Hi, I suggest you go to your local library and check out several guidebooks (Fodors, Frommers, Lonely Planet, Rick Steves, etc.). Research each city one at a time, and you will quickly be able to narrow down what you are interested in seeing on your trip. <BR><BR>The guidebooks will recommend tour guides for particular sights, some of which have already been recommended here. You might want to hire day guides for Rome. I have never used a guide in Venice, just the audio guide you can rent at the Doge's Palace.<BR><BR>Both Rome and Venice are easy to do on your own if you walk and use public transportation, and getting lost in Venice is half the fun!<BR><BR>Try to avoid museum burnout by mixing in other types of activities.

I've been on my own and also on a tour, they were both fun. I really think you should look at your personality and it will tell you what you should do.<BR><BR>My girlfriend loves to make plans. She loves looking for great airline prices, finding good values for hotel rooms, she's also a great map reader.<BR><BR>I am a very outgoing person, I will talk to and ask anyone a question when we need to find out something. Together we make a good team.<BR><BR>You should allways do what makes you the most comfortable, it doesn't matter.<BR><BR>Tour?<BR>on your own?<BR><BR>Who knows<BR><BR>see ya later

Macy,<BR><BR>We just got back from 2 1/2 weeks in Italy on our own. I did the same thing- tour or not? Both will result in a wonderful trip for you. I made my final decision because at the time I was planning the trip, 9/11 happened, and I wanted to be able to cancel and get my money back if something happened and I became chicken to fly. We used frequent flyer miles to get over and scheduled those in august before the towers collapsed.<BR><BR>In doing the research, I found this board. The best advice I got here. I used Rick Steves and our least favorite hotel was one of his splurges. We did use his guide book for places we wanted to know a little about and restaurants.<BR>Things I learned for the next trip if you are traveling independently:<BR><BR>Put out your clothes that you plan to take-remove three fourths of them. Pack light!<BR>Plan on doing wash. It takes an hour at a laundromat, and having to deal with less stuff including toiletries is great. <BR><BR>Know that you will make mistakes, and know those are the things that you laugh about when you get home.<BR><BR>I can't wait to go back. Too bad we'll have 2 kids in college next year, so that will probably be out of the question. But I can dream!<BR><BR>Debby