Wireless Headset and Wifi For Tours Rick Steves 14 Day Spain Tour?

If you have the kind of wireless headset that has a little bluetooth piece that plugs into the port of the radio, it might work, but there might be more interference. Most people just bring their own headphones or earbuds. As for wifi - it usually depends on the specific bus you get, I think. The main office may be able to tell you. We have had wifi on the bus on two trips - Italy and Greece. The Scotland tour and GAS tour didn't. The wifi didn't work consistently on either trip, as it is dependent on reception so we lost connection in the more rural areas.

The system the guides use to talk to you during the various stops when they choose to use it is only useable through the old school wired headphones or ear buds. No Bluetooth or other wireless option built in. As others mentioned, if you have a wireless headset that has the plug in dongle it would probably work but could have difficulties due to other nations' use of various radio frequencies.

Some buses do have WiFi, but is hit and miss. There are some areas that WiFi just can't reach. But every hotel does have some form of WiFi that is good enough to at least get your email, but probably not streaming movies in Hi Def.

This from the RS Spain tour page:

Special packing note: We use an audioguide system for many of our sightseeing and museum tours. If you wear a hearing aid, we strongly recommend bringing headphones that go over your ears to allow you to fully enjoy these tours.

So, yes, you can use wireless headsets. I used the single earbud supplied by the guide as I like having one ear open to other sounds (like the car bearing down on me!).

There is no wireless capability between the audio guide and the headset. It has to be plugged in. It's the standard earpiece/headphone plug.

Most wireless headsets use bluetooth. The audio transmitter used by the guide is not bluetooth equipped.

Frank, we took that tour two years ago. We had only the earpeace and nothing else. There was no wire, no plug. We returned them daily to the guide for charging. I believe they were Bluetooth. I suggest the OP contact RS tours for clarification.

Last year the guides were sent the audioguides that require plugging them in. All three tours I took within one calendar year were with the wired headsets.

That quote from the RS Spain tour is on every tour page.

I have this device in my Amazon cart and plan to try it whenever we do our next tour, hoping I can use my Bluetooth earbuds with it. I can't speak yet to how well it might work. My wired earphones with battery-operated noise-reducing feature plugged into the RS unit left me constantly annoyed with all the tangling wires.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074QLB1Y7/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_6?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A2KUZVNQ9LP7N9

The quote from the Spain tour page has nothing to do with wireless.. It is simply stating that the in ear buds supplied with the audio device used on the tour are not compatible with hearing aids so you might want to bring your own WIRED headphones that go over the ear instead of in the ear.

thank you all for the insight!! Amazon here I come:) Since you have taken these tours can I ask a side question on another topic? We have a morning where we, check out of hotel, take a bus ride to new city and new hotel AND have a morning tour... I'm thinking check in is not long??
Was it a long process to wait for everyone else to check into hotel and get your room? Just asking :) I'm obsessed with this trip lol
Kindest Regards to all

You will have a great time! You will get your room assignment on the bus. When you get to the hotel the keys will be ready for you. This takes a short time and usually the guide allows some time to get situated in your room, attend to the necessities, then meet up. We spent extra time in Sevilla and took a train to Córdoba for the day. Seeing the Mezquita was a highlight of our trip and it’s a big miss for RS IMHO, not somehow including that in the tour. We had some downtime in Sevilla and our guide took us to a bath, Arab style. It’s a chain but still very nice. Wear earplugs I got swimmers ear.

On the tours I have taken, the morning schedule is more like: checkout of the hotel you just spent the night in; ride in the bus to your morning activity; complete that activity; ride the bus on to a lunch stop; have lunch; ride the bus to the next hotel; check in and do a quick walk through the neighborhood where the necessary sites are pointed out (ATM, stores; pubs; etc.). Sometimes the morning activity spills over into lunch so no bus ride between the two. Sometimes there is also an afternoon activity meaning a later arrival at your next hotel. We have never gone to the next hotel first thing as it is normally not ready until at least after lunch.

And yes, the check in process is quick on the RS tours because all you have to do is grab your key(s). All the paper work is taken care of by the tour guide.

SHAZAMMMMMM BATMAN = Mezquita is AMAZING!!! I'm looking at my itinerary to see if we can Skip out and head over!
Thanx guys :)
ps: Called RS, No bluetooth available - still a plug in headset to their box (2018)