Taking on Europe in 21 Days
It was a dream come true for us to travel through Europe on our very first Rick Steves tour!
Through this scrapbook, we hope to share our journey, the advice that helped us, and everything else we learned along the way.
Welcome to the story of our European adventure!
Jacob and Autumn on the stairs of Weston Tower at Westminster AbbeyA Little Bit About Us
Jacob + Autumn
We discovered Rick Steves’ Europe on the PBS app during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
With days spent in isolation and an uncertain future ahead of us, Rick’s travels became a source of comfort and a reminder of the world that existed outside the four walls of our home in Southern Ohio.
Even more than that, they became an aspiration for us, and we dreamed big!
Eventually, we set a goal for when and if things got back to normal— we would go to Europe and experience as much as we possibly could.
Our cats tried their hardest to prevent us from leaving for a whole month!Preparing for a Month Abroad
Packing and Planning
As two young adults with busy schedules and responsibilities, preparation was of utmost importance leading up to our trip. Jacob, who was fresh out of grad school for counseling, had to convince his new employer to let him take a month off work and we also had to find someone to watch our seven —yes, seven— cats. Preparing for a journey this big felt daunting at times.
We learned that it was best to plan ahead and be prepared.
We strongly suggest that you consider arriving a couple days early if you’re embarking on a Rick Steves’ tour. We flew into London a week beforehand and this gave us the opportunity to adjust to the time change while we explored on our own for a bit (with the help of Rick Steves’ London guidebook).
Don't Forget!
Don't Forget!
Your Passport: If you don’t have one yet or if yours is close to expiring, make sure to get a new passport well in advance of your trip. The night before you leave, make sure to double, even triple check, that it’s with your belongings.
Packing Cubes and Flat Packs™: Before this trip, we never had to pack for a full month, let alone fit everything we needed into a carry-on bag. Rick Steves’ Packing Cubes are perfect for organizing socks and underwear and the Flat Packs helped us store the bulkier items we wouldn’t really need until we hit the Swiss Alps. It feels great to be able to sort through your belongings without them turning into a big mess.
To Learn How to Pack: We studied the recommendations in Rick’s guidebooks, browsed the Travel Forum, and watched plenty of YouTube videos. We practiced packing and unpacking a couple of weeks in advance and slowly realized what was essential for our trip and what wasn’t. Rest assured, it’s best to err on the lighter side and there’s likely nothing so rare that you won’t be able to find it across the pond!
A Good Day Bag: All Rick Steves tours allow for one suitcase and a day bag per traveler. We both invested in some new backpacks. Jacob chose a Carhartt and Autumn chose a Vera Bradley. There are also plenty of Travel Backpacks for sale on the Travel Store!
To Print Rick Steves’ Packing List: This is the essential guide on what you’ll need to bring! While it may not seem like a lot at first glance, it helps to have clear instructions, and you will not regret packing light when you are leaving the airport while everyone else is stuck waiting at the baggage carousel!
A Reusable Water Bottle: We recommend bringing an insulated water bottle with you on a trip like this. Be sure to fill up whenever you get the chance. Bottled water is expensive and tap water isn’t always an easy option. Ice is also scarce in Europe and since there is a lot of walking on this tour, you may want something cool to quench your thirst!
Map of our travels on our Best of Europe in 21 Days TourOur Journey Begins
Navigating the Tour and Our Website
One of the nicest things about a Rick Steves’ tour is that every little detail is planned ahead of time and this information is available to you far in advance.
We appreciated being able to provide our families with our anticipated whereabouts, including which hotels we would be staying at, as well as what museums and sites we would be visiting each day!
The Best of Europe in 21 Days Tour is probably the most physically demanding Rick Steves’ tour there is— with 2-8 miles of hiking each day— so we made sure to stretch our legs and get ready for what lie ahead!
Follow along with us as we begin our tour by clicking on the Netherlands link below, or feel free to skip ahead to the country of your choice.
