What’s the best Rick steves tour for a first trip

Whatever tour interests you. Seriously, where have you dreamed of going?

"ditto what Carol said." I'd choose the tour that includes cities and towns at the top of your wish list.

For example, we had never been to Italy when we decided to go on a RS Tour. We chose Best of Italy because it included so many places of interest to us.

That is such an open ended question. All are pretty good --- try the Best of Europe. It is as good a starting point as any other tour. Sign up soon his tours are popular and fill quickly.

That’s a very good question triggering more questions to you. Are you and travel partner(s) ‘tour’ folk? Interested and able to participate in group activities on a schedule? Comfortable being responsible for your own luggage, timeliness and non-grump attitude? If you prefer variety and can pack efficiently, go for a multi destination tour. The beauty of a city tour is having just the single location and not having to pack up and move on to the next spot. It’s good advice to add days pre and post tour. At the start, having some buffer time for potential travel delays and ease in getting over jet lag can be super helpful. At the end, going on to do more exploring at your own pace and desire can be a great way to add even more memories and enjoyment. It’s pricey to drag yourself and your stuff abroad and having more time ups your average for more fun experiences. That you hopefully feel was worth your time and money.

What’s the best tour for a first trip

Since you posted in "ITALY", I will take it that you are asking about the 'best' RS tour of Italy

I nominate the 17 day 'Best of Italy'.. gives you a bit of everything and then you can select future travel from the other tours ( or self travel) based on what you liked/disliked.

Ask yourself these questions: have you traveled much in the past? are you able to navigate subways in public transportation? Are you in good physical condition? Do you want a city experience or countryside? Maybe you’re good at navigating on your own and then would just like to have a group to meet up with.

Whatever best fits your answers is the tour for you.

Are you OK with sampling many places, or do you want to delve in? My first tour was in Paris. I spent a week in London on my own, and then took the train to Paris to take a group tour. Very soon I will go to Italy and spend a couple days in each place before moving on with the tour. Personally, I’m very tired and would rather have someone else plan much of this trip. I could do it on my own, but decided to relax a little more. I may end up going back on my own to delve in next time.

I’m definitely going on a Rick Steves tour of Italy I just can’t decide which is best for my wife and me

I just can’t decide which is best for my wife and me

What is making the choice difficult?

If time/$$ are an issue my 2nd choice would be the Venice-Florence-Rome tour.

Venice Florence Rome was our first and we were glad we chose it - three great cities of the world in one trip. The length was good, the variety of sites too. And the coach rides between cities were not too long. We added some days at Lake Como and Milan to the beginning. But really I dont think there's bad choice.

I’m wondering if a 12 to 14 day trip would be to long for a first trip? Would it be better to go 9 to 10 days and stay a few days after the tour is over?

I say think about the pacing of any of the RST Italy tours you’re considering. Having multiple 2-night stays, with maybe the lone 1-night stay is pretty brisk and may or may not be the best fit for you and spouse. VFR is a terrific introduction to legendary and iconic Italian cities and bonus, you spend 3 nights in each location. What with additional pre-tour and post-your nights, you could be looking at a 12-14 night trip duration which can be plenty long to be away from your own bed. Or, not long enough to have a break from your neighborhood and an entirely different cultural experience.

My 1st RS trip was the 17 day Best of Italy.

When we were at the farewell dinner, it was a sense of 'did 17 days go by already?'

Whichever one you do choose, do plan to add a few days at the end. Plan to arrive no later than the day before the tour starts.

tttah, any trip you like will be your “best”. There are no bad tours. For our opinions, it will help if you tell us more about you and your wife. Can you do a lot of walking? Climb stairs? What are your interests? Have you traveled to Europe previously? Or is this a new adventure. When are you planning to travel?

Each tour description lists “activity level”. It helps to pay attention to that. My first RS tour was South of Italy. I chose it because I wanted somewhere off the beaten path. Loved the tour, the uniqueness of the towns and sights. There are stairs and hills everywhere. A couple of us had injured knees and managed to see everything. Afterwards my sister-in-law and I drove from Naples to a tiny village in Calabria.

Next year, for my fourth RS tour, I’m looking at tours that include Florence; haven’t decided which. I’ve been to Venice twice independently. It is my favorite town and I plan to go back next year. Since I’m retired, my trips are 3 to 4 weeks.

My friend just got back from her first trip to Europe, and she started with the RS Best of Rome in 7 Days Tour, then continued on her own for a few more days in the south, and this worked well for her. Italy is extremely easy to navigate on your own anyway, but starting your first trip with a guided tour helps you get acclimated if you are nervous about traveling. After a week with a RS tour you'll feel like a travel pro and be able to add some of you own destinations, especially in Italy where the vast train network gets you almost everywhere easily.

I’ve done Heart of Italy, Village Italy and Best of Italy. I started with Heart of Italy as we were a family group and one of the adult kids could only get 2 weeks off.

IF your time is unrestricted I recommend Best of Italy first as it gives you a taste of smaller towns as well as the “Big 3”, lol. I agree with arriving early and staying a day or two after if you can.

2nd recommendation would be Heart of Italy which still gives you a taste of a hill town, a seaside experience and 2 of 3 biggies.

When I took the Village Italy tour a few years ago, there was a couple on the trip who were taking their first trip to Europe. I was surprised that this tour would be someone's first trip. So I asked and they said it stood out to them the most.

Which tour "speaks to you" the most?

I’m wondering if a 12 to 14 day trip would be to long for a first trip? Would it be better to go 9 to 10 days and stay a few days after the tour is over?

Go for as long as you possibly can. I big chunk of the total cost is getting there and back. BTW, our first trip to Europe was in high school, it was a 21 day, 7 country trip!

While I haven't been on an RS tour, I think they are a great choice based on group size. If you could swing it time and cost wise and it is your first visit to Italy, I'd go for the 17 day Best of Italy Tour. It's a great itinerary.

Think of it as a scouting trip. You'll want to come back. Have you ever been on a group tour? Do you have a positive attitude? It's a nice way to meet folks. Be aware that the odds are there will be one grump on the trip. The more you can ignore negativity the more fun you'll have.

Doug raises an important consideration. Taking an RS tour or going it on your own, as we do, airfare is such a big chunk of the cost that we try to stay as long as possible to get the most good of that expenditure. Getting there and getting home also kills time so we don't count travel days when figuring sightseeing time.

3 weeks has not been too long away for us; it goes so fast!!!!

You will notice that RS itineraries do count arrival and departure days so in reality the 17-day Italy trip is only 15 FULL days. Same with the others. Arriving a day early is highly advised, in case of a flight delay or cancellation, and staying a few days after is always a great idea. The 17-day Best of Italy tour ends in Rome and only spends one and 1/2 days there. That's VERY little time for a city with oodles to see so I'd definitely give it a few extra days. Besides, you will likely be ready to slow down and catch your breath at the end of that whirlwind tour! Just another reason not to hustle home unless you have to. :O)

I want to thank everyone for the information it is helpful

Our first RS tour - Venice-Florence-Rome in ten days - spoiled us for the six RS tours that followed. It is the only multi-city itinerary with three relaxing nights in each location . It was incredible for a variety of reasons. The tour requires only two bus trips, taking four hours each (no 5 to 7 hours in the bus to get from hotel to hotel.) You won’t experience that intense one-night-here-two-nights-there/laundered-items-just-can’t-dry pace of touring. Plus you have the option of arriving early and exploring Venice at leisure on your own.

Finishing the tour in Rome gives you the opportunity to stay longer at your tour hotel and take a day trip to Ostia Antica, a 45 minute train ride from Rome. An amazing archeological site. (Or Pompeii, booking a tour bus/day-trip package - with a quick view of Naples on the way.) If you’re willing to check out of your Rome hotel for a few nights, the hour train ride to Orvieto and a few days in that beautiful walled, hilltop town is worth the detour. A relaxing “time-out” from the hustle of Rome.

We've done all three RS Italy tours - Village Italy, Rome-Florence-Venice and Sicily. Loved each one. But since we learned the "ropes" we do them on our own now. Got a six-week trip - Milan, Bologna, Trieste, Treviso, Vicenza and Venice - planned to start in late September.