There’s a difference between wanting to go away and needing to go away.
I needed to go away — like needed needed. Let’s just say there was some boy drama. I’ll spare you the details.
It was spring — the season of new beginnings — and I was fully in my “new year, new me” era. You know the feeling.
But once the energy kicked in, so did the questions: Where? With whom? How?
After exhausting myself into complete mental paralysis (a specialty of mine), clarity finally showed up — in that fuzzy in-between state of sleep and waking — I literally sprang out of bed with a single, very clear thought:
Rick Steves!
And that’s how this scrapbook began.
The Backstory
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I’m Alisa from Baltimore, Maryland, and I’ve spent most of my career working remotely — a setup that’s given me flexibility, independence, and a lot of time at home.
My constant companion is my 22-year-old Senegal parrot, Oscar. A few years ago, Oscar shocked me by laying an egg — so now she’s technically Oscarella. Either way, we’re the best of friends and proof that love comes in many forms.
And while home is comfortable, I’ve always been most energized by places where life unfolds out in the open — walkable cities, plazas, cafes, long evenings, and the simple pleasure of being among people.
Travel is where I trade my computer screen for sidewalks and rejoin the flow of real life — something I needed now more than ever.
Which brings me here: my first Rick Steves tour and the start of a new chapter— Oscar approved.
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Quality. Value. Ethics.
Rick Steves tours are structured differently. His philosophy isn’t built around shopping stops or tip-dependent experiences. The guides are paid a salary— so they have your best interest in mind.
Once you pay, you’re done - no tips for drivers, no surprise add-on expenses, no worrying about calculating or carrying cash.
The hotels are vetted for comfort and location, and breakfasts are included.
He also works to mitigate environmental impact.
They even provide an incredibly detailed guidebook along with a thoughtful tour kit, including a map, choice of travel gift, and even earplugs for the flight. Every detail felt considered.
The combination of quality, value, and ethics made the decision easy.
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While I love the idea of a fully guided tour, for this trip the Rick Steves’ My Way® European Vacations stood out.
They offered exactly what I was looking for — a thoughtfully planned itinerary, perfectly central hotels booked, bus and train transportation in between cities handled, and a tour manager there for support along the way. That meant the days and nights were mine to own. I could still chart my own path.
Sleep in. Stay out late. Linger.
Logistics handled. Freedom intact. The perfect balance.
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All the My Way® tours were tempting in their own way — but Spain kept pulling me in.
It felt lively, colorful, and full of energy. And the fact that I’d been taking Spanish lessons twice a week for almost a year (and desperately needed practice) only sealed it.
My Way® Spain in 11 Days. Here I come.
Easy as Uno, Dos, Tres
Once I chose Spain, everything fell into place. A few taps on my phone and I was booked for an unforgettable journey only weeks away — just like that, my future felt different. Voilà! — oops, that’s French.
Clearly, I still had a lot to learn.
Thankfully, the Rick Steves Spain guidebook soon arrived in the mail, and my evenings were spent flipping through its pages — marking favorite restaurants and booking advance tickets to key sites, while still leaving room for spontaneity. From decision to departure, it all happened so fast.
Everything I needed was squeezed into a single carry-on and suddenly, it was happening.