RS Tour of a City You've Visited Before?

I did the Paris tour back in 2019 when I had already been several times before and loved Paris. I figured I’d learn more (I definitely did) and I hadn’t been to Versailles in many years and I could do this on the tour as well. I stayed another week in Paris after the tour ended. It’s ALWAYS a good time to visit Paris.

I haven't yet, but I am going on the Villages of Italy tour in late October. There are a couple of places that I have been before, but I think it will be fun to see these places with a local guide. I think if you find a tour that works for your timeline and you need a get-away you should go for it. Happy travels!

Don’t hesitate to take a tour in a city to which you previously traveled. You’ll learn many new things, get a different perspective on sights you visited before and enjoy re-visiting the favorite parts of that visit. I’ve visited Paris, Rome, Venice and Florence more than once not on a Rick tour. I’ve also taken the Best of Paris twice, the Best of Rome twice, and the no longer available Best of Florence twice and Best of Venice. If never regretted visiting any of those wonderful cities on multiple occasions and am certain that I’ll visit some of them again.

I took the RS Paris 1-week tour as a solo in August 2013, and my husband & I had just been in France with several days in Paris in 2012.

The tour was excellent! To be honest, I wanted to go back to Paris to linger at a cafe, stroll through a park and feel Paris instead of the busy but fun schedule we did the previous year. My husband felt comfortable that I would be with a group (first solo trip), and the August date was on a special sale.

I learned a lot more about the art in Paris and enjoyed that I was very familiar with the city, so I had my own plans besides the more relaxed aspects.

It sounds like you’re thinking positively about it, so I’d go for it!

I was on the Venice, Florence, and Rome tour and then the Tuscany tour. Since both tours were in Florence. We visited the
David Statue on both tours. Other than that we visited different locations on each tour During our free times I visited the Uffizi gallery both times and will visit again.

I took the Best of London tour in 2012, and it was great! Prior to that trip, I’d visited London in college and later when my brother lived in the UK. I’ve been back a few times since then. Absolutely learned and saw new things on the RS London tour. Enjoyable group, too. I say go for it!

You could also consider an independent trip to a different location or even a different tour company if you need to get away and would like something different.

Go for it. It’s going to be a different experience with a tour guide, maybe a couple of local guides with their insights and a group of people who are most likely excited about the tour.

I have done this, and I do recommend it! For me, it was Rome. My first time in Rome was on the BOE in 21 days tour, and I didn't really enjoy the city. It was hot, and I felt exhausted and overwhelmed as we crammed all the major sites into about a day and a half. A few years after that, I met my partner. He hadn't traveled internationally, and he said the one place he wanted to see in his lifetime was Rome. So a few years later, we booked ourselves on the Best of Rome tour. I honestly wasn't very excited to go back. However, on the week-long Best of Rome tour, I fell in love with the city!

Being settled in one hotel for a full six nights made a tremendous difference. I enjoyed second visits to the Colosseum and Forum with the same local guide I'd had before (the incomparable Francesca Caruso). I enjoyed new places like our guided group tour of San Clemente Church and the day trip to Ostia Antica. I skipped the group tour to the Vatican and explored other places on my own. (This was in 2018; it looks like the Vatican is no longer a group activity on the tour?). I would say even if you've been to the city several times, having guides (especially Rick Steves guides) greatly enriches your experience.

I have been on RS tours which included cities I had visited independently before. It was much more interesting and efficient to see these places with the RS tour. With the tour, I saw more sights, with insights explanations for art and architecture, guidance on food and culture, etc.

...wouldn't mind seeing them again with a professional guide...tour includes other attractions I've been meaning to see...

With the above in mind, I say "go for it". You will probably also experience an "at home" feeling that will just add to the trip.

In the same way that it's often fun to experience your own town/city/state as a tourist, returning to a city in Europe and touring it with a professional guide unlocks new wonders and insights. I bet you'll have a really fun time.

MANY THANKS TO EVERYONE for your encouraging responses! I have signed up for the Best of London in 7 Days. As soon as I get the confirmation, I'll book my flights.

I often happily travel solo--and in fact will incorporate a few days on my own into this trip--but this time I want the pleasant company of fellow RS travelers as well as the expert guides and all the benefits that RS provides. This will be my 5th RS tour.

London is one of my favorite places. As some of you noted, it will be refreshing to see it through the eyes of tour mates who are seeing it for the first time. And I'm sure I will learn some new things as well.

By the way, I did look at other reliable tour companies--Intrepid and Road Scholar--but their available offerings didn't suit my schedule this time around.

Again, I appreciate everyone's kind and helpful thoughts.

Yay! Have a great time!