![]() On a tour, you'll probably see more per day than you would on your own. Good tours come with expert, passionate teachers for guides, small groups, and take full advantage of the built economy and efficiency that can come with group travel. After thirty years of tour guiding experience, I've found that for the right person, choosing the right tour, can reward that traveler with some of the best travel experiences possible. But for many travelers a guided bus tour can also be a good choice. Invest in a guidebook that fits your style. There are guidebooks for everyone: shoppers, opera buffs, seniors, campers.even vegetarians. Guidebooks - whether print or digital - are vital tools. Equipped with good information and a determination to travel smart, you can be your own tour guide. Many wish they could go on their own but are nervous about traveling independently. Going on your own gives you flexibility, freedom, and you can connect more intimately with Europe. You can explore Europe on your own or with a tour. When it comes to information, like anywhere, be a savvy consumer. Still, drop by to pick up a city map, learn about special events, and so on. Funded by hotels and big tour companies, they can be more interested in selling tickets and services than just giving information. But be aware, while handy, their purpose is to help you spend money in their town. All over Europe - wherever there are tourists, you'll find tourist information offices. During the Middle Ages, Venice was Europe's trading superpower, but today the big business is tourism. And for temperatures they use Celsius rather than Fahrenheit - here's a memory aid: 28 C is the same as 82 F.pretty warm. And you might as well make your numbers European style: cross your sevens because a one looks like this. For instance, one and a half kilos looks like this.and there's one thousand grams in a kilo. And when they write numbers, Europeans use commas and periods differently than we do. All over Europe produce - in this deli, cheese and meat - is sold in 100-gram increments - about a quarter pound - plenty for a hearty sandwich. Here's about half a kilo.that's roughly a pound. Weights and other measurements throughout Europe use the metric system. In order to travel well, you need to be engaged. By the way.cute little European hotels.often without elevators. So, their first floor is the American second.and their second floor is what we'd call the third. And over here the ground floor is.the ground floor. On forms, fill in the date European style:. Travel is fraught with cultural differences. The ancient Pantheon is mobbed through the day.but literally all yours early or late. Or you can arrange your schedule to avoid crowds. You can also make reservations - in places like Rome's Borghese Gallery - to get directly into crowded sights by phone or on the web. For example, these people at the Louvre in Paris could avoid this notorious line if they simply bought the city museum pass (which lets you go directly through the turnstyle). ![]() They're waiting to buy tickets to get in, but there are other ways to get tickets. Most lines you see - like this one at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence - are not people waiting to get in. To me, there are two kinds of travelers: those who waste valuable time waiting in long lines like this and smarter travelers who don't. With so many people traveling these days, if you're not on the ball, crowds can be a real problem. It'll take an hour for these folks to get into the church. Mark's Square - in mid-day - can come with overwhelming crowds. To be here, on this unique island, amid all this culture and history is truly a wonder. For most people, Venice is a must-see destination. In this second episode we travel through the highlights of Northern Italy: Venice, Siena, and the Cinque Terre - my favorite stretch of the Riviera. ![]() In this three-part travel skills special, we start in the Netherlands, venture through Germany, dip into Italy, sweep through Switzerland and France before finishing in England. Join the village parade, make new friends where there are no postcards. You find it best by becoming a temporary local. But you can go deeper than traditions put on display for tourists. And it's lots of fun snapping photos of the predictable biggies and checking out the cultural icons. ![]() Today more people than ever are enjoying Europe. The skills we'll cover in this episode: planning, packing, safety and - perhaps the most rewarding skill of all - connecting with locals. This time, we're going beyond the sights, bringing you more practical tips to help make your European trip fun and hassle-free. I'm Rick Steves - immersed in the wonders of Venice - and back for part two of our three-part travel skills special. ![]()
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