European Travel Skills Part I

Rick Steves' Europe Travel Guide © 2012 | In this first of three shows covering travel skills and tips, we'll visit the Netherlands and Germany to learn about transportation by train and car within Europe, changing money, and settling in upon arrival. How well you're able to enjoy the delights of Europe depends upon how well you plan and how skillfully you travel. #ricksteveseurope #europetravel #traveltips
Check out more Rick Steves’ Europe travel resources:
• “Rick Steves’ Europe” public television series: www.ricksteves.com/watch-read...
• “Travel with Rick Steves” public radio program: www.ricksteves.com/watch-read...
• European Tours: www.ricksteves.com/tours
• Guidebooks: store.ricksteves.com/shop/gui...
• Travel Gear: store.ricksteves.com/shop/
• Travel Classes: www.ricksteves.com/watch-read...
• Rick Steves Audio Europe App: www.ricksteves.com/watch-read...
Rick Steves, America's most respected authority on European travel, writes European travel guidebooks, and hosts travel shows on public television and public radio.

[@leejohnson179]

I love this man. He's the Mr. Rogers of travel.

[@hepa007]

Most polite and well-mannered person I have ever seen on Internet

[@Neville60001]

He's not the only one; Mark Wolter also gives great travel advice (woltersworld.com)

[@matteofalduto766]

I'm European, I came to this video because I'm fascinated by finding out what Americans find unusual and worth remarking about staying in Europe.

[@tammo100]

As an European, I have to say this video is excellent. Everything what is said is true.

[@PoisonTheOgres]

A little update: *in the Netherlands paying by card has quickly become the preferred payment method.* Some places (Most importantly buses! And some restaurants) do not allow cash payments at all anymore. In Germany, on the other hand, cash is still definitely preferred in most places.

[@MrAronymous]

Debit card does not equate credit card.

[@TheMrJourneyer]

@@MrAronymousWas in the Netherlands just last year - contactless cards are accepted (and sometimes even encouraged) regardless if it’s debit or credit. Was surprised even Italy was the same now. In some places, you can directly use your contactless card to tap on and off public transport instead of buying tickets or even stored value cards.

[@Hannoi]

He has such a calm personality.

[@Indiaworldpower436]

I like Rick Steves videos too much . It is very informative ❤️

[@1oldmariner]

I was born and lived in the Netherlands, I married an Italian, lived in Italy, the Netherlands and London. I traveled extensively throughout Europe and the UK. Rick could pass as a citizen of all the countries he visits. He really "gets into it." Absolutely the BEST travel guide, ever.

[@1NextGenVideos1]

You are absolutely what I was looking for. I've been using vlogs to get European info on the essentials, like money, hotels, travel, etc...But they only cover the "good" stuff of their travel. You on the other hand, have presented exactly what I wanted, and helped me learn more before my travel. Thank You Very Much For This!

[@xCoreProductions]

RICK I KNEW YOU SMOKED THAT CHRONIC... LOVE YA MAN

[@xCoreProductions]

+xCoreProductions 11:00 Rick's knowledge-dropping face

[@ndubstar]

Haha

[@hat_maker]

LOL

[@daiyokai1_toilet496]

He gets high and he gets 2 enjoy all different varieties of food from Europe. How lucky.

[@laurelrunlaurelrun]

Rick Steves is the best kind of American. Friendly, industrious, and open-minded.

[@OpenlyMountainGoat]

Hi Mr Steves! I'd just like to say thank you for uploading these online!!!! I love watching your show on PBS but when I came to college I didn't have a TV, so now I watch you on my phone and it makes me feel right at home when I'm homesick! You're such a great speaker. I love traveling and I love how simple you make everything! My family is going to Spain in the summer for a cruise and then a little adventure, and I'm looking forward to whipping out all these top tips and impressing my parents! You're such an inspiration to me and so sweet and kind! Thank you Rick Steves!

[@joannedeal3418]

I love Rick Steve's travel shows and this includes so much info foreigners need to know as well as seeing some of the interesting places around. Thank you Rick!

[@marksykes3241]

Germany is beautiful! Greetings from your Dutch neighbour!

[@damasovi_travels1244]

Mr. Steves!!1 for many years I have read and used your travel guides, and now in this new decade I am watching on youtube, all your videos!!! Thank you for all your work, you have made me THE GUIDE of the group!! For ever, happy travels!

[@datnguyen1615]

I watched his shows and hoped that once day I would had traved like him back late 1990's. Now I am still dreaming and watching him again on youtube.

[@bibolcs]

Welcome to the good life fellas, thanks for upload this video and greetings to you Rick and everyone here or the audience from The United States of America.

[@storm1968eu]

is this guy travelsmart, or what?! 😎 this series should be obligatory for visitors from outside europe ... and for some fellow europeans too. 😋 thank you, mr. rick steves.

[@rg31404]

16:47 Restaurant at the marketplace is the 'Ratsstube'. I've had the 'Geröstete Maultaschen' (German ravioli-like filled noodles) which are a staple from Swabia, the south-western part of Bavaria - really good!

[@DelosJohnson]

My wife and I found this entire series worthwhile and enlightening. We have traveled extensively, and have often thought that an insightful and easily understandable video would be helpful to the neophyte "world traveler." Thank you, and your entire team, for making this effort.

[@morethan3756]

Love the bloopers portion! Ricks been helping me plan my travels for years now. Thankx Rick!

[@jenniferlorence1950]

Love the Way Rick Stve Covers Every Detail on his Trips. That is why he is the BEST. IMHO.

[@499PUCK]

A tip on hotel rooms. Your room key card may also be required to turn on the lights. The slot is inside the door. Just slid your card in and leave it until you leave the room. This is an energy conservation device. No lights on when you leave the room.

[@SembuaHumpdediddle]

There is much to be enjoyed.

[@andrewmarks4640]

When I need to think happy thoughts, I think of rick Steve’s....good day sir.

[@kjaroundtheworld]

I love Rick Steves. He's certainly inspired me to travel and start my own travel blog!

[@GKboards]

Excellent video! This is the first video I've seen in this series and I'm so thankful for it. As an anxious person, traveling like this is simply impossible without knowing what I'm getting myself into ahead of time. Now I just need to save enough money..

[@joans5033]

Very useful information, especially for a novice European traveler

[@mhafeez]

Thank you so much. Just back from Amsterdam and this video really helped. God Bless.!

[@EskimoMonkeyProd]

Im so grateful for you sharing this video. i want to visit the Netherlands and in this video you make it so simple and helpful.

[@tobeytransport2802]

Something I’d like to add: If travelling around France, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark etc you can travel without showing your passport however you should carry it because they sometimes do spot checks, also if you are travelling to the UK, Ireland, Russia, Croatia or other countries that are on the edge of the EU or not in the EU at all they will most likely ask for your passport so factor this in!

[@asianinky]

I'm really enjoying your videos. They're giving me the push I needed to go out and travel more!! Thank you!!!

[@rext8949]

Train and road seem so much more inviting - except in those cases where of course time is important.

[@mohamedrafeek9651]

humble thanks for the tips...

[@keith2754]

Rick Steves Europe Very informative and good sense of humour. Thanks Rick Steve.

[@Maxime_K-G]

Wow, these shots are amazing!

[@shailendernegi4585]

Thanks a lot Rick Steve.

[@theartofcareerfreedom]

This is a great video. Love the scoring and everything in it. :) Still effective even if this is 2 years ago.

[@luvisoberano9619]

Excellent & very informative. I'll take your tour from now on Steve!

[@how_to_travel_the_world]

Great you travelled Europe! Going to travel a little bit more of Europe soon.

[@DaanieLovesMusic]

Hi Rick, I think you explain things very well, I'm happy that you know what you are talking about :)

[@SLCtica]

Rick Steves is Bae 💕

[@derlaurenz]

Rick hitting them coffee chops as a first stop ... XD XD XD I liiiive !!!

[@zzAGONYxx]

so helpful. thanks Rick

[@ericawhitcomb6974]

I found this video really helpful! Thank you!

[@supejc]

Rick Steves is a legend

[@ranjitrajandr]

I just love your videos, Mr. Steves! And, I absolutely envy you!😊

[@Outrageousconduct]

Did this loop had a wonderful time

[@isiuwaomorefe584]

Rick I love your channel.

[@liangemily4366]

I love this video!

[@soihangonline5445]

Great!!! I wanna to travel like you.

[@MarkHitsTheRoad]

Good to point out the train ticket validation. That varies across locales - I missed validating a ticket in Italy on one of my first overseas trips and was fined. Oops. Aren't sure if you need to validate? Watch what someone else buying a ticket does with it. Trains and public transit are great ways to get around. I did a 31-day 6-country trip, and with day trips I visited 17 cities and towns - all by train or bus, not a single taxi. If you travel with a suitcase, a narrower suitcase is better for the overhead racks on the trains. I made the switch to a narrower suitcase after watching my wide suitcase hanging out over my head shift a bit as we rounded corners. A small bottle of laundry detergent makes up for the slightly less packing space. On a genealogy trip to Scotland a couple years ago, I had several small towns to visit, combining trains and buses. At one stop I had only five minutes from the train's arrival to the bus departure - or I'd have to wait 2 hours for the next bus. Checking Google Maps and Streetviews in advance of the trip meant I knew exactly how to get from the train to the bus stop and what it looked like. A little advance prep goes a long way.

[@topplacestovisitintheworld8300]

awesome vid. I like it!. Thank you.

[@young-yilchern7034]

Thanks a lot Rick Steve for nice tips with nice video

[@danielonn2002]

These are great tips for first time and well traveled globetrotters. Looking forward to meeting Rick at the Bay Area Travel Show 2015

[@MazDelaCerna]

Thanks so much for posting :)

[@knowledgejoy3554]

2good and most helpfull.

[@00100262]

AMAZING !!!

[@rebeccagutierrez1960]

I'm so glad I learned military hours while working for the legal system in the courts of Illinois. So my trip to Europe should be easier while doing transportation.

[@theetiewheetie]

This is very good info. thank you

[@thutrinh7897]

Great ! I love it n i wanna go around the world just like that :)

[@ezrachristian798]

Awesome!

[@harishsharma9145]

beautiful

[@iideal]

Excellent tips

[@freedomworldall]

Hi Rick, I enjoy watching your European Travel Skills videos. Thanks for your effort!

[@toetisoesilowati2345]

Amazing

[@Obibopbop]

great!

[@blogbusinness]

Yeah, this is actually good

[@octavst]

Very interesting 😊👏

[@meidiiiiiiii]

Love your video.... and also nice personality....... say hello Rick, from Jakarta-Indonesia.......

[@danielonn2002]

It would be funny to see an Outtake of Rick trying to get his backpack from the automated storage machine and his train is about to depart in minutes,

[@verenatravelssolo2527]

What a pleasure to have found your channel, Sir. I can only dream of becoming as successful as you some day. New subscriber. 💋🌹

[@pato2749]

Im pretty sure Rick Steve is the greatest man ever

[@999waiwaiwai]

beautiful 🏆

[@razvanlaurm]

Interesting places to visit are : Sinaia, Brasov, Prahova, Sibiu, Cluj, Oradea, Maramures, Suceava, Iasi, Danube Delta, Orsova.

[@rrkm163]

great work.. thanks.. :)

[@santoshverma-xw6ql]

The most loving man Rick sir ji

[@greatpower3922]

thanks rick we need more vidio in EUROPE

[@lilyandrose8557]

I travelled around Italy last June by train, and had a brilliant time; gorgeous scenery incredible sights; the trains were so efficient. There was a strike which changed my plans at one point, but was fine to cope with because I checked the day before I was due to travel, and was able to arrange to leave that afternoon . Venice, Verona, San Marino, Florence, Assisi, Sorrento and finishing in Rome. I learnt to travel with a 20-inch suitcase & a tote next time - my medium suitcase was a pain to lift up onto high trains - I turned into superwoman! I can highly recommend travelling around Italy by train!! EXCEPTION: Naples to Sorrento by train was horrid - lots of steps to the platform, no lift, ppl sitting on the steps and not moving outta the way [however other very kind locals helped me carry the suitcase down - so sweet!]; the train was a little local train, boiling hot at that time of year, crammed with tourists, locals and roving guitarists & singers who wanted payment for their clamour! There were mega stops on a very slow service. I took the ferry back to Naples from Sorrento and wished I had done it both ways! Lesson learned for hopefully a future trip :)

[@spicecrop]

Ol Rick likes the contact high!

[@Ozymandias1]

The thing about guidebooks is that everyone has them. So everyone goes to the same places. Meaning it can sometimes be crowded.

[@satheeshkumar7997]

paradise of the world

[@dd-5634]

I was in Amsterdam just a couple of years ago and I can assure you everybody accepts visa .... it’s so much easier than carrying cash

[@compuholic82]

It is still good advice to carry some cash around. Amsterdam is pretty great when it comes to credit cards. But if you cross over to Germany you will find a different picture. You won't have any troubles at ticket vending machines at train stations, hotels or tourist locations in general. But if you try to shop for groceries or in any small store: prepare to be disappointed. Most stores only accept EC cards (and sometimes even only for purchases that are greater than 5€).

[@allpunjab888]

Great sir....awesome video...

[@HansVerburg]

Since it's saver to have no cash in your shop (theft-wise), more and more places only allow credit or debit card payments! Public busses in Amsterdam also don't accept cash any more since there were a couple of robberies on busses.

[@velondratsnyc]

I bee in Amsterdam so beautiful

[@madingwang7778]

5:26 i visited Sweden, Finland, Norway, and Denmark, and all 4 countries use different currencies

[@riyaadelamrani5010]

Yeah but central europe all use euro but not switserland

[@riyaadelamrani5010]

Not all european countries use euro but most do

[@leeandmel8768]

That's what i'm talking about!

[@ndubstar]

Rick Steves. you the best , man. Lol

[@hilarybenoit2926]

I want to do the Uk, France, and Switzerland for three weeks by rail.. :)

[@trukeesey8715]

English is the Lingua Franca. That is meant to be a joke, but is also true. My parents were of early generation, so they caused me to learn French. They should have caused me to learn English.

[@davegraber4295]

These are great but they need updating!

[@TheYangfrancis]

hi very nice trip in europ

[@Stylensky]

I went to Germany and Holland for two weeks. I HIGHLY suggest renting a car. The freedom of making and changing your own schedule is worth every penny. People there warned me not to drive into Amsterdam but I did anyway with no problems at all. I found a nice parking garage and walked a short distance to all of the interesting areas. Munich was the same way. Study a bit on the street signs and you'll be fine. I suggest using SIXT rental cars. They're friendly and have a large selection of almost any type of car you'd want. The diesel Mercedes was at home on the Autobahn and flowed with traffic. Of course it was no match for the GT3 or the A8 that passed by me like I was sitting still :) Rick Steves is my hero both in the States and in Europe. Keep up the good fight Rick!

[@marcvanderwee]

Why didn't you rent a bicycle in Amsterdam? It is the best way to go around there, or in every Dutch city... Many tourists rent a bike in the Netehrlands.

[@danger101s]

Breng 'm nou niet op ideeen, ik wordt al gek van al die toeristen op fietsen die de boel ophouden hier in A'dam...

[@Crewmember2]

A Mercedes rental and parking for days in city center's. Are you a millionaire?

[@docholliday4546]

I would rent a car for a day or two IF I couldnt catch a bus....

[@Mr107057]

Hello Rick Steve, and team, apart from these travel videos,the music you use in these videos are also nice, please keep links of those music.

[@thyslop1737]

Yeah his favorite souvenir. Several tokes on his favorite bud.

[@kayceel.7264]

Nice. :)

[@Leonard_Wilson]

Some tips are common sense (ATM). Others are helpful (train departure information). European transit systems are generally MUCH better than American systems. Amsterdam is so nice. Outside of the heavyweights (London and Paris), Amsterdam is my favorite European city. 9:55 I think Rick is disturbing the people who want to sleep 16:15 Graffiti? When did Europe become ghetto? 19:00 LOL @ Rick's disclaimer.

[@tomaszyoyo]

Paris, Rome, London.... are places, where everybody is going... its not the real Europe... Of course its nice to see them, but there are much more interesting places of historical importance, which are as same beautyl however not so crowded and much cheaper. I am from Europe, spending all my free time on traveling around and I need to say, that I like the not so famous countries much more. I'm originally from Poland, which is a touristic wonderland with the Baltic see, all the mountains and everything in between, like Mazury with its 2000 lakes. I fell in love with Slovenia and Estonia, which are my favorite European countries to visit. I can also highly recommend the Czech republic (its not only Praha), Hungary (not only Budapest) and all the Baltic states.

[@NordikFilm]

tomasz.neiner An american who visits Europe for the first time would probably pick a famous destination like Paris, Rome or London before he visits Poland or Estonia.

[@hilbertsteenbeek1758]

+tomasz.neiner I went to Warsaw and Gdansk this summer. I was especially amazed at how beautiful Gdansk centre was and how similar it was to some dutch city centres. In Warsaw what struck me was the stark difference between old and new. Especially the cultural palace surrounded by modern office buildings.

[@braveheartlove85]

Rick Steves turns into Rick James after the coffeeshop 💨

[@nomadicworld3846]

Europe my favorite country...

[@Gonthor1000]

My favorite country is Asia

[@EEPALE]

Europe is a continent not a country.

[@macxri428]

exactly