Magical Venice at night. 1. What a "country!" Although I had been to France and Spain several times, I had not been in the Basque regions. "Strasbourg Cathedral's Astronomical Clock. Be on your feet, walking and standing for up to three hours, indoors and outdoors, in all weather conditions. Preparation materials and information was very helpful, (esp. The vistas were truly unbelievable. "Each small city was a wow moment. It was a wonderful introduction to an area that I knew nothing about prior to the trip. Fast forward 18 years later. The, Wonderful space with plenty of light. Beautiful sights, excellent guides, very nice hotels, fun loving group of fellow travelers. Also the demonstrations of stain glass making and gondola oar making.". I felt the blend of guided and free time was well organized. Every RS tour we have done (this the 6th) has been outstanding but this was just about the best. It was interesting to later view the sunburst signs marking the trail as we continued through villages on the tour. We saw A WhOLE LOT of this largest of European countries with a very knowledgeable guide (Carlos)and travelled with some fascinating people. The hotels were comfortable and full of unique character. But I also enjoyed Wartburg Castle, Nurnberg's Nazi Documentation Center, and the roof-top tour of Berlin's Reichstag.". Bilbao's airport can be easily reached by taxi or bus and provides easy connections to Madrid and all major European airline hubs. Train: hour. It was exactly what we hoped it was going to be! Although I liked our visit to Neuschwanstein Castle, I would have preferred more time in Munich or another location. Meals provided a sample of regional dishes. Not exactly my normal workday at home!". The choice of cities included on our 17 Day tour of Italy was good. CONTACT LISTING MANAGER. No bus. We have been on 8 other Rick tours, and this one ranks as high as any. Our driver Massimo took great care of us and was outstanding on winding mountain roads and tight turns. "Rhine river cruise. The trip was exceptional. But the food was the real star. hotel in Cinque Terre. Enjoyed the water ways & all of the history of that are.". Enjoyed the tour quite a bit. ", This was a fun and informative tour made better by an excellent guide and bus driver. Just strolling down the street with so many other people wouldn't sound amazing, however there was such relaxation and joy in the atmosphere. The Colosseum was another "Wow" Everything about it was a "Wow" What a feat of Every twist and turn presents a "Kodak" moment. ", We really enjoyed our tour until we had to leave because my wife tested positive for Covid! For more information about transportation options for getting to and from your tour, see your Rick Steves Snapshot: Basque Country guide. Cant wait for my next RS tour. The wine resort was a perfect place to rest and get ready for the end of the trip. My husband and I both enjoyed this tour very much. British museum. 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.". There is a ton of Our Personal Training room is ideal for any trainer looking for a space that is. To get back to the hotel and hear even better singing was a serendipitous experience. Loved the places we visited including the extras that Torben chose. However, there were separate wow moments almost every day of the tour.". Actually, there were quite a few wow moments!". For COVID-19 Travel and RS Tours information, Overall, an awesome experience. Ready next time for My Way style tour as too many local guides. The itinerary was great, wonderful fellow travelers, great local guides. Sleep with street noise and no (or weak) air conditioning. This tour was a bit too hurried. "A simple hike at Castle Ruth, a stay in a beautiful vineyard spa, and the sights of Rome were definite highlights of the trip.". Having a bus, instead of public transportation, made traveling between sites comfortable. "Lake Como, hiking in the Dolomites, Cinque Terre since I had never visited those places. To be in her personal home and see the from her perspective was very personal. The buses were above average in comfort. Have to experience it to believe it! Learned where Prussia was. Particular kudos MUST be given you our guides history and context lectures during bus rides! This was my 5th Rick Steves tour and was just as wonderful as all previous tours! The overall tour was good, the guide was very knowledgable, however, I felt as if the tour guide was just doing his job and not really connecting with the group. Besides being absolutely adorable she was very knowledgeable and we could tell she loved Italy. This morning we'll continue our journey to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany's best-preserved medieval town. Guernica raises some questions: very important place for Basque history and because of link to Picasso masterpiece. Very well organized with room for last minute adjustments as circumstances changed. We learned so much. It was all I had imagined--so beautiful and romantic!". I didn't know I needed to walk those 5 miles until I started, and it helped me prioritize a few things I've ignored throughout the pandemic.". Beautiful countryside, friendly co-travelers, enthusiastic guide, "Wartburg Castle and history of Martin Luthers time there". The Basque Museum tour was a bit long and became a little tedious. This morning we'll visit a stained-glass workshop, where a local artisan will show us how he fuses traditional and contemporary stained-glass techniques. Today we'll say au revoir (agur in Basque) to France, but not before we make one last stop for a visit to the walled French town of St-Jean-Pied-de-Port, a traditional starting point for hiking the 500-mile Camino de Santiago pilgrimage trail. I enjoyed the tour. 7409 Fax: +1 702.894.7414 Email: guestservices@treasureisland.com We went to the bridge in shopping clothes. This was our third Rick Steves' tour, and this one definitely involved the greatest number of miles of traveling. It just felt good for us to be there - one of the best trips we've ever had. "Hiking Monterossa to next town in Cinque Terre.". The itinerary touched on all the significant areas of Germany that told the story of the history of the country and its people. I was a little disapointed in the local guides and would have liked more historical information. ", "Hiking on the Camino Trail and the Guggenheim Museum.". Love being outside in Europe". I will never forget when Caroline read a passage from Anne Frank in front of her gravestone at Bergen-Belsen. The tour however was not as immersive as other Rick Steves tours I've taken. I appreciated her efforts to adjust and inform us during a couple of delays. Very concerned about everyone's well being. ", Our 8th RS tour and one of the best. Well paced tour with enough free time to enjoy private time with my wife. There was a nice balance of old and new. The walk on Camino de Santiago? The wine was great, the cheese was great, the bread was great, the culture very interesting. Hotel Pasquale in Cinque Terre and pesto making demo also WOW.". The sites and tours that Sarah took us on were all memorable and informative. "No dinner reservations:(. September and October don't have long days. Morgantown. This tour totally exceeded my expectations. This part of Spain is absolutely wonderful. I really appreciated the independent free time that periodically occurred in the schedule. Plus you'll get all this, too. ", As usual everything was ready to go, from the first meeting until the last dinner, the group was good size and the guide exceptional, "View of San Sebastian Bay from the tower". Cinque Terre was wonderful all the way around the second time even! "Hiking part of the Camino de Santiago (out of Pamplona) was wonderful. Lots to see and do. ", "I felt high on life after our day in Pamplona. We enjoyed every minute! Had a wonderful time! We all got to experience the sheep, goats and dogs first hand. Such rich history packed into beautiful villages. The third was after our guide booked a special trip to Wartburg Castle. Seattle. The people, the food, the wine, the ancient ruins, the art, the history it just goes on and on!!". Great pre-planning advice. It changed the whole dynamic in a good way. Tour guide Rozanne art history insights were so helpful. I believe the time in Rome and walking through the Ancient Rome are and the coliseum was most impactful. It all brought so many emotions.". A small, friendly group of 2428 people half the size of most tour groups; Full-time services of a professional Rick Steves guide and local experts who will make the fascinating history, art, and culture of Germany come alive for you; All group transportation from Hamburg to Berlin; 12 nights' accommodations in memorable, centrally located hotels "Favorite "wow" moment? 1) Seeing the pilgrims on El Campo de Santiago Watching the video of the last Palio race with some of the men and women from the winning team who had been there. Rome was the culmination!". No bus. Sleep in Bilbao. and Have done a few other tours in the past. "Cinque terra was fabulous. It was only a fraction of the distance "real" pilgrims walk, but it gave us a much better understanding of why people undertake this 500-mile odyssey.". Our guide was fantastic as were all the local guides. Great guide. "#1 was the Camino de Compostela; both seeing the start at St Jean Pied de Port (and getting our passport and shell) to walking the Camino the following day. It made me realize just how important this city is, not only iin Germany, but in Europe. "It is hard to list just one, but the back alleys of Venice, and the view from our hotel room patio in the Cinque Terre were the tops! And our tour guide, Barbara, was outstanding! I enjoyed the mix of cities and towns. We never really had to wait for anyone who was late. "There are too many things to pick from, but this image will never leave me. No bus. The paintings, quirky rooms and overall architecture of Weissenstein was beautiful beyond anything else. Best RS trip ever - 4th trip overall. We also got in enough walking to help counter the higher calorie intake of discovering delicious German food, and treats. The tour contained just the right amount of structure and free time. I'm looking for a. Her knowledge of Germany's history and her ability to weave that history with it's cultural and political implications was exceptional. "Meeting Guiessipe in Orvieto. Overall a great tour. "Favorite Wow was the small cities and not being destroyed during the war. Going to cities like Munich and Berlin and listening about their 20th century history that I had read about in books made it more real to me. We all cant wait to go back. The scheduling and use of time was outstanding. Just getting around the back alleys or walking the walls & seeing the beautiful gardens in bloom.". However, the months of April, May, September, and October are best for offering good weather, lighter crowds, and the full range of tourist fun. Perhaps due to different museum guide (and I don't recall having the hearing device last time). Wow! Liked northern Italy landscape the most.". The food? Great trip.". Everything was fine. The Elbphilharmonie is not a 3 star attraction (per Rick's book). San Sebastin was wonderful with all the food history and lovely beaches.". Our guide, Francisco, was incredibly knowledgeable as well as funny and warm and very well-organized. The itinerary, guide, and travel group were great! 30+ years of combined bartending experience. I am so thankful I booked Rick Steves. Good blend of big cities and small towns. No surprises. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. ", My wife and I came down with COVID with just over half the experience completed and had to leave the tour, but what we were able to enjoy was magnificent! Our "Taste of Germany's Best" was fantastic! Hotels were good, guides were great, food was debatable. The full, Marc and the space were absolutely AMAZING! Venues; Services; List Your Service Book the perfect Mariachi Band. We'll dive further into the independent Basque spirit as we visit the town made infamous by the 1937 air raid that inspired Picasso's anti-war masterpiece (now housed in Madrid). 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