does rick steves travel to south america

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Rick Steves Just Told Us His Top Travel Mistakes to Avoid — and His Best Piece of Travel Advice

Every year, Rick Steves’ Europe takes 30,000 people on small-group tours — and this is the one thing they're not allowed to bring.

Rick Steves never checks a bag when traveling — and he strongly encourages all of his fellow globetrotters to do the same.

“It’s more important than ever to travel light,” he said. “Two weeks, two months, man, woman, winter, summer, it doesn’t matter, you just need a carry-on bag.”

Steves is known for his popular European guidebooks, tour company Rick Steves’ Europe , and public television travel show . As a professional international traveler, Steves is an expert at avoiding common travel mistakes like lost luggage, overbooked restaurants, and crowded sights.

While a few travel problems are inevitable, Steves advocates for flexibility, which is at the core of his travel philosophy. In a recent interview with Travel + Leisure, Steves shared some of his best tips to help alleviate frequent travel issues and reduce trip anxiety.

Dominic Arizona Bonuccelli/Courtesy of Rick Steves' Europe 

Pack Light and Skip Tight Connections

Besides the occasional need to pack his hiking poles, Steves is adamant that travelers should only bring along a carry-on bag . Every year, Rick Steves’ Europe takes 30,000 people on small-group tours, and all travelers are limited to just a carry-on — no checked luggage allowed. 

“If you don’t check a bag, you’re much less likely to get ensnared in all of the airport chaos in Europe,” Steves said.

Carry-on luggage is less likely to get stolen, lost, or broken, and Steves also loves that it helps with flexibility — you can easily switch flights without worrying about leaving your whole wardrobe behind. Plus, he said, if you are worried about limited space, packing cubes are a worthwhile investment to help organize and compress clothes in a smaller bag.

“You need to roll with the punches,” Steves said.

Steves is also a proponent of scheduling airline connections with plenty of time, especially for international trips. For instance, U.S. travelers visiting countries in the European Schengen Zone have to go through passport control when arriving in their first Schengen country. So, if your final destination is Greece, but your layover is in Germany, make sure the connection timing in Germany accounts for the possibility of long immigration lines.

Book Your Top Reservations, Then Go With the Flow

Steves believes 2023 is going to be a busy travel year, with sales of his guidebooks currently matching where they were at this time in 2019, previously the company’s best year ever. With the coronation of King Charles in London in May, and the Olympics in Paris next year, Steves wants travelers to understand that some crowds are going to be inevitable.

“People really need to respect that there are going to be a lot of crowds in Europe,” he said.

Travelers who don’t do any planning in advance often end up waiting in long lines, wasting valuable time queuing outside of a museum, rather than spending than extra time inside. Steves recommends using a guidebook, like his own, that has been researched after the worst years of the pandemic to account for any changes to reservation systems and updated hours.

“More than ever, people are going to the same famous places,” he said. “Museums want to moderate their mob scenes.”

A notable change these days, he said, is many sights are still requiring online bookings to help control large crowds, which they started doing during the pandemic and have kept up in order to mitigate the chaos of long lines outside. In updating his guidebooks, Steves said he is focused on making sure there is a sidebar for each chapter reviewing what visitors need to do in advance.

For instance, Steves said well-organized travelers visiting Amsterdam have just four things they need to book ahead of time: the Anne Frank House , the Van Gogh Museum , the Rijksmuseum , and one trendy restaurant for a nice dinner.

“The flip side of that coin is that everything else is fine. You don't need reservations for all the other stuff,” he said. “If a serendipitous opportunity presents itself, the answer has always got to be 'yes.”

Once you have the core set of reservations you need, the rest of your trip can easily fall into place, Steves said. Don’t worry about making a dinner reservation every night — instead, visit a street with local eateries and pick a delicious, non-touristy spot.

“We tend to be too figured out these days,” he said. “It takes away some of the joy of travel, which is letting things unfold in an unpredictable way.”

Courtesy of Rick Steves' Europe 

Avoid Overcrowded Spots

Steves said he's noticing that so many travelers now source recommendations from social media — and that has repercussions. The consequence, he said, is that when everyone goes to the same place, trying to get the same picture, it becomes overcrowded and hard to enjoy. 

“There might be a place that's just as good, maybe 90 percent as good, but with no crowds at all just down the street,” he said.

Instead of relying on Tripadvisor or Instagram, Steves said, try to embrace the local culture and you’ll have a less stressful experience.

“I don’t go crazy over what’s No. 1,” he said. “No. 1 is the company that is deemed best in the system. [Instead], we try to find these little mom and pops, these labors of love, these creative adventures — that’s what distinguishes my books and tours.”

Perhaps the most important piece of advice Steves shared is that often, travelers put a lot of pressure on themselves to check off the top museums, historic sites, restaurants, and shops from every “best of” list. But that pressure can lead to a lot of trip anxiety and the feeling of rushing around to go somewhere just because it’s famous.

His best advice? “Assume you will return,” he said. “Never try to do everything on one trip, because you can't.”

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Travel to South America

Hi. Hi. Hi,

At the beginning of 2020, I'm going with my gilfriend on a 'one-year' journey through South America. We start at the bottom and finish at the top ^^. We are looking for the perfect tent to spend most of our nights in. So far, our travels have been limited to one region and one type of climate, and we have all gone through the quickhiker-ultralight-2 tent. And he was my biggest friend in Norway (in winter and summer). Winter was not for him, although it was possible to survive. I liked him very much, but it is not a tent that I would take on a year-long journey through almost all geographical zones. We are going to hike a lot in the mountains, which means that the tent must be resistant to the local winds. We will try to climb Acouncague and a few other peaks (here it is a matter of it will be in our tent or rented on site). High altitudes and high air humidity are certainly issues to be kept in mind when choosing. I wonder how with the ground (it's a matter of choosing a free-standing tent or not). I also think whether it is worth investing in a 4-season tent or better to rent a storm tent for a few days when climbing the summits. Later, however, we will be in Colombia and the return will probably be from Mexico, so the tent has to handle the humidity and temperatures. I have researched a lot of websites, read several forums, tests and reviews and listed a few tents worthy of attention. So I would like to ask you about the opinion of what kind of tent would you choose for such a trip? The list I managed to create (I suggested weighed up to 2.5kg):

MSR Hubba NX - 1.7kg, a lot of good reviews, but I am worried about two issues. One is an overlayed tropic, which when set up in the rain will cause water in the middle of the tent. The second one is also connected with the tropics - from what I've read some opinions and films of reviewers, it's not long enough to "close" the whole bedroom and seal it off from the bottom, strong winds and jamming rain. Here also the question of safety of leaving backpacks in the vestibule in more dangerous areas, if they stick out from outside the tent :/

MSR Access 2 - 2kg - 4 seasonal, good reviews. Same thing with the tropics. I am also worried about the water resistance values - 1200 thousand mm in the tropics and 3 thousand floors. And lack of information about the wind power that can push it (the same as in the case of NX), people's opinions in this regard very unspecific.

Hilleberg Nallo 2 - 2,4 - 4 seasonal, non-free-standing. Waterproofness of the tent shell: 5000 mm, Floor waterproof: 15000 mm. Well, I must admit that it sounds better :)

Hilleberg Anjan 2 - similar but 3 seasonal, much lighter - 1.8kg

Hilleberg Niak 2 - different design, 1.7kg, one side output ;/

Robens Verdin - 1.8kg, he is said to survive 170km/h - probably unrivalled here. I don't know how to deal with waterproofness.

Salewa Litetrek Pro II - 2kg, 90 km/h

Blizzard 2 Terra Nova - has a very interesting performance but the red color rather disqualifies him.

Southern Cross 2 Terra Nova - 2,3kg - Here is a very strong competitor for Hilleberg with similar prices.

Voyager 2 Terra Nova - 200 g lighter than above. Here good opinions among older colleagues using :)

Copper Spur HV2 Expedition - 2,4kg - here it is hard to find any specific opinions

A little bit of it came out, it's hard to decide for now, at first I couldn't find anything for myself and then suddenly as I dig deeper, it turns out that there are some interesting options. Only as if there were more travelers who would like to share their opinions from similar trips!

I would be grateful for any feedback! At the moment I feel a little lost and I decided that when you buy a tent for a year trip, you should choose the best :) And maybe it will last much longer!

Think you need to asking this question on a backpacking oriented site. Very few people here travel with a tent and even few - I would say none -- travel for an extended period of time with a tent.

Do You know any good forum to ask that? :)

I can't give you direct feedback. I have been to Guatemala a few times. The weather, seasons, and climate is similar to Florida. So, if you can prepare for the Florida outdoors - you will be set for central and South America. Be prepared during the summer months for heavy downpours primarily in the afternoon. (Very good rain jackets, tarps, backpack covers). If you are going to get stuck in a tent - I think you will desire more than a Bivy. That is, something you can at least sit-up in. Some kind of mesh to keep out the bugs and snakes, bath-tub bottom to keep rain out, footprint and excellent tarp coverage. Fleece zip-ups or pullovers for the Winter. I also recommend light-weight, synthetic long sleeve shirts to protect from rain, wind, sun, and cold. Brands like reel legends, Columbia, etc.. Wear a good hiking hat with a rim and neck cover. You will not believe what a difference a hat makes against sun/rain, hot/cold, glare. It's one of the best things to take.

Try TripAdvisor Travel gadgets forum.

I’m concerned because you are asking for technical tent advice on a packing forum Vs an ultralight backpacking forum. This tells me that some of your outdoors experience might be limited. It seems to me that your mountaineering plans are far beyond your abilities.

Aconcagua is not to be trifled with. It shouldn’t be your first high altitude attempt.

Walk before you run and all that.

Thank You for Your advices FLORIDA :) i considered to take a hat, but maybe i will buy it there, to disappear in the crowd of local people !

Cindy H - I don't underestimate Aconcagua. I hike a lot in Polish Mountains, was at Elbrus, Blanc, hike routes in Lofoten, and wanted to try higher mountains beeing there. I don't know if I can manage it. But why are You impolite?

I am not impolite. I don’t want to see you die.

Your questions sounded more like beginner questions, not those of an experienced mountaineer.

While Aconcagua is technically easy it kills several people a year. They die from high altitude and also from exposure (cold) due to high altitude. With Aconcagua it is not how many steps per breath, but how many breaths per step.

Did you summit Elbrus and Blanc? Then you know altitude and I owe you an apology. If you merely trekked around them then I stand by my assertion.

South American has significantly less support services than Europe. You’re on your own for the most part.

Elbrus yes, returned from Blanc without summit :/ People dies in mountains, not only on Acouncagua. We want to try. Always can return.

Maybe we could change the subject. What kind of shelter did You use in South America? :)

The serious Mountaineers I know here favor Hilleburg tents, and that would likely be a good choice for attempting Aconcagua and other mountains such as in Patagonia But that does not take tropical conditions (heat and humidity) into account.

I personally have the MSR Hubba Hubba and yes it is nice and light. It stood up well to a storm with heavy rain and 60 mph wind gusts, but as noted the rainfly does not come down to the ground. Wind-driven rain got in under the fly, hit the dirt and splashed up through the mesh into the tent. It was not a lot of water, but the grit it brought in was annoying.

Did You hear about Macpac Tents?

This topic has been automatically closed due to a period of inactivity.

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South America

Breaking away from europe as a certified backpacker.

Jackie Steves is guest-hosting her Dad’s blog with 17 posts in 17 days. Follow the adventures of Andy and Jackie Steves as they — the first Steves to venture into South America — report on their experience.

This is the first time I can legitimately identify as a backpacker. When I was little I wore a backpack, but that doesn’t count since I was with the family. During my past couple of independent Euro trips, I’ve actually used a rolling bag. While I don’t enjoy a sore back, something about bearing the weight of my belongings on my shoulders gives me a sense of independence and strength, as if I could conquer the world (but not like what the Spaniards did to the Incas because that was not nice).

We stopped at a supermarket, one of my favorite windows into any given culture. Time and again, Andy and I have remarked on the freshness of food here. To watch the cutting of fresh whole fruit at a restaurant in Lima’s airport nearly struck us as odd (shows how starved we are in the States for legitimately fresh fruit). This supermarket was another manifestation of fresh. Inside the entrance, you pass a fresh-squeezed orange juice stand, as well as a fresh farm milk stand.

We took a five-passenger car to Ollantaytambo, sharing it with a nice young Argentinean couple. The two-hour ride only cost $3 per person! Can you imagine being able to pay a few dollars for a two-hour taxi ride in the States?

We drove through rolling Peruvian hills resembling Colorado countryside — dry but also green in parts. We passed construction, where men worked with pickaxes and shovels, just like roadwork we saw in the city. Peru’s roads — from its most modern city to its rural back lanes — are handmade.

Our small tires bouncing on a bumpity cobblestone road announced our arrival in Ollantaytambo, a town in the sacred valley below Machu Picchu that boasts ancient Incan ruins as well.

The “hearty Peruvian fare” of chicken, rice, and quinoa soup I ordered for dinner was good, but bland.

We befriended a couple of Minnesotans (who are here volunteering to help local flood victims) and a few local goofballs with whom we went to Gansos (Spanish for geese), one of the only bars in this small town. This bar did not disappoint — drinks cheap as dirt and an upstairs decorated with hammocks, swings, tree houses, funky Bob Marley wall decor, candlelight, and a fire pole to slide drunkenly downstairs at the end of the night (good idea?). Downstairs five drummers provided the beat for our night out.

The First Steves on South American Soil

At 7 in the morning, a full 24 hours after our initial departure from The States, my brother Andy and I finally reached our destination: Cusco in Peru, the capital of the magnificent ancient Incan Empire.

Our hostel had sent instructions that a cab ride from the airport should not exceed 10 sol (about 3 US dollars). Our guidebook also told us not to hop into just any cab on the street for risk of kidnapping, even if the cab looks official. A taxi official directed us to a cab driver with whom Andy was careful to pre-negotiate. He insisted on 25 sol. I said to the driver, a bit tongue-in-cheek, but also trying to guilt-trip him, “You know, our hostel warned us that you would try and trick us.” Andy laughed and then mumbled to me in the back seat that it was probably worth the safe ride into the city. I guess we’re grateful for any sense of security after hearing all kinds of stories from friends and relatives about the dangers of travel in South America.

Our drive into the center of the city introduced us to Peruvian architecture: squat buildings, walls of stacked blocks of stone, and glass shards on top of fences for a security system. Messages graffitied on the sides of houses ranged from political endorsements, to advertisements for telephone companies, to written cheers for their favorite football players.

Our hostel had an awesome interior courtyard with a ping-pong table and beanbag chairs for socializing. The place is decorated with quirky furniture and vibrant wall murals.

Once we set out, it took us less than a block before we scored a curious tourist’s treat! On the Plaza San Francisco, we witnessed hundreds of small boys dressed up in military-esque uniforms, all lined up marching in goose-step behind a shabby out-of-tune band. They start training them at a young age for the couple of years of universal conscription. The boys’ out-of-sync step made the scene far more adorable than discerning.

The Incans esteemed Cusco so highly that they believed it to be the navel of the world. At the center of this navel, they constructed sacred temples around what is today Plaza de Armas, the main city square.

The Catholic Spanish constructed a cathedral on Plaza de Armas. The artwork of this cathedral is different from European Cathedrals. Crucifixes depict Jesus wearing bright pink, blue, or green skirts, with beads and sequins made of precious metals. The altar decoration is somewhere between tacky tin and extravagant silver. The large Last Supper painting has a roast guinea pig on a platter in the middle of the table who — I have to agree with my guidebook — “steals the show.” It’s curious that in every crucifix Jesus is portrayed, not of Middle Eastern or even Incan race, but as Caucasian.

I used the chilly night temperatures here as an excuse to buy a hat and gloves, made by local nuns, as souvenirs. The proceeds go to five social projects, including abandoned children, sexually abused women, and girls’ education. I would agree with Andy that the hat is dorky with its long tassel, but I still like it a lot!

We found a coca shop where we tried some coca chocolate and coca tea. I’m not a huge fan of the bitter lemony taste. Coca is the leaf used in cocaine and Coca-Cola. Drinking coca tea and chewing it can’t get you high, but it can help prevent altitude sickness. We’re feeling the 11,000-foot altitude here and hope this stuff will help Andy’s dizziness and my headache. The Incans worshipped coca for its plethora of uses.

At the Inca Museum we learned that these ancient peoples (a completely isolated civilization when the Spaniards found them) were tremendously developed, basically only lacking the wheel and the arch.

An Irish pub was next on the agenda — training wheels on the going-out-in-South-America bicycle. We asked to share a table with a couple we discovered were Norwegian. At the table next to us sat four Irish girls. By coincidence, we were sandwiched between groups of our own heritage. We shared travel itineraries with these friendly Europeans over Cusqueña (the popular beer in Cusco). Already on the first night I was feeling good about our upcoming adventure.

South America Isn’t Europe

My kids, Andy (23) and Jackie (20), are heading for South America. And, for the next 17 days, Jackie will guest-host my blog, with daily reports on their adventures in Peru, Argentina, and Brazil.

Why a South America trip on a European travel blog? Four reasons come to mind:

The spirit of our work at Europe Through the Back Door is to inspire people to turn their travel dreams into smooth and affordable reality by equipping themselves with good information and an expectation to travel smartly. As Andy and Jackie venture south of the equator, I hope you’ll join me in following their adventures. They are unescorted, don’t speak Spanish, have virtually no international travel experience outside of Europe, and will use non-Rick Steves guidebooks as they follow their wanderlust. They plan to travel both smart and well. They’re basically doing what any of us could do (though likely with a lot more late-night clubbing tossed in).

I’ve long said that Europe is the wading pool of world exploration and that many of my favorite destinations and experiences are beyond Europe. Ages ago I wrote a guidebook called Asia Through the Back Door by simply adapting my Europe tips to my experience traveling in the Far East. For me, Europe was a fun and easy first stop to making the world my friend. As we follow these youthful adventures through Jackie’s candid reports, I hope we can envision ourselves taking the experience and confidence gained in Europe and using it (with a youthful vigor) in more distant corners.

I hope Jackie’s hosting of my blog will also cause parents to consider the value of young people gaining self-confidence and a broader world view by venturing beyond our borders — whether that be Europe or into more challenging places. As any parent knows, it’s both scary and exhilarating to see your children outgrow accompanied trips and fly away on their own. I’m betting this trip will be a rite of passage, and Andy and Jackie will come home with a better understanding of both themselves and the world around them.

Finally, I have a patriotic motive for turning my blog over to Jackie. My theme this season — inspired by all the Quran-burning, foreigner-fearing, anti-intellectual legions in our country — is this:  “Fear is for people who don’t get out much.” Given the mesmerizing power of our media, it’s understandable that elderly Americans might be riddled with paranoia. (Observing my parents and my friends’ parents, I have a theory that people who can’t work or don’t have DVRs are limited to watching TV live, and 24/7 news is always there for them.) But even young people are susceptible to the fear-mongering that’s wracking our great nation. It’s my hope (but I could be wrong) that Andy and Jackie’s experience will help inoculate them to this new and virulent strain of pest in our society. And it’s also my hope that travel adventures can help us all better recognize the good and the joy in our world and then — rather than fear it — celebrate it.

With that, I’m going to step back and give the bully pulpit to my daughter. South America, here we come!

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About Across South America

We believe South America is one of the most unforgettable places on earth – and we want you to help you fall in love with the continent just like we have.

From seeing Macchu Picchu with your own eyes to sipping Malbec under the Argentinan sun or cruising the Amazon River, let us put together a South American vacation you’ll never forget.

About Rick Steves

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.

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Rick Steves on the Return of Travel and Why It Matters

The travel writer and TV personality is back in Europe, planning itineraries for next year. Travel, he says, can help us understand the world. Here’s how he recommends doing it.

By Paige McClanahan

On a recent morning, Rick Steves was wandering around the ancient Tuscan town of Volterra with a new crop of tour guides. His company’s trips to Europe are set to resume in February after a nearly two-year pandemic hiatus, and the guides were midway through a nine-day trip around Italy to learn “what makes a Rick Steves tour a Rick Steves tour.” One of the stops on their itinerary was Volterra, a medieval hilltop town whose stone walls are 800 years old. Mr. Steves — who has been to Tuscany many times for his popular public broadcasting show and YouTube channel — was relishing being back.

“We’re surrounded by the wonders of what we love so much, and it just makes our endorphins do little flip-flops,” he said during a phone interview.

That unabashed enthusiasm has fueled Mr. Steves’s empire of guidebooks, radio shows and TV programs, as well as tours that have taken hundreds of thousands of Americans overseas since he started running them in 1980.

Along the way, Mr. Steves has built a reputation for convincing hesitant Americans to make their first trip abroad — and that first trip is often to Europe, which Mr. Steves has called “the wading pool for world exploration.” But he also speaks passionately about the value of travel to places like El Salvador and Iran, and he’s open about how his time in other countries has shaped his views on issues like world hunger and the legalization of marijuana.

But Europe remains Mr. Steves’s bread and butter, and he’s back on the Continent now — both to prepare for the return of his tours and to work on a six-hour series on European art and architecture that he hopes will be broadcast on U.S. public television next fall. As he wandered through Volterra, we talked about why he doesn’t count the number of countries he’s visited, why his tour company will require vaccinations and why a world without travel would be a more dangerous place.

Our conversation has been lightly edited for clarity and length.

What does it feel like to be back in Europe?

I’m working with 20 guides here and people are almost tearfully emotional about the rekindling of tourism. Professional tour guides have been on hold for two seasons, and they’re just so filled with joy to be able to do what they do, because guides are wired to enthuse and inspire and teach about their culture and their art and their history. And it’s just so fun to be here and be filled with hope. And while we’re still in the pandemic, we’re also coming out of it and there’s an energy in the streets and in the museums.

Do you think Americans are ready to travel overseas again?

I would say it’s not for everybody, but if you don’t mind being well-organized and if you’re enthusiastic about following the regulations and rules, it’s not a big deal. And Europe is ahead of the United States, I believe, in fighting Covid. There’s a huge respect for masks. More museums are requiring reservations to get in because they want to make sure it’s not crowded. It’s kind of a blessing, actually. I was just in the Vatican Museum and really enjoying the Sistine Chapel because it wasn’t so darned crowded. That was an amazing experience for me because the last time I was there, I had to wear shoulder pads.

You have long held that travel can do a lot of good in the world, but what about carbon emissions, overcrowding and other negative effects of travel?

Climate change is a serious problem and tourism contributes a lot to it, but I don’t want to be flight-shamed out of my travels, because I think travel is a powerful force for peace and stability on this planet. So my company has a self-imposed carbon tax of $30 per person we take to Europe. In 2019, we gave $1 million to a portfolio of organizations that are fighting climate change. We gave half that amount in 2020, even though we stopped bringing people to Europe after the pandemic hit. It’s nothing heroic. It’s just the ethical thing to do.

And in terms of other problems, when you go to Europe, you can consume in a way that doesn’t dislocate pensioners and ruin neighborhoods. Landlords anywhere in the world can make more money renting to short-term tourists than long-term local people . So, if you complain that a city is too touristy and you’re staying in an Airbnb — well, you’re part of the problem.

But we would be at a great loss if we stopped traveling, and the world would become a more dangerous place. We need to travel in a “leave only footprints, take only photos” kind of way. What you want to do is bring home the most beautiful souvenir, and that’s a broader perspective and a better understanding of our place on the planet — and then employ that broader perspective as a citizen of a powerful nation like the United States that has a huge impact beyond our borders.

How do you try to encourage people to travel in a meaningful way?

The responsibility of the travel writer is to help people travel smarter, with more experience, and more economically and more efficiently. And everybody has their own idea of what that is, but for me, it’s about remembering that travel is all about people. It’s about getting out of your comfort zone and trying something new. So we’re trying to help Americans travel in a way that’s more experiential and more thought-provoking and more transformational. You know, you can have transformational travel or you can just have a shopping trip and a bucket list.

You’ve said that you don’t keep track of how many countries you’ve visited. Why is that?

Why would you? Is it a contest? Anybody who brags about how many countries they’ve been to — that’s no basis for the value of the travel they’ve done. You could have been to 100 countries and learned nothing, or you can go to Mexico and be a citizen of the planet. I find that there’s no correlation between people who count their countries and people who open their heart and their soul to the cultures they’re in.

I hear you’re working on a big new project. What’s that about?

Something I’ve been preparing to do for 20 years is to collect all the most beautiful art experiences we’ve included in our TV show and weave it together into a six-hour series of European art and architecture. We’ve been working on the show for the last year, and it’s going to be my opus magnum, my big project. It’s going to make art accessible and meaningful to people in a way that I don’t think we’ve seen on TV before. I’m inspired by people who have done art series in the past, and I’ve got a way to look at it through the lens of a traveler. I’m very excited about it. It’s just a cool creative challenge.

What have things been like for your tour company since the pandemic hit?

Well, 2019 was our best year ever. We took 30,000 Americans on about 1,200 different tours and we were just euphoric. We had 2020 essentially sold out when Covid hit, and then we had to cancel everything, so we had to send back 24,000 deposits. We all hunkered down, and I’ve done what I can to keep my staff intact. A couple of months ago, we decided we’re confident about the spring of 2022, so we opened the floodgates and immediately those 24,000 people that had to cancel two years ago — basically, they re-signed up. And now we’ve got 29,000 people signed up out of 30,000 seats for next year.

So we’re doing really good, but we just have to continue the diligence in our society and in Europe of fighting Covid responsibly. So I’m kind of losing patience with anti-vaxxers. Maybe they’re exercising their liberty, but they’re also impacting a lot of other people. So we’ve just decided to require that people have vaccinations to go on our tours. Here in Europe, unvaccinated people would be standing outside most of the time anyway — because they couldn’t get into the restaurants, onto the train, onto the bus or into the museums. The world is getting progressively smaller for people who want to travel but not get a vaccination.

Do you think travel will ever feel normal again?

There were certain people who decided they didn’t want to travel after 9/11 because they didn’t want to deal with security. You know, those people have a pretty low bar for folding up their shop. I got used to the security after 9/11, and I’m getting used to Covid standards now. But I do think that, come next year, we’ll be back to traveling again — and I hope that we’ll all be better for it.

Paige McClanahan is the host of The Better Travel Podcast .

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram , Twitter and Facebook . And sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to receive expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places list .

Rick Steves’s Advice for Vacationers in Europe This Summer

The TV host and travel guide reflects on how travel has—and hasn’t—changed since COVID.

When the Washington State–based travel guide and TV host Rick Steves decided to return to Europe in early 2022, he wasn’t sure how many of his favorite local spots had survived two years of pandemic life. Steves, who has hosted Rick Steves’ Europe for the past two decades and operates tours aimed at introducing American travelers to the continent, was pleasantly surprised by what he found: Many of his beloved places—the kind of mom-and-pop places that have been owned by the same families for generations—had made it through, and the streets were alive anew. “They’re kissing cheeks with a vengeance in Paris right now,” he told me. “And I’m really thankful for that.”

Steves and I caught up to discuss the rebound in tourism and how travel has changed since the start of the pandemic. He also warned that this summer may be a particularly busy one—perhaps the continent’s busiest yet—and offered practical tips for traveling amid crowds. (Consider heading to less-popular destinations, and don’t bother checking a bag!)

Our conversation has been condensed and edited for clarity.

Caroline Mimbs Nyce: Is COVID the biggest challenge that you’ve been thrown in your career?

Rick Steves: With every terrible event that stops travel for a little while, the demand does not dissipate; it just backs up. And then, when the coast is clear, all of those travel dreams are dusted off, and people turn them into reality.

In the course of my career, we’ve been through many tragic disruptions, but they didn’t really stop people from traveling. But for COVID, we were out of business. I had 100 people on my payroll and no revenue for two years. And that’s really tough to get through. Everybody in tourism is really thankful to get back at it. Guides are tearful on the bus after they’ve had a chance to give their historic walk to ancient Rome or through the back streets of Venice.

Read: For one glorious summer, Americans will vacation like the French

Nyce: There’s always the big, philosophical question of “Why do we travel?” Did the answer change for you during the pandemic?

Steves: If we travel, we are better connected with other nations, and the family of nations can work more constructively together. And to me, that means all of us are individual ambassadors—individual forces for peace. When we travel, we get to know each other better. We humanize people that we don’t otherwise understand.

Nyce: We most often associate travel with leisure, but you’re making a geopolitical case for it.

Steves: Well, if you want a rationale for why: I’m feeling very serious about climate change lately. When people travel, they contribute to climate change. A thoughtful traveler—an ethical traveler coming out of COVID—can reduce the toll of travel by paying for their carbon .

Nyce: Do you have any other tips for the ethical traveler of 2023?

Steves: Recognize that we have sort of a herd mentality when it comes to travel these days.

Nyce: The Instagram effect.

Steves: Exactly. It’s Instagram, crowdsourcing, and Tripadvisor. When I started my work, there was not enough information. Now there’s too much information. As consumers, we need to be smart and know where our information is coming from. Who’s writing this, what’s their experience, and on what basis do they say this is the best hot chocolate in Paris? People say, “Oh, this hot chocolate’s to die for.” It’s their first time in Paris, and they think they know where the best hot chocolate is.

Also, the crowds are going to be a huge problem. Just like in the United States, it’s hard for restaurants to staff the restaurants and for airlines to staff the planes. That means you need to double-confirm hours and admission. You need to anticipate chaos in the airports. Book yourself a little extra time between connections, and carry on your bag.

Another thing is that museums and popular cultural attractions learned the beauty of controlling crowds by requiring online booking. At a lot of sites, you can’t even buy a ticket at the door anymore.

Everybody goes to the same handful of sites. If you just go to those sites, you’re going to have a trip that is shaped by crowds. Or you can break free from that and realize that you can study the options and choose sites that are best for you. You can go to alternative places that have that edge and that joy and that creative kind of love of life. “ Second cities ,” I call them.

Rick Steves: I’m traveling, even though I’m stuck at home

Nyce: How much have you had to update your guidebooks since COVID? Are there favorite spots of yours that have closed because of the economic ramifications of lockdowns?

Steves: In 2019, we were euphoric about how well our guidebooks were doing. Everything was up to date. And then, of course, COVID hit, and everything was mothballed for two years.

In early 2022, we decided to go back and research . The things that distinguish a Rick Steves guidebook are all of the little mom-and-pop places. And I was really, really scared that these were going to be the casualties of two years of no business.

The great news is, by and large, all those little mom-and-pops survived. There were very few closures. There were lots of changes with bigger companies and places that just focus on tourists. But our local favorites—the little bed-and-breakfasts and bistros—they survived. They’re mission-driven. They’ve been in the same family for generations. They just trimmed sales, hunkered down, and got through this. Last year, they were back in business, and this year, they expect to be making a profit again. We’ve cleaned out the places that did close.

Nyce: What have you noticed about the post-COVID tourism rebound?

Steves: First of all, we’re not done with COVID. We don’t know what curveballs COVID is going to throw at us in the coming year. Last year, we took 25,000 people to Europe on our Rick Steves bus tours, on 40 different itineraries all over Europe. Four percent of our travelers tested positive for COVID on the road. None of them, as far as I know, went to the hospital.

I can’t say what’s safe for you or some other traveler, but I can say that if you’re comfortable traveling around the United States, you should be comfortable doing the same thing in Europe or overseas. It’s a personal thing, how much risk vis-à-vis COVID you want to take. And it’s an ethical issue for travelers: If you’ve got COVID, do you isolate yourself, or do you put on a mask and keep on traveling? I think the ethical thing to do is not expose other people, hunker down, and self-isolate.

We’re meeting with our guides each month, and we’re making our protocols in an ever-changing COVID world for that coming month. It was workable last year, and I think it’s going to be better this year.

Nyce: You sound pretty optimistic about the recovery of the industry. I wasn’t sure from when I got on the phone with you if you were going to say, “It’s forever scarred. Europe is a different continent.”

Steves: Oh, no. I measure the health of Europe, from a travel point of view, by the energy in the streets. In Madrid, the paseo is still the paseo. You’ll still enjoy the tapas scene, going from bar to bar, eating ugly things on toothpicks, and washing it down with local wine with the local crowd. In Italy, it’s the passeggiata — everybody’s out strolling. People are going to be busy on the piazzas licking their gelato. In Munich, they’re sliding on the benches in the beer halls, and clinking their big glasses and singing, just like before.

People said, “No one is going to be kissing cheeks in Paris, because everybody’s going to be so worried about germs.” They’re kissing cheeks with a vengeance in Paris right now, because they have survived COVID. And I’m really thankful for that.

Rick Steves' Top Destinations When Traveling To The Netherlands

T he Netherlands is a small nation, yet it's packed with delights. And if you've spent your whole life in the U.S., where modern architecture dominates the skylines, then you'll immediately notice a stark contrast when you step into practically any Dutch city. The numerous canals and gabled houses transport you back in time, showing you a completely different side of the world, where bicycles populate the streets instead of cars.

If you're interested in taking a trip to this country, then you're in luck. The Netherlands' special characteristics haven't gone unnoticed, especially by European travel expert Rick Steves . Thanks to his extensive experience and passion, he's got some insider tips to help you look beyond typical touristy activities. If you take his advice, then you'll be able to experience true gems that are off the beaten path.

Whether you're booking a weekend getaway or a weeks-long vacation in Europe, don't skip the Netherlands. As you'll see, it's dotted with cities and towns that offer you glimpses into the Dutch lifestyle. Below are travel expert Rick Steves' top destinations you should jot down.

Read more: 28 Bucket List Destinations That Everyone Needs To Experience At Least Once

Amsterdam is the first Dutch destination anyone thinks about when you say the words "the Netherlands." It's the capital, after all, and millions of people flock to this city every year. It's true that the allure for many people has to do with the decriminalization of marijuana and the legality of sex work, but if you look beyond that, there's more than meets the eye.

For example, as Rick Steves points out, Amsterdam has retained its Golden Age architecture, so you can see the same sights people did centuries ago when they walked down the same streets. Plus, the best museums in Amsterdam  show you beautiful works from artists who are either Dutch or have lived in the Netherlands. There are also plenty of cafes and restaurants to get a taste of local food and drinks, as well as WWII walking tours .

While Steves encourages tourists to look beyond Amsterdam, he still thinks it's worth spending a day or two there to get a feel for the Netherlands. Plus, it's a good central base for visiting the other cities on his list. Most are around one hour away by train, so you won't have to go far.

Delft is another city that's retained its Golden Age architecture, and you'll see twin towers at the city gate. This city in North Holland has a white drawbridge across a canal moat, which is a remnant of Delft's old fortified days. Rick Steves describes Delft as "an idyllic mini-Amsterdam...urban Holland with training wheels," and it's true. If you don't want to deal with the large and claustrophobic crowds in Amsterdam but still want a similar atmosphere, then this is the place to go.

If you're a fan of the Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer, then this city will show you where all his inspiration came from. He's buried in the Oude Kerk (Old Church), which is located in Delft's old town. You can visit the church to view his simple marker on the ground.

In addition, this city is what Delftware is named for. This type of pottery has intricate blue designs painted on white earthenware and is inspired by Chinese porcelain. If you're interested in learning more and want to pick up some souvenirs, then you can tour Royal Delft . This 17th-century factory, which is still producing pieces, is also a museum.

Waterland is a region located north of Amsterdam, and it includes the cities of Edam, Volendam, and Marken. As the name suggests, they're all located by the sea, meaning you can get fresh seafood at the harbors. You can make an afternoon trip to all three, as they're only a 30-minute bus ride away from each other, despite being in the countryside. It's the perfect way to spend a day away from the typical tourists in Amsterdam, although Volendam is the most touristy one of all three. There are lots of souvenir shops that Rick Steves says are filled with "Dutch cliches." However, it's still a fun time, so don't discount Volendam.

Those who love cheese will have a blast in Edam, which is the city where the cheese comes from. Grab a free tour booklet from the tourist office, and make sure to stop off at the Edam Museum . You'll learn all about the history of Edam while also seeing firsthand what a 400-year-old canal house is like.

Next, make your way to Marken, which is a village peninsula. It's known for its quaint and traditional wooden houses, which were built high up on hills to prevent flooding when Marken used to be an island. There are fewer than 2,000 inhabitants here, which means it'll definitely give off a charming vibe.

Haarlem is but a 15-minute train ride west of Amsterdam, and the fact that it's a quieter, slower-paced city makes it an excellent and easy getaway. Rick Steves says that the city "[offers] small-town warmth and quick access to nearby Amsterdam." If the name sounds familiar, it's because New York's Harlem draws its name from this Dutch City. In fact, before the English took over and renamed it, New York used to be called New Amsterdam, which is why the neighborhoods within had Dutch names.

It won't be difficult to get around Haarlem, as 10 streets meet at Grote Markt ("Big Market," or the Market Square). Most of the city's activities happen here, and there are many cafes and restaurants to rest and refuel at. While you're here, check out the Grote Kerk (Big Church), which is a large and imposing building that's hard to miss. You'll find the country's largest pipe organ inside, and if you're in Haarlem during the summer, you can catch a free concert, too.

If you have a thirst for knowledge, then there are several museums where you can spend your time. For example, there's the Museum Haarlem (formerly known as Verwey Museum Haarlem), which educates visitors about what Haarlem used to be like, and the Corrie Ten Boom House , which offers you a look at real hiding places used during WWII. In addition, there's the Teylers Museum , a center for contemporary art and science.

If you love Golden Age towns, then you're in luck. Hoorn is yet another "merchant's town" from this era, per Rick Steves, but with a twist: it's had a relatively new transformation. You'll find it on the IJsselmeer, which is a lake, and it'll take around 30 minutes by train to get to Hoorn from Amsterdam. This makes it ideal for a day trip if you want to head up north.

"All buildings have been restored and many have been given a new function," according to  In Hoorn . As a result, you'll still observe typical Dutch architecture, but with a much newer appearance. In addition, things may not be as they appear. For instance, you'll see restaurants in old cheese warehouses, which adds a delightful and authentic touch to modern.

To really experience the city's history, you should look outside of the city center. More specifically, stroll down to the harbor, where you'll view the Hoofdtoren, the main tower of Hoorn. It was constructed in 1532, though it no longer served its original purpose by 1614. Other historical things you'll notice include ships and houses.

By train, Enkhuizen is an hour north of Amsterdam, so you'll want to leave early to see the sights. It's extremely rich in historic buildings with 366 monuments, to be exact. Whether you walk through the city on your own or book a tour, you'll feel as if you're living and breathing the Golden Age. If you decide to do a self-guided tour through Enkhuizen, then make sure to stop by the VVV Enkhuizen. Here, you can pick up free booklets to soak in the facts of the city and gain a newfound appreciation for it.

The highlight of Enkhuizen is its open-air museum, the Zuiderzeemuseum , the outdoor portion of which is temporarily closed until March 29, 2024. Here, you can learn about lost Zuiderzee culture. The outdoor museum spans 140 historic buildings, allowing you to wander around and experience life as it was centuries ago. According to Rick Steves , "You'll meet people who do a convincing job of role-playing non-nonsense 1905 villagers." And in the indoor museum, you can view old but gorgeous boats, as well as other related collections.

Rick Steves calls Alkmaar "Holland's tasty cheese capital," so cheese lovers can't go wrong here. There's a large cheese market  open every Friday from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. in Waagplein, from late March until late September. During July and August, the market is also open from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. on Tuesdays. In addition, there's a children's cheese market for kids ages 6 through 12 during these months.

In Alkmaar's main square, you'll see countless cheese wheels spread out in neat rows. There are also cheese carriers who go around with traditional barrows, bringing the cheese to the Waaggebouw, where the wheels are weighed. After that, the cheese is sold to traders. You can take plenty of pictures and videos of this spectacle and even get a selfie with the cheese girls, who educate visitors about the cheese market.

Like many other Dutch cities, Alkmaar still has its Golden Age feel, meaning that an amble down Old Town is very cozy. You can stop off at various museums as well, such as the Stedelijk Museum , where you can discover more about the city's history. Considering that it's only a 30-minute train ride north from Amsterdam, Alkmaar is a worthy city to visit, especially if you'd like a taste of authentic Dutch cheese.

Zaandijk is another city that's a half-hour train ride from Amsterdam, making it a fantastic destination for a day trip when combined with the others on this list. Admittedly, it can be touristy at times, but Zaandijk is rural enough for it not to feel stifling. Plus, it's open-air museum, Zaanse Schans, "puts Dutch culture...on a lazy Susan," says Rick Steves . So if you want a quick run-through of Dutchness, this is where you should be.

In the past, this area fulfilled a lot of the world's industrial needs. The many houses of Zaanse Schans showcase craftsmen who demonstrate their skills in things like barrel making and sail cloth manufacturing. Do note that most houses charge admission, so you'll have to pick the ones you go into wisely. To save money, you can get the Zaanse Schans Card , which, according to the site, gives you access to "several museums, two windmills, and crafts" for €29.50 (€20 for children).

Southeast of Amsterdam is Utrecht, which takes half an hour to reach by train. Many visitors consider it a smaller version of Amsterdam, like Delft, so it's one more place to add to the list if you want to avoid huge crowds. It's still very lively though, as it's not only a medieval city but also home to Utrecht University. Plus, it's the fourth-largest city in The Netherlands.

Spend the day walking around town, but put aside some time for the museums here. Rick Steves claims that Utrecht has the "best railway museum," and while that may sound strange or even dull, The Railway Museum isn't at all. According to its site, there's a "real-life station, a theatre, exciting attractions, and a variety of temporary exhibitions and events." If that's still not your cup of tea, then tour the Nijntje Museum , especially if you're with your kids. You probably better know the museum's central focus as Miffy, and did you know she was Dutch, not Japanese?

If you enjoyed a canal tour during your time in Amsterdam, then you're sure to like one in Utrecht too. You'll sail through the wide canals and get a different perspective on the beautiful old buildings. Those who feel adventurous can also go stand-up paddleboarding or canoeing.

Hop on a southbound train for 35 minutes and you'll be in Leiden, a small university city that also hosted English Pilgrims. In 1608, a decent number of the English sought refuge from religious persecution in their own country and made a temporary home in the Netherlands. Eventually, they set sail for North America between 1620 and 1643, and these people are the renowned Pilgrims whom we honor every Thanksgiving. To find out more, visit the Leiden American Pilgrim Museum , which is one of the smallest museums in the Netherlands.

As we've previously said, Leiden is a college town, with the oldest university in the nation. Leiden University was founded in 1575 by William of Orange, and according to its site , is "one of the leading international research universities in Europe." So if you or your kids are thinking of getting an education overseas, this is the perfect time to tour the campus and kill two birds with one stone. In addition, the university owns the Hortus Botanicus Leiden , which is the oldest botanical garden in the country (it's been around since 1590), so it's worth a look around.

The Hague And Scheveningen

Just a 15-minute train ride south of Leiden is The Hague, where you'll find the Binnenhof, or the country's parliament building. It's been in use since 1446, and you may catch a glimpse of Dutch politicians leaving an important meeting while you're in town. Plus, since you're in the heart of the city center, it'll be easier to get to all other points of interest in The Hague.  Rick Steves describes The Hague as "bigger and less cozy than Delft, Leiden, or Haarlem," but he still feels it's worth spending a few hours here. 

If you're vacationing during the summer, then head over to Scheveningen Beach if you have a few hours to spare. It's one of the most popular beaches in the Netherlands since it's large with a roomy boardwalk. There's also a pier with multiple shops, restaurants, and a place outside to zipline and bungee jump. When you get tired, there are many beach bars where you can rest your weary feet and sip on tasty cocktails.

At this point, you might've realized that many Dutch cities retain an old-timey look. That may be fascinating, but what about modern architecture? If that piques your interest, then you'll want to go to Rotterdam, which is 45 minutes away from Amsterdam by train.

You'll notice a stark difference in building appearances as soon as you pull into the station. This is because most are under 100 years old, after much of the city was destroyed in a German bombing during WWII. If you're feeling homesick, then you should feel right at home in this metropolitan city, as the streets are wide and the buildings are tall. In addition, there are unique points of interest, such as the Erasmus Bridge,  the Cube Houses , and the Markthal.

What's also noteworthy is that the Port of Rotterdam is the largest seaport in Europe. Take a moment to appreciate how powerful it is, and watch the ships come in and out. Not only do shipping vessels frequent the Port of Rotterdam, but ferries and cruise ships do as well.

Lisse And Aalsmeer

The Netherlands is known for its tulips, so it's no surprise that Rick Steves recommends visiting Keukenhof , the nation's most treasured flower garden that was established in the 15th century. It may take you a little over an hour to get from Amsterdam to the garden's home in Lisse, but it's totally worth it, especially if you're here at the right time. The garden is only open for about two months every year, and you can view beautiful spring flowers , including tulips. Not only can you take a peaceful stroll through the grounds, but you can take a whisper boat and go cycling too.

If you aren't able to go to Keukenhof during its opening times, then travel to Aalsmeer instead. This trip also takes about an hour from Amsterdam, and places you at the world's largest flower auction. Royal FloraHolland is open all year long, with over 30,000 species of flowers and plants. Not only will you gaze upon a rainbow of colors, but you'll also witness the inner workings of an efficient flower market.

History buffs will love Arnhem, as a significant part of WWII happened here. The Germans won the Battle of Arnhem in 1944, and the city was a ghost town for a while. To find out more about this battle, spend some time at the Airborne Museum Hartenstein  in Villa Hartenstein and the  Airborne Museum at the Bridge in the city center. Both will give you a newfound appreciation for the sacrifices made during wartime.

Plus, if you liked the open-air museum at Zaandijk, then you'll definitely have a positive experience at the Arnhem Open-Air Folk Museum . Rick Steves says , "You'll enjoy a huge park of windmills, old farmhouses, and other buildings,...traditional crafts in action, and a pleasant education-by-immersion in Dutch culture." It's a great family activity, and you can easily spend a whole day here, making it worth the 1.5-hour train journey from Amsterdam.

As for the city itself, Arnhem is known for its fashion and design scene. Check out the Modekwartier and the 7 Straatjes to get some serious shopping done. You're sure to get some special finds at the unique boutique stores.

Our Methodology For Picking These Destinations

Rick Steves is a renowned travel expert who started "Rick Steves' Europe" in 1976. According to his website , he "brings more than 30,000 people to Europe annually." In addition to being a small business owner, Rick Steves is also a "popular public television host" and "a best-selling guidebook author." We based our list of top destinations in the Netherlands on his website recommendations. 

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