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Rick Steves Tours. Here's what they don't tell you - Rome Forum

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Rick Steves Tours. Here's what they don't tell you

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Sorry no dirt here -- what they don't tell you is how much fun you will have with the other members of the tour and how well run the whole thing is.

Here is my experience:

You see all the must sees - I was overwhelmed with the logistics of planning a trip. And we were traveling with another couple. The stress of spending someone else's vacation money was off loaded. If a church was boring it wasn't my fault. But we didn't go to anything boring. You get to see all the "musts" in each city with the advantage of NEVER standing a line to get in. Seriously I doubt I spent 5 minutes in a line in 8 days.

You see a lot of other things:

Because the tour group is small we could go to see things not on the "must see" list. We went to a wine tasting in Volterra and because the guy hosting the wine tasting had just found white truffles that mornng we were able to have pasta with white truffles. We were able to do a great walking tour of Lucca that would have been hard with a larger group.

Amazing tour guides -- in every city we had a local tour guide. For the Vatican, the Colessium, the Forum we had an Art History expert who was able to tie everything together. Our guide in Volterra was out of this world. Same with our guides for Lucca and the Uffizi

Logistics -- the tour had 28 people and a regular sized bus so when we were traveling between cities you had lots of room to spread out. Our main guide helped folks with everything from dinner reservations or planning a hike to dealing with Alitalia bumping them from their return flight home.

You usually have about half a day on your own to do whatever you want to do. And if you want to bow out of a tour or an activity it's no problem just let the guide know.

The people -- ok the demographic was very much "viewers like you" college educated, middle class over 50 but you could not have asked for a nicer group of folks. Since we returned last week we have all emailed group pictures to each other, book recommendations and just general "Nice to have met you".

Accommodations

Every hotel we stayed in was highly rate on Trip Advisor. All had ensuite bathrooms and breakfast included

We spent about $2400 per person. For that we got accomadations, all breakfasts, 4 dinners (including wine) entry to all museums etc with guides, travel between cities. On the days we had a group dinner I doubt I spent €10.

All in all I would definitely recommend especially for a first time traveler to a country.

I'm glad it was a good experience, but in what world is 28 people a 'small group'.

Does anyone else get concerned that you will be with a group that you just don't get on with? Just what do you do then?

Janet in the world of group tours 28 is a small number. Yes more than you'd want in an elevator but less than you want in a bus that seats +60.

Able58 you don't have to interact with the other folks on the tour, worst case scenario you are sitting next to them at dinner. in our case there wasn't anyone that we didn't get on with but if it turned out there wasn't anyone on the tour you clicked with it would t be a problem.

Of course the 9 days is really 8, even including the PM of arrival, A trip like this can be done DIY for about $1000-1500 pp plus air, so again 2X for the service. But you do get a money belt and earplugs (??!!)

As to lines, with planning and prebooking no need to stand in a line for much time at all, but curious about St. Peter's - did you bypass the security line?

Seriously, it does sound like a quality tour and good you enjoyed it.

Thanks for the report. It's good to hear about positive tour experiences.

We did get a discount for signing up early $100 or $150 each and another 3% discount for paying cash rather than putting it on a credit card but even with that the tours are more expensive this year. As for St Peters we went through the Vatican museum first -- there we walked past a line of people that was blocks long and went in a door to the right of the main entrance. We went through the regular airport type screening and were off on the tour. At the end of the Vatican tour we were in St Peters

I would not do the Vatican again (and I'm Catholic) way way too crowded. Even our tour guide said that she was embarrassed at how many people they let in. At some times you literally could not see your own feet.

That is more than I spend for that amount of time and I do see whatever I want, when I want - but, I think for people who don't want to plan their own trip, these tours are good.

I've never understood why TA doesn't have a forum for group tours - it's just odd given they have forums for so many other ancillary issues. Would be nice if they opened such a forum as quite a few ask about tours but given that TA is mostly frequented by do-it-yourself types, often there are not many responses for those inquiries.

I wonder what TA's resistance is all about in opening such a forum. Anyone know?

It could be for some commercial reason given that any group tour is of course a commercial offering, whereas an individual one involves a number of different service-providers which may not be named. Perhaps they can't work out how much to charge for the advertising..

I don't get what you mean - specific travel services/tours are named on the forums all the time. If someone can post this thread about the Rick Steves tour, why not have a forum in which different tours in different countries are discussed.

Unless you mean that TA doesn't allow those sorts of tours (day/few hours, etc) to have a review page - but, I'm talking about a forum, not review pages.

I don't doubt there is a commercial interest issue here (as most things now are on TA) but I am not seeing it clearly with this particular issue.

Oh well. I doubt TA is going to explain it to me so, it is what it is, I guess.

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Review Of The Rick Steves Sicily Tour

Thinking of booking the Rick Steves Sicily tour? I just went on the 11 day October tour and I’m here to give you a review and the full scoop on what to expect.

Rick Steves is America’s leading authority on travel in Europe. His company has been organizing tours for over 30 years. Rick’s ethos is to immerse you in the local culture.

On his Sicily tour, you’ll see all of the star studded attractions. But he also adds in hidden gems and unique experiences, all the while ensuring you eat like royalty.

This was my first Rick Steves tour and only my second organized tour (first one was a Backroads bike tour in Tuscany .) I signed up because I love Rick’s books and was, frankly, just too intimidated to drive solo in Sicily. Everything I read suggested it was more difficult than other places in Europe, and I’ve had some harrowing experiences in my days.

The Sicily tour lasted 11 days, beginning in Palermo and ending in Catania. I arrived a couple days early, but also wish I had stayed a couple days after the tour to unwind.

One couple in our group were spending a few days relaxing on a beach in Cefalu at the end. It sounded very appealing after a whirlwind tour. I just had to get back for another gig.

Review of Rick Steves Sicily Tour

Here’s my honest review of everything you can expect on a Rick Steves tour of Sicily, with detailed information on the guides, hotels, itineraries, etc. This was not a sponsored trip; I paid for it myself (as I always do).

1. Arrival In Palermo

Because the Rick Steves tour starts in Palermo, you’ll want to fly into Palermo Airport. You can fly into Palermo from Rome, London, Paris, Milan, Munich, New York, and Barcelona. 

The set taxi rate for getting from the airport to the city center is 40 euros. However, drivers sometimes take advantage of tourists by increasing the price, so decide on a price before you leave. To avoid negotiating, you can  book a private transfer  from the airport to your hotel, which is what I did.

You can also get to Palermo by train using the train ferry across the Strait of Messina. Palermo Centrale Station is fairly central, about 15 minutes walk from Palermo Cathedral. There are buses, taxis, and trams to get to your hotel.

I would plan to arrive at least 2 days in advance, in case there’s an airline snafu, to recover from jet lag, and/or to see some of the Palermo sites Rick’s tour doesn’t cover. Or, perhaps plan to spend a few days in Rome first.

By arriving early, I was able to see some amazing sites not on the tour, including:

• the trio of Piazza Bellini churches
• the Capuchin Catacombs
• the Palatine Chapel
• Palermo Cathedral
• Massimo Theater
• Capo Market

You could also squeeze some of these sites into your free afternoon on day 2 of the trip.

I noticed in his book, Rick says you can skip the Palatine Chapel if you’re seeing Monreale Cathedral. I respectfully don’t agree, though I concede that it’s a pricey attraction by Sicily standards. I also recommend climbing to the cathedral rooftop at sunset before dinner.

2. The Guides

You can expect to have outstanding guides. This is the best thing about the tour.

Our principal guide was David Tordi. He has to be one of the friendliest, most knowledgable, and entertaining guides I’ve ever had. And I go on a lot of tours in my job as a travel blogger.

David was extremely professional and provided flawless execution. You won’t have to spend a second worrying about the logistics of your tour or the hassle of getting to and fro.

More importantly, on top of being a cool guy, David has a unique and valuable talent that we all covet — the “power over rain.”

Day 3 of our tour began with a heavy downpour as we headed to Segesta. Without an umbrella, I was pondering whether I would even have the gumption to get off the bus.

But, after some top secret incantations, David miraculously “stopped” the rain the moment we pulled into the parking lot. Perfecto !

David also regaled us with delightful vignettes. One afternoon, on a longish bus ride, he delivered a primer on Italian dialects, doing imitations of the linguistic variations of each region of Italy. Lucca, he claimed, is where the most perfect Italian is spoken.

Another time, we learned all about Italian hand gestures, including the ways to say someone is crazy, really crazy, and SUPER Italian-style crazy. Being married to an Italian American, I found this information quite useful.

As our tour manager, David squired us around each day, gave us orientation tours, and historical commentary about the attractions and towns. But we also had some excellent local guides. I had two favorites.

I was particularly taken by Jackie Alio, our guide in Palermo and Monreale. It was almost like having an art professor lead your tour. When she mentioned the Baroque artist Artemisia Gentileshi , one of my favorites, I was sold.

I also enjoyed the elegant man who toured us around the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, “Professor” Michele Gallo.

3. Who Goes On A Rick Steves Tour?

There will be 24-28 people on your tour. On ours, in mid-October, there were 28. Quite a few of these people were loyal repeat customers from the Pacific Northwest.

Before I left for Sicily, I had worried that 28 people would seem like a very large group, especially because I usually travel independently and set my own schedule. But it didn’t take that long to learn names and make friends.

This tour was for couples, solos, and friends. There were also two adult children on the tour. The age of people skews older, from maybe 50-70.

I was the only solo traveler on this tour. But it was no issue for me because I frequently travel solo and everyone was very friendly (and well traveled!).

Rick has a “no grumps” policy for his tours, which apparently attracts high quality people who steadfastly refuse to complain about minor inconveniences.

I will say that I was relentlessly shamed and mocked on a daily basis for not abiding by a Rick Steves’ “rule” — hand luggage only.

I am not really a hand luggage only kind of person. The notion of doing laundry on a vacation is absolutely unappealing to me. Time spent doing laundry vs. seeing stuff? Plus, I was traveling with guide books, laptop, iPad — travel blogger gear.

But I took my shaming well and was honestly in awe of some of the tiny suitcases people got by with pursuant to his instructions.

4. The Hotel Situation

No review of the Rick Steves Sicily tour would be complete without discussing the accommodations.

Reading the online description of the types of hotels Rick chooses, I was frankly a bit terrified going in.

He warns you in advance that the hotels may be noisy, sends you ear plugs in the mail, and threatens that you may have to haul luggage up exhausting flights of stairs. The latter threat, no doubt, is intended to prompt compliance with his “hand luggage only” recommendation.

As a heat intolerant person, the thing that scared me most was the possible lack of air conditioning. Egad!

Even though I was traveling in mid-October, it was hot, 75-80 degrees. It felt more like Augustober than October.

I’m happy to report, however, that none of these rather alarming potential hotel problems came to pass. Every hotel we stayed in had an elevator and solid AC.

Just expect comfy, not luxe, accommodations. On this tour, our hotels were mostly 4 star hotels. However, some of them seemed a bit less than that quality level.

Your rooms will be quite small, as is typical for Europe. I may have gotten the smallest rooms as a solo traveler. But I couldn’t see how some of the rooms could comfortably fit a couple and their luggage. You wouldn’t want to hang out in them.

We only stayed in one apartment style hotel, in Trapani. It was a super nice to have a large room to work in and an Nespresso maker on the shelf.

Not that the hotels were disappointing. They were perfectly fine, just not a highlight of the trip.

On previous trips to Tuscany and Umbria , I have stayed in some fantastic places and felt that it enhanced the experience. And I really am just more of an Air Bnb/VBRO person.

That said, the hotels were all centrally located for easy OYO sightseeing. They weren’t generic and many came complete with lovely rooftop decks offering panoramic views.

The staff were always friendly and the breakfast spreads were pretty darn delicious. I loved the persimmons!

If you are picky about hotels, I would try to do some research to figure out what hotels X tour uses before booking. (Though this information is not officially released until a month prior to your departure date.)

I did have to pay a single’s supplement since I was a solo traveler, which reduced the value metric of the trip a bit. (Rick, no grown up wants to share a room with a stranger!)

5. Activity Level

Rick bills his tours as extremely active. The Sicily tour, however, was not particularly so.

Sicily is massive. Since we were circling the the whole island, we spent plenty of time on the bus. (Though some of the driving was beautiful, as if you were surrounded by frescos.)

Of course “active” is a relative thing. I am on the busy side and generally prefer to walk 8-10 miles a day when touring Europe.

I’d say, on the guided bits, most days we only walked 2-3 miles. Of course, you’re always able to tramp around during the “free” time.

6. Early Start Times

So, I will say upfront that I am not a morning person and that colors my opinion on this matter. Left to my own devices, I might sleep in until 9:00 am. I’ll often book guided tours that start at 10:00 am or noon when traveling on my own.

But we had early starts every day on the Rick Steves Sicily tour, with breakfast starting at 7:30 am and the bus typically leaving between 8:15-8:45 am.

Before the take off time, you’ll have to gobble down breakfast, inject espresso, finish packing up, check out of the hotel, and get your bags down the elevator. Whew!

To me, this isn’t an ideal way to start the day, very hectic and a tad grueling.

I understand the intent of the early start. We had some long bus rides and the aim is to hit the attractions before the crowds and build in some free time to relax before dinner.

But I would have loved a better balance. It would have been nice to have one day, just one, in the middle of the tour where the “free time” came in the morning. Just to catch up on sleep and reboot. Judging by the people snoozing on the bus rides, I’d say others were a bit sleep deprived as well.

7. Free Time

Rick designs his tour in a 50/50 way. 50% of the time you’re on your own and 50% of the time you’re on guided tours.

I found this to be the perfect combination, at least for me. It’s good to have a bit of time away from the group and people have different sightseeing interests.

Some want to hit the beach, take a nap, or shop for local goodies. Others, like me, will doggedly search out another ruin or Caravaggio painting to admire.

8. What’s Included

Another thing I loved about the tour is that most things were included in the tour price. We didn’t have to waste time standing in lines to buy attraction tickets or figuring out how much to tip the local guides. It was nice for me to have a break from logistics.

As for food, the tour included all breakfasts and about half the lunches and dinners. In general, the food was very good on the trip because, well, Sicily and its fresh food. (Though I won’t crave eggplant for awhile.)

The lunches at local places in the countryside were absolutely scrumptious and a huge highlight of the trip. Casa Bianca was the best!

So, you are basically responsible for the cost of your drinks and free time, though we even had a couple surprise cocktail hours that David arranged.

9. Covid Policy

Rick has a strict Covid policy, which means you definitely need travel insurance for your trip. You have to sign a contract that promises you won’t go on the trip if you’ve had Covid with 14 days of the scheduled departure.

Before you start the tour, you need to take a Covid test within 24 hours and show a photo of a negative result. This had the effect of knocking one person off the tour. And you can’t rejoin the tour if you later test negative.

As of now, you also have to wear masks (N95s) on the bus and in smaller interior spaces.

10. Review of the Rick Steves Sicily Itinerary

The best thing about a Rick Steves tour is the extraordinary care he takes in designing the tour itinerary.

It’s the perfect mix of breathtaking landscapes, ancient ruins, great food and wine at various agriturismos and restaurants, and a hefty dose of culture.

Here’s what we did:

• Day 1 : Palermo

The first day we had a welcome meeting at the Ambasciatori Hotel , did paperwork, and went over the rules.

We also picked “buddies.” This is a Rick Steves’ invention designed to shortcut the process of making sure everyone is in attendance by avoiding a long and tedious roll call.

You pick a buddy that isn’t your spouse. And then check for them at every departure point. A great idea! (I’ll note that our tour did not play the hokey “buddy introduction” or “name game” that I’ve read about, and I was glad of that.)

The first tour activity was positively brilliant. We had a private tour from the reigning contessa of her centuries old mansion, the Palazzo Federico Conte . Her husband is a descendent of Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II.

The palace is a “lasagna of history.” A visit is like a walk through the layers of Palermo’s history, from the Arab, Norman, and Baroque periods. The bubbly countess was the perfect tour guide. So giddy was she that I almost expected her to break out in song.

This was a unique experience, not one that you would get on your own. It was vintage Rick Steves and a great way to kick off the tour.

• Day 2 : Palermo + Monreale

On day 2, Jackie Alio gave us a walking tour of parts of Palermo, including Ballaro Market and the beautiful Baroque-styled Gesu Church.

Then, we hopped on the bus to visit the spectacular Monreale Cathedral and its cloisters.

Monreale is the world’s most famous Arab-Norman cathedral. There’s an astonishing 68,000 feet of glittering Byzantine mosaics set against 2 tons of gold leaf. It reminded me of St. Mark’s Cathedral in  Venice .

After lunch, we had the rest of the late afternoon and evening free. I had booked a Palermo nighttime street food tour. Since I wasn’t under David’s magical protection, I got poured on!

I tried the required “spleen sandwich.” But I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. I was much happier with arancina, caponata, octopus, and other treats.

Day 3 : Segesta + Erice

On the third day, we had a very busy schedule. We began by visiting the Greek-inspired Elymian ruins at Segesta, which include a well-preserved temple and theater.

Afterward, we had a tasty lunch of local specialties that our host Mark claimed we devoured like “locusts.” We also had a wonderful pastry making demonstration from Maria Grammatico.

Maria is a famous local pastry chef and the queen of Sicilian pastry. She’s led a compelling life. She was raised in the 1950s by strict cloistered nuns and taught the art of Sicilian pastries.

When she was freed from the convent at age 22, Maria launched a thriving business and published a cookbook called  Bitter Almonds .

We sampled her fresh baked goodies, which are made from 400 year old recipes — “nuns’ boobies,” “beautiful uglies,” and cannoli made with fresh sheep milk ricotta. Simply delicious!

We then went to explore the clifftop village of Erice, where Maria has her famous pastry shop.

Erice was socked in with fog, so we couldn’t ride the gondola to the top. We drove up a long winding road instead, which reminded me why I didn’t want to drive in Silicy.

Erice is a fetching medieval hamlet with plenty of cobbled lanes to explore, a temple with a view, and a cathedral bell tower to climb. We were set free to wander on our own, while David held off the rain.

We then took the bus to the seaside town of Trapani and had an orientation walk. The old town is a little art book, with honey colored Baroque architecture.

Day 4 : Trapani + Mozia

On day 4, we visited the Trapani salt flats and the Island of Mozia. For me (others may disagree), this was my least favorite day on Rick’s Sicily tour.

There are so many amazing things to do and see in Sicily. I would have preferred to eliminate this day and instead have spent another night in Syracuse with a day trip to the Baroque cities of Noto and Ragusa. Or had a day in Cefalu.

The Trapani salt pans were only mildly interesting to me (YMMV). We had a delicious lunch on the Island of Mozia, but were plagued by swarms of mosquitos.

Mozia is home to some Carthaginian ruins. But because the settlement was destroyed, there’s just not much to look at. I’m usually an avid ruin luster, but my reaction was mostly “meh.”

Had I known, I would have slept in and done my own thing. But I had FOMO about the Carthaginian ruins, which was unwarranted.

We stayed overnight in Trapani again at Badia Nuovo . I got a delicious pizza to go from Pizzeria Calvino (per David’s recommendation) and caught up on some blog work.

Day 5 : Agrigento

The next day we were off to Agrigento to tour the UNESCO-listed Valley of the Temples . The complex is the world’s largest archaeological site and Sicily’s star attraction with spectacular Greek ruins.

Plus, there’s a well-curated museum you can visit as a starter course. You can admire a giant stone telamon , which once held up the Temple of Zeus, and a huge collection of Greek vases. Three telamons are scattered on the remains of the Temple of Zeus.

After a hot day, we drove to our next hotel in the countryside, Baglio della Luna .

David arranged a cocktail hour and we had a group dinner onsite. The setting was lovely, but the food was not up to snuff compared to other meals.

In general, I would urge you not to eat at hotel restaurants and seek out a real Sicilian trattoria.

Day 6 : Villa Romana del Casale + Casa Bianco

Day 6 was a splendid day. We began by visiting the UNESCO-listed Villa Romana del Casale . It’s an incredibly mosaicked country villa built by Roman aristocrats in the 4th century.

I’ve seen plenty of Roman mosaics in my time, from  museums in Rome  to the  Getty Villa  in Los Angeles. But nothing compares to this treasure chest villa, not even remotely.

Villa Romana del Casale has the world’s largest collection of  in situ  Roman mosaics — 3,700 square feet. It might have been my favorite individual attraction on the tour. This is one place where I think a guided tour would have been preferable to browsing the mosaics on your own.

Then, we headed to the Casa Bianca, a working farm, for a lazy Sunday meal. The owner/Baroness graciously welcomed everyone as we got off the bus.

This was, hands down, the best meal I had on the Rick Steves Sicily tour. Everything was delicious. There were so many courses, I couldn’t do them justice. My table got a nonna -style scolding for not completely polishing off our plates of food.

Then, after another bus ride, we landed in Syracuse, staying in the historic center on the island of Ortigia.

Siracusa was my favorite city on the trip. Founded by the Greeks in 734 B.C., the city has architecture and archaeological sites that span centuries. It’s full of old world charm, ornate Baroque churches, winding streets, and hipster wine bars and trattorias.

We had an orientation walking tour with David. Then, I had dinner at Cantina Rampa , where I dined with one of my fave couples from the tour.

Day 7: Syracuse

In the morning, we had a guided tour with Lilliana. She took us through the Ortigia Street Market, Syracuse Cathedral, the Piazza del Duomo, the Arab Quarter, and the Jewish Quarter.

In the Jewish Quarter, we stopped in for a performance at the traditional Sicilian puppet theater. I admit, I left early because I had the UNESCO-listed Neapolis Archaeological Park on my agenda as a bucket list item.

You can get there via taxi from the Temple of Apollo in Ortigia for 15 euros. Or just take the 30-35 minute walk, which is what I opted to do.

The park is well worth a visit. It features one of the largest and most impressive Greek theaters in existence, as well as an elliptical Roman arena and grottos. There’s not much signage, so I recommend  booking a guided tour .

I actually tried to book a private tour on Get Your Guide myself, but they weren’t operating on Monday. Monday is a tough day to be in Syracuse because all the museums and some churches are closed.

If you are an art lover like me, you can also visit the Church of Santa Lucia al Sepulcro to see the Baroque artist Caravaggio’s magnificent  The Burial of St. Lucia . The Sepulcro is about a 20-25 minute walk from the archaeological park.

The Internet will tell you that the painting is in the Church of Santa Lucia on Piazza Duomo or the Bellomo Museum in the Jewish Quarter. But, in fact, it’s on the mainland in Neapolis, a key tip I got from Lilliana.

READ : Where To Find Caravaggio’s Art In Rome

Day 8: Etna + Taormina

Day 8 was fabulous, one of my favorite days on the tour. We began by scampering over the Silvestri craters on Mt. Etna.

“Mamma Etna” is the world’s most active volcano and one of the four UNESCO sites in eastern Sicily. Mt. Etna has been erupting for 500,000 years. 

She’s perpetually smoking. David called her a “chain smoker.”

There are two craters to hike, an upper and lower crater. If you are a fast hiker, you can squeeze them both in, which I did. But be forewarned, the upper crater requires a very steep uphill hike. I was wearing Birkenstocks, which was not ideal, but I managed.

After the hike, we enjoyed a wine and food pairing at Benanti Winery on the slopes of Etna. Wine, our host Francesco opined, is “an ingredient, not a drink.”

The wine was excellent, with a nice minerality. You’ll be able to order some to be shipped back to the US. (I’m still waiting for mine!)

Once in Taormina, we checked into the Hotel Continental and attended a lecture by the very animated vulcanologist Boris Behncke. He gave us plenty of information on the “grumpy but generous” volcano.

Afterward, we had cocktails at the hotel’s fantastic rooftop sky bar. A group of us struck out to find a good restaurant and settled in at Adduma , a great Sicilian eatery tucked away at the top of Vico Giordano Bruno.

Day 9: Taormina + Castlemola

Day 9 began with a walking tour of beautiful Taormina with our guide Franco D’Angelo. We made it to the Greek Theater, Taormina’s top attraction, before the cruise ships poured in.

In the afternoon, there was free time. Some took the gondola down to hit the beach at Isola Bella. Others of us made the trek up to Castelmola, a cliff hanging medieval village even higher than Taormina.

You can get there by taxi for 30 euros, hike up, or take the local bus. We tried to take the local bus, but it was full and whizzed by us.

So we taxied up, enjoyed the views, and snacked on some gelato. The walk back down took about an hour.

That night, we had a Sicilian pizza dinner at Pizzeria Villa Zuccaria in Taormina.

And the Italian air traffic controllers decided to go on strike. Dio mio! One by one, most of us had our flights home cancelled. David diligently helped people make alternative arrangements.

Day 10: Catania

On our last official day of the tour, we drove from Taormina to the bustling and colorful city of Catania . We first visited the Allied Landings Museum on the edge of town, perhaps of most interest to military history or WWII buffs. We had a brief neighborhood orientation and then were set free to explore.

Most people ate lunch in Catania’s famous Fish Market, which is one of the most wild and rollicking markets that I saw in Sicily. I skipped lunch to dash around town and see the sites, Roman ruins, and other markets.

I was rebooked to leave Thursday night instead of Friday morning. So, unfortunately, I missed the final group dinner, where David — who also has magical musical powers — played guitar and sang for the group.

The Rick Steves Sicily tour is really 10 days, not 11. Day 11 simply ends with breakfast in Catania at Romano House Hotel .

Overall, the itinerary was well balanced to give you a taste of everything from the west coast to the east coast of Sicily.

If I were designing the itinerary for myself, I might do something like this (with less time on the west coast):

• Day 3 : Segesta (AM), Erice (PM)
• Day 4 : Agrigento (AM), Villa Romano del Casale (PM)
• Day 5 : Syracuse
• Day 6 : Syracuse
• Day 7 : Day Trip to Ragusa and Noto from Syracuse
• Day 8 : Mt. Etna & Winery
• Day 9 : Taormina
• Day 10 : Taormina + Castelmola
• Day 11 : Cefalu
• Day 12 : Cefalu

To me, 12 days would’ve better than 10 days, there’s just so much to see in Sicily. But, of course, you can stay before or after to see more on your own.

Alternatively, for less traveling from hotel to hotel, it might make sense to have a base on the west coast (Trapani) and a base on the east coast (Syracuse) and simply day trip from those bases.

You could bookend the two bases with 2 days in Palermo at the beginning and 2 days in Cefalu at the end (to have a vacation from your vacation).

11. Final Thoughts

Overall, the Rick Steves Sicily tour was exceptional. Sicily has long been on my bucket list and the tour met my expectations. Though I usually opt for individual travel, the tour was a carefree way to get around Sicily easily and effortlessly.

What really stood out as pros for me were:

• David, our fantastic tour manager
• the excellent local tour guides
• the unique experiences
• some truly excellent meals
• my fun group of traveling companions

My nit picky cons (keeping it real) were some of the hotels, the unrelenting early start times, and having to change hotels so frequently. But I knew this all in advance, so was prepared.

The cons pale in comparison to the magnificent sites of Sicily and the great tours I had bringing them to life. My one regret is that I did not have enough granita!

I hope you’ve enjoyed my review of Rick Steves’ Sicily tour. You may enjoy these other Sicily travel guides and resources:

• 2 days in Palermo itinerary
• 2 days in Syracuse itinerary
• 2 days in Trapani itinerary
• 1 day in Catania itinerary
• 1 day in Taormina itinerary
• Guide to the Valley of the Temples
• Guide to Villa Romana del Casale
• Guide to Monreale Cathedral
• Guide to the Norman Palace and Palatine Chapel
• Guide To Palermo Cathedral

If you need a review of Rick Steves Sicily tour, pin it for later.

7 thoughts on “Review Of The Rick Steves Sicily Tour”

Fabulous summary! I’m going on this trip in November 2023,and will keep your suggestions in mind. The hand luggage will indeed be a challenge for me! Thank you.

Enjoy! it won’t be as hot in November! Yeah, 2 weeks is a long time for only hand luggage. I didn’t find it to be a problem. All the hotels had elevators.

Excellent info! We’re taking the Feb. 27, 2024 tour, so this has been extremely helpful. Thanx so much! It would be helpful to explain abbreviations, e. g., YMMV, FOMO (I googled them).

Thanks Ray! Have fun in Sicily!

This is such a useful breakdown thank you. I am a 72 yo introverted Aussie (yes they do exist) and am thinking 2024 is probably my last northern hemisphere trip simply because the vast distances are becoming daunting.

I have mostly travelled independently but suspect those days are behind me. I can still walk 3 plus miles at one hit and manage stairs so I am not worried about that. What does concern me though is the relentless nature of the daily grind. I would do as you suggest and miss the tour on day 4 to allow a rested start, but you also suggest the concept of staying independently in the various cities. And travelling to the sights. Do many of the locations offer day bus trips/ tours and thinking about it, would that be any more restful (and probably less fun than with a group)

Did your tour include people from places other than the USA at all? And was there anyone as old as 73 (my age during my desired travel time)?

If you could answer any of these queries I would be extremely grateful. Thanks in anticipation, Elizabeth

Hi Elizabeth! Sicily is hard to get around on your own. That’s why I did the tour myself (as a solo). There were people your age on my tour. I think the people on my tour were just from the US. But I think that’s just bc that’s where Rick Steves is best known. I don’t think it would matter at all you being an Aussie. Everyone was very friendly. But it’s fine to be an introvert too. It was a bit of a grind, but then I’m not an early bird. There was time to rest for a couple hours in the later afternon. But I pretty much kept busy then. You could stay independently at the start and/or end of the trip, not really in the middle. The tour starts in Palermo and there are guided day tours from that city, if you wanted to see Cefalu before the RS tour started for example. You can also book guided walking tours in the city itself.

Thanks Leslie Much appreciated. Cheers E

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Last Updated on November 15, 2022 by Leslie Livingston

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What makes rick steves stand out.

Rick Steves is the new Arthur Frommer, the current-day guru of European travel. Steves has parlayed a successful series of well-produced public TV and radio shows and guidebooks into a European tour business that thrives on his personal brand.

His folksy, easy-going manner and easily digested practical advice breed trust, and the public has responded. (Don’t expect Steves himself to be leading the tours, however.)

Who Will Enjoy Traveling with Rick Steves?

The general customer tends to skew older, but not in an exclusionary sense. Families, solo travelers, and multi-gen groups are all welcome and will all enjoy a trip with Rick Steves.

The tours generally involve walking however; hotels are centrally located and are often the kind of “quirky, family-run” places that Steves himself prefers.

He advises that many do not have elevators, and you may have to climb several flights of stairs -- so those who pack light and “stay in shape,” as Steves puts it, will be the happiest campers.

Top Destinations

Steves’ tours are concentrated mostly in Western Europe, though he does offer some Eastern European trips as well. You can also book special family trips. And along with single country and regional tours, you can choose to stay an entire week in Rome, Paris, London, or Istanbul, for a more intensive single city experience.

Rick Steves Travel Style

In keeping with the perspective of his famous and well read guide books, the Rick Steves travel style is about having fun, steeping yourself in rich history, and relishing in good food and wine.

Rick Steves made a name for himself bringing accessible European travel to America’s living room. Traveling on a Rick Steves tour brings the well known brand and personality to life as you experience Europe how Steves does.

You’ll probably do a lot of walking, so make sure your feet are up to the task!

Why Choose a Tour with Rick Steves?

For the peace of mind that you’re traveling with an experienced guide who knows Europe inside and out. This provides a fun, informative, enjoyable experience with little to no worry about logistical headaches - you’re free to just have a splendid vacation.

Steves offers two types of tours to Europe: fully guided, which include hotels, sightseeing and admissions, bus transport, and some meals (breakfasts and half of the dinners), and unguided “My Way” tours that appeal to more independent travelers.

The latter are less expensive and include hotels and bus transport between destinations but don’t include lunch, dinner, or sightseeing -- though escorts are available to offer advice. In both cases, groups are limited to 24-28 travelers.

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Our mission is to inspire, inform and equip Americans to have European trips that are fun, affordable and culturally broadening. We value travel as a powerful way to better understand and contribute to the world in which we live. We strive to keep our own travel style, our world outlook and our business practices consistent with these values.

About Rick Steves

Guidebook author and travel TV host Rick Steves is America's most respected authority on European travel. Rick took his first trip to Europe in 1969, visiting piano factories with his father, a piano importer. As an 18-year-old, Rick began traveling on his own, funding his trips by teaching piano lessons. In 1976, he started his business, Rick Steves' Europe, which has grown from a one-man operation to a company with a staff of 80 full-time, well-travelled employees at his headquarters in Washington state. There he produces more than 50 guidebooks on European travel, America's most popular travel series on public television, a weekly hour-long national public radio show, a weekly syndicated column, and free travel information available through his travel center and website. Rick Steves' Europe also runs a successful European tour program. Rick Steves lives and works in his hometown of Edmonds, Washington. His office window overlooks his old junior high school.

--We research and write European guidebooks, produce a public television series and a public radio show

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--We sell select travel bags, guidebooks, maps, DVDs, and other travelers' supplies

--We offer travel consulting and trip planning services

--We teach do-it-yourself travel seminars

--We provide a wealth of free information about travel in Europe via our Travel Center and Website

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Best of Ireland in 14 Days Tour

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Family Europe: London to Florence in 13 Days Tour

Best of Venice Florence & Rome

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• To the West

Self-guided Normandy

Hello all. After seeing a pretty great airfare deal the other night ($291 RT each), my boyfriend and I spontaneously booked a trip to Paris for late March. We just did Paris in November, so this time we're looking to explore outside the city. His grandfather is a WWII vet so one of the things we know we definitely want to do is go to Normandy. We're planning to rent a car for our trip (we'll be in France 6 days total), so I'm hoping that we can explore Normandy on our own... I know there are some amazing tours available, but I'm not sure if any of them would fit into our budget... I'm trying to keep it to about $2000 for the entire 6 days. Has anyone done Normandy on their own? How much time would you alot there? (We'd also like to hit the Loire Valley, Versailles, and perhaps the Alsace region) Are there any books, either history or historical fiction, that anyone would recommend reading before we go to enhance our experience in Normandy? Any and all suggestions are appreciated!

"Are there any books, either history or historical fiction, that anyone would recommend reading before we go to enhance our experience in Normandy?" There's a long list of books, videos, and films. Just two of the many books are D-Day and Band of Brothers, both by Stephen Ambrose. And the film Saving Private Ryan.

6 days is not a lot. Most of your sights are West of Paris by a long journey- Alsace is about as far East. Alsace doesnt fit Loire Chateaux and Chartres ( a must see) minimum 2 days Normancy WWII sites, Mont St Michel and Bayeux tapestry, 2-3 days minimum Travel back to Paris and one night Paris- sixth day. Maybe can hit Versailles on return, but probably not practical You can do it on your own- with good advance planning and an idea of where you are going. Train from Paris to Normandy or Loire. Rent a car in Loire or Normady (out of paris) and drop off before you return to paris by train- to get the best use of time and reduce car travel hassle This schedule doesnt give you any time to get lost or drive inefficiently. I would be inclined to do everything on my own- except the battle sites. Worth getting a guided tour for that one day- they know where they are going and can select the cream of the sites

As for any reading on the history of D-Day and the Battle for Normandy, I recommend J. Keegan "Six Armies in Normany" and Maz Hastings' "Overlord" Since you're going to rent a car, go to Caen, see the city and the famous museum on the war, and drive around the countryside near Caen, where some of the horrendous tank engagements took place. For the most recent scholarly addition to this literature, A. Beevor's book is recommended, somewhat of a different approach from that of Keegan and Hastings.

Normandy is huge. Just to see the basics, I'd allow three days. It is much harder to drive because of the rural roads and poor signage. You could do a loop through Normandy and down to the Loire and back through Versailles, but with only six days I wouldn't try to add in Alsace. It's way on the other side of FRance.

I'm not an expert on Normandy, having just been there for the first time in August. However, given the slow pace my husband and I like to travel, if I had 6 days, I would limit where I go. We took the train from Paris to Bayeux which took some of our travel time. We loved Bayeux and the WWII museum there, plus the Bayeux Tapestry - definitely two things to see. We did take a WWII tour of the battlefields, but we also rented a car in Bayeux. I would take the time to go to Mt. St. Michel, but would spend the rest of my time just driving the battlefields outside of Bayeux and along the coast. Many war museums along the way. It was very easy to drive there.

Kris, Visiting Normandy and Alsace in a 6-day time frame is not realistic, especially travelling by car (travel by fast trains would be easier). While it's certainly possible to "explore Normandy" on your own, the D-Day sites are spread out over a 50-mile front. Unless you do LOTS of research, you won't necessarily know what you're looking at or be able to appreciate the significance of the sites (aside from the obvious ones). That's where a tour provides an advantage, and there are some excellent tours and Guides in that area. Whether you'll be able to visit the Loire Valley or Versailles will depend on how much time you want to spend in Normandy. Be sure to allow adequate travel times between locations. Happy travels!

Kris Six days will make a great trip out to Normandy with a visit to Bayeaux and the Loire Valley. With extra time, squeeze in Mt St. Michel. Depending upon the depth of your interest in WWII you can spend more or less time on the coastal sites but it is not necessary to travel the entire coast to be impressed. You can easily do it on your own provided you do the homework. You will be in the country at a slow time for tourism. Driving there is not hard and the prices at the time of your visit should be reasonable. A GPS may be helpful. I would leave Versailles out of the plan.

It sounds like your plan is too ambitious, and you'll just have to keep booking cheap airfare when you find it. Go to France every 6 months until you to get everything on your wish list! Are you sure the grandfather was in Normandy? If you specifically want to pay tribute to him you should find out first.

Kris I'm a former infantry officer who spent his youth jumping out of airplanes for a living. As someone has mentioned Max Hastings "Overlord" is the definitive, popular, easily accessible history of the campaign. I used it for several self guided tours of Normandy. I would also recommend Anothy Cave Browns "A Bodyguard of Lies" to help set the scene in the runup to DDay Which brings me to my next point. 6 days is barely enough time to do a self guided tour of the battlefields, combined with a day or two on either end, in Paris. Save the Loire for your next trip. Do it up right.

We visited some of your sites a few years ago. Here is what we did: pick up car at Orly, stopped at Chartres for a few hours, then two nights at La Roserie in Chenonceux for Loire chateau (this hotel is within walking distance of Chenonceau, the chateau that spans a river)...............we then went to the western part of Brittany, which I am skipping over here......two nights in Dinan, which is just across the border in Brittany, from which you can visit St. Malo and Mont St. Michel.....leaving Dinan, visit Bayeux, Omaha Beach, American cemetery, we then headed on to Les Andeleys for two nights, convenient for Giverney and King Richard's Castle.....however, that was a very long day, you might want to stop instead at Rouen (Joan of Arc and Monet's favourite cathedral)......you can visit Versailles on your way back to Orly to return the car.........this is a quick paced itinerary, which should suit you, although the slow-travel advocates will probably be appalled!

I think Steve Ambrose's book on D-Day is an excellent book to read before you go. It's very focused on the role of the US, but if you are American, that will probably not be an issue for you. I'm a huge Band of Brothers geek, but the mini-series and books cover way more than just D-Day. We spent four days in Normandy, three focused on D-Day stuff. We did two full-day tours and spent the third day travelling on our own. The tours are more efficient, but you can do it on your own. Definitely do your homework and plan out what you want to see in advance to maximize your time. The driving is not difficult, and the area is beautiful. I would try to allocate two days to see the main highlights. I could easily spend a week there.

You asked for books on Normandy, here's a bibliography of just D-Day books (scroll down to bottom to see the biblio): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normandy_landings

Alsace deserves it's own time, so skip it this trip. I'd recommend Paris as the in and out of the country, then over to Normandy for the whole time. You don't have to do battlefields everyday, there's plenty else to see. On your way to Normandy, stop in Giverny, France where Monet painted so many pictures in his garden there. Also recommend Mont St. Michellook into staying in the castle, it's so neat to be there at night after all the big tour groups have left.

Thank you all for the comments and ideas! It's really hard not to give into the temptation to try to cram it everything, but i'm trying to remind myself that of course we'll be back... I'm definitely getting the impression that we should concentrate on Normandy for 2 to 3 days and the same for the Loire.... The trip is actually 7 days total, not 6 as i previously said... I just picked up a copy of RS France from the library today, so my planning will go into high gear shortly.

We just got back from Normandy in October and I would recommend staying in Bayeux, which has the tapestry and a WWII museum, as well as good hotels and restaurants. You might consider taking one of the D-Day tours the first day, then explore on your own for the rest of the time you're there. You might also consider a visit to St. Lo, which is about 20 miles from Bayeux and has an interesting museum to the 29th and 35th Infanty Divisions that liberated that city about 6 weeks after D-Day. A good book to get if you're traveling by car is D-Day and the Battle for Normandy, by Carl Shilleto and Mike Tolhurst, which gives good driving itineraries for going around Normandy. Enjoy the area!

"Overlord" is a great read, as is the follow-up, "Armegeddon" about the battle for Germany.

Giverny doesn't open for the season until April 1.

We drove from Paris' CDG to Normandy in 3 1/2 hours with no stopping. Loved the drive but make sure you have a GPS. We toured the major sites from WWII on our own with no problems at all. We used Rick Steves guide book. Most of these older folks want to be pampered and will go on a paid tour. They indeed can be expensive. With your own car you can go at your own pace and stay at places you like for as long as you like. Sure we didn't see every single WWII site and unless you are a MAJOR WWII history buff you will have no problem doing it on your own. We spent 3 days in Bayeux, visiting that area and IMHO it wasn't enough time only because we also went to Mont St Michel and absolutely loved driving around in the Normandy area. Hope this helps you. Have fun!

"Most of these older folks want to be pampered and will go on a paid tour." I am not so old and don't want to be pampered, but did a paid tour. Here are some advantages of these tours: - Tour operators have access to a multitude of places you will not have the ability to visit on your own. Some on private property no open to the public. - I don't care how may books you read, tours can provide context that go with being an on the ground expert. - Tour guide provide an interactive environment where you can ask questions about what you are seeing. - D Day tours like the now defunct BattleBus try to humanize the sights with first hand stories of the famous, infamous and not so famous. Many of these stories were told to the guides first hand. - The tour price was worth it alone for the last stop. We drove down a private dirt road to an amazing high spot overlooking Omaha beach. Then the guide pointed to a place not far away where are German gunner was able to pick off hundreds of men. Also near by was the path American troops took to neutralize the gunner (although he lived, that is a longer story I'd have never heard if not for the tour).

for anyone interested: We leave a week from Tuesday. We have an overnight flight out of JFK, direct to CDG. I'm hoping to actually be able to catch a few hours sleep on this flight (unlike my last trip), so I may bring some Tylenol PM or something similar for the ride. Wednesday, we'll land around 9:30 a.m. We pick up our rental car at the airport and the plan is to drive to Versailles, see the chateau, and spend the night in town. Thursday, we wake up and drive to Bayeux and spend the night there. Not set on an exact itinerary for that day. On Friday, we go to the Caen museum and do their 5 hour tour of D-Day sites. (I know some other tours are highly recommended, but time and money constraints made the museum a good fit for us). Friday night, we stay at the Chateau de l'Isle Marie, which is a one night splurge that I'm very excited about. It's near enough to the D-Day sites and beaches that we can explore around some more after we wake up on Saturday. Saturday we head to Mont St. Michel, and we're staying overnight there so we can experience it at night and hopefully with fewer crowds. Sunday, we head to Amboise, and we'll spend the remainder of that day and Monday checking out chateaux. We're thinking Ambois and Chenonceau for sure, but not positive beyond that. Tuesday, we return the car to Paris and have that night to unwind before flying home Wednesday. Definitely a bit of a whirlwind, a lot of moving around, but I'm pretty confident we can handle it. Thanks for everyone's fantastic suggestions and advice, whether in this thread or others!

Sounds like a good plan Kris. Wanted to add that we found driving in Normandy, and especially the two lane roads, to be super easy and very enjoyable. Signage was very good imo. Have a great time!

Chateaux: You mentioned Chenanceaux, which I think is high on every list. The other very popular one is Chambord- very big and impressive. But we liked Azay Le Rideau. Smaller, you can get your arms around it, like an old fairy tale castle. We also liked Langeais, which is a mediaeval castle in the middle of town. If you are staying overnight- try and see a son-et-lumiere at one of teh chateaux if they are available

We took a train to Caen and rented a car there....staying in Arromanches. March is off season, and some hotels may not be open yet. We had three days there and it was not enough. I will say standing on Omaha Beach was one of the most moving experiences I have ever had. Don't rush it... savor the time, think of the sacrifices made by young men of all nationalities and religions, and hope humankind does not have go do this again. When I go back, I will allow more time. Band of Brothers, the book, was a good read. And Saving Private Ryan was a good movie. Hope that helps. Have a great trip.

Thursday in Bayeux: >Musee Memorial de la Bataille de Normandie (aka The D-Day Museum) >British Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery (kitty-corner from the museum; see Google Maps/Street View) >Tapisserie de Bayeux (Tapestry) >Cathedrale > if you have time left over - wander and gawk. Eat at one of the fantastic restaurants - research that online. Drink the cidre. Reserve your hotel ASAP - trust me. Prepare for cold, WINDY, blustery weather.

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I recently purchased 21" carry-on…

I recently purchased 21" carry-on suitcase from the Rick Steves website. They charged me $14 for shipping. However, it was smaller than I anticipated so I went to UPS to return with the shipping form I received from the RS store. The UPS clerk measured and weighed the box and said the cheapest fee to ship the suitcase back to RS would be $77! That is almost half of what I paid for the suitcase. I called RS customer service and they said there was nothing they could do. Beware to all before you order from RS. They won't have this customer again!

Date of experience : April 04, 2024

Great tours with top notch guides

I have been on 6 Rick Steves tours (2 in Italy, 2 in Spain, Greece and Turkey) and all were fabulous. Rick focuses on staying in the heart of the city, near the sights, usually in smaller, locally owned hotels. His guides are top notch and really set the tone for the trip. His choice of sights and activities are superb. Contrary to another review, Rick Steves always recommends traveling light and carrying your luggage on the plane. The reviewer who claims the Rick Steves guide books led them to pack so much clothing that they needed three big suitcases is very confused.

Date of experience : November 07, 2023

We just enjoyed our fourth Rick Steves…

We just enjoyed our fourth Rick Steves Tour, Paris and the Heart of France 11 day tour. It exceeded our expectations. Paris was gorgeous and Normandy knocked our socks off. Our tour coordinator was fun and knew her stuff. She was an American who had lived in France for over thirty years. The highlight of our adventure was spending the night on beautiful Mont St-Michel. Rick Steve's organization has a goal to teach participants to be independent travellers. This includes free time to explore the cities on his trips. We are looking forward to our fifth Rick Steves trip this Fall.

Date of experience : June 12, 2023

Rick Steves advice is a JOKE!!

Rick Steves advice is a JOKE!!! We packed our luggage based on his PROFESSIONAL ADVICE. NEVER has anyone ever been soooooo wrong! Rick advised to bring "dress" clothes and/or casual dress clothing. We packed according to what he said and was in all his books on Europe, specifically, Spain, Italy and Austria. That being said, we had 3 suitcases full of clothes we never needed! TRUST OUR REVIEW, TAKE WHAT YOU ARE COMFORTABLE WEARING!!!! Also don't waste your money on his books, they are full of nonsense. His advice cost us untold amounts of money and stress.

Date of experience : February 15, 2023

Something sinister about Rick

Something sinister about Rick. PBS runs his reruns, some up to 20 years old, 5-7 times per day. PBS has decided to provide Rick with an avenue to advertise his “tour guide” business. No one, no one, gets more exposure on PBS than Rick Steves.

Date of experience : September 15, 2022

Fantastic tours, honest and ethical company

I’ve been on 5 Rick Steves tours so far and all of them have been fantastic. The guides are all personable and knowledgeable. The itineraries have been well-organized and well-planned. I wasn’t always comfortable with some of the small family run hotels we stayed but they’ve all been interesting and definitely not cookie cutter. The groups have been less than 30 people so there’s plenty of space to spread in the full size coach bus we ride in. Plus Rick Steves himself is honest and ethical. His is one of the few tour companies fully refunding for his cancelled tours during this pandemic and not just giving credit for future travel. I’ll definitely travel again on any Rick Steves tour in the future.

Date of experience : May 28, 2020

Well run and affordable tours

I have gone on two tours with Rick Steves and both have been excellent, well-run tours. The accommodations did tend to vary from city to city, but overall his emphasize on family-run hotels with free breakfasts works well. I learned so much on my tours and made friends with great people.

Date of experience : May 02, 2020

Excellent tours!

I like that Rick Steves has created a community for his wonderful tour guides who are passionate about what they do, work hard and are well-compensated. The tours are really reasonably priced. They don't mark up their single supplements like so many other companies do. There are always unique experiences that you just can't get on your own. For me the only flaw is that the tour schedules are quite packed, there are a lot of guided tours and meals included. Personally I would prefer a little more freedom as well as my own time to explore.

Date of experience : July 15, 2020

Rick Steves' Clever Tip For Tourists Worried About Getting Food Poisoning On Vacation

H ow worried should you be about getting food poisoning while on vacation? Sadly, stomach upsets due to food and water are common in travelers. According to the BMJ Clinical Evidence , between 30% and 70% of international travelers develop diarrhea on a trip or after getting home. Little ruins a vacation faster than the runs.

However, we don't want this to put you off trying incredible foods abroad. You probably already know some simple tips for avoiding food poisoning while traveling , like always opting for hot meals. Still, long-time traveler and European travel expert Rick Steves has some extra advice for staying healthy while on the road. "Unhealthy-looking restaurants" are to be avoided, Steves writes on his  website , as is meat that looks undercooked. One of his best tips is to write the phrase "well done" in the local language to ensure your meats are cooked thoroughly. Steves also recommends avoiding prepared foods. This is excellent general advice, but we'll go a little deeper.

Before we do, you might think you're not very likely to get sick in Europe. Indeed, the BMJ writes that travelers to high-income destinations are less likely to get sick than those who visit countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and South America. However, the World Health Organization reports that in Europe, 23 million people fall ill after eating unsafe food each year. Don't be one of them!

Read more: Tips For Spending Less On Food When Traveling

Clean Restaurants And Hot Foods

Now, let's dive into Steves' tips. What does he mean by "unhealthy restaurants"? Your first clue as to whether a restaurant has good hygiene standards starts from its exterior. Outdoor dining areas and windows should be clean and tidy, and the sidewalk should be free of trash. Once inside, check the floors, utensils, menus, and condiments. Finally, head to the bathroom — if that's clean, the kitchen probably is, too.

If you can see inside the kitchen (or at a street stall), check if the chef is using utensils or wearing clean gloves and not using their bare hands. Additionally, make sure the person handling the money isn't also touching the food, even if they're wearing gloves. We're sure you don't need us to tell you that physical cash is dirty.

Next up, Steves' clever tip about showing a card with "well done" when ordering meat is a good one. Heat kills germs that can cause illnesses, so food should be piping hot when you get your chops around it. That's not just meat, but any dish you're eating. Food cooked but then allowed to cool is a prime candidate for causing food poisoning. Buffets are good examples of places where food temperatures can fall into danger zones, which is another reason to skip the buffet wherever you are.

More Tips To Avoid Food Poisoning

We think you're already aware of food poisoning avoidance techniques, such as how to know whether it's safe to drink tap water in a foreign country and eating where the locals eat. One poster in Reddit's r/travel forum takes the second tip further. They suggest not having a meal in a place that has been in a guidebook for a few years. These places probably don't need to cater to locals anymore and may drop their hygiene standards when their only clients are just passing through. As well as where you eat, you should also think about when you eat. Several posters in the same Reddit forum recommend eating during local mealtimes to ensure food hasn't been sitting out for a long time.

Another tip that often flies under the radar but could genuinely save your stomach is eating only thick-skinned fruit, Rick Steves mentions. Fruits you can peel, like bananas and oranges, tend to be safe. This is excellent advice for when traveling outside Europe. Finally, if you're extra cautious, consider bringing your own utensils or washing the ones you're given in a restaurant. You can carry chopsticks and some baby wipes to clean off dirty utensils. Finally, you might want to look at yourself before blaming someone else for your food poisoning. Always wash your hands before eating. Soap and water are best, but hand sanitizer is helpful.

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