"I AM NOT THE SAME,
HAVING SEEN THE MOON SHINE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD."
Mary Anne Radmacher
PROLOGUE
Sicily used to be one of the hardest tours for Rick Steves' to sell. Apparently it's mafia reputation from "The Godfather" scared tourists away. You need not worry! Sicily is safe and inviting and now it's one of Rick's most popular tours.
How We Picked This Tour
Admittedly, we are not getting any younger but we are still in good health and able to keep up with the active tours we've been on. You will discover that Europe is full of hills and mountains, lots of stairs (inside and out), and uneven cobbled streets. On Rick Steves' tours, you are responsible for carrying your luggage (pack lightly). It can be a workout at times! However, it's very doable for those in reasonably good health. There always seems to be someone in our group who's had joint replacement surgery and they've managed admirably.
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So, how did we pick the Best of Sicily tour?
Shortly after returning from Greece in March of 2024 and with a Carpe Diem mindset, we reviewed Rick's most active tours and booked this Sicily tour in the fall. Kevin (the engineer!) created a spreadsheet of the desired tours along with flight options and cost. There was an available Sicily tour that fit our schedule and, really, who can say "No" to Italy! Also, at the time of the booking, we took advantage of the tour sales in April. Keep that in mind for your future trips as there is usually a promotion offered when the next year's tours are released. In addition, each of us got a discount for being a multi-tour traveler and we are thankful for that perk! Another way to save some money is being flexible and traveling off-season. Our Rick Steves' trips have been in early spring or late fall and we have been really lucky with the weather so far.
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Our Tips and Observations
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TRAVEL! Don't wait for retirement, however plan for retirement.
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Follow Rick's advice of packing lightly using a carry-on bag and backpack. Plan to do laundry. We pack for 5-6 days and either wash items in the sink or pay for laundry.
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Whether young or old, compression socks are a benefit on long flights.
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Arrive at least one day early and consider adding a day or more to the end of your trip.
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Get Global Entry. It's worth it and includes TSA Pre-Check.
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Carry tissues for the times there is no toilet paper. Some locations or entire countries (Greece—I'm talking about you!) do not allow paper to be flushed.
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It's not necessary to buy an international phone plan. We've managed with WiFi so far and used WhatsApp to communicate. However, we intend to purchase a data plan on our next trip so we can utilize maps when we are off on our own.
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It's also not imperative to use Google Translate. Rick's books include survival phrases plus the guides have always provided the group with helpful phrases and cheat sheets. It's been our experience that you can commonly find someone who speaks English and they are happy to help.
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Journal along the way. I take notes on my phone during the day and at bedtime I log highlights into my book journal.
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Identify someone in your group to set up a Shared Album so tour members can share pictures throughout the trip and beyond. I always edit and upload my favorite shots to Amazon Photos or Flickr and share the link with group members after I get home.
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Use a money belt or neck wallet and don't remove it from your body until you are back in your hotel room! (I speak from experience! On the Adriatic tour we took in 2023, I had a lapse at dinner. Our guide, Saso thankfully did a room sweep after dining in Mostar. My WOW moment was when he returned my neck wallet before I even realized I left it behind...Yikes!)
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Check with the hotel if you happen to leave your guidebook on the airplane or otherwise lose it on the trip. (Kevin speaks from experience in Sicily!) Many times the hotels collect books left behind by guests and have them available at the desk.
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Magnets, postcards, and ornaments make great souvenirs when packing lightly.
BEFORE GOING...
In the months/weeks before our trip, we booked our additional hotel stays before and after the tour. We shared all necessary travel and tour details with our family in case of emergency. We packed our travel clothes, plug adapters, toiletries, comfy shoes, raincoats and passports. Don't forget your passports!
We learned what we could about Sicily from Rick's travel shows, the guidebook and additional research online. We stored pertinent information digitally on our phones and downloaded Sicily related audio files and podcasts from the Rick Steves' website.
To be honest, Kevin does most of this preparatory research and program viewing specific to our upcoming trip since I am a recovering control freak who is embracing letting go! I love that the Rick Steves' staff and guides have done all of the heavy lifting in researching and planning the tour itinerary. I can just show up and live in the moment. There is no stress or major disappointment of plans falling through. I have experienced numerous "WOW" moments when seeing things for the first time with no preconceived expectations. I realize this doesn't work for everyone, but it sure works for me!
