Smaller text Larger text

Rick Steves’ Travel Blog

Here you can browse through my blog posts prior to February 2022. Currently I'm sharing my travel experiences, candid opinions, and what's on my mind solely on my Facebook page. — Rick

Posted on

Video: Enjoying the Wonders of Scotland in the Highlands

There’s something powerful about combining dramatic natural scenery with dramatic history. And no place does that quite like Glencoe, a lush and wild valley in the Scottish Highlands. I’m here now with my Scottish friend and tour guide Colin Mairs.

When I’m researching my guidebooks, I don’t have extra hours to take hikes like I’d like to. But simply walking a few steps into nature from a car park makes a huge difference. Get out, leave a few footprints, eat the wind.


This is Day 89 of my “100 Days in Europe” series. As I travel with Rick Steves’ Europe Tours, research my guidebooks, and make new TV shows, I’m reporting on my experiences across Europe. Still to come: England, Scotland, Germany, Switzerland, and more. Thanks for joining me here on my blog and via Facebook.

Posted on

Video: A Stag Party at My Highlands B&B!

For the easiest look at the dramatic Scottish Highlands, explore the awe-inspiring valley called “Glencoe.” And for your home base, it’s a B&B in the village of Glencoe. Here’s a blitzy clip from my “stocking-feet cozy” B&B there.

Staying in a B&B (rather than a hotel) is a good example of how you can experience more by spending less. These days, you’ll pay about $80 for a double room and two hearty breakfasts at good B&Bs, which you can find in your favorite guidebook or via Airbnb. You can count on a warm reception and a big breakfast…but being visited by stags is a bonus.

___

This is Day 88 of my “100 Days in Europe” series. As I travel with Rick Steves’ Europe Tours, research my guidebooks, and make new TV shows, I’m reporting on my experiences across Europe. Still to come: England, Scotland, Germany, Switzerland, and more. Thanks for joining me here on my blog and via Facebook.

Posted on

Video: My First Time in the Orkney Islands

I’m an Orkney virgin no more! While planning my itinerary, I decided at the last minute to snip two days off of London, which I’ve visited countless times, and go somewhere I’ve never been before: the Orkneys. (When all else is equal, it’s always fun to try something entirely new. I’ve been exploring Europe all my life…and there are endless amazing places yet to uncover.)

I flew into a tiny slingshot of an airport in the only sizeable Orkney town, Kirkwall, and I spent an entire day with a local guide. In this clip — just a moment of my time with Kinlay (Orkney Uncovered) — I’m learning the story of Scapa Flow and Orkney’s fascinating WWII history.


This is Day 87 of my “100 Days in Europe” series. As I travel with Rick Steves’ Europe Tours, research my guidebooks, and make new TV shows, I’m reporting on my experiences across Europe. Still to come: England, Scotland, Germany, Switzerland, and more. Thanks for joining me here on my blog and via Facebook.

Posted on

Video: My Favorite Wine Bar in London

I’m in London at my favorite wine bar, Gordon’s Wine Bar. Just imagine dropping into this place — a five-minute walk from Trafalgar Square — for a candlelit evening of tasty cheese and port, sitting under 500-year-old arches.

You need good information to eat well, economically, and memorably in a city like London. My passion is to find places like Gordon’s Wine Bar and to pack them into my guidebooks. When I’m on the road, researching and updating my guidebooks, eating and drinking in places like this is part of the job…and part of the fun.

This is Day 86 of my “100 Days in Europe” series. As I travel with Rick Steves’ Europe Tours, research my guidebooks, and make new TV shows, I’m reporting on my experiences across Europe. Still to come: England, Scotland, Germany, Switzerland, and more. Thanks for joining me here on my blog and via Facebook.

Posted on

Video: The Oyster Card Is Your Gateway to London’s Tube

Hello from London! I’m in South Kensington, my favorite home-base neighborhood. I just used an automated machine in the Tube station to get my Oyster card — a transit pass that gives local commuters (and travelers) access to the London Underground for about half-price. I saw how befuddled some tourists were with it, and I remembered that I, too, am hesitant to dive into a big city’s public transit system — until I actually do, and then everything goes much smoother.

In this little clip, I’ll show you how simple it is to push the buttons, slide in your money, and get a card loaded up with credit for lots of rides. Remember, with my Oyster card, I get six rides on the Tube for about the cost of one taxi ride…and I never need to wait in traffic. Plus, I’m in the fray with all the locals, and that’s more fun. (BTW, when you leave London, be sure to return your Oyster card. You’ll get a refund for your £5 deposit, and for any unused credit still on the card. It works great.)

 

This is Day 85 of my “100 Days in Europe” series. As I travel with Rick Steves’ Europe Tours, research my guidebooks, and make new TV shows, I’m reporting on my experiences across Europe. Still to come: England, Scotland, Germany, Switzerland, and more. Thanks for joining me here on my blog and via Facebook.