Re-take a tour?

While I haven't yet repeated a tour, I have gone back independently to places that I first went to on a tour, and in the case of my upcoming tour it's to a place I've been to on my own many years ago. I find that when I go back to a city or town I've been before I start to see things and notice details I missed the first time around and get a chance to visit some museums or buildings or parks I missed the first time around. And if it's been 10+ years, it's interesting to see what has changed or not changed. I'm a solo traveler as well and find it easier to revisit a place when someone else is handling the logistics..... Go for it!

I have repeated a non-RS tour and had a terrific time. Mine was a Seymour Travels tour of Orkney and Shetland. I took the original one in 2023 and took it again in 2025. The itinerary had changed a bit for 2025 so I did see some different things. The actual reason I retook it was that I was so in awe of these islands the first time around I wanted to go back and see things again when I was not feeling so overcome, lol.

Your guide will be different, the group will be different and your experience will be different. I'd go for it!'

Is the one you are considering re-taking Village Italy? Just asking because that is one where the ending city has changed, lol.

I don’t mind going back to a place I’ve seen on a tour. But, I don’t want to spend money to do so just to see that one new place. I would try and incorporate that place with places I’ve never been.

Flying and training in Europe is easy to do.

Considering Eastern France tour. With the exception of Paris, many times, I have not returned to France. The only France tour I have not taken is the My Way tour. ( I would love it if RS would do a concentrated Provence tour)
I loved the Village Italy tour, so this past Spring I took the Tuscany tour and thoroughly enjoyed revisiting and concentrating on that region specifically.

Hello,
DH and I are about to embark on our 3rd consecutive RS Alpine My Way tour. '24 and '25 with our adult triplets and now, just the 2 of us. We've loved it both times and have no doubt this upcoming trip to 5 countries, surrounded by the Alps, will be no less wonderful. It being a "My Way" type of tour ensures we are able to tailor-make our itinerary every year so we only repeat the specific spots we want to see again. Other than the destinations, there is no set agenda, except for what we plan ourselves.

In between, we have taken the RS traditional Belgium/Holland tour. I can imagine that it would be very similar each time based on the schedule being the same. Therefore, I don't have a desire to repeat that exact tour again.

~Mitzi

My husband commented about a year ago that he would absolutely do the Eastern France tour again out of the 13 tours we’ve done. Part of it for me would be to see changes and differences, even if we had the same guide. We would be better prepared with how to spend our free time and how to select restaurants. I would love to see Verdun again and spend more time in our final location or surrounding area.

I will be repeating Village Italy again this month. The first time was with my daughter, and we loved this tour. This time will be with my husband, as I know he would love it. Still my favorite tour out of five!

"We would be better prepared with how to spend our free time and how to select restaurants."

I think Patty's comment is key. For myself, the more I know the better I can enjoy a tour!

We've been taking RS tours since 2009, and have racked up 20-some odd. And yes, we have retaken tours, three, I believe. Even when the itinerary is the same, the tours feel different. The guide often has some leeway with parts of the itinerary, so even when the tours look identical on paper, your guide will probably have different favorites to highlight. And you will have different experiences on which to draw, as Patty and Pam have suggested.

We have taken Eastern France, and it is on our list of "tours we would be glad to take again." I say, go for it!

I enjoyed the Best of South England tour so much when I took it by myself back in 2019 that I wanted to redo and share the experience with others. I managed to get to do that with my daughter and cousin in 2024. I've taken 18 trips with RS and this one still stands out.

Maryellen,
You mentioned you are thinking of retaking the Eastern France tour, I did that one during harvest season in September 2024 and it was perfect for seeing the grapes being harvested and crushed! Plus there’s winery visits and great meals.

I went on the Tuscany tour this past April. I loved it as well, the little villages and hilltop towns were so ancient and interesting! I guess I’m fascinated by Europe!

I agree I would go on a Provence tour in a heartbeat!

I haven’t really considered retaking a tour but I have revisited places I liked on a tour.

We’ve taken 13 RS tours and although I really don’t care to repeat any, we have gone back to places we’ve visited to see more on our own. I think it was during our tour this past May, Best of Germany. in the group meeting where I could almost recite what the tour guide was going to talk about next that I came to the conclusion, maybe we had reached our fill. Of course, we had to back out of Sicily due to Covid, so maybe just one more…..but to do a repeat, no.

I've taken 7 RS tours, the first was solo in 2018, Best of Sicily. I've done the Best of Europe 14 twice because I took different grandchildren. Even though I had taken the tour before, going with different grands, different tour members, and a different guide made it seem like a totally different tour. I would love to take the Best of Sicily tour again, simply because I was a novice when I took it before and I didn't know what to expect. If you took a tour 12 years ago, the tour undoubtedly has changed, there will be a different tour guide and new members. I personally think it's a great idea.