Entering the RS festival drawing to win a 7-day city tour...What's Your Pick?

Well I can't enter, I'm Canadian. Boo! But if I could it would be Istanbul, no question. And not only because I've been to the other cities one or more times.

We would choose Paris, and follow up with the Loire to S France tour!

I've been thinking about this ever since I entered (and note: you can enter once per week). I've been to all four so it's a tough decision, but I've been wanting to go to Wales for a long time now so I would pick London and then take a week or so to tour around Wales after the week in London. Would certainly be nice to win.

Not entering. Been to all. To answer the question; Istanbul

It would be Paris for me and then a flight to Nice, France for fun in the sun.

It would be Istanbul for me. Haven’t been back for about 10 years.

Istanbul, because I've never been there, I'm curious, and it's the one where I'd be likeliest to need some hand-holding. This is a spot on one of the city tours, right?

I changed mine - at first, I picked Istanbul because I love that city. But I think I would pick London, though, since I'm planning a trip to England in 2024 anyway. That way I could combine the city tour with the rest of my trip.

I will mention that it's not a huge freebie, since you will have to pay taxes on the approximately $2000 value. Depending on your tax bracket, it could be pricey. But it's still nice and it would be fun to win. :)

Please provide a link to this contest or sweepstakes; I haven’t found it. All I see are virtual tours he is doing that are open to anybody. Thank you.

https://www.ricksteves.com/giveaway

Before anyone gets all too excited, the predicted odds are 1:35,000.

I would pick Istanbul as well as it is a city I am less likely to explore on my own.

Continental, here is a link: https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/tour-giveaway-contest-rules

Istanbul for the reasons others have noted: been to the others and would need more hand-holding in Istanbul.

Thank you for the link. Apparently, residents from New York, Florida, Rhode Island, and Puerto Rico are disqualified from participating in this giveaway.

I would pick Istanbul because it’s the one place I haven’t been. I’ve visited the other cities multiple times.

Istanbul. I have been there one time and have been thinking of a return trip. I have been to the other cities several times.

Chesterfield Scoreboard (7th inning stretch)

London - 2
Paris - 2
Rome - 0
Istanbul - 8

I would have a difficult time choosing between Rome and Istanbul. I've been to London and Paris and would be comfortable visiting both on my own. We had a day and a half in Rome at the end of our Best of Italy tour, and I was overwhelmed and at the same time felt that I wanted to see so much more of Rome. But I've also heard wonderful things about Istanbul. It would be a fun but tough choice.

This is the problem with choice. Maybe RS should have a single destination each week. If it were Paris and you don’t want to go, don’t enter. That would increase the odds for people who are not picky about a free trip.

I would pick Rome. It’s been four years since I was there. I’ve been thinking that next year’s tour will be Best of Tuscany, with extra days in my favorite city, Venice. So a good follow-up if I won.

This is the problem with choice. Maybe RS should have a single destination each week. If it were Paris and you don’t want to go, don’t enter. That would increase the odds for people who are not picky about a free trip.

Well, it's not really free since you have to pay taxes on it and your own airfare, plus some other expenses. But besides that, I don't think their goal is to increase the odds - it's to promote their business and get as many people as possible to sign up. 😊

Well I’m not eligible either, but if I was, I’d go for Rome. It’s not called ‘the eternal city’ for nothing. London is more or less on the doorstep and I never get tired of it. Dr Johnson was right!

I would pick Istanbul and then take the Best of Turkey tour or Rome. I cannot get enough of Italy.

London because “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.” Samuel Johnson

Paris would be my first choice and Istanbul my second. I've been to London and Rome. Wonderful cities but would love to go to someplace new!

The rules say you can enter once each week. I entered last week and now I tried to enter again for this week (which I should be able to do) and it wouldn't let me. The rules page says you can enter for next Monday's drawing starting 1/16. I wonder if you have to wait until after tonight's program. Has anybody else who entered last week tried to enter today?

We have not yet taken a Rick Steves tour, but have used many of the guidebooks over the past 20 years. We are older now and ready to take a guided tour! First choice (if we win) is Rome, second choice is England. Thank you!

The rules say you can enter once each week. I entered last week and now I tried to enter again for this week (which I should be able to do) and it wouldn't let me. The rules page says you can enter for next Monday's drawing starting 1/16. I wonder if you have to wait until after tonight's program. Has anybody else who entered last week tried to enter today?

The rules say that the first drawing is held tonight (the 16th). I would imagine they will start taking entries again after the drawing.

Nancy,
I also entered the contest last week and just tried to enter again tonight, but the system wouldn’t let me.
I got this message: “This email address has already entered”

The rules clearly specify that one can enter once per week and the drawing next Monday includes entries from 1/16- 1/22.

I wonder if there’s a glitch in the system?

Istanbul since I've already visited the other 3.

Priscilla, I had the same issue. I just tried to enter for this week and received the same message. My guess is that someone has to reset the system for the new week. I got the impression that the RS tech people were not around this weekend as no new festival videos have been posted since the Spain one on Friday. Hopefully, later today they get the contest issue straightened out and some new videos posted. I'm really enjoying them.

And Rick sure knows what he's doing. I was looking at the london tour Itinerary last night and thought, that doesn’t sound half bad. 😊 I don’t consider myself a tour person (not anti-tour), but these festival episodes have peaked my interest. At least for the city tours with no long bus rides involved.

When I win (power of positive thinking, right?), my choice will depend on available dates compared to our work schedules. Generally, my first choice is Istanbul, since we haven't been there. Second choice, I'd love to go to Paris near Christmas.

In 2019, we did the London 7-day at Thanksgiving. It was a last-minute decision, so the tour was on sale. We just showed up and had a blast!

I think I'll pick London when I win 🤞

The website is now accepting entries for this week's drawing
-Ben

For anyone trying to submit another entry form, it’s fixed!

I contacted the webmaster last night and he fixed the issue!

Good luck everyone!

Looking like a runaway.....

London - 4
Paris - 3
Rome - 3
Istanbul - 11

Probably because many people haven't been to Istanbul and prefer to do it as a tour rather than on their own. If I hadn't already been there, it would probably be my pick too.

Who won the 1/16 drawing?

When I was on the Portugal Zoom meeting, Rick mentioned it was someone from Michigan - he said the name but I cannot recall - first name Steve I think. He announces the winners on the Monday travel talks.

The first winner was from Jackson MI and his first name was "Spencer". I didn't catch his last name.

Denise & Silas - thank you!

His last name was Swank I believe.

Rome - I've never been. Istanbul a close second.

Even though I have been to all 4 cities, I would choose Paris.

Rome, since we're expecting to go there either this year or more likely in 2024. Would probably couple it with a Tuscany Tour.

Fly me to the moon .... Lunar south pole :)

As I am busy planning my London/Paris trip for this April. I would have to pick Rome. Please pick me! lol

I looked at all 4 itineraries in case it actually happened to me. Istanbul was a thought, but I'd really rather do the full Turkey tour if I went to Turkey, so I figured that one was out. Not interested in Paris. The Rome itinerary looks pretty good but this June after our Sicily tour we are spending 4 nights in Rome. I absolutely love London and have visited, well I think its been 4 times now, but still so much to see! So, London it would be!

Who was the second winner?

Someone from Colorado.

I would choose Istanbul.

Have the winners already selected their tour?

Hi blue439,

I'd pick London. Please show me how to enter my name on the contest.

Thanks,
Sandy Chen

I'd pick London. Please show me how to enter my name on the contest.

https://www.ricksteves.com/forms/contest-entry

Good luck for the final drawing today, everyone 😁

A total no-brainer for me......................

ROME

I've spent two weeks in Rome already and would love to return!

I was not all that impressed with Paris....liked France just not Paris.

I plan on doing London on my own in the near future
I have no desire to go to Istanbul

Monday’s winners
Craig from Plano. Texas
Someone who was not me- (forgot to write her name down)

Really enjoyed Rick’s interview with the first winner who is returning to London after 50 years for his 50th anniversary.

Oh how wonderful !

Final Results

London - 6
Paris - 4
Rome - 7
Istanbul - 13

Good Night, now.

I wonder if you had considered a trip exclusively for exploring significant WWII sites? Dresden bombing to Auschwitz death camp. Normandy beaches to the “bulge” …..

I have been to Portugal in Europe…but not to any other location. Hard to decide!!! I think I would pick UK or Germany

Too bad the winners are not here to tell us what they chose ( and why)

Too bad the winners are not here to tell us what they chose ( and why)

Maybe they haven't decided where or when yet. Or maybe they just aren't on the forum.