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Tour Morning Start times?

Can an experience Rick Steves tour traveler give me any insight on morning start times? when the itinerary says "morning" are we talking 8 a.m.? 9? gasp- 7?

Thanks in advance! -Sarah

Posted by
14603 posts

Which tour? Usually the city tours start a little later in the AM (except for the one time in Rome when we needed to get to the Colosseum early, lol). Generally, I'd say 8-830. Most of the time breakfast isn't served until 7 so they have to give people time to get something to eat.

The only really early day I've had on 11 tours was a "free" day in Switzerland where the guide offered to take anyone who wanted to go up the Schilthorn. The gondola that left at 730 was less expensive so we left the hotel at 715. This was entirely voluntary...but was also one of the best tour days I've ever had, lol.

Posted by
11742 posts

Generally, I'd say 8-830.

Concur with Pam.

Depending on the tour, there may be a day or two where the 'out the door', may be outside that time frame, but that would be a rare exception.

Posted by
1081 posts

Usually 8:00 - 8:30 am, one time we were in Rome and Sara Murdock (guide extraordinaire) asked if any of us would like to see St.Peter's (Vatican) with no one else there but us. Well, about 90% of the group said YES! so we met at 6:00 am and walked right into St. Peter's and it was a highlight of the trip!! Very different feeling when it's not crowded and noisy. But, that was an optional tour event and not a part of the regular tour.

Posted by
7 posts

It's the Munich, Salzburg, Vienna tour this July - thanks all for the info. I was figuring on eight, but wanting to be prepared.

Posted by
14603 posts

I’ve done the longer Germany, Austria and Switzerland tour that includes Munich, Salzburg and Vienna and I don’t recall any early departures. Often for the day you are doing a tour of the city with a local guide you won’t leave until 9.

Have a wonderful time!

Posted by
7667 posts

That’s a beautiful area; we love Austria! Have a wonderful trip! …and you can always nap a bit if the day is beginning with a bus ride.

Posted by
8862 posts

They have to be flexible, because they have to work around appointments with local guides or sights, and if its a bus day, traffic and detour issues. You can always skip breakfast if you need the morning time, if you plan ahead.

Posted by
2616 posts

There is usually a window for breakfast times (e.g. 7-8:30). If you're not an early riser shoot for the later part of the window, just know you won't be able to have a leisurely meal. As has been suggested you can skip breakfast, or see if you can grab something portable to go. There won't be paper take away cups for coffee, so bring your own travel mug if you need that (and be prepared to dump it if you're going in a museum).

I'm an early riser, but on a couple of tours even I was dragging in the morning after some late nights out and possibly one too many grown up beverages. On those occasions you can catch a snooze on the bus ride. Or just embrace the mantra "sleep when you're six feet under" and just roll with it. :)