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Wait-Listing on Rick Steves Tours

We are newcomers to RS Tours. We took our first tour in May (Switzerland), which we got from the wait-list, and as soon as we got home from that tour we wait-listed on another tour in October (Germany Austria Switzerland (GAS)) and were successful in booking it. So we are two-for-two in wait-list success.

We joined the Switzerland wait-list on Feb 27 (wait-listing for two dates in May); an opening appeared March 4, which we secured within 15 minutes of notification receipt (so just 5 days for an opening to appear).

We joined the GAS wait-list on May 28 (wait-listing for two dates in Oct); an opening appeared June 14, which we secured within 15 minutes of notification receipt (so about 17 days for an opening to appear).

Two additional openings appeared for the GAS tour after we secured our place.

Were we lucky, do people think, or is this pretty typical? We did also wait-list for two dates on the Scandinavia Tour in September, but didn't receive any notifications of availability.

We've just joined the wait-list for the Poland tour next September (three dates) - much further in advance than the above two tours. How have others found the wait-list process?

For us, booking years in advance is just not our style, so we are quite pleased with the wait-list process but I'm wondering if we just got lucky!

Posted by
772 posts

I’ve successfully waitlisted for several RS tours. The RS staff may have the best information regarding historical data in this area. Very happy to hear that it is working out for you.

Posted by
136 posts

My husband and I registered for South Italy tour in 2022 and a couple of months later a good friend of ours waitlisted for the same tour; he did NOT get in.

Of course, 2022 was a special year in that it was after the covid reopening, so that year's tours may have been especially busy.

That's our only experience with the wait list.

Posted by
1386 posts

I understand that openings come up for waitlisted tours just before the tour balance payment is due, so you may have a longer wait for the Poland tour.