Rick Steves is a well-known name in the travel industry. For more than 30 years, he has produced hundreds of popular European travel videos for PBS (all available to watch for free on his website or on his YouTube channel), dozens of highly respected travel books and organized guided tours of Europe.

Rick Steves focuses only on Europe and spends seven months out of the year traveling and researching his favorite places. His company tours are active, that is, you are expected to be fit, mobile, and capable of walking and carrying your carryon luggage. No one moves your luggage for you. No big suitcases on his trips!

Rick Steves avoids chain accommodations by booking small, privately often family-owned hotels in the heart of the visited town, many without airconditioning or elevators. These independents work hard to please their guests and to continue their relationship with the Rick Steves organization. Their central location allows full immersion into the city and easy access at night.

Rick Steves hires knowledgeable, familiar local guides and every day is filled with a full but not overly busy schedule. Transportation is via a very comfortable, modern 50 seat coach but the tours are limited to fewer than 30 people, so lots of extra space on the bus. On the downside, these buses are full-sized and cannot get through the narrow streets of many European villages, thus the need to be mobile. You frequently have to walk with your luggage a fair distance to your hotel.

In the summer of 1973, during summer break after my first year of medical school, I traveled to Europe for two months, the first month in Naples, Italy, and the second month motor camping and hosteling through Europe visiting Amsterdam, Oslo, Copenhagen, Munich, Interlaken, Zurich, Salzburg, Vienna, Venice, Florence, Pisa, and Rome. Subsequent trips through the years were to England (last semester of medical school) and Paris but not to the other locations.

So after 46 years, I wanted to see many of these places again but without the hassle of all the decision making of backpacking and hosteling … where to stay, how to get there, what to see, how to negotiate local traffic, etc. And, the bonus, with the creation of the European Union, no border crossing delays and frequent money exchanging!!!!

So we decided to try Rick Steve’s 21 Day Best of Europe. Here is the official description from his website.

Our classic, three-week Best of Europe tour packs more travel thrills into a single vacation than you can imagine. Starting in the Netherlands with your Rick Steves guide, you’ll experience the best of Amsterdam, Germany’s Rhine Valley and Romantic Road, castles and forests of Austria’s Tirol, canals of Venice, Renaissance Florence, the art and history of Rome, seaside villages of the Cinque Terre, the majestic Swiss Alps, country charms of France’s Burgundy region, and the City of Light — Paris. Join us for the Best of Europe in 21 Days!

During the trip, you have a guide herding his flock, handling the arrangements, educating us about the next destination, solving the inevitable glitches of travel, and watching our backs for pickpockets! We were very fortunate to have as our guide Andy Steves, yes Rick Steves’ son!

Shout out to Andy … EXCELLENT JOB!

Instead of describing this long trip in detail, I will say that Rick Steves tours are very well done at a moderate price and I highly recommend them.