Hello, luv!
Hi there!
My name is Martha and I am a single, retired woman from the Denver area who is a big fan of Rick Steves tours. Since my first trip to France in 2012 I have been hooked! I am in love with England and decided to take the Villages of Southern England tour in the fall of 2018.
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WOW, what a trip!
What did I think of the trip? Glad you asked! It was amazing and was just what I wanted it to be. I love London but it is, after all, a big, international city. With a lot of people. I have found the lifestyle outside of the city to be more interesting to me. And we hit some great spots! My favorite stops were the iconic villages of Alfriston, Rye, and Chagford but there were WOW moments all along the way. Learning about the beautiful stained glass in Canterbury and then relaxing on the River Stour. Flirting with the ocean along the beautiful and varying coasts in Devon and Cornwall and stopping at the fishing villages snuggled close to the sea. The castles, cathedrals, pubs, and homes. And, of course stone circles with history from bronze age to current. Over 4000 years of delights!
What is it about a Rick Steves tour?
I often get asked why I like these tours and try to summarize it in a few words: they expect the participants to be adults and treat them that way. And, the guides are all ROCKSTARS! But it is much more than that. The groups are relatively small: the numbers are kept to around 25 people which means it is easy to get to know your fellow travelers and you don't feel like you are a member of a herd. It also means that when we travel on the full sized bus there are plenty of seats for all. It is made very clear to potential participants that they need to be low maintenance--there is no staff to carry suitcases up flights of stairs in creaky old buildings. And, right in the contract there is a clause about "No Grumps Allowed." I think these two factors allow for a certain type of group.
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From the RS group I expect (and receive) centrally located tour hotels that are generally family owned and run. They are often quirky and historic. I also expect to see the major sites in an area with great guides. I want to learn the history of a location, see the places where that past happened, and understand what it is like currently. Then I want some time on my own to explore and absorb that information, check out places of particular interest to me, and interact with the local residents.
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I love these tours so much that my next RS trip will be a springtime visit to Eastern Europe! Time to try something out of my comfort zone!
How do the days go?
On a tour (other than city tours) the group will generally meet at the bus after breakfast with their bags packed and ready to go to the next destination. There will often be interesting stops along the way with an arrival sometime in the afternoon. Don't worry, there will be stops at least every couple hours to allow for time to get off the bus and move around. The bus time is used for the guide to talk about history, culture, and social topics. By the time you get to the next overnight location you will know all about it! There will be a bit of time to get settled into the room and then there will be an orientation to your new home. Often there will be a group dinner the first night in the hotel or a close restaurant. The next day is reserved for the local sights with free time to wander.
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This whole routine is meant to empower the traveler with independence in a very efficient trip.
BRIT BITS:
Hotels
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Hotel rooms in Britain (and all of Europe) are generally smaller than those in the US (unless you patronize the cookie-cutter chains). Traveling as a single I sometimes get rooms so tiny I have a hard time finding a spot for my bag. But they have always been clean with an ensuite bathroom. And, I will say that I did not have any of those miniscule rooms on this tour! The picture above is from the Alfriston hotel and is representative of all the rooms this trip. The picture below is from my first visit to London. This is the whole room!
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Breakfast is clearly an important meal for the Brits. Generally each hotel would provide wide and varied choices. A "full English breakfast" of eggs, bacon, sausage, beans, mushrooms, breads at least. Each place had their own spin on the meal and provided other items as well such as potatoes, fruit, cereals. Pretty much anything a person could need to fuel up for the day.
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I do have a few general observations that are true in most of the small hotels on the RS tours:
They DO have:
-hairdryers(sometimes hidden in a drawer or closet)
-shampoo and soap
-electric tea pot
- towel warmer(great for drying clothes!)
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The DO NOT always have:
-wash cloth
-elevator(pack light, you may need to hike up the stairs!)
-air conditioning
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I will mention that the numbering scheme for floors is different from that in the US. The ground level floor does not have a number and the next one up is "1." So, there could be stairs up to a first floor room. Just saying.
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I have included pictures and a few thoughts on each of our hotels on this tour.
Well, there you have it.... a view of my trip. Do you have any questions? Don't forget to Keep On Traveling!
Hotels for this tour
Canterbury Cathedral Lodge
Canterbury
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-The most modern hotel we stayed in.
-Great location, right on cathedral grounds
-All rooms had spectacular cathedral views.
-Had an elevator and wash cloths!
The Star Inn
Alfriston
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-Right in the middle of the village.
-Quirky old building, full of charm.
-Even quirkier pub!
-Great group dinner in the hotel.
Rose and Crown Hotel
Salisbury
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-Beautiful setting beside the River Avon.
-A short walk from town.
-This hotel has weekend weddings, my room was quiet but some were not.
The Three Crowns
Chagford
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-Right in the center of the village.
-Great, friendly pub.
-Wonderful breakfast.
-A bit of a walk from bus drop off.
Hotel Penzance
Penzance
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-Beautiful view of the ocean .
-Edwardian building.
-Penzance is a gritty town.
-A short but very steep walk from the bus.
Henrietta House
Bath
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-Great location, right off Pulteney Bridge.
-Elegant hotel in lovely Georgian Building.
-Great made to order breakfast.
-Fresh cookies and apple in the room.