Hi Forum members,
I have been on 2 other RS trips, one with a friend and the other solo. I had a great time on both. While I enjoy doing things on my own it is nice also to do things with others, for example, dinner or some sightseeing in our free time.
My new question is: is one of these trips better than the other for a solo traveler? I am thinking about next Sept or Oct?
Happy travels,
Judy B
I've not done a RS tour but I have done other tours as a solo. I don't think there's anything really that would make one tour better than another for a solo outside of how many other singles are on the tour and you probably won't know that when you book. Make your choice based on what you want to see more and maybe time of year (weather).
I've never taken an escorted tour (RS or other), but I agree with Nancy. Multiple reports here from solo travelers on RS tours all say they have a great time, and are included in activities as much as they want to be (free time excursions, dinners, etc). So, choose the tour that you want based on where it's going, time of year, etc.
Some threads with reports from solo travelers (it's a frequent, recurring question on this Forum):
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/solo-traveler-which-tour
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/tours/solo-travelers-on-rick-steves-tours
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/solo-travel-on-a-rick-steves-ettbd-tour
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/tours/first-time-solo-traveler-italy
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/single-tours
I've done both tours as an assistant guide as well as on my own. In my opinion they are both great but very different. One covers more ground than the other. The Belgium/Holland tour is about 10 days so if you had two weeks, you could add a few days extra somewhere else like Paris, or perhaps more time in Bruges and Amsterdam. Additionally the places here are pretty close together so your transportation time wont be as long.
the other tour doesn't cover Benelux though. I guess it will just depend on what you want to see more of: Paris, Switzerland, and Italy OR Benelux. Both are great and both are different but one is not better than another.
I personally like the BOE tour because you see a wider array of cultures, foods, and histories. I hope this helps some.
And as far as being a solo traveler on those two tours, I couldn't say that one of those tours gets more single people than the other. It is just a matter of who signs up for what date. You may get a handful of solo travelers on a specific date or maybe just one other. And that applies to all our tours. You are free to call up the tour department and inquire if there are other solo travelers on the date you are interested in. We are happy to provide that information. Of course at this point in time the full make up of a tour is not quite known as we are still in the early stages of sign-ups. But I would not worry too much about whether there are other solo travelers or not. It certainly is nice if there but from my experience most of our tour members are very happy to have solo travelers join them for meals or sightseeing. So I would say whichever trip you prefer to take at this time is the one to go with.
Thanks everyone for your comments and suggestions. Harold, I read some of the links you included in which solo travelers described their positive experiences. I think I will do another trip alone.
I am now faced with a choice and a dilemma - which tour do I take? I think I will set up a new thread asking for people to weigh in on BOE in 14 Days or Belgium/Holland in 11 Days. I would love to hear the experiences of others who have been on one or both.
Judy B
I have the same problem. I am a female solo traveler that has been on 13 tours and I still am worried each time, will I meet people to go around with in the free time and someone to eat with. It is a big worry for me. I am thinking of two tours, the Holland/Belgium or the GAS (Germany, Austria, Switzerland tour). I think you will be fine on the Holland/Belgium tour for sure, as there are plenty of museums and small towns to walk and window shop. I went on the BOE 14 day tour and loved it, but I met the only other single traveler, also a woman and we were always together and that was perfect. You have to have a mind set that you might be alone and plan b is to go and do things in your spare time you want to do and see and that's it. Not easy, but you need to have a mind set that you will have a great time, even if you don't have company in your free time. I spent an extra day in Rome on my own after the tour, the other woman went home so I went around myself. It was great. If I do the Holland/Belgium tour, I am considering going to Brussels for a few days before hand, Ghent for a day before hand and then stay in Amsterdam for a few days after. The GAS tour, I would stay for a few days in Vienna after the tour. I am dying to see Vienna.
I really want to go on the GAS tour, but think that will be harder to do as a solo than the Holland/Belguim tour.
Which tour do you really, really want to go on. Either one has cities and museums and small cafes to go to alone which is fine.
If you do the BOE tour let me know and PM with any questions. If you are able stay a few days before in Paris and/or a few days in Rome after. As there is so much to see in each city. You have been to Paris so you know your way around and could see things you have not seen before.
You never know who is going to sign up. I went on the Rome tour in 2008 and the single women did things on their own and I hung out with some really nice couples the whole trip. You never know! It is hard to say which tour is better or more geared to solo travelers. There is no such tour. Just pick a tour and do it. Not easy but like you I don't want to stay home. My camera is ready and so am I! Best,Ann
Ann,
You are so right about making up my mind to have a great time whether alone or with others. I will do that. I went alone on the Paris & the Heart of France trip and found that people were very friendly and I have warm memories of our time together. We toured the Normandy beaches in 2014, the 70th anniversary of D-Day and most of us were in tears. This is a bonding experience that I think the RS tour philosophy fosters with their itineraries and guides.
Belgium/Holland appeals to me because there are so many art museums like Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Vermeer & Delft, the Ghent Altarpiece in Ghent, to see. Also, I want to see the Anne Frank house, Flanders Field and Bruges with its Memling Museum with its masterpieces. And, so much more!
BOE in 14 also has its attractions - Switzerland & Italy, 2 countries I have not visited yet.
Tonight I am leaning toward Belgium/Holland and thinking I probably will go ahead & spend 2-3 nights beforehand and possibly 1 night after. Tomorrow may be another story. I think I might do GAS in the following year. If you do that one, you will love, love Vienna! Get tickets for the Opera, we went to Rigoletto in June this year and had a great experience. In June I went with a friend on the Berlin Prague Vienna tour - wow what a great time we had!
Again, Ann, thanks for sharing your thoughts. I need to go on two trips a year to get to all the places I want to go! Wish, wish, but I will do the best I can with each one.
So many trips!
Judy B
I think Ann makes a really wonderful point about just making up your mind you will have fun. Even if there are other solo travelers on your tour, they may not match your energy or interest levels.
I've got a fairly high energy level and on my last tours often got 13,000 to 23,000 steps in each day which included some fairly lengthy walks in free time.
I also go to bed early so am not much in to pubs/nightlife.
I like to eat dinner early, and am vegan so usually am not interested in fancy dining as many of the nicer restaurants don't have much selection for me.
Wow, I sound like a real pill (one of Mom's favorite descriptors, lol), don't I?? I am sure I am a lot of fun, lol!
Whichever one you decide, you will have fun. I was going to suggest doing them back to back, lol. I would do Belgium and Holland first, then Thalys from Amsterdam to Paris and pick up the 14 day! That one is going to be very fast and busy, so I would probably do the more mellow one first. I might change my mind tomorrow, too!
Pam,
Wow, we think alike - I was mulling that over, do both back to back! It would be the perfect solution. However, I am a working girl and I try to take trips that will fit my vacation allotment. 15 or 16 days counting weekends plus a holiday will work for a trip for me. Until I am retired....someday!
PS I am sure you are a lot of fun and have interesting ideas about things to do on a trip which would make you a good traveling companion.
Thanks for your comments.
Judy B
Well, if you are still working and have limited time, I would go for the 14 day BOE! I think all of Rick's tours maximize your time on ~any~ itinerary, but this one gives you the most variety. I think it will also be the most tiring, so don't do it if you have a huge project to jump on as soon as you return.
Hi Judy,
I'm a 27 year old guy, and I just got back from the BOE in 14 on October 16th. I was the only solo. And I loved this trip as a solo traveler. I may be the oddball, but I really embraced the free time on my own. Though I did sightsee a lot with other folks on plenty of occasions, I loved the feeling of being alone in a city.
As to which tour? I have only done the Best of Europe, but highly recommend it. It covers a lot of ground, shows a wide array of cultures, and varies the sighseeing between history, museums, the landscape, and cultural experiences.
Thanks for your encouragement. I am still considering which tour to take. Also, a friend who cannot handle her luggage and therefore feels she cannot do a RS trip has said she might like a Viking River cruise. So I may do that if we can find one we agree on.
If not, I will go on BOE or Belgium/Holland, all is good, I will go to Europe next year!
Judy B
Judy - I booked by 2nd RS tour (1st was 14 best of Ireland in august 2014, with sister) now my 2nd will be 11 day Belgium/Holland the April 27 to May 7, 2016 with Husband(his 1st time overseas). When were you wanting to go? I will report back to you when I return. I am leaving the day after thanksgiving for an AMA waterway Christmas market cruise down the Danube. Flying into Prague for 2 two days, leaving bus to Nuremburg and stopping at cities for Christmas Markets, ending up in Budapest. Hoping all will go well since the Paris attack.
I love history and art, so I am excited about those museums, Anne Frank House, etc. on this Belgium/Holland trip.
Hoping husband will like it because newly retired(both), I want to do a European trip once a year if possible. I would like to possibly go on the new Switzerland tour and Paris/Normandy tour. I have been to Scotland, Ireland, Wales, England (twice), Paris, Switzerland(Lucerne) and Italy (twice). Two many places go and see. Happy travels, I be your travel buddy if husband does not like this trip. :)
Kim
Hi Kim,
Thanks for your response. I have been out of town (not Europe, Wash DC) and have not had time to write. I am so glad you have booked the Belgium/Holland trip for the Apr 27 tour because you will see the tulips! My hope was to travel in the Sept/Oct time frame as it seems to be a less crowded time of year in Europe. This tour is still close to the top on my list because I will be able to seriously indulge myself in wonderful art masterpieces I have wanted to see! Seeing that Brussels has been on lockdown and the Metro closed after the Paris attacks on 11/13 is something to consider. I still work so every vacation day is precious and while I am scared I am more concerned with wasting time and not being able to get around to see the sights. I am nervous but I know that terrorists can't be everywhere every second of the day so my chances, being one of the 7 billion people on the planet, are fairly small that I will be a victim of a terrorist attack. I live in Atlanta and crime happens here everyday. Enough said about that.
I am excited that you are going on a Christmas Markets tour on the Danube, that will be magical! Please keep in touch. Some of my trip goals are Scandinavia, St Petersburg, Tallinn & Helsinki, Switzerland, BOE in 14, Italy, etc. the list goes on. I too would like to do one European trip a year as long as I can.
Cheers and have a great cruise on the Danube!
Judy B
