Very sad today. Given the death, suffering and economic devastation they are causing in Ukraine, Russia's aggression is appalling and at least implicit. Here at Rick Steves Europe we hope that a diplomatic solution will be found and peace will return to this fragile and vulnerable part of our world.
Our mission at RSE is to help Americans get to know and understand our neighbors better through travel. But when we take travelers to another country, we also take their dollars that support Putin's aggression. Therefore, as of today, we have canceled all 2022 tours that include a stop in Russia.
We will certainly be following developments closely and monitoring the impact of travel on the rest of Europe. But it is important to consider the geographical realities and remember that the war in Ukraine is far from our European vacation, the war in Guatemala is far from Texas or Florida. For almost 40 years we have lived, worked and lived through many tragic moments of war in countries far away (and some very close). And we see no reason to change our travel and travel plans at this time.
The sad reality unfolding in Ukraine is just a reminder of how important it is for Americans to continue to travel and make us active citizens of the world. Next month I'm leaving for a 40-day trip to Europe from London to Athens in a dozen major cities, and I'm proud that thousands of my fellow travelers will walk away from a rich learning experience with the dream of Europe. . At home during Rick Steves' 2022 tour.
In the meantime, we are grateful for our blessings, support our nation's leaders as they do all they can to address this crisis, and keep our troubled corners of the world (Ukraine, Russia, Afghanistan, and others) in our thoughts and prayers.
- Rick