so you should check out the five phrases Rick Steves says tourists must know before a trip to France. This charming boulangerie is far from the only reason to visit Bordeaux. As an underrated ...

Rick Steves never set out to be a travel guru. In the late '70s he had just graduated from university and was starting a career as a piano teacher. He felt the call of the "Hippie Trail" — an ...

In 1978, Rick Steves had a good thing going at home in Edmonds, Washington — until he blew it up. He was recently out of college and had already taken a few formative trips to Europe.

This article is used with the permission of Rick Steves’ Europe (www.ricksteves.com). Rick Steves writes European guidebooks, hosts travel shows on public TV and radio, and organizes European tours.