It's really interesting that people who have never joined a tour know so much about them, and of course, they are all EXACTLY the same.

Elberko, very true.

For instance I took that tour with my daughter , it was 14 days , we also did another 12 days in Paris and Rome on our own. I travel to Europe independent a fair amount . Thee to five weeks at a time . I book all our hotels , trains , and flights . This year I wrangled up to seven of us for four weeks ,

That tour I took years ago was VERY relaxing .

I

Well, not true for me. I HAVE been on tours. And I HAVE enjoyed them--for the reasons I went on them--Sister City visits, college group (for 6 weeks), etc. they are not relaxing which was the benchmark requested.

@Gretchen - but those sound like very specific kinds of tours, not a basis for generalizing.

We are taking a week long tour as part of an upcoming three week trip.
One location, with day trips, no starts before 9am, three hour lunches, free time late afternoon on, very small groups. Italy with Pleasure.

I think it will be very relaxing, though if I really wanted primarily to relax I would do as St Cirq suggests.

I also think there is a contradiction in doing an organized tour and wanting time to "relax" and refresh on a trip.

If that's the goal, it is easy enough to just fly into one city/region and rent a place to stay for a week or two, and kick back, do a bit of spontaneous sight-seeing or day trips, but mostly just enjoy the city or town you're staying in.

Since you are a self-planner, you could help them. A cottage in the south of France, an apartment overlooking Lac Leman in Switzerland, a townhouse in Amsterdam...

(oh and if they want a tour... yes to Rick Steves!)

While we've traveled independently, I've also done some research on group tours for our family. Rick Steves is a good recommendation and relatively affordable by group tour standards.

I've also found consistently good reviews on Tauck, Adventures by Disney and National Geographic Expeditions. These are on the high end budget wise, but are more luxurious and full service. They feature 4.5/5 star hotels, many meals, airport transfers, luggage handling, special experiences, etc.

Do not discount Adventures by Disney. While it is focused on family travel, they also have adults only trips. The tours have the Disney customer touch but do not feature Disney characters etc. Previous tour participants, including those who have traveled independently, rave about these tours because they can just sit back, relax and enjoy the journey without the usual quotidian hassles of travel.

For more sophisticated and culturally focused tours, Martin Randall gets good reviews and has many unique itineraries. They are also on the high end.

forgot about them... National Geo has some amazing looking tours!! Because I subscribe to their travel magazine, I get lots of catalogs with various organized tour options for all around the world, different lengths, and types of trips.

Gretchen - but those sound like very specific kinds of tours, not a basis for generalizing

Within those tours are the "tour" stuff--you get up and out at 8 o'clock to do such and so--try to infer stuff. LOL, sort of

I can't count the number who have said--make some reservations, go and relax. The guy IS European, I think, or with a lot of European background, married, has a career.

And people have recommended very specific tours. Horse totally done in.

Oh, and then there is the thing about "who" is on the tours--choose an age apporopriate one?

Why not consider a Mediterranean/Greek Island cruise on a higher-end cruise ship? This way they may unpack only once and be really relaxed.

Cruise companies to be considered include: Crystal, Regent of the Seven Seas, Oceania, Seabourn and may be Viking's new ocean cruise ship etc. Choose an itinerary and length that suit them.

<<'Club Med is NOT a tour group. It is a resort operator. It also caters to singles, not couples.'

In the 60's maybe. Now it IS for couples, for families and it does cruises and tours.>>

I wasn't around in the 60s and Club Med has been that way throughout so either your math is wrong or your information. Checking club med's website comes up with . . . RESORTS and activities available from the resorts, not tours.