Just realized the cost for the Tour I've booked for 2026 had been revised upward; I am assuming for those of us who've already booked months ago will not be impacted. Does anyone know if this has ever happened before?
Posted by
1604 posts
It has always been the tour policy that once your tour is booked, your price does not change even if prices go up.
If you look under "our tours", and the category "your most value for your money," it references that policy.
Posted by
SE Pennsylvania
3131 posts
I've never looked at the price of a tour after signing up to see if it has changed, so no idea if it's common. It does appear that the Greece tour has gone up since I purchased.
I don't understand what you mean by "Just released"?
Posted by
OP
The Shire
210 posts
@KD,
Thanks for pointing that out!
@LIZinPA,
Just fixed my typo error. I'm taking the same tour; can't wait!
Posted by
SE Pennsylvania
3131 posts
Ha!
I wondered if there had been an announcement somewhere.
Posted by
Mandeville, LA
96 posts
It looks as though the pricing for the Central Europe tours increased by $500.
Posted by
Idaho, USA
9124 posts
The date for the 1-week Prague/Budapest tour went up $300 since I signed up several months ago. I also received the Early Discount of $100. I could look at it as both of those equate to me receiving the $400 single supplement for free!
I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s partially due to the exchange rate now.
Posted by
OP
The Shire
210 posts
The higher tour cost is probably due to the rise in operating cost in both The U.S. and some European countries. In Greece's case; both tourism taxes and minimum wages were raised earlier this year.
Booking early in this case could save you money :)
Posted by
Walnut Creek, CA (Originally England)
147 posts
Last July I booked the Best of Tuscany 2026 tour, I just looked and it too has been increased by $500 for the same departure date. Not sure I've ever noticed that before for my previous 9 tours. Another reason to book early I guess!
Posted by
Mandeville, LA
96 posts
My guess is that 75 percent of the seats on the 2026 tours were booked before the price increases went into effect. Some tours are completely sold out, and a number are nearly sold out. And the increases are surely lower on those tours on which there still are a number of openings. For example, the Central Europe tour, on which the pricing has been increased by up to $500, looks about 93 percent full. And the RS organization has years of data showing when people book and how much they are willing to pay.
But these increases surely point to higher prices for the 2027 tours. I am sure the RS organization did this only after serious discussion and with good reasons. But I am surprised that they did this for the 2026 year rather than hold off until the 2027 travel year. It means some couples now booking 2026 tours will be paying a $1,000 more than most of their fellow travelers who booked earlier.