I don't want medicore meals, but even on my own with great Fodor's advice I've been known to get a so-so meal every now & then. As for carrying my bag, I'd consider a tour to have interesting people to travel with and a knowledgable tour guide. I don't expect someone to carry my bag when I'm healthy and capable of doing it myself.

That said, I've passed on tours because I like the freedom of self-guided trips, and my GF and I often like the joy of doing 'nothing' - strolling streets, sitting in cafes, eating picnics.

We chose a RS tour because we can't use a car anymore. and there were many places we went to on the tour that wouldn't be easily accessible without a car....and/or if we were able to do them on our own, we would never have had the energy.

it has not stopped us from traveling independently..one hasn't anything to do with the other. In fact after the next RS tour of Italy, we are going on our own to explore more of Italy.

Actually, handling the luggage wasn't that bad...we both lost weight,lol. I do know of other tours that handle all that for you at much more money...Tauck tours for example.

There were no "extras" to pay for...which we liked, and which would probably increase the cost of other tours.I have some brochures from two other tour groups now and if you read closely...they pass through areas and see things from the bus or pay $$ for a guided visit. I suspect the cost of the RS tour is related to the expense of all the buses which took us from one place to another.

We particularly liked the guides who were superb...and I am sure there are places we went that wouldn't have been as rewarding to us without their presence.

What really surprised us were the well-traveled people on the tour. Somehow I expected people who would be relatively unsophisticated about travel. We were pleasantly surprised.

Tours like cruises IMO depend upon what a traveller is looking for.

I have never taken a tour but I have had relatives that took Elderhostels tours these past years as they were no longer able to travel on their own. They had such joyous trips with Elderhostels and I am so glad that they took these various tours as the wife is no longer able to travel at all.

I am not a fan of cruises (have only taken two) but I have friends that have so enjoyed the cruises they have taken..again it worked for them for one reason or another.

If I got to the stage where I couldn't travel on my own I would not take a RS Tour as at that point I would think hauling my own luggage, climbing lots of stairs, the extra cost as a single to have my own room in lodgings would not work. But obviously many people do enjoy RS Tours as they take many after the first RS Tour.

I would say herringtonb..Bob..if you and your wife are in the situation physically to travel on your own I would do so. I believe travelling on your own will cost less than going on any tour. If you and your wife are able to do this I would encourage you to figure out the cost of air fare, train fare, hotels rates, food, perhaps daily tours on some days etc., and compare that cost versus the various tour rates. And do comapare the schedules and what is included in each tour rate. It appears from what other Fodorites have said that with RS all "side tours" are included in the price unlike a lot of tours where you have to pay additional.

But if you think there is a chance that you and your wife will not be up to all the side tours that RS offers (age, physical problems etc.) than you would be paying for side tours that you would not be able to take advantage of so that would be a waste of money for you.

Also..when checking out other Tour Co tours do know that "seeing" a site or sight can mean driving by versus visiting the site or sight. Quite a difference.

Best wishes to you two in your decision. Happy travels!!

Elderhostel tours usually have a theme. They, therefore, attract people with similar interests. On the Sicily tour I took, where we sailed from Catania to Palermo stopping at 5 of the Aeoloian Islands, we had only 18 people. The food was not what I describe as "first class", but it was sufficient. We all knew that the point of the tour was the sailing not the food. If you want a gourmet food tour, you take that.

The Elderhostel trip I took to Russia was absolutely terrific. We had this fabulous tour director Violetta. She is doing the Transiberian trip next summer that I have signed up for. It is sold out. Violetta was able to deal with anything. When you have a bunch of older people on a bus, you will have problems. Two people did not feel well and went home early on. Another lady fell down and got bruised and ended up in the hospital. She was 80, but a real trooper. She did the rest of the tour.

Any good tour will allow people to spin of if they get "tour sick" (unless you are changing hotels that day. We spent a week in Moscow and a week in St. Petersburg. Time was sometimes built in for the exhausted to rest in the afternoon. Those of us who were more energetic just skipped that and went off on our own. I did that a couple of times because I had things on my must see agenda that were not on the tour. All you have to do is tell the tour director where you are going and when you will again meet the group--say, at the Bolshoi for the night's entertainment. Not a problem.

There are lots of different personalities on every tour but a good tour director is like gold. By the way, should anyone be interested, my Russia tour was the arts and entertainment 2 week tour. Elderhostel runs it several times a year.

These sound very interesting. I assume I can learn about them on the elderhostel website...

The elderhostel website is elderhostel.org. I use them for experiences I could not possibly get from home exchanging. They even have one day deals at, say, The National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, and the like. There is something for everyone with elderhostel.

My next elderhostel trip is to Chile in November. We are going down to the fiords--which was part of the attraction of that trip. Many of their trips are quite active. Not all seniors want to sit in rocking chairs anymore!

My husband and I are thinking of Rome-Venice-Florence next year. We may opt for a tour because, obsessive planner that I've become, sometimes it's just better to leave all the research and planning to a tour company.

I have not found that his tours are more expensive than others, rather significantly less. What am I missing?

What does appeal is that there are inside visits, with local guides, not offered as "optionals".

dkjbooks, herringtonbob

Your task of comparison is complicated by tours actually involving 3 to 4 packages - a hotel package, a food/meal package, a travel package (the means of transport used, which for some itineraries might include a train or even a flight section as well as a bus), and (sometimes at additional cost, sometimes included) a sightseeing package. Different companies stress different aspects, or packages, of their tour. Thus, a tour company could be deemed 'first class' with respect to the hotel package, but only tourist class with respect to the sightseeing package.

RS is apparently the reverse, according to his veteran clientele - sightseeing is first or even deluxe rate, whereas his hotels are well located but often only tourist class (especially as luggage handling is, as already stated, not included).

His transport package also is higher end than some, since the group size is smaller and allows people to spread out on the bus.

This might explain why he looks cheap (or expensive) to different people, since the tour companies with which they're drawing comparisons focus on different things. You really need to decide if RS' focus on smaller group size, etc., is important enough to you to pay the premium that that entails.

It is a moot point for us - we've decided we can't afford tours of the type that would appeal to us, which is why we'll likely always go the independent route.

Check out www.intrepidtravel.com. I've taken one of their India trips and will be taking one of their Australia trips in October.They have a firm commitment to socially responsible travel,staying in small family owned hotels when possible,eating in little locally owned restaurants,using public transport.The group size is limited to 12,which is great.If you click on my name,you can read the report I am writing about my India trip-Through the Looking Glass.

We used RS for Rome 2000 and will be using them again for Prague tour this Oct.

Before we went to Rome, we thought the tour price seemed a bit high but afterwards, we felt it was really worth the money. As others have mentioned, it includes RS guide books, local transportation, admission fees and tips (to guides, bus drivers, etc). Those little extras can add up on a per diem basis so don't forget to figure that in.

In Rome, our group had less than 25 people. Having such a small group made things easy and the group got along very well. Hotel was certainly adequate, location was good (near central train station and major bus routes) and air conditioned, breakfast provided, free interneet in the lobby and very helpful English staff.

Our tour guide got all of us free tickets for the Pope's weekly audience. We had a special art guide through the Borgese who absolutely made art come alive for us. "On the fly" our RS guide rented a mini bus to take us up to the top of one of the hills to overlook Rome. Beautiful! One of our group dinners was at a restaurant where we had 3 opera singers who entertained our group (food was good too). Meals usually included wine.

Pace of tour was reasonable. Usually did two "tours" per day (usually morning and evening when it was coolest)which left some part of every day free to explore on our own. It was very hot in July so we took several "afternoon free time" opportunities to just go back to our hotel room, shower and catch a nap before we toured in the evening. Our guide always had wonderful suggestions for places to eat on our own + gelato!

My sister, single traveler, took 7 tours with him last year and will join us on the Prague tour. He also gives discounts for previous RS tour alum.

Comparing the prices at Globus, Tauck, and the RS sites, the first thing that jumps out is that Globus and Tauck don't include international airfares.Obviously that could work both for and against the traveler, but since the RS tours lock in your price right now for next year's tours, it could very well be a savings. We've taken a tour with Globus, and enjoyed the freedom of not having to stay with the group, but our other trips to Europe have been independent and looking at the RS prices, we probably saved very little.

danlovesme, RS tours don't include airfares. All prices listed include the proviso "+ air" and the 'what's included' section makes it doubly clear that airfare isn't included.

Some tour companies do list an air included option, but the prices seem high compared to what one could book oneself.

Yikes. thanks for correcting me! The RS tours don't have quite what we are looking for, anyway, and so we'll have to forgo the small group size and the other "pros" of his tours.

Check out www.goaheadtours.com.

I went to France and Italy with them last summer and was extremely pleased with the quality of the intinerary, the hotels, and our guide. They pride themselves on offering quality tours for less. Airfare is included, nice three and four star hotels (baggage handling included). Most optionals are not that expensive; you only need to pick 3 or 4 of them for a given tour (or none) and most of them vary in price from $39 to $79 each. In most of the destinations, there was plenty of free time built in to explore on one's own. Plus, our guide was OUTSTANDING.

I have priced the RS tours and find them prohibitively expensive, especially for a single traveler who insists on having her own room.

I ahve taken 3 RS tours and have enjoyed all of them. I went on the Germany/Swiss/Aust tour in '98, Italy in 2000 and France in 2002. I think you get exactly what the book says and I've never been dissappointed. The itinerary may seem rushed in print, but I've never felt rushed. All museums are included and the guides are local. I especially like the walking tours that are always led by locals. in 2002 we actually had Mr. Steves and his family on the tour with us and it was wonderful. He never intruded on the guides leadership and it was just fun having him and his family with us. I also turned 40 on that tour and our dinner that night was outside in Amboise. The proprietor provided champagne for everyone. It was a special night. The biggest issue is the group dynamic. In Italy it wasn't great and it effected my enjoyment somewhat. The other two groups were fabulous. Overall I can't travel alone as effciently and I would spend more money.

I think the person who said the RS tours have a different emphasis than other tours, and you have to decide what is important to you is quite true.

Some of the advantages people list are real common in other tours, or irrelevant to many people, though. For example, I've only been on two tours, but they were budget-oriented and excellent and I had a great time. Both these tours included many of the things others tout as so great about RS -- like admission fees (to the sites that were included in the tours, of course). Also, all tours I've taken, the two multi-day tours and including some single day tours, have had local guides. That is really the norm, and I think some countries even have laws about that. That is guides for the sightseeing, not the one who handles the tour logistics/hotel things.

I used tours as a way to tour in areas where logistics aren't so easy for traveleers, and because I was just starting international travel and didn't know how to do things and wanted a nice group. Mine served that purpose. However, even then, I didn't want to be tied to some group and wanted to go off on my own for most meals or even extra excursions. I thing it is better when a tour doesn't include a whole bunch of excursions in the price, as you may not want to take them or would prefer to do them differently. Of course you can go off on your own any time you want, but you'd waste a lot of money if you've already paid for a lot of meals and excursions that you don't take.

As comparison, very similar 9-10 tours to Provence/Paris by RS and Trafalgar are prices about $50 differently a day (RS costs $50 more a day per person, double occupancy). Both cover similar areas, include one TGV ride, etc. I think Trafalgar may even have better hotels and includes some small ferry ride down near St Tropez). Now maybe $50 a day (or $450-500 total) more for a total trip cost isn't a lot to some people, but it would be to me without any perceived value.

IN any case, there are certainly tours out there that cost even more, and he has his target market who think they are worth it.

I just studied some tours on Rick's site to compare with similar tours I've researched on the GoAheadTours and Trafalgar sites. The RS tours offer more off-the-beaten-track village stays as compared to other companies. Considering that there are no "optionals" to deal with and that many meals are included, the RS tours are looking better to me. That said, I don't think I would be willing to do one unless single supplements are offered for a private room.

We've been on 4 Tauck tours -and shorly will do a fifth - and have been completely satisfied. More expensive? Possibly. Worth it? Certainly!

Bob,

Of course, you will need to compare intineraries offered by the various tour companies, including RS, get tour prices, and weigh that against the experience you want. On an RS tour you will be handling your own luggage (traveling light), and will stay in more cozy, family run places.

On most other tours, you will stay in larger 3 and 4 star hotels, and luggage will be taken care of.

I found that GoAhead does incorporate off-the-beaten track places into their tours, but they often base in large hotels in the larger cities to accommodate the numbers. As I said, I had a good experience with them. I've also heard very good things about Tauck tours, though they are pricier.

We took the Germany, Austria, Switzerland trip last year with RS. We just booked the 17 day Italy tour for next year. It was worth every penny. Many tour groups during the day, but in the evening they all leave and you are there with the locals.
I think one aspect that is being overlooked, is the fact that your hotel is always in the best area (ie, historical) of the city. In Vienna we were like 50 steps from museum square. Others in our group said when they took other tours they were bussed out of the city in the evening, if they wanted to go back later they would have to get their own taxi. No thanks.