I am seeking any recent opinions on escorted tours in Italy. I have read that Tauck is great however is somewhat out of the budget. Most offer a hetic tour or leisure tour. I am going to begin to research this for next year. Most of them all sound very good. It seems I am leaning towards Gate 1, or Insight. We have never been to Italy it is a first, and want to see as much as possible, but have some free time as well. Thanks.

You could also try Perillo. Some online travel agencies offer a 10% discount off of land rates with Tauck if that helps.

Diann,

I just came back from an escorted tour with Insight. I took the "Italian Escapade", it was 14 days (including 2 days in the air). We definitely did a lot, but there were leisure days that I could have sat back and done things on my own, though I chose some of the optional tours and thoroughly enjoyed them.

It was also my first time in Italy and I think it was a great way to see a new country and would do it again in a heart beat.

We just did Globus's Italy's Great Cities. It was our first tour experience and we were surprised by how much we enjoyed it. It was mid-priced and, we thought, a very good value. We picked this particular tour because we had at least 2 nights at each city and plenty of free time. The tour was still faster-paced (and therefore more tiring) than we thought, but we never felt rushed (we had 45 minutes in the Sistene Chapel, for example).

Like you, we'd never been to Italy before and we wanted to get a taste of lots of things, and the tour accomplished that beautifully. We look back on it and can't believe all we saw.

Definitely look up where the listed hotels are--that will really impact your experience and your ability to get out on your own at unscheduled times.

Message: I can highly recommend Collette Tours. I have Taken several .If your a food lover check out the enchanted Itayl tour includes a cooking class. They use some of the Best Hotels qall city locations. Example Regina Palace Stresa It,Hotel and Hotel Continental Santa Margerita It. You have to keep in mind you are on a Tour Not Vacation ! IT IS WORTH IT TO GO A DAY AHEAD! Reserve the same hotel as the tour. You can do it thru the hotel direct. They may honor the tour rate for you .Or book it thru the tour operator ! Book the land only of the trip and book your own airline tickets .