Alternatives to Rick Steves Tours: Smaller Groups, Better Hotels & More Freedom
Looking for alternatives to Rick Steves tours? Small Group Tours by The Traveling Professor offers a different approach: typically 10–16 travelers on land tours, comfortable centrally located hotels, scenic trains and ferries whenever practical, dining freedom, and personal attention.
Rick Steves deserves enormous credit for introducing Americans to European travel. We admire his work and share his appreciation for local culture, knowledgeable guides, and central hotels. Our differences become clear when you compare group sizes, transportation, hotel arrangements, and how you spend your time.
Since 2009, Small Group Tours by The Traveling Professor has welcomed solo travelers, couples, and friends. Many have also taken Rick Steves tours. Their experiences help explain what makes our approach special.
Rick Steves Tours vs. The Traveling Professor: At a Glance
1. Smaller Groups Make Personal Attention Possible
The official Rick Steves Heart of Scotland and Best of Paris pages describe groups of 24–28. Our land tours typically have 10–16 travelers.
With fewer people, it is easier to ask your guide questions, get to know fellow travelers, and receive individual assistance. Smaller vehicles also give us flexibility when exploring places that are difficult for a full-sized motorcoach to reach.
Compare the actual number of travelers—not simply the words “small group.”
2. Comfortable Hotels—and Someone Who Listens
Both companies value central locations. We also want travelers to know their hotel and its amenities before booking.
Our Scotland small group tour includes five nights at the four-star Inverness Palace Hotel & Spa and four at Edinburgh’s Apex Grassmarket Hotel. The Palace offers an indoor pool, spa, and fitness facilities. Our Paris Once Again tour includes seven nights at the four-star, air-conditioned Hôtel Relais Médicis.
Ann from Orland Park, Illinois, showed us why personal attention matters as much as the hotel itself. She strongly preferred a walk-in shower. We listened and worked with the hotel to accommodate her preference.
Ann later sent us a note saying she would not travel with anyone else because of the personal attention we give our guests. To us, that is part of planning a good vacation: understanding what matters to the person taking it.
Specific room requests depend on availability, but we make every reasonable effort to help.
3. Fewer Hotel Changes, More Time Enjoying Scotland
Our 10-day Scotland tour uses two hotels and just one hotel change: five nights in Inverness and four in Edinburgh.
Rick Steves’ Heart of Scotland in 8 Days uses three overnight locations; his Best of Scotland in 13 Days uses six.
More overnight locations offer broader geographic coverage. Longer stays mean fewer mornings spent packing and more opportunities to become familiar with a destination. We prefer giving you time to settle in.
4. Why Sherri Appreciated Our Scenic Trains
Sherri from Arlington, Virginia, was a veteran Rick Steves traveler. She enjoyed his tours, but spending so many hours on a bus was something she wanted to change.
After traveling with us, Sherri particularly appreciated our scenic rail journeys. They were part of the vacation experience, giving her time to enjoy the views while traveling through Scotland.
Our Scotland itinerary includes two scenic train journeys: the Kyle Line toward Kyle of Lochalsh and the journey between Inverness and Edinburgh. We use road transportation when appropriate, but believe the journey should be something you look forward to.
5. Why Mike from Houston Would Choose Us Again
Mike from Houston, Texas, enjoys Rick Steves tours. But after experiencing both companies, he told us that, given the choice, he would take a Traveling Professor tour every time.
Mike appreciated our balance of organized sightseeing and meaningful free time. He also preferred choosing his own restaurants rather than attending many scheduled group dinners.
That dining freedom is central to our approach. You can choose a neighborhood pub, local seafood, or an elegant restaurant. You decide what to order and whom to join.
Rick Steves includes group meals, which many travelers appreciate. We believe the freedom to choose your meals and companions can be just as valuable.
6. Joe’s Golf and a Special Visit to Giverny
Free time becomes more rewarding when you have help making the most of it.
Joe from upstate New York wanted to play golf during our Scotland tour. We helped arrange a round during his free time, allowing him to pursue a personal interest alongside the scheduled itinerary.
In Paris, Mary, Louise, Gayle, and Linda dreamed of visiting Giverny, home and gardens of Impressionist Claude Monet. Giverny was not on our itinerary, but we helped organize their visit.
These experiences show what personal service means to us. We listen to what you would enjoy and help when practical. Optional activities depend on availability, the schedule, and any additional costs.
7. We Can Arrange Additional Hotel Nights
Many travelers prefer arriving early to recover from jet lag. Rick Steves provides hotel information so guests can arrange additional nights.
We anticipate that need by pre-reserving extra rooms at our tour hotels. We can book those additional nights for our guests, subject to availability. It is one less reservation to manage, with assistance from people who know your trip.
8. Scotland Tour Prices: Compare the Experience
Selected 2027 Rick Steves Heart of Scotland departures cost $4,195. Our 10-day Scotland tour costs $5,299.
The difference is approximately $5.53 per advertised day. Rick Steves also lists lower-priced departures.
Both itineraries include Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle, Culloden, St. Andrews, and Edinburgh Castle. Our itinerary includes the Isle of Skye, Dunrobin Castle, Abbotsford House, Rosslyn Chapel, and two scenic rail journeys. Rick Steves includes different attractions, additional group meals, and guide and driver tips.
Compare the official Rick Steves itinerary and prices with our Scotland tour details. Consider how you want to spend your vacation, along with the price.
9. Paris Tour Prices: Another Hotel Night
Selected 2027 Rick Steves Best of Paris departures cost $3,395. Our eight-day Paris Once Again tour costs $3,299.
Against this selected price, our tour costs $96 less overall and approximately 15% less per advertised day, with an additional hotel night. Rick Steves offers other departures at lower prices.
Our Paris tour includes a named four-star hotel, generally 10–14 travelers, public transportation, Versailles admission, and a Paris Museum Pass. We arrange timed reservations where required; security screening may still involve waiting.
Compare the Rick Steves Paris itinerary and prices with The Traveling Professor's Paris small group tour.
Prices checked October 9, 2026. Examples are per person, double occupancy, excluding airfare and single supplements. Daily figures divide price by advertised days, including departure days; they do not represent full sightseeing days. Departures, meals, gratuities, activities, and other inclusions differ. Rates and arrangements may change.
Is The Traveling Professor Right for You?
If you appreciate European culture but prefer fewer fellow travelers, comfortable hotels, scenic transportation, dining freedom, and personal attention, consider traveling with us.
Ann, Sherri, Mike, Joe, and our Giverny travelers illustrate the kind of service we strive to provide. Our tours are active, so guests should be comfortable walking, using stairs, and managing their luggage.
We don’t want to be the biggest. We want to deliver the best possible experience for your vacation time and money.
Explore our Small Group Tours. We offer more than a dozen itineraries to choose from including Scotland and Paris. Email info@smallgrouptours.com or call 413-528-2125 with questions.
Also read our comparison of Alternatives to Collette Tours.
It’s Not Just the Places You Go… It’s the People You Meet Along the Way.