Pat Bedard, Editor & Publisher of The European Traveller, founded the company in 1995, fueled by her disappointment with the quality of information in most guidebooks and the lack of dependable travel information in the industry. A Philadelphia Main Line native, she has been traveling to Europe extensively since her student days. Since starting the company, she has traveled anonymously to Europe for several months each year to personally research and evaluate all of the recommendations featured in each issue. Now, 15 years and thousands of subscribers later, The European Traveller has become the most respected and reliable travel resource for discriminating travelers to Europe.

What makes us different?

Nearly everything. The type of information (unusually candid), the manner in which it is acquired (anonymously while paying for services) and the way it is disseminated (no advertising and completely subscriber supported). Why is that important?

Because, whether it's a color brochure or a slick new website, every hotel and restaurant is naturally putting their "best" foot forward to acquire new business, and it can quickly become a very different story once you arrive. We have all experienced the hotel room that bears no physical resemblance to its website, the lovely hotel with the lousy location or the "great" hotel with the not-so-great room. And, since hotels are a major line item for any trip, mistakes can prove expensive as well as disappointing.

"I travel anonymously because known travel writers get the red carpet treatment and I want to know how my subscribers will be treated. (The publication is completely subscriber supported.) I don't accept any paid advertising so there is no implied obligation to any hotels or advertisers. And, I pay for all travel expenses at the going rate to assure my ability to be completely honest because my only obligation is to my readers.

Final note: The European Traveller newsletter respectfully reserves the right to stop taking subscription orders at any time and place potential subscribers on a waiting list if the demand should exceed what we feel is reasonable to protect the exclusive nature of the information in the publication.