Are we a good fit to travel together?
My first trip abroad was a solo adventure in 1992, at the age of 27.
Armed with Rick Steves’ Europe Through the Back Door, I made my way through France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal. That journey sparked a deep passion for travel—and for connecting with locals. I knocked on doors and made phone calls from payphones, introducing myself to friends and family of my then-boyfriend, a Frenchman I had met in Los Angeles. (He wasn’t on the trip, but he later became my husband—that’s another story.)
Let’s make sure we’re a good fit.
Ever since I began offering small group travel in 2006, I have espoused Rick’s Travel Philosophy which reflects my own travel values. It boils down to “When in Rome …” but it’s deeper than that. It comes from a respect for other cultures and the curiosity to open up and embrace another way.
Read my European Travel Philosophy, borrowed from Rick Steves’, to see if we’re a match:
I believe:
We travel to enjoy differences and to become temporary locals. You will experience frustrations. Traveling is often stressful, as we don’t always have everything at our fingertips to feel comfortable and at ease. For instance, eating between meals is often inconvenient in Europe; many restaurants close between 3-7pm. Certain truths that we find “God-given” or “self-evident,” such as friendly waiters, ice in drinks, bottomless cups of coffee, long hot showers, and bigger being better, are suddenly not so true. For the overall well-being and enjoyment of the group, it is essential that politeness and discretion be maintained at all times, even, or rather especially, during times of distress.
One of the benefits of travel is the eye-opening realization that there are logical, civil, and sometimes, even better alternatives.
Travel, like the world, is a series of hills and valleys. We are fanatically positive and militantly optimistic. If something’s not to our liking, let’s change our liking.
If there is a negative aspect to the image the Europeans have of Americans, it’s that we can sometimes be big, aggressive, impolite, rich, loud, superficially friendly, and a bit naïve. We can sometimes be noisy in public places, such as foyers, staircases, courtyards, restaurants, and trains. Our raised voices can demolish Paris’ reserved and elegant ambience, for example, and in Paris it’s considered courteous to talk softly.
Slow down and have patience. We are so rushed as a culture.
Connecting with locals brings meaning to travel. It starts with a willingness to extend a “bonjour/bonsoir madame/monsieur” and “au revoir”, offer eye contact, and show respect. In Greece, we aim for at least a hello “yassou” and thank you “efkharisto”. This courteous exchange feels good to both giver and receiver.