Hints and Tour Tips:
My BEST tip is use the Rick Steves' web site! It is full of information about traveling and Europe, not just about the tours. Although there is plenty of extra information about those too!
TEEN TIPS! |
My daughter is a FABULOUS traveler! Since she was little we have taken long car trips and flown across the country to visit family. So I have learned by trial and error some things that make a successful trip with a teen (or younger child).
Rick's Buddy SystemKeeping a group of 28 people together is hard work, and one way Rick and his team have streamlined the system is by buddies! Usually at your first meeting, the guide will have everyone pair off with someone NOT in their immediate group. Then each time the group gathers you do a buddy check! This means each person makes "meaningful eye contact" with their buddy and within seconds the leader will know if everyone is accounted for. It works so much better than counting everyone over and over. I have usually ended up with TALL male buddies, which works well for me as I can spot them easily in the crowd! WARNING: at some point in the tour, your guide will either play some sort of name game or have you introduce your buddy to the group.
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The Bus
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WHAT TO PACK!
What to Expect with European Hotels
Rick's team does an incredible job with hotels. For the most part the hotels are in great locations, have character, and are pleasant. Many of the hotels are family run. We have never had to share a bathroom. However, some hotels have a few more quirks than others, but it all makes for interesting memories! We have always shared a triple room. Sometimes we have three separate beds, other times it is a double and single, or a double with a roll away.
Here are a few interesting things we found on this tour:
Here are a few interesting things we found on this tour:
Hotels We Stayed At On The Tour:
Booking your own trip or curious where you might be staying on the tour? (The tour group was split into different B&Bs in Dingle and Galway.) I would recommend all our hotels and everywhere had wifi!