Rick Steves' Europe Supplemental
This article appears in our Online Edition, January 2019
In my early days as a guidebook writer, Europe's undiscovered nooks and undeveloped crannies held the most appeal for me -- and they still do. But with ever more sophisticated travelers armed with enough time and money to see the Europe of their dreams, places I "discovered" a few decades ago are now suffering from Back Door congestion.
Given that, I've come to treasure even more those destinations that still have the feeling of a world apart....
CONTINUE READING »
This article appears in our Print Edition, January 2019 -- Page 49
When it comes to basking in the beauty of Italy's Riviera, the Cinque Terre is tops for me. But there's much more to this region on the Mediterranean coast than those famous five villages.
A handful of charming towns lie within an hour of the Cinque Terre, with posh ports set against rugged mountain backdrops that have drawn poets, authors and romantics over the years, from Lord Byron to Elizabeth Taylor.
To the north of the Cinque Terre is a trio of beach towns:...
CONTINUE READING »
Rick Steves' Europe Supplemental
This article appears in our Online Edition, December 2018
As it is in so many places, Christmas in France is all about family, friends and food. While it's generally a low-key affair marked by gatherings of relatives and treats for children, it also has the culinary high point of the year: Le Reveillon de Noel (Christmas Eve dinner).
The season officially starts on December 6 with a visit from St. Nicholas -- who arrives with a donkey carrying treat-filled baskets, a tradition still re-enacted in some villages. Over the centuries, the...
CONTINUE READING »
Rick Steves' Europe Supplemental
This article appears in our Online Edition, December 2018
One thing I enjoy about my work is getting my outdated impressions back up to date. Europe is always changing -- and recently I discovered that Sicily's capital of Palermo has become a whole new city since my last visit. It's cleaner, safer and more efficient than it was in years past. But it still retains its colorful edge -- and that's why I love it.
Over the last decade, Palermo has revitalized itself with new museums, gentrified neighborhoods,...
CONTINUE READING »
Rick Steves' Europe Supplemental
This article appears in our Online Edition, December 2018
When I arrive in a new city, I book a private guide straightaway -- someone who can bring the architecture, history and culture to life. Lately, in the spirit of experiential sightseeing, I've been taking specialized tours that highlight unique, local experiences or historical themes. Particularly in big cities, I've found all kinds of focused tours, from guided night walks to musical pub crawls.
One of the most popular sightseeing trends is food tours, which reward travelers...
CONTINUE READING »
Rick Steves' Europe Supplemental
This article appears in our Online Edition, December 2018
When my travel dreams drift off to Spain, they often include visions of Andalucía, the southern part of the country that feels so quintessentially Spanish. With a string of whitewashed hill towns, sunny skies, vibrant festivals and tempting tapas, Andalucía is the soul of Spain -- almost stereotypically so.
Most tourists hit Andalucía's three great cities -- Granada, Córdoba and Sevilla -- or the Costa del Sol. But for something more authentic, I like...
CONTINUE READING »
Rick Steves' Europe Supplemental
This article appears in our Online Edition, December 2018
England's best city within easy striking distance of London is Bath -- just a 90-minute train ride from the city center. Bath is popular and expensive, but it's a joy to visit. And rather than deal with London's intensity right off the bat, I like to take the train from the airport to London's Paddington Station and then hop on a connection to this more relaxed and elegant example of urban England.
Bath was a joy even in ancient Roman times, when patricians...
CONTINUE READING »
This article appears in our Print Edition, December 2018 -- Page 53
I used to travel with absolutely no hotel reservations. Europe 30 years ago was relatively ramshackle, things were cheaper and, because fewer people could afford to travel for fun, there was much less competition for budget rooms. I could make decisions on the go, show up in a new town and improvise my accommodations.
But the tourism boom and rise of the Internet have changed everything. Today, booking hotels in advance is a critical part of trip planning… and a fun way to tap...
CONTINUE READING »
