mohun

We're now both at Social Security ages but we've been fortunate to have been about to enjoy four or five European trips since 2000. We're still solid walkers and, on a good day, can still do a few tourist miles on foot. (In fact, last summer, we were in London and walked from our Shakespeare experience at the Globe on the south Bank of the Thames to our flat in Knightsbridge/South Kensington.

We've never been comfotable with driving in Europe (we've even had dicey experiences in Montreal) so we've always traveled by rail pretty efficiently; howeer, our rail travel hass limited our touring to cities as contrasted with pleasant and interesting rural areas. Because of our ages, we also strongly prefer our privacy and "en suite" facilities so we've always stayed in 3-star hotels (but not at 4 or 5, or modern American-type chains).

We've liketo explore a Tuscan trip and accept that we will for the first time travel with a tour. Are there tours and places in Tuscany and/or the P{iedmont that will give us good bus access, yet provide accomodations fairly similar tho those we've enjoyed to date? While we quite enjoy Rick Stves' programs and have always purchased our railpasses through his offices, we're really looking for a fairly small tour group operation in which we can lodge in the equivalent, but rural, rooms to the 3-star hotels we've enjoyed so far.

Flame123

I think you will find that most people who post here are pretty independent travelers. I have no tour group suggestions to give you. BUT I do have another suggestion for you that may fit your requirements. Have you thought about getting to a place in Tuscany (there are so many beautiful places there) and then take day trips with an independent tour guide/driver? I can highly recommend Luca Garrapa (as can many others on this board - do a search if you like). He is a very friendly, intelligent and fun young man who we used on two separate touring days about 4 years ago (when I was with my sister and Mom who has walking difficulties) and we loved them. He grew up and lives in the Siena area, knows the area perfectly, can tailor-make your tours to whatever you like and want. He is an excellent and safe driver and his van is very comfortable.

In between he has also started doing some small group tours (ours was private and individually tailored to our needs and desires) which are even less expensive.

His website is www.hillsandroads.com and I can recommend him ever so highly.

zeppole

You might want to also post your question on Frommer's, since this board, as Flame123 mentioned. is dominated by people who don't take group tours and mostly discourage other people from considering them.

mohun

Thanks for th helpful tips. This site has always been hgelpful to us because, up to this time, we've been independent travlers and have never taken any tour (except for couple-hour boat trips on the Rhine, Thames, Charles, Seine and Danube). Part of the travel enjoyment for us has been in putting together our own itineraries with 3- to 7-day stays in the cities of our choice, with our own plans for historic site and interesting eating places, and then making the appropriate reservations on-line. (My wife's job constrains us to travel only in the high season so we don't have the flexibility of traveling without reservations).

swandav2000

Hi mogun,

You may want to investigate something like Randonnee Tours, which let you design your own walking or biking tour. they have both cycling and walking vacations for Tuscany. Here's the site:

http://www.randonneetours.com/

I've wanted to take one of their tours for years but just haven't gotten around to it!

s