jaimeenid

we are not big on tours as we know them because we like doing things on our own time in and planning our trips ourselves. until now.. we're in our late 60's - early 70's we've begun to think it would be nice to have things pretty much arranged for us so we can be free to investigate on our own once we're there.
someone suggested we contact a group called "Untours".
http://www.untours.com/venice
They arrange everything from air travel - transp to and from airports -to apartment rentals as well as someone who is available during the trip to offer suggestions while in the country. (in our case Italy).
has anyone here heard and/or availed themselves of this group? it certainly would help us decide whether or not to use them.

kybourbon

If you enter it in the search function, you will find some threads about Untours.

MmePerdu

I believe Untours is a well-thought-of company and they've been around long enough to have plenty of reviews. I considered using them at one time and as I become more experienced in making arrangements for myself, decided the premium they charged for plugging us into their system seemed a hefty one and so I never used them.

I imagine it depends entirely on whether cost is of concern. If what they charge seems reasonable to you then, certainly, the company is worth considering. Read all the current reviews you can find.

From my perspective, if staying in 1 or 2 locations is what you like, as I do, then doing just a bit of work yourself will likely translate into staying something like twice as long as buying an Untour.

mokka4

I have used Untours 4x in the past, for Germany and Switzerland. Everything went smoothly and well. I would recommend them to novice travelers or those that want the comfort of a "frame support work" in a foreign land. I 'graduated' from Untours 16 or so years ago, when I decided to explore more deeply in areas that they did not serve. But they turned me onto the "apartment as home" concept, getting to know your local neighborhood, and visiting small town events--which I do to this day. They are an excellent alternative to herded/guided tours!

Leyden

We have used Untours in Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. They are very clear about what they provide and they really deliver what they promise. Great people to deal with.

jaimeenid

Thanks everyone...Good info as always. I think we'll continue to explore and plan on our own as cost is a consideration.
I guess if we were going someplace other than Italy (we've been there before) it might make sense. I sure wish our travel agent didn't go out of business - we loved having first hand knowledge especially places to stay.