Rick Steves Home > 2010 Tours > Tour Planning Essentials

Our Tour Hotels & Rooming Policies

What are your hotels like?

Often quaint (sometimes creaky), and full of personality, our hotels are run by Europeans who are also our friends. "Shared facilities" have all but disappeared from European hotels, so in 2010 there's about a 98% chance your room will include a private bath. However, there will still be stairs — hundreds of them. Many of our hotels don't have elevators...one more reason to pack light and be in good shape. Read what our tour members are saying about our hotels.

What types of rooms are available?

Couples: Two people traveling together as a couple will be roomed together with one bed (usually a double bed). If you prefer separate beds you may request them, but due to a limited number of twin-bedded rooms, priority is given to single travelers rooming together.

Two friends traveling together: Two friends or siblings traveling together will be roomed together with two beds in a twin room.

Families: If you are traveling together with more than one family member, we will do our best to accommodate your rooming requests. Please contact the Tour Department prior to booking your tour to review any special rooming requests, such as triple rooms. Email tour@ricksteves.com or call 425/608-4217.

Special circumstances: If you have any special needs or requests regarding tour hotel rooms, please contact the Tour Department prior to booking your tour. Email tour@ricksteves.com or call 425/608-4217.

What if I’m traveling alone?

If you're traveling solo, you won't pay the mandatory "single supplement" required by other tour companies. Instead, you'll share a room with another tour member of the same gender, usually in pairs or on rare occasions in triple-bedded rooms. We rotate roommates throughout the tour when there are multiple solo travelers and your guide will do his or her best to make the room assignments as fair as possible. If you'd prefer to room alone, we offer a limited number of optional single supplements on all 2010 tours for an additional fee.

Do I have to pay an additional fee for a single room?

If you prefer a private room, we offer a limited number of optional single supplements for an additional fee. (Please refer to individual tour itineraries for the most up-to-date tour and single supplement prices.) European single-bed rooms are often smaller and more basic than standard double or two-bed rooms. If you would like to request a single room on one of our 2010 itineraries, please indicate that preference with your tour reservation. You can pay your single supplement with a credit or debit card on the Web. If you prefer to mail your tour and single supplement request, please send a check or money order with your 2010 tour application to:

Rick Steves' ETBD
Attention: Tour Department
P.O. Box 2009
Edmonds, WA 98020  

If a single room is not available, we will contact you immediately. In order to maintain our travel philosophy of staying in small, family-owned, centrally-located hotels, we are only able to offer a limited number of single supplements on each of our 2010 tours. 

Can I request a non-smoking room?

Many European hotels classify "no smoking" rooms as a room that you are not smoking in. This means the previous guest may have smoked in your room and there is an ashtray provided. While this has not been a problem for most of our travelers, those with heightened sensitivity to cigarette smoke should know that we cannot guarantee a smoke free-room.

We have a "no smoking" policy on our tours. While we do sometimes have smokers join our tours, they are not allowed to smoke at group events, on the bus or in their room if they are sharing a hotel room with another tour member.