PRETOUR Research, Plan, Prepare, Pack
Research and Plan
Read and then read some more. Rick Steves provides a Best of Europe book to each tour member. I started to refer to it as my travel bible. I also visited the Rick Steves' travel forum on the Rick Steves' website. Travel enthusiasts have posted a wealth of information. I spent hours researching and planning my trip. I was well informed on the options I had at each of our destinations.
Prepare and Pack
I packed according to the Rick Steves' packing list. It is very concise and worked perfect for my trip. I can't say it enough, study the Rick Steves' website. All your questions will be answered better than from this novice. Before I made my tour reservation, I made sure that my friends were able to check in on my mom while I was gone and my "furkids"
would be watched with care.
Research and Plan
Read and then read some more. Rick Steves provides a Best of Europe book to each tour member. I started to refer to it as my travel bible. I also visited the Rick Steves' travel forum on the Rick Steves' website. Travel enthusiasts have posted a wealth of information. I spent hours researching and planning my trip. I was well informed on the options I had at each of our destinations.
Prepare and Pack
I packed according to the Rick Steves' packing list. It is very concise and worked perfect for my trip. I can't say it enough, study the Rick Steves' website. All your questions will be answered better than from this novice. Before I made my tour reservation, I made sure that my friends were able to check in on my mom while I was gone and my "furkids"
would be watched with care.
DAY 1 "Breadcrumbs" to find your way back to your inn.
Make sure to keep a hotel information card and a local town map in your day pack. Make note of the local transportation access points that are closest to your hotel. There are a few times that I took a local taxi, I made sure to know where the taxi stations were and I could easily show the driver the hotel card for the destination address.
Make sure to keep a hotel information card and a local town map in your day pack. Make note of the local transportation access points that are closest to your hotel. There are a few times that I took a local taxi, I made sure to know where the taxi stations were and I could easily show the driver the hotel card for the destination address.
DAY 2 Rain, Rain, Go Away...
An essential packing item for your trip is a lightweight rain jacket. In travels past, I never used one. However, this trip was a bit different. My most worn item was my rain jacket. I had a Rick Steve's washcloth in my daypack. It came in handy when drying off a wet bench or chair along the way. Also, I had two small plastic bags that I used to keep paper items and cell phone dry in my daypack.
An essential packing item for your trip is a lightweight rain jacket. In travels past, I never used one. However, this trip was a bit different. My most worn item was my rain jacket. I had a Rick Steve's washcloth in my daypack. It came in handy when drying off a wet bench or chair along the way. Also, I had two small plastic bags that I used to keep paper items and cell phone dry in my daypack.
DAY 3 Ask Questions! Ask Questions!
I have the heart of a wanderer! I tend to separate from my tour mates and explore on my own. My major travel rule: I always let someone know where I am headed. I tell our tour guide, or a tour mate, or when I am traveling without a group; I leave a message at the hotel desk along with my room key. When you are out exploring, ASK QUESTIONS! I have discovered that the local people are more than willing to talk with you - along with good directions, you usually get a great story to tell.
I have the heart of a wanderer! I tend to separate from my tour mates and explore on my own. My major travel rule: I always let someone know where I am headed. I tell our tour guide, or a tour mate, or when I am traveling without a group; I leave a message at the hotel desk along with my room key. When you are out exploring, ASK QUESTIONS! I have discovered that the local people are more than willing to talk with you - along with good directions, you usually get a great story to tell.
DAY 4 Capture the Tour Group Activity Daily Post
Each day your tour guide will post a daily activity sheet. Take a picture of this post as a reference tool that you can use throughout the day. The Daily Post photo ended up being a great tool to organize my photos for the trip.
Each day your tour guide will post a daily activity sheet. Take a picture of this post as a reference tool that you can use throughout the day. The Daily Post photo ended up being a great tool to organize my photos for the trip.
DAY 5 Heartprints Appear Through Your Eyes, Not The Camera Lens
By Day 5, I had decided to put away the professional camera that I had brought to record my journey. I witnessed too many tourists taking photos everywhere and not even realizing what they were experiencing. I wanted to "feel" the soul whispers throughout my travels, a lasting imprint on my heart. It was so much easier just to take the few photos that I wanted with my IPhone. I packed up my camera equipment and stored in the bus for the rest of the trip. I never regretted this decision.
It made for a lighter daypack. The gift was that I truly was present in the moment and not distracted by getting a great
photo. *Make sure that your photos are being saved on a cloud storage program.*
By Day 5, I had decided to put away the professional camera that I had brought to record my journey. I witnessed too many tourists taking photos everywhere and not even realizing what they were experiencing. I wanted to "feel" the soul whispers throughout my travels, a lasting imprint on my heart. It was so much easier just to take the few photos that I wanted with my IPhone. I packed up my camera equipment and stored in the bus for the rest of the trip. I never regretted this decision.
It made for a lighter daypack. The gift was that I truly was present in the moment and not distracted by getting a great
photo. *Make sure that your photos are being saved on a cloud storage program.*
DAY 6 Keep Your Passport Close to Your Heart
I always keep my passport with me in my money belt. Always! Many people leave their passports in their hotel room while
on day adventures. However, I always have my passport with me! If you are shopping in any of the major stores, the store
clerks will ask to see your passport for duty tax rebate, etc. Also, I keep a printed copy of my passport in my luggage, a
photo of my passport on my phone, and a copy of my passport is left with a friend at home.
I always keep my passport with me in my money belt. Always! Many people leave their passports in their hotel room while
on day adventures. However, I always have my passport with me! If you are shopping in any of the major stores, the store
clerks will ask to see your passport for duty tax rebate, etc. Also, I keep a printed copy of my passport in my luggage, a
photo of my passport on my phone, and a copy of my passport is left with a friend at home.
DAY 7 Packing for Venice! The Best $20 You Will Ever Invest.
When you visit Venice, the bus drops you off at the vaporetto boat launch and you are off to the city of canals and cobblestones. Pack Light! You are responsible for getting your luggage to your hotel and up the stairs to your room. The best pretour travel purchase I have ever made is the Rick Steves' Hide Away Tote Bag. For Venice, I packed all my Venice needs into this tote and I had my daypack. The rest of my luggage, I left on the secured bus. It made the trip into Venice so very easy. I am obsessed with tote bags. This tote bag is one of the best I have ever used. When I got back to the States, I
even ordered another one to use. I used my tote bag throughout my Europe travels. It even works great as a laundry bag!
(link provided if you click on photo)
When you visit Venice, the bus drops you off at the vaporetto boat launch and you are off to the city of canals and cobblestones. Pack Light! You are responsible for getting your luggage to your hotel and up the stairs to your room. The best pretour travel purchase I have ever made is the Rick Steves' Hide Away Tote Bag. For Venice, I packed all my Venice needs into this tote and I had my daypack. The rest of my luggage, I left on the secured bus. It made the trip into Venice so very easy. I am obsessed with tote bags. This tote bag is one of the best I have ever used. When I got back to the States, I
even ordered another one to use. I used my tote bag throughout my Europe travels. It even works great as a laundry bag!
(link provided if you click on photo)
DAY 8 Create a Photo Trail
When we arrived in Venice, our tour guide, Keith, had us take photos of signs along our route through the alleys and canal bridges to our hotel. We could use it as a reference, when we had been out on our own and were returning for respite. What a great idea! Day or night, I was able to refer to my photos to find my route "home." I continued to practice this hint throughout our trip. Thank you, Keith!
When we arrived in Venice, our tour guide, Keith, had us take photos of signs along our route through the alleys and canal bridges to our hotel. We could use it as a reference, when we had been out on our own and were returning for respite. What a great idea! Day or night, I was able to refer to my photos to find my route "home." I continued to practice this hint throughout our trip. Thank you, Keith!
DAY 9 Hello, Thank You, Please, Goodbye, Toilette (WC)
The important words to know in any language! I make sure to know these words in the language spoken in each country that I travel. The Rick Steves' tour provides a wonderful little translate book for reference. I also used the Google translate phone app throughout my travels. I have always managed to get by with knowing the sacred five: Hello, Thank You, Please, Goodbye, Toilette (WC)
The important words to know in any language! I make sure to know these words in the language spoken in each country that I travel. The Rick Steves' tour provides a wonderful little translate book for reference. I also used the Google translate phone app throughout my travels. I have always managed to get by with knowing the sacred five: Hello, Thank You, Please, Goodbye, Toilette (WC)
DAY 10 S M I L E !
My father always told me to use my greatest asset when dealing with the public, my smile. When you are exploring the town neighborhoods, SMILE! This expression is recognized in all the European cultures we visited. Smile at the shopkeeper when you walk into their business. Smile at the Innkeepers, service people, transportation assistants, and your tour mates. A smile brings light and warmth to your presence. Be the Light!
My father always told me to use my greatest asset when dealing with the public, my smile. When you are exploring the town neighborhoods, SMILE! This expression is recognized in all the European cultures we visited. Smile at the shopkeeper when you walk into their business. Smile at the Innkeepers, service people, transportation assistants, and your tour mates. A smile brings light and warmth to your presence. Be the Light!