In 2012, I had the pleasure of interviewing one of my travel idols, Rick Steves. Today I’m pleased to interview his son, Andy Steves, who has become a travel expert in his own right with his company Weekend Student Adventures. He organizes tours for study abroad students and travelers in Europe.
What made you want to start Weekend Student Adventures?
Growing up traveling with my dad and my family, I learned that really diving into a culture to experience the local flavor makes a trip that much more memorable. When I studied abroad in Rome during my junior year at Notre Dame, I realized that many of my friends didn’t know much about getting around Europe, so I was happy to help organize trips for our group, and we had a blast in the process.
This is when the idea came to me– there are tons of guide books out there, my dad’s included, but they are hundreds of pages and designed for someone who has some time to explore an entire country. Study abroad students have quick weekend breaks and are extremely budget conscious, so I set out to create resources to cater to this type of traveler. This is when WSA was born, and the rest is history!
How does WSA differ from other tour companies?
I knew there were other companies out there, but I hadn’t experienced any trips that focused on efficient sightseeing and unique experiences. Each of our trip connects you with a local guide who spends the weekend showing you around his or her hometown, rather than other companies who send you with a recent college grad who may or may not have even been to the destination before.
Throughout the weekend, we include experiences in the destination, from skipping the line into sights and bike tours to pancake brunches and boat cruises. I designed WSA for those that want more than a Facebook photo of the Eiffel Tower, but want to learn why it’s there and where to buy groceries for a picnic lunch in its shadow.
Can you tell our readers a bit about Detours and how they differ from your other tours?
We actually just launched Detours this summer after receiving tons of inquiries about traveling on weekends we didn’t offer a trip or people asking for our tips in a city. We work to put people in the right place at the right time, and wanted to be able to share this expertise with not only students on our weekend trips, but with those coming over for business, traveling during the weeks, young adults on honeymoons, etc.
Detours include the same value as our weekend trips, but they are guided – the “un-tour” as we say ;). Each comes with accommodation bookings, reservations at the key sights, experiences such as a bike tour or flamenco show and a City Guide with a brief history, recommended itinerary and our favorite spots in town. It’s a great way for independent travelers to get the insider track, but then explore the city at their own pace. We’re excited to see how they take off!
Why is studying abroad such an important part of the college experience?
For many, me included, studying abroad is the first time you are on your own in the world– grocery shopping, traveling, studying, exploring, working– independently. I’d traveled for 20 years with my family, but this was my first time to really chase down my own interests and define my personal experience.
Really taking the time to dig deep and figure out what you’re into is so important when studying abroad. Whether it’s running, yoga, painting, music or history, pursuing your own passions within a new country and culture is what will make a study abroad experience life changing.
What’s the biggest misconception about studying abroad?
Now that I’m immersed in this industry, I know the possibilities within study abroad. Prior though, when I was looking to study abroad myself, I was only aware of the destination options that had contracts with my school. For the motivated student, there are many more options than this, and you can take it upon yourself to enroll in a study abroad program anywhere in the world.
The opportunities are endless, but might not be presented to you by your university. It’s incredible what some people do, and I wish I had known more about this during my exploratory process.
Which European city do you feel most at home in and why?
I absolutely love Holland and Amsterdam. Being from Seattle, I appreciate a city not only near to the water, but also that holds liberal views and works together as a successful community. The Netherlands are a great cultural study in education, healthcare, business practices, active lifestyles and English!
Many Dutch people actually have better English grammar than those of us who grew up speaking it as our first language. I actually have a bike that I own in Amsterdam and leave locked up when I’m not in town, and each time I go back, it’s so refreshing to hop on two wheels and commute into the city for work, watching Dutch youngsters, families and grandparents ride by.
I also love Stockholm, Budapest, Madrid, Barcelona, Berlin– still finding new favorites and can’t wait to continue exploring further east!
What’s next for WSA?
We’re currently in the process of expanding our team! As a start up, there are several hurdles that you push for– getting out of the red, establishing a brand, and for us, now hiring new people! We are a motivated, passionate bunch, so trying to find the right person is a difficult task, but we are up for the challenge.
We love our lineup of trips right now, and look forward to working to continue to help more and more students make the most of their travels in the future. If you know anyone looking to join a hungry travel company for little pay but incredible experiences, let us know :).
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