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Rick Steves Presents an Irreverent History of His Tour Program

Rick Steves' Europe
Rick Steves' Europe
Casual
👁️ 546K views📅 13 years ago⏱️ 1:36:38
What This Creator Said
Creator RecommendsCabin / Ship TourCasual 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 carry-on only
Find restaurants with handwritten menus in one language
Stay in hotels with character, even if no elevator
Learn to picnic with local ingredients for savings and experience

🆕New to Cruising? This Creator Addresses:

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

Questions This Creator Answers

QHow did Rick Steves start his tour program?
QWhat makes a tour experience authentic and memorable?
QHow can travelers balance independent travel with guided tours?
QWhat are the benefits of small-group travel?
QHow has the travel industry evolved over the years?

Topics Covered

Excursions3 Happy BaconPort Destination2½ Happy BaconItinerary Route2 Happy BaconService Crew3½ Happy BaconValue Pricing2½ Happy Bacon

Port Highlights

Cinque Terre3 Happy Bacon
Top: Exploring the villages
Istanbul4 Happy Bacon
Top: Guided tour with local expert
Venice3½ Happy Bacon
Top: Vaporetto tour
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.