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I am looking for recommendations for tours in Italy. Would appreciate input on Globus, Perillo, Trafalger, or any others. We are active seniors, and want to spend as much time as possible sightseeing. Also, what is the best time of year to travel to Italy. <BR>Thank You

This is the same answer as I posted on another recent similar thread.<BR><BR>An option - - which might not occur to many people seeking a tour - - is a small group trip organized through acquaintances over the internet. I have helped to plan, organize and lead one such tour, derived from people who got to know each other from exactly a message such as yours, here on this forum. What month do you have in mind? Any other travelers besides yourself who might be interested in traveling with you?<BR><BR>Providing such information might lead to others identifying themselves to you. There are a number of experienced travlers on this board who might be available to help plan, organize and/or lead such a trip.<BR><BR>I'm sorry that I have no first hand experience about Perrillo Tours to share with you, but they consistently get good remarks here.<BR><BR>Use the search box and type "Perrillo" - - you'll find lots of comments, almost all of them positive.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex Bickers<BR>Westerville, Ohio<BR><BR>

Try Grand Circle. We took 2 tours with them: 1 to Rome, San Remo, Florence, Merano & Venice; the other to Rome, Sorrento, & Taormina.<BR>Both were in the Fall, which I think is a great time to travel in Italy.

I second Susan's opinion. I took a Grand Circle to Spain - very good. I am about to go to italy with them.<BR>

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Had a fantastic two-week American Express tour "Romantic Italy" four years ago. Superb guides. Nice people on tour.

We took a Perillo tour and were very happy with them. We're also active seniors. Also suggest you look in search for Perillo - there have been other posts.

Regarding Rex's suggestion of putting together a group from people you meet on the Internet, do you really want to be responsible for making all the arrangements for not only yourself but for others? Or do you want to trust to someone who doesn't do this for a living things like hiring a bus or arranging for transportation in a foreign country? It is one thing to rent a villa together; conducting a tour is quite trying for professionals. The reason you take a tour is for someone else to coordinate, plan, take responsibility, etc.<BR><BR>Right now I am planning a trip to Russia with a few friends, and already I have had to lay down the law regarding deadlines, basic tour outline, and the like--and that is only for two-three other people who have similar interests and travel styles.

To Marc David:<BR><BR>If I have learned anything in three years here - - it is that my idea of a small group trip, made up of people who get acquainted (initially) only via the internet - - has appeal only to a very, VERY limited number of people. Not one in a hundred who visit here, I suspect. And then, only a small fraction of those would be interested in the same place, the same time of year. And an even smaller percentage of them would want to be the leader and have the experience and interest in doing the plan, organize, lead role. <BR><BR>That doesn't mean it isn't a viable option. And I will continue to mention it as a possibility since it clearly is an uncommon choice. And I have the experience to talk about how it can be done - - enjoyably, affordably (to all, equally), without glitches - - even nine days after a major global terrorist attack.<BR>

tt

Do NOT go on Globus.<BR>

In the Detroit area, there is a club called The Nomads who own their own plane and take trips all over the world. Check them out: www.Nomadstravel.org

Tom -Why not Globus?

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pharah <BR><BR>Rex does have a good idea. I took him up on his offer last year. No regrets. A great time was had by all. If anyone has any questions, e-mail me, take out the obvious in the address.<BR><BR>PS Rex, Looks like I'm going to make China this year after all.<BR><BR>Claye

Great to hear, Claye.<BR><BR>Gosh, do we have some catching up to do!<BR>

I have not gone on these trips personally, but I've heard Maupintours and Tauck World Discovery (www.maupintours.com and www.tauck.com) are excellent. Very expensive, but no additional costs once you get where you are going. You might want to check out the tour section of this site.

pharah<BR><BR>I took a tour of Italy with Trafalgar and it was perfect for me. I went on the Bellisimo Italy for 12 days and we stayed in Rome, Capri, Assisi, Montecatini and Venice. Incredible memories!!!<BR><BR>Sue

Hi pharah, my first trip to Italy was with Perillo and it was fantastic! The bus is very comfortable and the tour guide had some personalty! We were about 40 people on board. We saw so much, and waited on NO LINES! We never felt rushed and they also give you plenty of free time to roam about & shop as you please! All hotels & restaurants were excellent! We were in Rome, Florence, Venice, Verona & Milano.<BR>I recommend Perillo to everyone!

some questions about tours again tonight.<BR>

Toured Eastern Europe with Globus back in 1990 and it couldn't have been better. Much better meals and accommodations than expected. Great tour guide.

I thought that Perillo was great. Dollar for dollar a great value. Tour director @ driver were very helpful. They made the trip a wonderful experience. I highly recomment starting off using a Tour Company the first time to Europe. I'ts a great value for the money, lets you know what you likes and dislikes for future trips.<BR>My only problem: Loud mouth New Yorkers (I got out of there 16 years ago to get away from those people) think being an "Ugly American" is a good thing. Perillo gets most of its clients from the Tri-State area. Many didn't listen to a word the guides had to say. They were rude. How much crap do you think it would take to make the Perillo Tour Director cry? They complained about everything... mindless dribble...they went on how good the Olive Garden is. They came with or shortly set up their little cliques to hog the dinner tables and sat in the back of the bus refusing to rotate when asked by the guide. <BR>Anyway, you might want to research the demographic of the tour companies you travel with.

Just returned from a two week trip with Globus and it was excellent. We toured Switzerland and Austria. Many optionals offered--we took them all and it totaled $800 for 2 people. We had second row seats in a Palace in Vienna to see a classical music concert etc. Would highly recommend. We have also taken Trafalgar Tours which is comparable--with them we toured Italy (an independent tour which is no longer available) and Wonderful France another year. We preferred Globus to Trafalgar overall.<BR>We traveled to the alpine areas in July, France at the end of April and Italy mid-October. We were very fortunate to encounter almost perfect weather on all 3 trips.<BR>We have heard that CIE Tours to Ireland are excellent if you ever have any future interest.<BR>

According to the 2002 Travel and Leisure reader poll, the best Tour operators are:<BR>1. Tauck<BR>2. Abercrobie &Kent<BR>3.Backroads<BR>4. Travcoa<BR>5. Overseas Adventure Travel<BR>6. Micato Safaris<BR>7. CIE Tours International<BR>8 Intrav.<BR>9. Lindlad Expeditions<BR>10. Maupintour<BR><BR>This lists includes tour operators and safari outfitters.

I took Globus' Italian Mosaic two week tour several years ago, and it was a great introduction to so many parts of Italy in a relaxed manner. You stay one place two nights, another one night, etc. Our accommodations were excellent and our guide superb.<BR><BR>After your first introductory tour, go back and spend more time in the places you enjoyed most. That's what I am doing now!

up, for donomyte<BR>

I think May or early June is best time to go to Italy. Good weather less crowded.<BR>We did Trafalgar "Rome and Tuscan Highlights" in June 2001 and it was great. The tour director was very good and the group of people were very nice and diverse. Our group was made up of people from: USA,Australia, So. Africa,Canada, Britain,and Tazmania. Ages from:10 to 80. <BR>We liked the fact that you stayed 6 nights in one place and did day trips, instead of changing hotels every 2 nights. With plenty of optional tours if you want to see more than the trip covers.<BR>Also Trafalgar is fairly inexpensive compared to some others.

Frank, LOL Tauck is based in Westport, Ct but there is always at least ONE who tries to take over the tour.

Took a 3 week tour with Grand Circle Travel to Italy this summer and it was our best vacation ever. Wonderful hotels, trains, buses, tours, boat rides etc. were all well organized and informative. Program Director traveled with us the whole time and was superb. I highly recommend GCT.

My friend and I are planning on taking a tour to Italy next October. We are thinking of taking a Trafalgar tour or a Go Ahead Vacations tour. Have heard good things about Trafalgar from various people but no one seems to have heard of Go Ahead Vacations. Does anyone have info re them.<BR>

Go with Go Ahead, you won't be disappointed. You can do a site search for comments under &quot;Go Ahead&quot;.

As others have noted, Grand Circle is a very well organized company with several different trips in Italy. They are moderately priced, and well paced. Have been on several and cannot remember ever being less than 3 nights in one place, which we especially appreciate.

Globus is EXCELLENT!!! Went recently to Europe and they have improved nicely with age.<BR>Hotels were centrally located- as a matter of fact, we stayed in the same hotels as Tauck Tours- food was fabulous and many of the included meals were in local restaurants and lots of sightseeing!<BR>Next years brochure looks wonderful. I'm going again!<BR>PS; my travel agent was the one to recommend them and I am so grateful!<BR>Kelley

I agree Kelley. I think the Globus/Cosmos company actually reads those tour evaluations they hand out at the end of the trips. They do seem to be getting better and better.

topping<BR>

Is it go ahead or do you mean Gotoday.com I have heard very good things about gotoday. I have never heard any negative replies about them.

Try Rick Steves. He does Italy tours.

I agree about Globus. Even Cosmos has improved over the last couple of years. This year, I did a Tauck tour and a then a Globus tour. Believe it or not, I liked the Globus tour a little better. There was more than enough food included and it was delightful. I think both companies include too much food anyway. I prefer finding my own little haunts.<BR>I will travel Globus again because I won't have to spend as much. Even when adding in the optional extra's, which weren't that many, it still didn't come close to the incredible amounts Tauck charge.

goahead?<BR><BR>Go Ahead Vacations is a tour company, unconnected to the one you mentioned. Go Ahead is associated with ET Tours which are educational tours.<BR><BR>

Quick question about demographics - <BR><BR>My sister and I are looking for a tour in Italy, and we're in our late 20s.<BR><BR>While we wouldn't mind being the youngest people on the tour, we'd prefer not to be the youngest by 30 years.<BR><BR>Contiki doesn't seem to be going where we'd like to go. Any other companies that appeal to multiple age groups?