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BY Nancy Mueller 4 Comments ON November 5, 2012

European Travel Tips from Rick Steves and Friends

I’m spending the day in Edmonds, Washington to attend a free European Travel Festival (“Teach-A-Thon”) hosted by travel expert Rick Steves and and his Europe Through the Back Door team to kick off their 2013 tour season. With 10 classes to choose from – ranging from Steves’ session on “Travel Skills” to “Packing Light & Right”, from “1000 Years of European Art & History” to country-specific information, here are a few travel tips I picked up along the way:

Rick Steves

To get off the beaten path and away from the tourist crowds . . .

  • Tour the most popular sights early in the morning or in the late afternoon. Then plan to spend the night.

Spice Market in Istanbul, photo by exfordy, courtesy of Flickr
  • Get into the markets. Buy something even if you’re not hungry. Talk to people.
  • Go to local sports events. You’ll learn local swear words (but be sure you’re wearing the right [team] colors).
  • Think of the cruise ships or buses as your base and then go off on your own. Be independent in the context of the big tour operators. Get out and stroll and meet people. Travel is about connecting with people.
  • “There are two IQs of European travelers: those who wait in line and those who don’t. If you’re waiting in lines, you’re screwing up.” For example, go to Versailles any day but Tuesday when the museums are closed because that’s when all the tourists head to Versailles.

Tourist Information Office in Hunstanton, photo by Ell Brown, courtesy of Flickr

To find out what your options are at your destination . . .

  • Look at TripAdvisor for sightseeing, tours and entertainment possibilities.
  • “The first place I stop is the Tourist Information Office no matter how well I know a town. I can find out what’s going on this week and get free passes.”
  • Guided tours sponsored by the local tourist office are always time and money well spent.
  • If you use a local tour guide, you’ll have much more value in your sightseeing trip. Prices can range from $200. for half a day in the most expensive cities like London to $100. a day with a car in less expensive countries like Poland.

Ramiro’s in Lisbon, Portugal, photo by crystalmartel, courtesy of Flickr

To be an adventurous eater while minimizing the risk  . . .

  • Always order a different dish from your travel partner and share.
  • Find places that specialize in local clients. You can tell if the menu’s handwritten in one language and not extensive which shows that it’s seasonal and changes daily.
  • Ask the people in the tourism office where they go for lunch.
  • Department store cafeterias or government subsidized cafeterias for workers are a relatively good bargain.
  • “Eat in a good restaurant but eat sparingly. Share small plates.” Have a salad and a glass of wine, tapas, or antipasto spreads.
  • Pick up food at a local market and have a picnic.

Passport and Luggage, photo by Sean MacEntee, courtesy of Flickr

On packing light . . .

  • “If there’s one thing you can take home that translates to travel happiness, it’s to pack light.”
  • You want to be mobile.
  • Only take carry on bags.

On accommodations . . .

  • “The more you spend, the higher the wall you build between you and what you came to see.”
  • When you stay in a B & B, you have a friend, and as a bonus, you get your own local mother. You don’t have to, but you can.
  • Smaller towns also have hostels, not just for younger travelers.

Euros, photo by patola, courtesy of Flickr

On money . . .

  • You will have more versatility if you get a credit card with a chip in it. Ask for one at your local bank.
  • Flights within Europe have come down in cost. Investigate pricing of air travel before taking the train or bus.
  • “Wear a money belt tucked inside your shirt for security.”

The bottom line . . .

“If you expect yourself to travel smart and you’re equipped with good information, you can travel like a pro.”

For travel writing advice from Rick Steves, be sure to check out my earlier post here.

What are your favorite travel tips, Wanderboomers?

Filed Under: Activities, Baby Boomers and Travel, By Land, By Ship & By Sea, Destinations, Entertainment, Europe, Food & Dining, Hotels, Travel Tips Tagged With: antipasto, armchair traveling, B & B's, cafeteria, Europe Through the Back Door, European art and history, European Travel Festival, Euros, hostel, Istanbul, London, Luggage, off the beaten path, passport, Poland, Rick Steves, spice market, tapas, tour guide, tourism office, travel pro, TripAdvisor, Versailles

BY Nancy Mueller 23 Comments ON December 29, 2011

2011: Most Memorable Meal

Equator Monument

Think back to the special meals you’ve had in your travels. What made the meals so memorable? Was it simply the quality of the food cooked to perfection? The unexpected delight of tasting new flavors? Or perhaps it was the company who shared your table and the conversation that flowed between you.

Though I had many memorable meals in 2011, a luncheon that stands out is one I shared with my tour guide, Giovanna, for all the reasons above. I had just arrived in Ecuador the day before and we were wrapping up our excursion to the Equator Monument, about 15 miles north of Quito. Before leaving, Giovanna suggested having a bite to eat at a small, nondescript restaurant on site. We were shown to a table in the back.

Traditional Ecuadorian Meal

With my first bite of the traditional Ecuadorian food I had ordered, I smiled. Mmm . . . The combination of pork, potatoes, corn, avocado and fried bananas made for a perfect midday meal. The setting far away from home, the ambiance of the restaurant, Giovanna’s wonderful company, all made for a most unforgettable meal.

What memorable meals have you had in 2011, Wanderboomers?

Filed Under: Activities, Baby Boomers and Travel, By Land, By Ship & By Sea, Ecuador, Food & Dining Tagged With: ambiance, avocado, company, corn, Ecuadorian food, Equator Monument, food, fried bananas, meals, memorable, midday meal, pork, potatoes, Quito, restaurant, setting, tour guide, traditional

BY Nancy Mueller 12 Comments ON December 26, 2011

2011 – Oh, What a Year!

Guard at Palacio de Gobierno Yours truly with guard outside Palacio de Gobierno in Quito, Ecuador

As 2011 comes to an end, I’ll be posting a series of blogs this week, highlighting my travel adventures over the past year.

First up: a look at a few new friends I made along the way . . .

When you’re traveling solo in a foreign country, it makes a world of difference to have helpful guides who can tell you about the history of the region, drive you safely from one area to another (in this case, up and over narrow passes in the Andes), fill you in on the local cuisine, or keep you company, even if you don’t speak each other’s language. It was my great fortune to have had the assistance of my tour guide and interpreter, Giovanna, and my driver, Manolo, on my trip to Ecuador.

Having not one, but two, naturalists aboard the MV Evolution for my small-ship cruise of the Galapagos Islands, was an unexpected luxury.

On alternate evenings Jorge and Alex presented an overview of the next day’s activities, throwing in salient facts and fun anecdotes about the local landscape and wildlife. Their enthusiasm was infectious on our daily expeditions  to the islands – and they scored extra points for helping with my photography and snorkeling.

Muchas gracias por todo, mis amigos!

What new friends did you meet in your travels this year, Wanderboomers?

Filed Under: Baby Boomers and Travel, By Land, By Ship & By Sea, Destinations, Food & Dining, Galapagos Islands Tagged With: amigos, Andes, driver, Ecuador, friends, Galapagos Islands, Government Palace, guard, interpreter, language, muchas gracias, naturalist guides, naturalists, Palacio de Gobierno, Quito, Spanish, tour guide, travel, trip

Hello fellow wanderboomers! I’m a Seattle-based travel journalist, specializing in fun travel adventures for the young at heart. My articles have been featured in Hemispheres, AAA Highroads Magazine and Northwest Travel & Life Magazine where I'm a frequent contributor. When this Wanderboomer isn’t traveling, I help global executives polish their personal and professional brand for long-term results.
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