Rick Steves Travel Talks (Video)

In this travel talk, Rick Steves covers the skills you'll need to find the ideal European hotel, B and B, or hostel, and offers advice for using hotel-review and booking websites, getting online, and doing laundry. Visit www.ricksteves.com for more European travel information.

In this travel class, Rick Steves takes you on a culinary tour through Europe, with advice on choosing the perfect restaurant, interpreting menus, enjoying local specialties, tipping, and joining local cooking classes and food tours. Visit www.ricksteves.com for more European travel information.

In this travel skills talk, Rick Steves outlines your options for getting around Europe — by train, bus, rental car, or plane — and explains how you can master big cities by using public transportation, taxis, and bicycles. Visit www.ricksteves.com for more European travel information.

In this travel lecture, Rick Steves offers tips on using your mobile phone in Europe without incurring high roaming charges, and explains how easy it is to hurdle the language barrier if you learn a few polite phrases and trust yourself to make educated guesses. Visit www.ricksteves.com for more European travel information.

In this travel skills talk, Rick Steves explains how to avoid fees while getting cash from European ATMs, demystifies Europe's "chip-and-PIN" technology, offers tips on outsmarting pickpockets and con artists, and discusses the fear of terrorism. Visit www.ricksteves.com for more European travel information.

In this travel class, Rick Steves offers advice for packing light and fitting everything you'll need for a European trip into one carry-on-the-plane-sized bag — whether you're going for a few days or a few months. Visit www.ricksteves.com for more European travel information.

In this travel lecture, Rick Steves offers tips on gathering information, planning a smart itinerary, avoiding crowds, taking a tour or a cruise, traveling in peak season vs. off-season, and joining local walking, bus, or bike tours. Visit www.ricksteves.com for more European travel information.

Join Gene Openshaw, co-author of Rick Steves' Europe 101 History and Art, as he shares the work and travels of Michelangelo. Michelangelo Buonarroti — sculptor, painter, architect and poet — was both prolific and well-traveled. We'll trace the life, work and travels of "Earth's Greatest Artist," visiting the Italian cities where he created his masterpieces. You may be surprised to find that the Italy of today is just as culturally rich as it was in the days of Michelangelo. (Please note this presentation was filmed April 14, 2012 and any special promotions or discounts mentioned are no longer valid.) Gene's "Europe 101 History and Art for the Traveler" book is available at www.travelstore.ricksteves.com.

Join Heidi Van Sewell, Rick Steves' tour guide, as she shares tips and insights for traveling in Italy. You'll almost be able to smell the linguini and taste the vino rosso as we explore enchanting Italy. The north is home to cosmopolitan Milan, time-tripping Venice, serene lakes, and the Alpine Dolomites. In central Italy we'll visit the Renaissance capital of Florence and the quaint hill towns of Tuscany and Umbria. On the Italian Riviera, the Cinque Terre's rocky coastlines and tiny villages are the epitome of picturesque. We'll wrap things up with the eternal city, amazing Rome. (Please note this presentation was filmed April 14, 2012 and any special promotions or discounts mentioned are no longer valid.) For more travel information, visit www.ricksteves.com.

Join Joan Robinson, Rick Steves' packing specialist and tour guide, as she shares tips and tricks for packing light. You'll learn now or you'll learn later that the first step to a great trip is packing light — don't weigh yourself down! You can travel for months with one carry-on size bag and still have everything you need for a great trip. We'll distribute packing lists, show off the latest in lightweight luggage, and demonstrate a professionally packed bag. (Please note this presentation was filmed April 14, 2012 and any special promotions or discounts mentioned are no longer valid.) For Joan's packing list, visit www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/pack-light.htm.