Another was Francisco's very touching talk in front of the tile replica of Picasso's Guernica. The trip greatly helped me understand how prior ages set the course of present-day Germany. Or maybe learning about Spain's civil war and their recovery. (8 cities in 16/17 days is a lot of moving.) This was my eighth Rick Steves tour. We'll end our day amid the peaceful vines and olive groves, tasting several of our host's award-winning wines and sharing a country-style dinner together. Bad internet, bad breakfast, bad bed. Enjoyed sharing one another's travel experiences. The sites that were selected to visit where amazing and I believe all of the cities were ones we would have picked if we planned the tour. Tour guides in cities were cheerful, funny, and informative. "Definitely, the time spent in Munich and at Octoberfest.". I feel like I said "wow" at every every place we visited. Plus, the weather and other participants contributed to a near perfect trip. It was a relatively short tour, but I appreciated the variety provided within the context of the overall Basque culture. Our guide, Ferdi, with his wealth of information and great sense of humor was a great leader. Our tours don't include airfare, so your flight arrangements are completely up to you. The Best of Italy in 17 Days was wonderful. Actually, there were quite a few wow moments!". Loved Dino our bus driver also. My tour experience was wonderful! I was fascinated by the culture, language, food and beauty of the various regions we visited. "It was such a nice mix of small towns and large, but I guess I was most impressed with Berlin. Once the booking is confirmed, it's covered by Our Guarantee. The extra experiences included in this tour were also fabulous and an education we could never have had on our own, even with Rick's books. Without overwhelming us with too much detail, our guide gave a magnificent tour of the cathedral and introduced us to saints and histories, relics and controversies.". I had read about both homes in biographies of Liszt and Mendelssohn.". The tour guide was excellent and added so much to understanding Germany and it's history. British museum. Standing in the green valley and looking up at the rocky mountain touched the soul. It's worth a discussion.". Carry/roll your luggage over uneven pavement (possibly several blocks) and up stairways to reach your hotel, then up several flights of stairs to reach your room. There were so many unique planned cultural experiences in the different locations. Moderate walking: 26 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs, Bus: 4 hours. The tour contained the standard activities I expected: Rhine cruise, castle visits, cute towns; the surprises were Erfurt and stopping off at a beer garden - quite lovely. The professionalism of the RSE organization and especially the top performance of our fabulous guide, Carlos Meissner (with a Ph.D. in history!) The Best of Germany tour begins with the sound of seagulls in Hamburg, a city that tickles tourists with its people-friendly harbor and a nearly Nordic vibe. Cap it off with incredible weather (we did not think being too warm would be an issue in October) and we couldn't have asked for a better experience. The tour is very well organized, with some down time and scheduled events. Sign says Land of OZ, I think". I should have realized that it would mean lots of bus travel to go to all the included cities as the actual time on the bus was the only thing I didn't like. Light to strenuous walking (your choice). Although in Berlin, Aria took us to Rausch for a short refreshment break so we could energize ourselves before continuing on. Beautiful country and enjoyed learning about the culture and history of the area. "I think viewing " The Last Supper " in MIlan," David" in Florence, and the Borghese Museum in Rome. Being my first visit to Europe, I never felt lost or confused. Fantastic! "Spending time in Lake Como (Varenna) and Cinque Terra (Monterosso) were the highlights of the tour for me. I might have preferred 3 nights in Venice and Florence and omit 1 stop. This tour was Outstanding with a capital O. I expected great things but this by far exceeded my expectations. we arrived in Bilbao. Well- we had great guides and a really fun group, so that set the stage for a fantastic trip. Moderate walking: 26 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. ", The Best of Italy tour was a great way to see a lot of different places across Italy. Well organized, well led, some great additions, great group of people to travel with. It's free to book and make secure online payments through The Bash. This was the right mix of group activities and free time for us. Equipped with your included Lake Como ferry pass, you'll have the entire day and evening free to explore the villages and waterways of romantic Lake Como, including the elegant town of Bellagio. Each member of the group was friendly and approachable, and a pleasure to travel with. It was really special having a Basque guide for a Basque tour..especially at Guernica. Wow!". We were blessed with an incredible group of fellow travelers that I would gladly tour with again. Felt like a real insider when we went to the private bullfighting museum in Pamplona! It was made extra special by having a 'local' share his history/knowledge of the area. This afternoon you'll have free time to enjoy Bayonne or take a short train or bus ride (20 minutes) to the seaside towns of St-Jean-de-Luz or Biarritz. It was unearthly shimmering spiritually enlightening.". There is a lot of walking but at a reasonable pace. The moon and lights reflected in the water.". "Seeing the Mediterranean Sea for first time.". Hike along the trails, taking in lots of fresh air and panoramic views between Cinque Terre villages. They will not be disappointed. From the first day through to the last all went smoothly. We had a wonderful time! The hotels were very nice with great staffs and good breakfast buffet. He was raised Basque and so he had an enourmous wealth of information about the Basque people, the politics, the way they lived and it was wonderful to see the Basque country in France and Spain with his personal touch. Additionally, he's OUR TOP COMEDIAN with over 75 REVIEWS - ALL 5 OUT OF 5 STARS. Peerspace is the easiest way to book unique spaces for meetings, events, film, and photo shoots. Glad we did it. "As with all of RS tours there is never one "wow" moment. Your guide will provide an orientation for the many fun adventures you can choose. Our Guide was a class act. The whole tour was a "wow" moment for me. Find commercial space and listings in Sandwich. I have already planned my next Rick Steves trip and look forward to another fun adventure. My first "wow" moment was the boat tour in Hamburg. My only suggestion would be to start in Rome and then use the other stops to slow down from the all the history compressed into 1-1/2 days. Fourth trip and we meet great people on every one. He got a bit short with people, didn't take the time to make sure EVERYONE had a chance to see maps and subway layouts, etc. Fran was also a motivator and made me think about things that are important. Another excellent RS tour. Excellent tour director (Trina) and driver (Dino). Contradas and Palio. Our guide immediately set the tone for a positive and varied tour that included expected activities and options for possible experiences based on our interests. One that stood out was a day that we walked to a castle, went for a ride on the Rhine, toured a town, tasted wine, and walked vineyards. You picked well again. Bus: 3 hours. "All the sites were wonderful, but stopping in Erfurt was Peaceful and a well needed rest before our sobering encounter of recent history in the next few days. We enjoyed the entire tour! Drinks: Crafted Cocktails, Draught Beer & More Average Check: $12 $50 pp Dress Code: Varies by Venue, Mostly Casual Going thru RS made it a lifetime experience. Who ever knew that, except those on a Rick Steve's tour. The bullfighting mini-museum and men's club dinner in Pamplona. Tour was wonderful. Overall value was excellent as we got much more than what we had expected. "Visiting relatives birthplace. Discover thousands of unique dinner venues for rent perfect for your event. Our tour guide Daniela and bus driver Jost made our travel very easy and comfortable, "My wow moment was having the tremendous opportunity to attend the Oktoberfest in Munich together with most of our tour group. Saw beautiful landscapes, amazing works of Renaissance art, many historical towns and inspiring churches and museums with the opportunity to stay in city hotels and enjoy excellent Italian foods and feel a part of the culture. First off the City of Pamplona runs a great event, which is the biggest festival in Europe. was a recurring wow moment.". Colleen made our tour amazing! Sleep in Munich. What a beautiful place.". The NO GRUMPS rule helps everyone maintain a nice, friendly attitude. This tour was overall a good experience. There was a suggestion that the lamb should be called "Ricky" tiki joes music schedule. We enjoyed the company of the rest of our group when we would meet for group dinners and events. "Rome, in seeing the old city and the Vatican, the museum, the Sistine chapel and St. 2nd: standing on the platform at the Nuremburg zeppelin field, and contrasting what I saw that day with the films I've seen from 80 years ago. Our tour guide and bus driver were absolutely fantastic, both going above and beyond to make sure we had as many experiences as possible. A combination of history, culture, everyday living experiences, cuisine, scenery and surprises that made for a memorable total experience. We were glad to get back to Europe after the Covid hiatus. Perhaps a bit too much bus time for the tour. Each day and each destination had it's own "wow" moment for me. As is typical of Rick Steves tours, the culinary experiences were magnificent. Sleep with street noise and no (or weak) air conditioning. This is a make shift two bedroom / one bathroom loft perfect for photoshoots or. Additionally, our dedicated staff is available to expedite the needs of our business guests, and answer HOTEL FAQs.. Our 17 day tour of Italy was amazingnot only in historical sites and art but also in our knowledgeable, congenial guide, Sarah (no request was too big or too small for her to assist us), and a great group of tour companions sharing and laughing as we made our way from Varenna to Rome. Keep it!". "Walking and surviving the Camino de Santiago was wonderful - but the sheep farm and Sylvia were a definite highlight. "There were many such moments and also many moments that inspired quiet contemplation. 2. Accommodations and dinners together were excellent. And last but not least, was seeing the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao thrilling. We had amazing food in each city and everyone was friendly and helpful. 2. "Walking along the Camino where so many pilgrims have passed for centuries was truly amazing. "Walking the Camino de Santiago. "Its difficult to select just oneprobably the impromptu stop at the Florence American Cemetery brought us all to tears.". SERIOUSLY!!! Amazing food, first rate wine that was never in short supply at our group dinners. The tour exceeded my expectations. All this at the foot of the Alps and at a latitude of Boston. This was my 7th Rick Steve's tour and perhaps the best overall. However, the Jewish Memorial in the middle of Berlin was amazing. Bavaria wonderful. Lets get this party started! I'm looking for a. I really enjoyed this tour. Excellent tour guide. Pricing: $450 to $900. The group dinners were all great especially the dinner with the Italian family in Varanna and pasta making demonstration. This was a "trip of a lifetime" for me, so I had high expectations. Incredibly comprehensive, educational, and fun. Was there a non-wow moment? The tour was incredibly informative, visiting so many significant sites and cities in Germany. David and the Sistine Chapel were awesome! Terms of Service | Privacy, South Tirol Museum of Archaeology (tzi the Iceman), Florence's Accademia Gallery (Michelangelo's, Orientation for "vacation" day in the Cinque Terre, Orvieto orientation and San Brizio Chapel. Berlin transportation system.". The Top Wedding Trends for 2022. "All the soups we had on the tour-covered meals - asparagus (multiple locations), mushroom (Munich) and wild garlic (Rothenburg). The scheduling and organization of this tour was second to none. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone who would like a taste of Italy! "The Rhein Valley/River was more beautiful than I ever thought possible.". Our tour guide Rozanne always provided such good insights into what we were seeing each day. Surrounded by the Pyrenees mountains above, and the red pepper fields below.". It really was a magical moment. Great guide in Claire, Assistant guide Andrew was very helpful. "The Guggenheim Bilbao museum was an exceptional experience.". Well organized schedule I found Hamburg to be an extremely boring city and would rather have spent more time else where, like Cologne. Such a fascinating ending with these priests reporting directly to the Pope. We had a group of 16 travelers which made it easier and kept us safe. What started with good policy created by a diverse group of organizations including the Natural Resources Defense Council, the American Lung Association, California State Firefighters, the Coalition for Clean Air, the State Association of Electrical Workers IBEW, the San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Great area to tour. Seeing beautiful beaches, sites you have seen forever on TV, and quaint old city centers always fun. In case you wish to book pre- or post-tour hotel accommodations, the contact information for the tour's first and last hotels is included in your tour confirmation email, as well as in the Itinerary section of your tour account. All of the stops were entertaining and educational. "Hamburg was my big Wow moment because my great grandfather born in 1853 emigrated from Hamburg on a ship to Cincinnati as a tin smith in 1874 at age of 21. We ranged from ages 16 to 74. We offer licensed bartenders for weddings, private parties, corporate events, and all other celebrations. Exploring creative birthday dinner ideas is one of the most delightful parts of planning a birthday dinner. Every place we visited had so much to offer, and we usually wished we could spend more time there. The Hotel Royal Victoria was excellent with a lovely breakfast buffet and outstanding views of the lake. I appreciated that activities always started on schedule. The lemon garden at our hotel there in Montessoro with the outstanding view of the village rooftops and the Mediterranean.". Hotels were centrally located; accommodation was very comfortable with substantial buffet breakfasts. Tours guides so knowledgeable and kind. We had a lot of fun though.". Our guide, Stephanie, did an incredible job communicating her expertise and affection for Italian culture and people, "So many to choose from, but the gondola ride over the Dolomites was unforgettable.". It was haunting, and beautiful, and just a perfect moment. "Bacharach, Bergen Belsen, Munden, Erfurt (stangely all smallish towns)". The food plentiful and good. I do wish some of the bus days could have been shorter. There was a good variety of cities and smaller towns. Salute! After visiting Hagia Sophis this spring on a Rick Steve's tour, it surprised me how pleased I was to see a magnificent structure built to the glory of God that didn't have the Christian heritage wiped clean. Our many guides throughout the many cities were absolutely brimming with enthusiasm and the intimate knowledge of the particular site/city. It was outstanding and a great time was had by all. A great lifestyle. We thoroughly enjoyed our meals spent with the other tour members - especially the one at the beer hall in Munich that started out with pretzels and where I had a pork knuckle - learning how to "cut off the skin like a surgeon", as Mattie instructed. Visiting small towns and villages. Loved them all and would go back to all of them except Venice, saw most of Venice.". ", My expectations were exceeded. She is enthusiastic and loves her job and Italy! Moderate walking: 26 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. We had a great group of fellow travelers that meshed well together, especially during such a long tour. See our FAQ | Email tour@ricksteves.com. We always LOVE Rick Steve's toursand the value for the price was amazing. Tonight, we'll rendezvous for a farewell dinner together, where we'll share travel memories and toast new friends. Being somewhere close to where Christ, Paul and Peter walked gave me chills. I really enjoyed the sheep farm and being in the rural setting after all the beautiful cities that we visited.". "Hiking part of the Camino de Santiago (out of Pamplona) was wonderful. Another one would have to be in Siena when we learned about the Palio and then got to visit the winning contrade and the fantastic meal the volunteers there prepared for us.". Learning about Italy and all of its treasures was fascinating and getting to meet artisans such as Remi E Forcole who made gondola steering posts in Venice and the man from Arcaico in Siena who made stained glass windows made the trip a unique experience. And I thought this was a fantastic balance to the sobering Guernica stop that morning.". He was very knowledgeable and you could tell he had a passion for sharing the History and love of the region. I love watching the people who live and work wherever we travel and this trip did not disappoint.". in Pamplona". "I enjoyed going to Bingen Wine Festival Aug 31st. Well organized and executed. to freshen up; quick walk to dinner; group dinner; darkness has now fallen; back to the hotel; sleep; early wake-up; breakfast; back on the bus); drive, drive, drive. The Basque area has such a rich and complicated history. The tour group was compatible and we made some enduring friendships. The tour guides were outstanding to beat. For COVID-19 Travel and RS Tours information, The size of our tour group was perfect with 24 people, and they were all a pleasure to get to know and share the experience with. ABA and our members fully support consumers ability to access and share their financial data in a secure, transparent manner that gives them control. Your guide will help you with any post-tour planning, leaving you well prepared for the road ahead. We enjoyed the way the tour was organized. This was our first R.S. In addition, we really enjoyed visiting Minotaur Wonderland in Hamburg and the Museum Barberini in Postdam that were recommended by Daniella and in the RS Guidebook.". ", "Impressed with the wide extent of knowledge about culture, art, history and politics of the region.". This was a wonderful tour. Looking forward to the next one! The home visit was so special and standing on the balcony I could visualize the running of the bulls.". Our guide, Mariana, was warm and knowledgeable. "The Dolomites were a wonderful surprise. Fun, educational and eye-opening. "A private docent tour of the Guggenheim. What an interesting city. The tour was very well organized. Great group! Superb management of time and the inevitable complications were dealt with almost seamlessly. We had a great group on this tour, easy going and fun. The experiences and locations visited were just incredible. Your afternoon is free for wandering through the picturesque pedestrian zone and market square. My wife took a couple of spills and our guide was very concerned, "Berlin. We loved taking the water ferry over to explore Villa Carlotta, Bellagio and Menaggio. After past tours I didn't think we could have another guide as great as the one we had, but then we do! I was pleasantly surprised by the wonderful combination of city life, country and water experiences on this tour. The Colosseum was another "Wow" Everything about it was a "Wow" What a feat of I loved the special experiences that were part of the tour, absolutely adored our tour guide, and learned a ton. The food was outstanding except for the last meal in Bilbao as the monk fish was poorly prepared. tours provide the chance to interact with locals in their milieu. This tour was a bit too hurried. We loved our first Rick Steves' Tour. "It was very interesting to see how modern Germany is as well as how traditional it remains.". the visit to the woman's home in Pamplona, visiting the sheep farm, dinner at the private club in Pamplona. I live in a very conservative part of the country. Our tour guide Jorge was very informative and pleasant to be around. It was fabulous! Treasure Island Las Vegas offers hotel guests a wide range of amenities ranging from accommodations, entertainment, dining, gaming, spa and salon, weddings, as well as a variety of shopping outlets. "Not sure if this counts as what you're looking for as a "WOW moment", but to the extent this way-too-fast tour could be saved, it was by guide Holger and driver John.". It as great being with the locals, tasting different wines and fire works. We walked into our beautiful room on Lake Como and opened our window and there was the lake right before our eyes. "One of the many "wow" moments was when I actually saw the breathtaking, beauty and enormity of the cathedrals and castles we visited. professionalism. I returned home wanting to study everything, and wanting to recreate this feeling every day. What a city! The tour guide was great. A close second was walking on the Camino. Our guide was Wonderful; can't imagine anyone better for any tour. I am amazed at the quality of guides that Rick Steves employs. It's an essential part of the Rick Steves tour experience. Lastly walking The Camino. Bellingham. Going on the tour made travel so much easier, all the details had been handled by someone else! Would not take a more-than-two/three city tour again because there was just too little free time to explore. Bus: 4 hours. 1500sf natural light loft. We had a wonderful group of people traveling in our group that embraced the experience as we did and all had so much fun together. Our Siena tour and Contrada dinner was eye opening and memorable. "I loved the Dolomites. Learned much from Daniela and all of the professional guides along the way! As a result I learned so much about the Basque culture which is of particular interest to me as I have a relative who lives in Biarritz. (3) A skilled, generous, hard-working guide. 2) The upbeat, happy atmosphere in Pamplona Key Findings. Our guide, Francisco, was knowledgeable and entertaining. We covered allot of territory and packed in a full schedule of amazing sites and experiences. It was special on this tour to see both the bull-fighting collection and the bar in Cafe Iruna.". Pamplona was an unexpected surprise. Fran is an excellent host and my favorite guide to date, the group was kind and adventurous, the food was great, the places a delight. The Cinque Terre, Tuscany, and Lake Como were also exceptionally incredible.". We chose this tour as an introduction to the Basque region, language, history and foods before traveling for a couple of days on our own. I loved the guided city orientation walks. In retrospect, I wouldn't cut anything out of it, and adding more days in the smaller (one night) stops would be too long there. The itinerary told me of the expected experiences, and I was blown away with how much knowledge, walking and fun can be packed into just one day, and we had 17 days!!!!! The simple concrete building with the windows out to the birch forest evokes the darkness of the time. Entering the awards room where we ate, seeing the centuries of tradition and the amazing hand-crafted awards, and talking with the younger generation of proud Sienese contrada members brought me to the surprising realization that I was truly experiencing a part of Italian history, tradition and culture.". Francisco (our tour guide) Claire (our local guide in Bayonne) and Agustin (our local guide in San Sebastian) provided excellent leadership and quality decisions regarding our tour's content. Beautifully decorated 2 Bedroom 1 Bath in the heart of wonderful Downtown San Di. It was a beautiful night and a unique way to travel and see the city.". We looked forward to shelving that chore and it was a delight. All the arrangements were perfect, the bus was luxurious, and the appointed sights magnificent. Apparently no other tours know about the Seiser Alm, but what an idyllic place to spend a couple of days - serenaded to sleep by cow's bells in the pasture below. The special, interesting things we did which would have never been available to us as individual tourists (private bullfighter museum, eating in the private Basque gastronomy club, lunch at the family run vineyard, and visiting the sheep farm) were priceless experiences.
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