Best tour company to Italy from Canada?
 

Trying to organize a trip for newlyweds(30 years old) to Italy.They have never been. Which tour company would you recommend? I don't think they want Contiki.

hi horatio,

not sure you're in the right place.

most posters here are here to swap ideas and tips for independent travel.

I'm sure that if the couple have some specific ideas in mind [time of year, length of trip, budget, possible destinations] the experts here could put together some trip suggestions.

or if you find a tour, they will "critique" it for you.

most of us here find organised tours poor value and too rushed. you may of course be lucky and find a better one.

good luck with your planning,

regards, ann

Dh and I have traveled several times with Globus and have always been very happy with them.Globus has a really nice tour that spends 3 days in Rome,3 days in Tuscany(1 day in Florence) and 3 days in Venice. DH and I did this tour last spring but also added an additional 3 days in Rome at the beginning before the start of the tour at a lovely small non Globus hotel, and an additional 2 days in Venice at the end.It was wonderful with lots of free time but the additional benefit of having your breakfast,daily city tour,transportation and hotels all taken care of.

Thanks..exactly what I wanted..info like this...do you know anything about the Rick Steves tours...not for this age group?

Hi H,

It is so easy to plan a visit to Italy on your own, that it is not worth paying extra for a tour.

DIY will allow them to go WHERE they want to go, WHEN they want to go, and do WHAT they want to do.

How interested will they be in being packed and ready to get on abus at 07:00?

How many days?
What places to visit?
What's the budget.

((I))

Many folks don't want the hassle of planning and executing a trip themselves especially in a county where they don't speak the language. Different strokes for different folks.

While I can't speak for all tour company experiences, we did take a RS tour to France last year and enjoyed it thoroughly. So much so that we are booked for one of their Italian tours next year. The small group size is a bonus and lets you experience things on a smaller scale. While there are lots of planned activites, there is also lots of free time to do things you want to do (even if that includes sleeping in or having an afternoon siesta). On our tour the age range was from about 30 to 70 although every one on the tour was what I consider an active person.
If you want to experience Italy through an organized tour group, check out their website for the tour that most meets your interests.

P.S. We're from Canada too, SW Ontario

I just returned from my 5th Tauck tour, and there was a couple from Canada on it. Two of the Tauck tours I have taken were to Italy (Classic Italy and Venice, Florence, Rome & the Lakes) so I can vouch for them as well. The tours stay at luxurious, well-located hotels, and the newlyweds won't have to worry about any logistics they don't want to. They (or their travel agent) would simply select a flight that would arrive in time for them to join up with the tour.

Oops, sorry..I had given up on further reponses. Our family has always done tours DIY thanks to me(smile)! Love planning them. But they are on a tight schedule and can't stay for more than 2 weeks, if even, so they have to do it right. Pros and cons to structured tours. When our family did Europe years ago it was fantastic but I am sure we missed "stuff" we could of learned more about on a tour.

Oh yes, and letsgo...I like your idea of 3 days in major centers...thanks.

Is this their honeymoon? You say "newlyweds" - does that mean just married, or that they've been married a few months? Nothing wrong w/ tours. But I'd never EVER plan a group tour for a honeymoon.

Where is the chance to sleep in, to sit and veg out watching the world go by, have a massage or a private walk on the beach??

I agree that a tour is not geat for a honeymoon. Way too many very early morning stats, too many group activities - little time to be alone, for romantic after dinner strolls through flood it piazzas with splashing fountains if you have to be on the but by 7:30 am. Also, way too much time spend on "shoppng" for tsoctskes you don't need.

If they don't want to plan th whole trip I would suggest they do a package that gives yu flights, transfers and a hotel (and you pick the hotel and price you want), Then you can do as you like very day - a lot or a little, depending on mood and how late you've been up the night before.

As for not knowing the language - I've been to Italy at least 12 times, some of it to quite small towns - and we never had a problem - someone either spoke basic english or sign language worked just fine.

Sorry, have not been clear...they just got married but this will not be a honeymoon as it will be for May-June.

Oh - good. That's why I asked. A tour for an "old married couple" :) would be OK.

But honestly - I'd still more recommend a do-it-themselves itinerary. They can always take day trips booked locally if they want some group touring w/o having to hang w/ the same 45 folks every day.

Hmm...okay...