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00:01Hi, I'm Rick Steves,
00:02back with the last episode
00:03in our three-part
00:04Travel Skills Special.
00:05We're in a village
00:07high in the Swiss Alps.
00:08In this finale,
00:09we'll show you how,
00:10in so many ways,
00:12you can actually experience more
00:13by spending less.
00:47Our tips this time?
00:48Finding the best value accommodations,
00:51getting around in big cities,
00:52and enjoying Europe's cuisine.
00:54This information can help you
00:56make the most of your vacation time
00:58and, if you're on a budget,
00:59it can cut the cost of your travels in half.
01:03Whether you discover
01:04Norway's breathtaking fjords,
01:06explore ancient temples in Athens,
01:09hike along a Roman wall in England,
01:12sweat with locals in Finland,
01:14or enjoy a concert in Ireland,
01:16you'll find the kinds of places
01:18and experiences you incorporate
01:20into your itinerary
01:21shape the character of your trip.
01:25In this three-part Travel Skills Special,
01:27we start in the Netherlands,
01:28venture through Germany,
01:30dip into Italy,
01:32sweep through Switzerland and France,
01:33before finishing in England.
01:35In this final episode,
01:37we start in the Swiss Alps,
01:38take a high-speed train to Paris,
01:40and finish in London.
01:46When touring Europe,
01:48many travelers only visit famous
01:49and well-promoted hotspots
01:51like Grindelwald here in Switzerland.
01:54It's the famous alpine resort
01:56in the shadow of the Jungfrau.
01:59Europe energetically markets
02:01its top tourist attractions.
02:03Alpine resorts like this
02:04are geared to large-scale tourism,
02:07helping the masses have fun,
02:09spending their money.
02:11But just one valley over,
02:13you can have an entirely different experience.
02:16Riding this gondola,
02:18you soar landing in the sleepy,
02:20unpromoted village of Gimmelwald.
02:26In 30 years of researching guidebooks,
02:28I've found hidden gems like this
02:30in every country.
02:32Gimmelwald would have been developed to the hilt
02:34like neighboring towns,
02:35but the village had its real estate
02:37declared an avalanche zone,
02:39so no one could get new building permits.
02:41The result?
02:42A real mountain community,
02:45families, farms, and traditional ways.
02:49Choosing places like Gimmelwald
02:51and then meeting the people,
02:52you become part of the party
02:53rather than just part of the economy.
02:57This is a realistic goal for any good traveler.
03:04Take a moment to appreciate the alpine cheese.
03:07Older is better?
03:09Oh, yes.
03:11I don't know.
03:11Oh, yes.
03:12For me, it's a younger one.
03:15Once you're off the tourist track,
03:17make a point to connect with the living culture.
03:19Pitch in, even if that means getting dirty.
03:22Here, farmer Peter's making hay while the sun shines.
03:37Whether in a big city or a small village,
03:39your major expense each day is renting a bed.
03:42And you have lots of options.
03:43We'll review them from cheapest to most expensive.
03:46In rural settings, like here in Gimmelwald,
03:48I like simple, less expensive accommodations.
03:51Gimmelwald has a pension, a bed and breakfast,
03:54and a hostel.
03:56Europe has thousands of hostels,
03:59like Gimmelwald's mountain hostel,
04:01offering cheap dorm beds.
04:03While not for everybody,
04:04the price is certainly right.
04:07Rather than privacy in your own bathroom,
04:09you'll enjoy a convivial camaraderie,
04:11a helpful reception desk,
04:14a welcoming common room
04:15with lots of information and hiking partners,
04:19and the kitchen,
04:20where hostellers cook for the price of groceries.
04:24It's dinner time,
04:25and after a sunny day of hiking,
04:27travelers are sharing stories.
04:30Today, European hostels come in all shapes and sizes.
04:34Modern ones are often big and institutional.
04:36They come with inviting lobbies and modern facilities.
04:40Rather than the traditional large dorms,
04:42more and more hostels are offering smaller rooms,
04:45family rooms, and even doubles for couples.
04:48In cities or villages,
04:50the young at heart of any age are entirely welcome.
04:53A great thing about hosteling,
04:55especially if you're going solo,
04:57is gaining an instant circle of friends.
05:02For me, B&Bs offer an ideal combination
05:05of comfort and economy,
05:07privacy and cultural experience.
05:10Every country has private rooms for rent.
05:12You just got to know the local word.
05:14Whose room is Norwegian?
05:15For Chambordot, which is French.
05:17For Zimmer, which is what they say here in Switzerland,
05:20for bed and breakfast.
05:22B&Bs give you more than just a good night's sleep.
05:26Imagine enjoying a renovated attic
05:28with a view of this small-town Czech castle.
05:31Being a guest in a home rebuilt
05:33after a civil war in Dubrovnik.
05:36Savoring the salty ambience
05:38in the captain's house on a Danish isle.
05:41Or being a noble for a night with Giorgio
05:43in the heart of Tuscany.
05:46Okay.
05:48Tonight, we're sleeping in the home of Ollie
05:50and his wife Maria.
05:51They teach in the village and supplement their income
05:54by renting out three rooms in their home.
05:57As is generally the case with B&Bs,
05:59the rooms are as comfortable as a hotel,
06:02but homier.
06:05While you're living in someone else's home,
06:07you can be as private as you like,
06:09just take the key and do your own thing,
06:10or you can go downstairs
06:12and get to know the family.
06:20This yellow cliff over there.
06:22Yeah, yeah.
06:23That's where the eagle has each year its nest.
06:25Typically, hosts enjoy sharing.
06:27Ollie knows the backside of the Jungfrau intimately.
06:30And the young birds in early spring,
06:32you see them starting to learn to fly.
06:40Pensions are a good value.
06:42A pension is a place without many of the services
06:45you'd expect in a hotel.
06:47This one's inexpensive,
06:48with the toilet and shower down the hall.
06:51The bedrooms are well-worn and traditional,
06:53and the place creaks just the way you want it to.
07:02And once again,
07:03humbler places seem to foster community.
07:18Continuing our swing through the best of Europe,
07:20we're heading for Paris.
07:22After a full day in the Alps,
07:23this fast train will get us there in time
07:25to cap our day with a view of the Eiffel Tower.
07:28A big city like Paris
07:30is bursting with world-class sights,
07:32towering monuments,
07:34magnificent boulevards,
07:35and glorious history.
07:37In a major city like this,
07:39you have lots of hotel options.
07:40The neighborhood you choose,
07:42as well as the hotel,
07:43shapes your experience.
07:45Many travelers opt for the big,
07:47international-class hotels
07:48outside the historic center.
07:50I find that these, while very comfortable,
07:53build a wall between you and the people and culture
07:55you traveled so far to experience.
07:58I prefer a small-scale hotel
08:00in a cozy neighborhood.
08:02For example, the area around Rue Claire
08:04is a pedestrian-friendly bit of Village Paris,
08:07a 10-minute walk from the Eiffel Tower.
08:11Accommodations are a classic example
08:13of how spending less
08:14can actually give you a richer experience.
08:17Europe's big cities still have
08:18well-located, characteristic hotels
08:20at an affordable price.
08:22There's a range of categories.
08:24Many countries have helpful rating systems.
08:27In France, plaques with stars
08:29are posted by the door.
08:31In a well-chosen one-star place,
08:33budget travelers can sleep well and safely.
08:36Rooms are pretty basic,
08:37but come at near-youth hostel prices.
08:41European cities have lots of night noise,
08:43and especially in cheap hotels,
08:45this can be a problem.
08:46Rather than paying a premium
08:48for a room with a view,
08:49I take a quiet room in the back.
08:51In France, two-star hotels offer for me
08:54a great balance of price and comfort.
08:56Still basic, but with good beds,
08:59private bathrooms,
09:00and often tiny but appreciated elevators.
09:08The more people who share a room,
09:10the less expensive it gets per person.
09:12A double costs just a little more than a single.
09:15And many hotels are happy to squeeze in
09:17a cheap third bed.
09:19While three-star hotels are more expensive,
09:22they can also be a good value.
09:24Here, you're paying for extras,
09:26like a lounge, room service,
09:28and all the comforts.
09:30It's one of our typical rooms,
09:32with big TV,
09:33mini-bar,
09:35iPod baths.
09:36Of course, air conditioning.
09:38It can be very useful,
09:39especially in August in Paris.
09:43Bathroom.
09:44Two sinks.
09:45Yes, two sinks.
09:46French people like it.
09:47And you can be two at the same moment in the bathroom.
09:50Very nice.
09:52Know your priorities.
09:53This hotel's great,
09:54but those on a budget
09:55may need to choose between these extras
09:57for an additional $50 a night,
09:59and a nice dinner, concert, or city tour.
10:04Throughout Europe,
10:05small, family-run hotels offer fine values.
10:08This London hotel is plush,
10:10beautifully located,
10:11and more affordable than you might expect,
10:13because it has no elevator.
10:16This historic former monastery in Florence
10:18costs no more than a top-end chain hotel,
10:21but is bursting with Renaissance character.
10:27Here, in Norway,
10:28you can enjoy feeling right at home on a fjord.
10:33And a favorite of mine in Rome,
10:35small enough where the owner can go over your sightseeing plans,
10:38provides fine rooms,
10:39and a breezy conviviality
10:42you simply can't find in bigger hotels.
10:45Some travelers love the freedom
10:47of just finding hotels as they go.
10:49But to get the best rooms in the popular places,
10:52book in advance.
10:59Smart travelers use a savvy mix of guidebooks
11:02and the Internet.
11:04Web-based review sites are popular and powerful,
11:06but while helpful, they can also be misleading,
11:09so be careful.
11:10And, by the way,
11:11making reservations through web-based booking services
11:14may be convenient,
11:15but they cost your hotel 15% to 20%.
11:18I get the best price by booking directly through my hotel.
11:22Health concerns while traveling through Western Europe
11:25are about the same as traveling back home.
11:28While I take extra precautions when traveling beyond Europe,
11:32in Europe, I drink the water and eat everything in sight.
11:40If you do get sick, get help right away.
11:43Over here, a good first stop for medical advice
11:45is the neighborhood pharmacy.
11:47Also, hotels can refer you to a nearby clinic,
11:50or call a doctor who makes house calls for far less money
11:54than you might expect.
11:55Then, prescription in hand, you can head for the 24-hour pharmacy.
12:00Europe generally has whatever medicine you need.
12:04In case you need a refill, bring your prescription from home
12:07with the generic name typed or printed legibly.
12:12My health tips are all about wellness.
12:14Being on vacation can be exhausting.
12:17Get plenty of sleep, eat healthy, drink lots of water,
12:19and pace yourself.
12:21Know your limits.
12:21Oh, look at this.
12:24One of the great joys of travel is eating.
12:27Each country in Europe has its own distinct cuisine.
12:31Leave the tourist zones.
12:32Find places filled with locals
12:34enjoying seasonal and regional specialties.
12:37The variety of food is endless,
12:39and if you know how to choose a good place,
12:41you don't need to spend a fortune.
12:43A few basic rules for eating your way through Europe.
12:46Go for the local specialties.
12:48You'll get better quality and price.
12:50Eat seasonally.
12:52Don't miss truffles on your pasta in the fall
12:55or fresh berries in Norway in summer.
12:58The location can make the meal.
13:01Bosnia may not be famous for its food,
13:04but dining under the bridge in Mostar
13:06makes a lifelong memory.
13:08Most of all, eat fearlessly.
13:14Try things you've never had
13:16in places you've never been.
13:18There are eateries to fit every budget.
13:22And while I recommend an occasional gourmet splurge,
13:25especially in countries famous for their high-end cuisine,
13:28like France and Italy,
13:30you'll save money and improve your experience
13:32with Europe's countless budget options.
13:36Some of the most affordable and enjoyable food in Europe
13:39can be found not while seated at a table,
13:41but while standing in the street or the market.
13:45Every country has its own beloved street food.
13:48It's fast, cheap, and delicious.
13:51In Greece, try the corner soufflaki stand.
13:55And in Istanbul on the Golden Horn,
13:58grab a fish sandwich fresh from the guys who caught it
14:00at one of the venerable and very tipsy fish boats.
14:05For a step up and a seat,
14:07there are lots of casual bars and bistros,
14:10hometown hangouts where you can enjoy local cuisine
14:13in comfort without going broke.
14:16One of the best examples of this is in Spain.
14:18Every town tempts you with tapas bars
14:21where you belly up to the bar
14:23and just point at things you'd like to try.
14:25In Denmark, I love the open-faced sandwiches,
14:29which manage to be both simple and elegant at the same time.
14:33You can munch the best pizza ever
14:35for the price of a fast-food hamburger in Naples,
14:38where pizza was invented.
14:41The rustic simplicity of sausages and fondue
14:44feels just perfect high in the Swiss Alps.
14:48And these days, pubs are more than just friends
14:50gathering for a beer.
14:52They can come with tasty meals, too.
14:55By the way, interiors in Europe,
14:57from restaurants to hotels to pubs,
14:59are now essentially smoke-free.
15:03Especially in France,
15:05consider the cuisine sightseeing for your palate.
15:07And when you know your budget options,
15:09eating at the corner café or bistro
15:11costs only a little more than lunch
15:13at a fast-food joint.
15:15Most countries have a plate of the day.
15:17That's a plat du jour here.
15:19A handwritten menu in the local language only
15:22with a small selection indicates a good value.
15:25And the house salad makes a quick and healthy meal.
15:28In France, bread is free.
15:31Just hold up your basket to ask.
15:33In France, a free carafe of tap water
15:35is either on the table
15:36or will be quickly if you ask.
15:39When it comes to drinking, I go local.
15:42In Bavaria, it's a liter of lager.
15:45Cheers.
15:46Tuscany, a robust red wine.
15:48I'm working.
15:51Provence, a nice rosé.
15:53Ireland, a hearty Guinness.
15:56Spain, a rich Rioja.
15:59In Denmark, a fiery Akavit.
16:04And in Greece, it's ouzo with a sunset.
16:11Adapt to the culture you're visiting.
16:13Over here, dining's not rushed.
16:16Slow service is often good service.
16:19In a nice restaurant,
16:20the table's yours for the entire evening.
16:22To get the bill, you need to ask for it.
16:25As service is often included
16:27and waiters are generally paid a living wage,
16:30tipping is less expected
16:31and often unnecessary.
16:33This varies from country to country.
16:35Get advice from locals.
16:41Picnics are fast and fun
16:43and give you a purpose
16:45in Europe's colorful markets and shops.
16:47When picnicking,
16:48you can buy whatever looks good
16:49regardless of price.
16:51Choose an atmospheric place
16:53to make your picnic memorable.
16:54We've put together a cheap and healthy meal for two.
16:58Delightful cheese,
16:59tiny quiche,
17:01strawberries,
17:02grapes,
17:03wine,
17:03a little something for dessert,
17:05and a reasonable view.
17:14Traditionally on the continent,
17:15breakfast is small.
17:16In France, locals just grab a croissant
17:18and coffee on the way to work.
17:20But these days,
17:21most hotels are offering hearty breakfast buffets,
17:23complete with cheese,
17:25meat, yogurt, and fruit.
17:29We're speeding,
17:30at nearly 200 miles per hour,
17:32to London,
17:33the final stop on our best of Europe loop.
17:36Europe is continuing to unite,
17:38both politically and physically.
17:40From the start,
17:41the wealthier countries of the European Union
17:43have helped their less affluent neighbors catch up.
17:46And after a generation of huge investments,
17:49its transportation infrastructure
17:50keeps European commerce and trade moving faster than ever.
17:54And that includes travelers like us.
17:56The Eurostar train,
17:58which speeds under the English Channel in 20 minutes,
18:00is just one example.
18:02From Italy to Norway,
18:04great bridges, tunnels, and bullet trains
18:06are making this small continent even smaller.
18:09The fastest way now from the Eiffel Tower to Big Ben
18:13is not by plane, but by train.
18:17London's giant wheel is an example
18:19of how the nations of the EU can work together.
18:22How do you make a spectacular Ferris wheel,
18:25Swiss motor, Italian steel, German design,
18:28and a capital English view.
18:32As Europe continues to unite,
18:34nations are less threatened by regionals.
18:37Within Spain,
18:38Madrid now lets Barcelona
18:39wave its Catalonian flag
18:41and speak its own language.
18:45The Irish gift of gab comes in Gaelic.
18:51And London doesn't care.
18:53And for the first time in centuries,
18:56Britain has allowed Scotland
18:57to have its own parliament.
19:00For those of us who love Europe's cultural variety,
19:03this is good news.
19:08Unification does not threaten Europe's diversity.
19:11In fact, that diversity is both as vivid as ever
19:14and more accessible.
19:16Imagine, today for lunch,
19:17it was quiche and fine French wine
19:19under the Eiffel Tower,
19:20and for dinner, pub grub
19:22and a hearty ale in a classic London pub.
19:25Here's to diversity.
19:28Throughout Europe,
19:29cities are becoming increasingly better organized.
19:32Visitors can easily master
19:34excellent transportation options,
19:36buses, subways, and taxis.
19:39Even budget travelers need to remember
19:42that vacation time is valuable.
19:45Spend money to save time.
19:47Groups of three or four can travel cheaper
19:49and faster by taxi,
19:51rather than riding buses and subways.
19:54These days, throughout Western Europe,
19:57most cabbies are regulated, honest,
19:59and charge the metered rate.
20:01The extra fees are clearly explained and legitimate.
20:04I round the bill up five or ten percent.
20:09London, like most big European cities,
20:12has a fine underground system,
20:14letting you zip anywhere in town,
20:16regardless of rush hour traffic, fast.
20:19Big cities become surprisingly manageable
20:22when you get comfortable with their subway.
20:24To avoid ticket window lines,
20:26buy tickets from machines.
20:28Follow the signs to the right platform.
20:30You'll find helpful maps everywhere.
20:33In what Londoners call the tube,
20:36everything is labeled north, south, east, or west.
20:40Each line has two directions,
20:42and therefore two platforms.
20:44Signs list the line, direction,
20:46and stops served by each platform.
20:49Lost?
20:50Locals are happy to help.
20:52Because some tracks are served by several lines,
20:55signboards announce which train's next
20:57and how many minutes till it arrives.
20:59Final destinations are displayed above the windshield.
21:03And always...
21:04Mind the gap.
21:05Mind the gap.
21:07City bus systems are also worth figuring out.
21:10Buses are generally frequent, user-friendly,
21:13and come with a view.
21:15Here in London, as in most cities,
21:17a 24-hour pass pays for itself in about three rides.
21:21It lets you just hop on and off both buses
21:23and the tube as you like.
21:26Even if you never use public transportation back home,
21:28try it over here.
21:30After a few rides,
21:31you'll be getting around like a local.
21:36Once you've mastered getting around,
21:37your next challenge is to better understand your sightseeing.
21:41You can do that with a guide,
21:43either by taking a tour or hiring one privately.
21:47All over Europe, independent local guides,
21:50while pricey, give meaning to the cultural
21:52and historic riches that surround you.
21:54Can you imagine 2,000 years ago,
21:56a person who has never seen the photograph of a leopard?
22:00And then they see the first leopard ever
22:02pounce out of the floor live.
22:05To enjoy the help of a local expert,
22:08without the expense of a private tour,
22:10you can take a guided walk.
22:12Especially here in Britain,
22:14you'll find hard-working local historians
22:16taking visitors on fascinating walks
22:18through a particular slice of their town's past.
22:22Some tours hit the biggies.
22:24Others are more off-beat.
22:25Down below there, of course, is Cleopatra's Needle.
22:27Why is it called Cleopatra's Needle?
22:29Because she's the only Egyptian we know.
22:30That's the reason why.
22:32Walking tours like these are advertised
22:34at the Tourist Information Office
22:36and on the Internet.
22:37For me, they're almost always time
22:39and money well spent.
22:42While most major cities have your standard
22:44big bus orientation tours,
22:47all over Europe there's a more flexible option.
22:50Hop-on, hop-off buses make a circular route,
22:53stopping at the top dozen or so attractions
22:55with three or four departures an hour
22:57and a continuous narration of the sights.
23:01A single ticket gives you 24 hours
23:04of hop-on, hop-off privileges
23:06as you sightsee your way efficiently through town.
23:11And for the ultimate in economy and control,
23:14you can use your mobile device
23:15and download self-guided audio tours.
23:23After every trip to Europe,
23:25I'm reminded we can never exhaust this continent
23:27of what it has to offer.
23:29The fine points of European culture survive and inspire.
23:34Its art-packed museums make it clear
23:36the passions of the past are still with us.
23:40And, most of all, it's the people
23:42who keep me coming back.
23:44Whether truffle hunting with friends in Tuscany...
23:47Famous truffle.
23:48...going for a torch-lit sled ride
23:50high in the Swiss Alps...
23:53...or joining new friends on the beach
23:55for a shrimp fest in Denmark.
23:57Europe is both a playground and a classroom.
24:02This concludes our three-part travel skills special.
24:05Remember, anyone who equips themselves
24:07with good information
24:08and expects themselves to travel smart can.
24:14Thanks for joining us.
24:15I'm Rick Steves.
24:16Until next time, keep on traveling.
24:18Cheerio!
24:24Hi, I'm Rick Steves.
24:26Hi, I'm Rick Steves.
24:28Hi, I'm Rick Steves.
24:30Come on.
24:36Is this still Bach?
24:40Is this still Bach?
24:42Hello.
24:43St. Paul's, please.
24:47Stop, please.
24:48Hello.
24:48I want to let my friends in.
24:49Can you stop?
24:50Ah, technical.
24:54associating to Bach.he�
24:54St.
24:54Paulski. We can
24:56We can
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