TIPS

1. Start your passport application process early. If you already have a passport, check your expiration date on it. Whatever you do in preparing for your trip, a passport cannot be forgotten! Any other item can be purchased if you forget something. One of R.S.'s videos suggests buying your toiletries once at your destination. We had to purchase cold medicine in Cologne, at the Pharmacy (apotheke in Germany). 

 

2. To learn more about traveling, watch R.S.'s videos on your local PBS channel, online videos, or search specific videos at https://www.ricksteves.com/ 

 

3. R.S.'s has some excellent tutorials on what to pack, how to pack, essentials to bring, and how to begin planning the destination of choice. You will get a list of suggestions to pack, and a R.S. guidebook to research the places you will visit on your trip.

 

4. When arriving at your destination, have some currency on hand. Some vendors, transportation companies, etc may not have mobile credit card readers (or the wi-fi may not be working and the payment won't go through. This happened to us when we landed in Cologne. The taxi driver had to drive us to an ATM so we could take out some euros to pay him)

 

 5. You are indeed visiting places that may not have elevators, and you will be lugging your bags possibly two or three flights to your room. Rick Steves suggests packing light and sells some backpack-style bags and other travel accessories.

 

 6. A couple of hotels we stayed at offered laundry service, which was well worth the money spent! The laundry was cleaned and folded for us, and better yet, we didn't lose out on any sightseeing. 

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7. Have an open mind, when following the daily itinerary. There may be delays, changes due to weather, or changes of plans, but know that your tour guide has been well-trained to handle these slight detours. 

 

8. If possible, add a free day at the beginning and/or end of your trip. We had a couple of days in London before the tour, and on the return trip, we stayed at the airport hotel in Heathrow. We went up to the rooftop bar, had a drink, and watched the planes coming in and taking off. It was a relaxing evening, a chance to debrief before flying home the next morning. 

 

9. A daily schedule is posted for you every day. Take a snapshot of it for your convenience.

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10.  Adding on to my #4, try to keep "loose change" (whatever currency you are using). In our case, euros, are for use when the bus stops at the rest areas for a stretch and WC break. The bathrooms aren't free, usually a euro to use.

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11. Research ahead of time, if there will be any special events happening in the places you are visiting. Sometimes, purchasing tickets ahead of time for something you would like to attend, might be feasible because they will sell out fast, and may not be available if you wait until you get there.