Tour Repeats

ha ha Ralph the rate is not horrible now, I have paid up to 1.60 for a Euro, so 1.30 looks ok to me, ok, par would be better but one must take what they can get!
Tony, I have only taken one RS tour myself, and have such great memories, I too will likely do a repeat one day .. perhaps a few years from now. Let us know what you decide and how it went!

I haven't and probably won't as I treat tours as a good way to get an overview of an area and then I go back independently to those places I really liked and at which I want to spend more time. I think it's fine to do a tour again, though, if you loved it and want to share it with family members a second time. You're likely to get a different guide who would probably provide a slightly different perspective and maybe some different stops. And if you get the same guide, no bid deal, the guide was excellent. Ralph, RS does not do cheesy tourist sights...

I took 7 RS tours. The quality of the experience depended largely on the tour leader. I would love to travel again with a couple of my favorite RS leaders, whether the same tour or another. There was a little overlapping on Italy tours (I took 4 tours in Italy) but I didn't mind.

Thanks for eveyone's thought's. Idea about doing my own thing on some days is a good idea as sometimes your best moments come from just doing something on your own. Did live in Leipheim, near Ulm, many years ago and might do a tain trip from Munich on my free day there. The tour now spends 3 nights in Switzerland instead of two which is also wonderful. Did not hang glide in 09 but will this time. Hope the bus breaks down in Hallstadt as there can't be a prettier place anywhere. Had the best meal of the trip sitting by the lake there.

The exchange rate has never been cheaper than 1.20 to 1 in the last 5 years, but has gotten as high as 1.58 to 1, so 1.30 really isn't bad at all. i would consider maybe doing indepenent travel in GAS if you really loved it before, you'd get a more in-depth, off-the-beaten path experience by doing good research and going places the tour companies (including Rick's) skip.

Hi Tony, Several years ago we did a RS Best of Italy Tour and loved it so much that the following year we did a RS Best of Italy BB&B (Bus,Bed&Breakfast) Tour which was perfect since we had been to all of the places on the first tour, we were now on our own to explore indepth. Have you thought about a My Way GAS Tour, which I believe is similar to the BB&B that we took? We took the GAS Tour this May and loved it as you did and if we took it again we would do it on a My Way Tour.
Teri

I guess Ralph hasn't been in Europe very long to think that the current exchange rate is horrible. I don't know if it has been less than $1.30 on any of my trips (the most recent being September/October 2011) and it has definitely been much higher.

Hi Tony, you ever think about doing the tour planning thing yourself? I would have a hard time paying RS for doing what you could do for yourself - for about HALF the price? If this was your first trip to Europe then I could understand the rational. But come on, your a vet! To answer your question I repeat segments of trips (not the exact trip) every year. Using RS books/trip advisor chat/and terrific advice from the folks on this net it's an easy and fun thing to tailor almost any trip to your specific length and likings. Best Wishes.

Would not hesitate to do a trip on my own if I was going alone. THis trip would include my wife and cousin and they would enjoy the guide and comfort of being with a tour group. Before I went on the 09 tour I spent several days in Bayeux and the Normandy area before meeting up with the tour in Germany. So, would not hesitate to go on my own but doubt that wife and cousin would enjoy following me around. Won't be doing the trip until late spring of 13 so will think on everyone's suggestions.