Hi, I'm Rick Steeves. I'm lucky enough to go to Europe every summer, but for a lot of people, a European vacation is a once-in-the-lifetime experience.

For the first-timer, planning your own itinerary, figuring out the train schedules, choosing hotels and dealing with unfamiliar currencies and languages can take the fun out of their vacation. So many opt for a package tour. A package tour can be a great value if you know your options and choose the right one.

Coming up on this edition of Travel with Rick Steves, Rick Hayes and a Chicago-based consultant

for Big Tour companies gives us an inside look at what I call Big Bus Tours.

It's important to understand how the industry works so you can get the most out of it and it won't get the most out of you.

When it comes to the Big Bus Tours,

savvy travelers get more out of every mile minute and dollar. An insider's

look at the tour industry. It's coming right up on travel with Rickeeves. Stay with us.

Travel with us.

Travel with Rick Steeves is brought to you by American Airlines with their new Advantage Award booking tool, it's easier than ever to book to

over 800 Advantage Award destinations online at AA.com.

American Airlines knows why you fly. I'm Rick

Steves. This is Travel with Rick Steves and right now we're going to talk big

buses. We're going to talk big bus Tourism and Consumer Tips.

So I've got with me a man who earns his living as a consultant for tour companies.

And he knows how tour companies work from behind the scenes.

He built his own tour company,

a PRISM holidays, and sold that company and now he works as a consultant helping

other tour companies make their business and do their business well.

Rick Hazen, thank you for joining us.

Thank you for having me.

Rick, American travelers, many of us go on our own independently,

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