Steeves' Pre-trip Walking Plan

I don't recall a "plan."
If you are unable to walk a few miles at a time, start walking more. Simple as that!

No, no such plan. But don't forget to include some stair climbing in your exercise routine.

Got it, thanks! Don't know where I got that idea, but...
Maybe you can give me an idea of what they do send out a month or so before departure, if anything - ?? thanks again.

Keep it real. Drink a glass of wine. Eat some pasta. Eat some gelato/ice cream. Then, try walking up stairs or across a park.

If you are badly out of shape then a month is not enough time to get into shape. I think the recommendation is the ability to walk about five miles/day. Today, how far can you easily walk? Do that for a week or so, and then generally add distance until you can easily walk for an hour and half. Or a good two hours. And obviously find a few stairs to climb each time is also helpful.

Sun-baked, I love your advice, where in FL are you? I am in Boca Raton
Frank, I've seen your replies to lots of posts....always very real. Thanks, all!

Sebring. I think you are South of the worst of Dorian. I think we are both going to be okay and just get the outskirts of this storm.

A month before departure you get an updated itinerary, list of all the hotels on your tour, first name and home towns of your tour-mates, and detailed instructions for getting to your first hotel and leaving your last hotel.

The month before a tour starts, you will be sent the hotel list for your entire stay on the tour plus a roster with the first names of the other tour participants and their hometowns. At least this is what we were sent the month before our July tour. Because of privacy concerns, always subject to change is what information about other tour members is actually sent out. You will also get the most current itinerary and any other pertinent information they think you might need. When you first sign up for a tour and are confirmed, you will get an email with the first and last hotels and their contact information listed so you can make additional night reservations it you want to do that. I have found it advisable to book at least one (more often I make two) additional nights in the city where the tour begins, and/or additional nights for after the tour ends. The first extra booking is is to allow time to recover from jet lag (if needed) and get used the fun of being in Europe again! As far as an exercise program, this is so subjective and dependent on what you do already. If you are fit (no matter your age!), you should just keep up with your regular exercise program with maybe added stairs, if you don't already do some of that. The Rick Steves site is really clear about expectations for tour members and each tour lists approximately the amount of walking and standing (hardest part for me!) expected. Take a close look at those expectations and decide what's right for you!

Sorry LIZ-posting at the same time! Great minds????

😁
I forgive you.

I don't know if there is such a thing in Florida, but uphill and downhill walking is better than level walking. Maybe try a treadmill at a gym. Unless you are a total couch potato or going on a tour with strenuous hikes (which are optional) like the Alps, a month is enough time but getting in shape is always a good idea. BTW if you get in shape right after Christmas and then go back to your normal routine, that effect will be gone in a month and of no avail on a tour.

Which tours are you looking at? I think the Greece tour is one of the most strenuous, but I didn't think it was particularly difficult and I wasn't in great shape, but I can see that in summer heat it would be a lot more taxing that in pleasant spring weather.

Yes, Sun-baked, I think we both dodged a hurricane bullet again; we are sooo lucky.

To the others, thanks again. We just got an elliptical machine last week, so that will be my Florida hills! Thanks for all that info. We are looking at Florence, Venice, Rome, not Greece or Alps this time.

The walking plan: Get out there and walk!

If you walk 5 miles a day now, move that up to 10.

If you live in flat land, find lots of stairs to climb. (Or move to San Francisco while preparing for the trip.)

Do it all with a loaded backpack on.

When you can do all this without breathing hard, you have completed the plan.

cissyboca, you probably know this, but the information gets sent to your email box in your Tour Account. Last time, I kept waiting for something to come in the mail and then realized it would be email.

Cissy, you will not believe how many stairs there are in Rome! I'd add some stairs in if you can.

I have not done a RS tour, but wanted you to know we average walking 8-11 miles when on vacation in Europe. I suggest working your way up to being able to walk 10 miles a day at least three days in a row. Two months out make sure you are walking in the shoes you plan to take with you.

I live in Florida too. And there are not hills or stairs sufficient in my neighborhood to prepare for a trip to Europe. We have used the stair master at the local YMCA which I absolutely hate but makes a big difference. I regularly climb the four flights at work to my office but that still isn't enough for Europe....