Hairdryers/WiFi

Of course depends on the level of hotels you booked, but generally 3star hotels and up have hairdryers in room and free WiFi in the lobby area. If this is the RS tour, contact the tour department for an exact answer.

Our experience is that most hotels have hair dryers in the rooms either attached or loose. If not, then a hair dryer is available at the front desk. The quality varies but it generally gets the job done. In the last few years have not found a hotel that did not offer wifi. What is interesting is that in the lower priced hotels - 1 - 3 stars, the wifi is free but five star hotels charge and sometimes charge a lot for their wifi.

Michael, I did this trip in 2010 and 2 of the hotels did not have a hairdryer. If it's critical, take your own. I bought a travel-sized dual voltage one on Amazon. This is a super tour - I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

First, realize that this board is not frequented by Rick Steves or his staff. We are all "members of the traveling public," just like yourself. What was said above is true, that most hotels these days have WiFi and hairdryers. If the dryer is not in the bathroom, it may be in a drawer elsewhere in the room, or may be available for loan at the front desk. But if you need to know for sure, contact the RS tour office, following the instructions on this page under "Guided Tours": http://www.ricksteves.com/about/contact.htm

Michael, The RS tours don't always use the same hotels on each tour departure. Depending on availability, some hotels may be different from one tour to the next. Although I haven't taken the Germany / Austria / Switzerland tour, I have taken six other RS tours. Generally speaking, most of the hotels will have hair dryers, although in some cases these will be stored at the front desk and you'll have to ask for them. The most common type of hair dryers in my experience are the types that are bolted to the wall. All of the RS tour hotels that I've stayed at in the last few years have had Wi-Fi. This is usually free, but occasionally the hotel may have a small charge. Especially in Italy, Wi-Fi can only be accessed with a Password which is often changed daily. Signing in each time is a bit of a nuisance, but that's the way things are done there. Shortly after booking your tour, you'll receive a list of your first and last hotels. About a month prior to departure, you'll receive a more comprehensive information package which lists all of your tour hotels, a tour roster and the name of your Lead Guide. Once you have that list, you'll be able to check the websites of each hotel to determine what facilities they offer. I'm sure you'll have a great time on the tour. I've been to most of the places covered on that tour and it's a beautiful part of Europe. Happy travels!