Rick Steves' Warm-Hearted Advice To Make The Most Of Your International Travels

When we think of souvenirs, we often picture things like magnets, keychains, or postcards that we tuck away into our bags to bring home. But seasoned travelers know the most meaningful souvenirs can't be bought in a shop. They come from moments of connection, small surprises, and experiences that sneak up on you when you're open to them. When I look back at the past decade of travel, I'm always struck by how the experiences I cherish most rarely came with a price tag. They weren't the big-ticket excursions or the glossy tours I signed up for. More often than not, they were the small, serendipitous encounters that unfolded because I left myself open to them. European travel expert Rick Steves, although a big proponent of joining tours, has a heartfelt suggestion when it comes to making the most of your journeys. One of his articles, Rick suggests travelers be "open to new experiences." 

Take a trip to Ireland, for example. You might spend the day exploring windswept cliffs or medieval ruins, but then your innkeeper invites you to the pub for a traditional music session. Before long, you're clapping along to fiddles and bodhráns, trading travel stories with locals who treat you like an old friend over a Guinness. In Italy's countryside, it could be a last-minute invitation to help roll out pasta in a farmhouse kitchen, a glass of Chianti nearby, while nonna explains the secret to a perfect tagliatelle. In France, it might be a spontaneous round of bocce ball under the plane trees, glass of wine in hand, with locals who are delighted to show you how it's done. What's remarkable about these moments is that they cost nothing — and yet, when you revisit your trip journals years later, they're the ones that have a special place in your heart.

Climbing to the top of the Eiffel Tower is, of course, a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but so is joining in on a a sophisticated picnic amongst the locals below its shadow at sunset. Walking to the Parthenon is unforgettable, but so is the laughter and drinks shared among tourists and locals alike at Mars Hill, just below the towering historical monument. These encounters ground you in the daily life of the place, connecting you with the culture in a way no guided tour ever could. My advice? Travel with a sense of openness. Don't fill your itinerary so full that you have no room for spontaneity. Linger at a café. Say yes to that unexpected invitation. Strike up conversations with locals, even if your language skills are patchy. You'll be surprised how often a simple "hello" leads to a connection, and how often those connections lead to your fondest travel memories.

Finding free tours and experiences — like being welcomed into a neighborhood game or going on a walking tour with a local who wants to show you their favorite corner of town — delivers more value than any souvenir shop ever could. They're reminders that the essence of travel isn't about collecting things, but about collecting stories. So the next time you're out exploring, keep your eyes open for the little invitations the world offers. Whether it's a seat at the local pub's trivia night, a family who waves you into their courtyard, or a friendly competitor with a pétanque ball in hand, say yes. Years from now, when the details of museum hours and train schedules fade, you'll still be able to close your eyes and recall those moments with perfect clarity, and according to Rick, "these tips bring you rich experiences that become inelible memories ... the kind of souvenirs you'll enjoy for a lifetime."