BOE 21 Days - 2026

Everyone we encountered in the Netherlands spoke English. Haarlem is no exception. We had English menus everywhere we went including authentic Dutch restaurants. Haarlem is a lovely city to visit.

If you are looking at online websites with Dutch language menus it should have an option to change the language to English. If it doesn't, that doesn't mean the restaurant doesn't have English menus in person. Cross that worry off your list.

When are you going? Spring, summer or fall? I like Athleta for pants, Eddy Bauer for capris and Orvis or Columbia for shirts/tops; lightweight clothes that can be rinsed out and dry overnight.

Thank you KD!

Margie, I am going 4/16-5/6! Thank you for your brand recommendations.

Having just got back from the Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany in late May I can advise you to bring layers, and a windbreaker, especially for the Netherlands.

English was common in the Netherlands and Switzerland and we never had an issue. Having a translator app on your phone will be helpful for menus.

Congratulations on booking your trip!

I am a fan of merino clothing for tops. I bring shirts from Unbound Merino. I used to bring polyester quick dry shirts, but they would always build up an underarm stink that couldn't be washed out in the sink. We pack light-- carry on only. I bring 3 tshirts and 3 bottoms no matter the length of the trip. I also bring one of the compact travel hoodies from UM. Absolutely no one remembers what you wore the day before! Just make sure all the tops "go" with all the bottoms. On a trip I wash the tshirts in the sink and hang to dry. They are dry in a few hours. They do not stink and the wool does not itch. I've never needed to wash the hoody on a trip. I also bring merino socks--really lightweight ones for warm weather.

What a fun trip to look forward to and plan for! Re: English-only speakers: if you wander the back lanes effectively, you may find places where no English is spoken, but that can be a really fun adventure. If it's a restaurant, a combination of using Google translate, your RS phrasebook, a big smile, and guesswork can be a great way to order a meal. Some of my favorite travel memories involve using sign language and guesswork to buy things.

My husband and I did this tour in 2018! You’re going to love it! Like others, I absolutely love Columbia travel pants and shirts. They’re easy to rinse out and dry quickly. Travel hangers are also great. We never leave home without them. Ex Officio travel underwear rinse out so easily and dry in a matter of hours. We did the tour with just a carry on suitcase! There are so many awesome travel lightweight clothes. A waterproof, not water resistant, coat is a must. Our second night of this tour we stood outside with a local guide and it just poured. Also I recommend a travel umbrella. Have a wonderful time!

This is an incredible tour which we did in 2016, May 1-22.
It was quite cool and drizzly in the Netherlands for our pre tour days but warmed up after May 1. I had brought a hoodie and down vest along with a scarf for warmth and rain jacket and needed these. We returned to the Netherlands this year—April 21-26 and the weather was warmer with drizzle off and on. I had brought a down jacket in addition. I used the vest but my sister in law appreciated the jacket. Switzerland is likely to be cold in early May also. If you tend to run cool I’d consider adding a down or puffy jacket.
Similar to others, I usually pack 2 pair of pants plus crops for warmer weather. I pack 5 tops mostly short sleeves with light sweaters (2). I always add a scarf and would consider knit gloves. Also bring 2 pair of shoes. My current favorites are Altra, a trail running shoe—great tread for uneven surfaces and either sketchers or similar lightweight shoe that packs small.

This was my first Rick Steves’ tour many years ago. It was my first ever tour. Biggest mistake was packing too much. One suitcase (preferably just a carryon) is ideal and absolutely doable. You’ll haul your own luggage and relish that you’re traveling light. Biggest learning was to pack clothes that were moisture wicking, fast drying, and layered well. Biggest regret was not knowing enough of the language especially when I looked at storefront signs and understood nothing. Our tour guide taught the group phrases for the different countries. With subsequent tours i opted to study the language or take a course to provide some familiarity. Now you have apps that handle this quite efficiently. Best preparation was knowing what I wanted to do when and where. Plan your adventures for each location. Identify your “must see” and “must do.” Group dynamics were great but allow personal time along the way to wind down and refresh. This tour was the springboard for my international travel. The guide was exceptional. The daily organization was tremendous.

I was excited to see your thread, @blairtaylor23 regarding BoE 2026 as we too are booked and looked forward to hearing from others on this tour though I know RS does not have a meet-up

I now see that you are on the tour before ours. So while we will not be travelling together we will be in similar weather so taking in the tips on clothing.

I checked out Ex Officio but starting at >$40 each I gasped. But that lead me to some others that are more in my budget that I will check out.

Saw the post recommending Athleta pants but I see they only sell women's clothes. Suggestions for men's pants that dry fairly quickly would be appreciated.

@slbdiasey's suggestion for merino wool (no mulesing) is a good one. I have several "technical" base shirts that are good but the one, very lightweight and thin merino is great. Very light, quick to dry and warm but wicks so is cooling. They are expensive, and must watch that there is a significant amount of actual merino wool in a blend as some described as merino have a pretty small percentage is merino wool. I bought mine on a super clearance and was doubtful on its utility but has been excellent. I highly recommend one if it fits your budget and you can get use out of it.

raymonelees's comment about not overpacking is very helpful to an enjoyable tour. Our last trip early this Spring to Norway and Iceland could have been hilarious if we were recorded handling our excessive (tooooo heavy ) luggage. We knew better but planning escaped us. We thought we had it handled with a plan to transition stuff amongst our cases to one that we would use for several 2-3 side trips. Plan was to leave the larger one at hotels for pick up later, etc but it was so much work overstuffing this leave behind one to get the one were taking on the side trips light but carrying all we need. A big key with the "travel light" suggestion is the weight while most focus on the size of case. Several pairs of shoes, including proper hiking boots with ankle support required for that last trip in my size 13's take up a carry-on by themselves LOL.

And hearing the great comments from those who have taken this tour is adding to the anticipation. This will be our 3rd RS tour and very much looking forward to it. I hope others chime in. There is a lot of planning to do. Probably better if I start a new thread on side trips and day tours ideas rather than hijack this one.

RS forum does a private messaging though I have never used it. @blairtaylor23 maybe we can send PM to see what activities are have planned when not out and about with the RS guides.

I did this in tour in 2023. You won't have any trouble with English only, even among locals commuting for work, and those in shopping malls in residential areas. I found that out myself.

Hi blairtaylor23,

How exciting! I'm doing the BOE -21 day tour with you! (April 16-May 6, 2026). I just did the Best of the Adriatic tour (April 2025) and I'm excited to be going on the Best of England 14 day tour (Aug 31-Set 13, 2025) - just 60 days from now! Needless to say I was very impressed with my RS Adriatic tour and based on the reviews and Forum comments I am certain we have a wonderful European adventure in store.

I handwashed in the hotel sinks and found my Athleta pants and tops dried very quickly. LL Bean t shirts also dried quickly. Jeans were a nuisance. I wore them early on in the trip (mostly for warmth) but they were heavy and just took too long to dry. Shoulder season is a bit challenging when it comes to packing. From my limited experience I have learned the value of layering AND packing light.

I will learn how to PM you... being new to this forum.

-Dawn

This was our FIRST RS tour in 2022. We got our spots last minute... *5 weeks before, and simply showed up! We packed light, per RS Travel/Pack lists, in a carry on and backpack each. NO REGRETS.

Don't worry about the other details. RS does all of that for you! You'll get language handouts for each country, and practice before you arrive in that country.

We're preparing for our 3rd RS Tour in Sept (Best of Adriatic). Greece was last year. Great brands for you will be Eddie Bauer, Athleta, Nike, Under Armor, Columbia, Patagonia, even Chicos, and other "athletic" brands. They are built for activity and easy care/dry. DO check resale shops... you can save on these great durable brands too! (Ladies, check clothesmentor.com, as they ship!)

Pack using "capsule" thinking, every bottom gets 3 tops to rotate, and don't forget a scarf... also buy one or 2 as souvenirs! GET the packing cubes! Pack a couple of outfits together, makes is easy on the 1-2 night stops. 2 pair of shoes... comfy/stylish tennis shoes and Birkenstock or stiff sole sandal (NO flip flops, unless they are for the bus & hotel only)

*Oh, and a packable duffel bag to bring back "extras"! I put dirty laundry in mine (checked it coming back), and the good stuff/souveniers in carryon! (Search YouTube to find ladies that share capsules for your age group) There are many! Also, FB has Travel Fashion Girls... can be overwhelming, but a gold mine of info! *I will Never not go without noise cancelling AirPods! Great for on bus days or other noisy situations. Hubby did, and was always borrowing one of mine the first trip :(

DO get the foldable hangers (amazon) and "ladder" rope to hang laundry in your room, and the Breeze laundry strips! *Giant ziplock bags make great laundry wash basins... shake and wash!

PREPARE to meet some great people! We have six of us that met on that first trip, and are forever friends, and have traveled RS Tours again and again! Be open to new experiences, and enjoy the culture! RS does an outstanding job, and you'll be amazed at the "over the top" experiences, and bonus things you'd never imagine!

*TAKE lots of pictures, and have someone set up a group photo page to share in the cloud, as some of those photos might be treasures you missed a pic of!

ENJOY!

There are countless packing threads in the forum, and you have time to read them all if you'd like. But here is my advice: what works for someone may not work for you. Take what fits your body and is comfortable and you could wear every day if you had to. You might already have many items in your closet. Take clothing that washes and dries overnight - and test it out at home a couple times to see how it does. Anything that takes more than overnight to dry is a no go in my book (unless it's something very special).

Read labels on clothing and pick blends known to be quicker drying (polyester blends, rayon, silk). And you do not have to drop hundreds of dollars on brand names - I have purchased many of my travel clothes at the thrift store, some were brand name but most are not. As was mentioned by someone else, look into a capsule wardrobe (many ideas on websites like Vivienne Files). Whatever shoes you take, make sure you've worn them many times and broken them in. Do not buy new shoes at the last minute and wear them for the first time on your trip. You will regret this (I speak from experience).

As for English, it is widely spoken everywhere your tour goes. You can use your phone and Google translate to read any sign, menu, or printed item in any language. Learn a handful of polite phrases ahead of time, but it's also likely your tour guide will walk you through those on a bus day.

Planning is half the fun - enjoy getting ready and excited for your trip!

For women's tops, I love Woolx, merino wool shirts. The short sleeve ones are a staple. I like the v-neck one called Mia. I also have the Woolx Layla long sleeve to wear as a top layer. If you sign up for their emails, they usually send you a discount code. They have sales all the time. Wool doesn't stink, so you can wear a few times before washing. And I sink wash them and they dry overnight! I like the long sleeve smart wool lightweight Smartwool tops. Just don't take too many clothes. I take about 4 pairs of wool socks- the ankle ones - and wash every night in the sink and they dry pretty well. In April, I'd just wear a pair of water-resistant/proof tennies and then maybe take a pair of ballet shoes like the Allbirds Treebreezers that are light and don't take up too much room. Good for going down to breakfast in the morning or if your dinner spot is close by. Shoes take up too much space so I wouldn't take an extra pair of sneakers. I love my Patagonia Torrentshell rain park, pricey, but excellent for rain and looks nice just as a coat/windbreaker. I have a mini umbrella from Davek, but you can just buy one there if you need it.

And just to second, know how to use your phone translate device. Menu’s weren’t the problem but having to go to the pharmacy in a small town was quite the experience until a local stepped up to help with their phone.