Postcards from Emily and Gloria
Heart of Belgium and Holland in 11 Days
Welcome to our digital travel journal!
And welcome to Belgium and the Netherlands! We hope that our stories here inspire you to visit these beautiful (and tasty!) places, and that you enjoy them as much as we did during our time there.
My name is Emily - my mom Gloria and I have been on six Rick Steves tours now, and we are excited to go on our seventh this spring. We've always wanted to see the world, and we feel very fortunate to be able to do so together while making lasting memories.
During our trips, we like to keep physical travel journals, and I paint handmade postcards to send home to loved ones - and sometimes they find their way into being gifts for fellow tour members and our guide. Throughout this site, you'll see some of the pages from my journal and my postcards... who knows, maybe you'll be inspired to join us in making one of your own on your next trip!
Gloria - Mom has worn a lot of hats in her life: emergency management coordinator, budget analyst, photography enthusiast, and of course - travel partner! She enjoys exploring the towns we visit, shopping for small souvenirs to take home, and just strolling around to take it all in. Many of her friends (she jokingly refers to them as "her followers") anxiously await her Facebook picture posts daily to live vicariously through our travels. I think her most highly anticipated part of the trip was seeing the tulip displays at the Keukenhof which were absolutely stunning.
Emily - In my "day job" I work as an MRI technologist, but when I'm not at work, I love art and painting. I especially enjoy painting and journaling each town we visit. My favorite artist is Van Gogh, so I was excited to see his work in Amsterdam. My other favorite thing to do while traveling is to try new foods that are unique or traditional for the places we visit, which sometimes goes well (and sometimes it doesn't), but it always is fun! I was most looking forward to trying the famous Belgian chocolate (spoiler alert: it did not disappoint!).
Why do you keep choosing Rick Steves Europe?
All of the adventure, and none of the stress!
1. Great Guides! It's not just a page on Rick's website; it's a philosophy that truly comes through on each and every tour. We've always been impressed with the knowledge of our guides and the great care they take to make sure everyone is getting the most out of their experience. And it's not just the guide for your overall tour, the local guides are equally as engaging and thoughtful.
2. No worrying about transportation. This was a big one for us, as navigating the roads in some places (like the UK, where they drive on the left) can be quite daunting at first! With Rick's tours, all of your transportation is covered once the tour begins, and you don't have to worry about the logistics of how you're going to get from point A to point B. And if you need any guidance on how to go somewhere on your own during the tour, your guide is more than happy to give you advice on how to navigate the local transportation systems.
3. Small groups, guaranteed. Rick promises on his website that tours will have no more than 24-28 people, and what this means is that you will never feel "like a number". After a few days, everyone in the group will know your name, and you will begin to feel like a little traveling family!
4. No waiting in lines. At many popular locations, the lines can feel almost impossibly long. But not here! All of your group sightseeing tours, such as museums or major attractions, are booked in advance. You enter with your guide, which means you have little to no wait before you can get in. More time for exploring, less queueing.
5. Unique Experiences. This one is my personal favorite. Every trip is a little different! Many things about your tour will be determined in advance, such as hotels and some dining stops, but your guide is able to choose some of the restaurants based on their favorites in the area, and some of the "pit-stop" towns in-between itinerary destinations. Depending on the season, what events are going on, weather... things can change, and your guide will always have a plan B in their back pocket for just such an occasion. Never fear!
6. Corporate Responsibility. When Covid happened, we all know that so much changed. But I remember reading through our monthly Rick Steves email with Mom, and reading about how Rick was still paying his staff through the pandemic, and fully returned deposits to travelers who were scheduled on tours in 2020. When traveling was possible again, he required smart, science-based policies for tour groups to try and keep everyone as safe as possible while still getting back to some semblance of normalcy. As a healthcare worker, this is something that was especially close to my heart and still is.
These are some things that we found very helpful to do before leaving for our tour!
Get reliable travel insurance! We were fortunate enough not to need it, but as we all know, "stuff happens!" and it's always a good idea to be prepared. Also ensure that your passport is up to date, and not set to expire within several months of your tour.
Watch some videos on packing light! We can't say enough about the value of not having to haul a huge suitcase over cobbled streets or up stairs. It's also nice not to have to worry about your luggage making it to your destination with you, because it's right there in the cabin with you if you stick to a carry-on. You can find a laundromat in most towns, and a few hotels offer laundry services - so take it from us, it's okay to skip that extra pair of jeans!
Go over your packing list, and double-check you've remembered everything you need before you leave! Rick has a good list on his website that can keep you on track if you need a starting place. I take extra care in how I pack my small or important items - like my watercolor palette that I carry with me everywhere during the tour.
Make sure to bring your money belt, or a secure bag that you can keep your hands on in crowded areas. A good day bag or purse is worth it's weight in gold! We've tried out many different kinds, and my favorites are cross-body bags that are large enough to hold my art supplies, but not so large that I feel unwieldy. Some brands have additional features like locks on the zippers and slash-resistant panels for a little added piece of mind.
And before you leave...
TRAVEL TIP
Only bring a carry-on suitcase if you can help it! You'll be glad you did when you have to carry it up a flight of stairs or bring it with you up a hill. To maximize the space in your bag, I highly recommend a set of packing cubes to help you stay organized. With your tour, you'll get $100 to buy your tour kit from Rick's website, and you can get a set of these there.
Site Tips:
1. Use the arrows at the bottom of each page, or the locations listed in the menu at the top, to progress to the next page.
2. View in full-screen! I designed everything to fit on a full-screen window in 1920 x 1080 resolution, so if things look a little displaced, that might be why!
3. Underlined words or phrases include hyperlinks to most of the hotels and businesses we visited in case you'd like to do your own research!
