by email to create a paper trail. When it is time to give credit card info, we do that with a phone call instead of email for added security. It never hurts to ask if there is a discount! Good luck!
Posted by
OP
Portland,Oregon
250 posts
Thank you for the info Peony Gal, did you just book your hotels a month ahead of time when you got the hotel list? Or were you able to find out sooner? Thanks again!
Posted by
Milwaukie, Oregon
1056 posts
You receive the info about first and last hotels shortly after you book your tour. The rest of the tour hotel info comes a month or so out, so you should be able to book the first and/or last hotels farther out in advance than one mo th.
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
11179 posts
I have had mixed results on getting a 'special' rate for my before/after tour days.
You can always ask.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
Joe beat me to it. The only way to know what a hotel will charge you to add on days to a Rick Steves tour is to e-mail them directly and ask (do specify that you are with the RS tour). If the rate is acceptable, stay there; if not, look for other hotels.
Posted by
Honolulu/Seattle, HI/WA, USA
2788 posts
RS tours does not book hotels for travelers before or after the tour starts. I have gone on 16 RS tours and have always stayed at the first tour hotel a few days before the tour begins. I have always communicated directly with the hotel and tell them I will be staying there for the RS tour, can I stay in whatever room I book during the tour, and what is your best rate for a tour member. I have always accepted their rates and stayed at the pre-tour hotels. I do the same at the last tour hotel when I choose to remain in that place for a few days after the tour is over.
Posted by
OP
Portland,Oregon
250 posts
Thanks everyone, good to know! Now I can forge ahead with my planning.