Dianne

Cosmos! As long as you don't need to stay at Hiltons and Sheratons. They attract a lot of younger people because it's a budget company, but not TOO budget. They have a wide selection of Italy tours. I did one of them in 1999 and I'm taking a different one this Christmas!

Lane

I would have to recommend them. They were simply fantastic! I have traveled with many a tour company and have found them to be the best thus far.<BR>Times change, companies change so one never knows. It is the political jargon which is trepassing our souls whilst we travel.<BR>This is a common worry, I know. I bring as many plastic bags as one can carry in order to prevent these situations.<BR>Feel free to contact me or someone else with any questions.<BR>Lane

anon

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/travelcheap2000/join

Tristan

Lane...<BR>....What the?????

??

I think he started answering this post, then forgot where he was and finished answering a different one!

june

Be sure to check out the tour hotels locations on the internet. Trafalgar has good hotels but often way out of the way. If you want to do any sightseeing on your own, it is very difficult if your hotel is away from the main tourist areas. I do think that tours offer a lot for the money. We have been to Ireland on Celtic Tours - best tour director we've had. We have taken two tours with Trafalgar. The directors were very knowledgeable and we saw a lot. The hotels were often way out of the city and we had to use a bit of our time on finding our way on public transportation. I also don't like the idea of so many expensive optionals. We also got tired of the tour bus routine. Most afternoons nearly the whole bus fell asleep (not the driver!)and that's a waste of your time.<BR><BR>We took our best tour with smartours to Scandinavia. Most sightseeing was included. We tooke two plane flights within Scandinavia and had an overnight on a ship...Hotels in very good locations. Check them out.<BR><BR>We are planning our Italy trip on our own as we don't want a lot of time on tour buses. It will be a challenge to get in as much as the tours do.

anne

I recently went on an art, cooking and wine tour of Tuscany with Italian Gusto and absolutely LOVED it! The owners are old friends and travel with the groups, which they keep small. They know the people at the restaurants, vineyards, etc. so well, it actually feels like you're part of the culture rather than a tourist. It was interesting and great, great fun! They can be found at www.italiangusto.com

antbry

WE have used Club ABC Tours for our Italy trips - Did Sorrento, Rome, Florence and day in Venice - Hotels were great (stayed at same hotels as Perillo tours, but our trip cost less - Our tour guides stayed with us throughout trip, were very knowledgable and knew how to get us in and out of lines easily. - Last year took the Sicily (Palermo, Argiento, Teramino) Again, no problems, reasonable. As a matter of fact, we are leaving with Club ABC again for the Tuscany tour. Would not even consider another tour group. The buses were always knew, had bathrooms -- the the drivers with A-1. You must join the club - $35 membership for 2 years but worth it. If you need any more info, please give me a holler -

Susan_H

antbry, I have been on several smartours trips and some people on the tours mentioned ABC Club tours. How do you get in touch with them? Do they have an email address? Could you send it to me, please at [email protected]. Thanks.

joyyyyyyyyyy

Please do yourself a favor and do not use trafalgar. Hotels were always far out of the city centers where there was not anything to see or do. I guess you get what you pay for. I don't take tours anymore. Rent houses and a car and meet the locals

Lesli

Susan H -

http://www.clubabc.com/

(Found easily by typing &quot;Club ABC Tours&quot; into Google, Yahoo, or a similar search engine.)

Susan_H

Thanks, Lesli, for some reason I could never seem to locate it, but I was typing &quot;ABC Tours&quot;.