Rick Steves' Best Tip For Making Sure You Don't Have A 'Flat' Experience In Europe

Europe travel guru Rick Steves has seen the best of Europe, like Siena, Italy's "ultimate hill town," and Vienna, his pick for Europe's most elegant city. And yet, despite all of the wonders he has seen, his favorite thing about traveling in Europe is the people. As he says on his website, "The essence of good travel is connecting with people. ... While memories of palaces toured and castles climbed fade into a jumble, it's the people, experiences, and cultural connections that stay vivid for decades."

He doubles down on this sentiment in another post, writing that "if I'm not interacting with people, it's going to be a flat experience." Therefore, he encourages travelers to be open to connecting with others. Of course, not all of us are Rick Steves, who has been traveling the continent for decades and has connections in nearly every city. We also don't all possess enough charisma to overcome even Steves' tendency to wear the clothes of a middle-aged math teacher. (His zip-off pants might be convenient, but they aren't exactly stylish.) Yet, there are still chances for us everyday folk to connect with others while traveling, because the point of traveling is to open your world to new sights, experiences, food, and, most especially, people. Follow these tips to make the most of your next trip, especially when it comes to making connections. And with the right mindset, Steves says that "you'll realize the world is a welcoming place...a place filled with joy, love, and wonderful people."

As Rick Steves says, "One of the greatest rewards of travel comes from the people you encounter — especially if you're open to letting them show off a bit and impress you with their culture." This is why he likes to act as a "cultural lint brush," soaking up others' wisdom. And Steves knows that one of the best ways to make a connection is to be interested — in everything.

You can do this when you travel, too. Immerse yourself in the culture by shopping at weekly farmers markets, eating like a local at family-run restaurants, or taking a food tour. Speaking of tours, booking a private tour is one luxury splurge Steves recommends, and the experience offers a built-in friend (that you happen to be paying). Not only will a personal guide give you intriguing insights into the culture and history, but they can also recommend offbeat hotspots well beyond the regular tourist haunts. If you can't quite swing a private tour, Steves recommends joining a group walking tour to save money, which is also a great way to meet new people while seeing the sights.

Outside of tours, key into the local community by booking a room in a house or bed-and-breakfast, especially one with a chatty owner. Head to a community event, be it a church service or a sporting match, for an invaluable window into daily life. If you have a niche interest, like birdwatching or geocaching, chances are someone in the place you're visiting is interested, too — check social media for meet-ups. As Steves shares, "Wherever you travel, find ways to really be there," and your experience will likely be anything but "flat."