Trip Bacon — The secret ingredient to the perfect getaway logo
Trip Bacon

Rick Steves Presents an Irreverent History of His Tour Program

Rick Steves' Europe
Rick Steves' Europe
🥉Knowledgeable
👁️ 551K views📅 13 years ago⏱️ 1:36:38
What This Creator Said
Creator RecommendsCabin / Ship Tour🥉Knowledgeable Creator
Veteran Cruiser

Source: Our analysis of the creator's lived experience, based on what they said in this video.

Creator's Key Takeaways

I never wanted to go to Europe my mom and dad my dad used to be a piano tuner and some guy said you should import pianos

I vowed to go back to Europe every other year since I graduated from high school

I self-published the first Europe through the back door in 1980

I just absolutely love this best first three weeks in Europe if that's what you're looking for

Creator's Tips & Advice

Pack light and use a 9x22x14 inch bag
Find restaurants with handwritten menus in one language
Stay in hotels with character, even if no elevator
Learn to picnic with local produce for cheap, nutritious meals

🆕New to Cruising? This Creator Addresses:

Traveling on a tight budgetUse picnics, youth hostels, and public transport to save money
Safety and comfort in unfamiliar placesTravel with a small group for safety while still having adventure

Questions This Creator Answers

QHow did Rick Steves start his tour program?
QWhat is the philosophy behind Europe through the back door?
QHow can travelers have authentic experiences in Europe?
QWhat makes a good tour guide?
QHow has the tour program evolved over time?

Port Highlights

Cinque Terre3 Happy Bacon
Top: Exploring the villages
Istanbul4½ Happy Bacon
Venice4½ Happy Bacon
How to read the Trip Bacon Score
Happy Bacon — creators loved this aspect
Sad Bacon — creators took issue with this
Meh — no strong opinion either way

Scale: 0–5 strips in half-step increments. 0 = “meh”, 5 = “bacon bliss”. Aggregated from creator-review sentiment, weighted by channel expertise.

About our Bacon Score methodology
YouTube Video Description

Subscribe at http://goo.gl/l6qjuS for more new travel talks! In this class, Rick Steves charts the evolution of his popular tour program — from its inception (when Rick was the only guide and his first aid kit was a baggie of Valium) to the present, where dozens of guides and more than 10,000 free-spirited travelers explore Europe together in a more comfortable version of the Rick Steves style. For more information on Rick Steves' Europe tours, visit http://www.ricksteves.com/tours.