Rick Steves at the KCLU event in Thousand Oaks

On Friday night I enjoyed Rick Steves telling us about his roamings since he was 14 years old.  He enjoyed traveling through Europe with his parents so much that he went back on his own an age 18 and his frequent trips have become his way of life.  He and his staff of 80 update his "Back Door to Europe" book every year by going back to all the places and tours he recommends and making additions and changes in his book.  He no longer leads tours but hires well paid tour guide to take 25 people on a capacity of 50 bus tours.  His guides cost more because they do not take kick backs from the various tourist traps where most guides take you.

I enjoyed a private reception before the program and met Rick and a very nice couple who are frequent travelers.  Then we all went to the large auditorium that was sold out as a fund raiser of KCLU public radio...at California Lutheran University.  Church friend Mary is the general manager and made the tickets available at our church's silent auction last fall.

Here are some of Rick Steves' travel tips:

His 21 day Europe travel recommendation is:  Fly to Amsterdam, go to Haarlem (2 days), Bacharach, Germany (2), Rothenburg, Germany (2), Reutte, Austria (2), Venice (2), Florence (2), Rome (2), Cinque Terre, Italy (2), Lauterbrunnen Valley, Switzerland (2), Beaune, France (1) and fly home from Paris after 2 days.  I am tired from thinking about it...but you can rest on on excellent trains or on the tour bus if you go with Rick's folks.  His fully guided tours are $5,000 plus air per person based on a double.

He is loving Turkey these days and also loves Eastern Europe, North Africa, and is touring Egypt, Israel and Palestine.

He says the best time to see the tourist areas is after 5:00 PM when the tourists go to their hotels in the suburbs on back on their ships if it is a port.  He said take tours on Germany' Moselle River plus the Rhine.  Go to ruined castles, be a temporary European...be a part of the scene like a soccer match.  Another idea is start in England and end in Turkey when everything is cheaper and you can buy and send home.  He also says fly in to one end of Europe and out the other....don't waste the time having to get back to your entry port.

His company has all the travel guides including free apps for your smart phone with audio guided tours.  Don't bother with travelers checks and lots of Dollars.  Use ATMs to get the funds you need when you  need in the currency of the country you are in.  Buy city museum and tour passes that get you in to everything, buy tickets on line ahead of time and avoid the ticket lines.

Europe second class sections on trains are good...Eurail passes are all first class.  Take public transportation to be with the real people.  Eat with the seasons on side strees packed with locals. "A great dinner is a spa for your tongue."  He recommends small family run two star hotels and bed and breakfast places near the center of town if possible so you can enjoy the town before and after the tourists.  Go to Hulu.com for free Rick Steves tours on line.

He also says pack one smallish roller bag and day pack so you can get around easily.  Thanks Rick for the inspiration and advice....I got to get to Europe again soon!