My husband and I would like to book an escorted tour to the Amalfi Coast for October 2008. We are interested in one that is between 10-14 days, stays in "nice" hotels (at least 3 stars and not quaint inns) and is not more than 20 people. Also we do not want one that includes all dinners in hotels as part of any trip is exploring the native cuisine on your own. We know Tauck is the best but far more expensive than most, at over $10,000 for air and land for just 8 days. Perrillo includes dinners every night in the hotel, Grand Circle is too old and Overseas Travel stays in rural areas. We are around 50 years old and very active. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Why a tour?
The Amalfi Coast is a much visited locale, and shouldnt be difficult to get to and around without a tour.

Well maybe someone will have a suggestion for you but I'm not sure you will find a tour that stays just in that area for that amount of time. I'm not totally opposed to tours but for what you want it seems that going independently is best. Let us help you plan your custom made trip?! Or maybe check out Gate 1 Tours but I don't know if they offer the Amalfi Coast.

We have only travelled together up to this point alone as a couple and would like a group tour for this trip. It's way more social. I already went to Italy (Rome, Florence, Venice, Miland) when I was single with a girlfriend and this time around we want a different experience.

Hi TW - I think Suec is right.

That coast is not really suited to tour buses (- there's no parking for buses in Positano for a start).

Any tours to that area would most probably base in Sorrento rather than on the Amalfi Coast itself - then you would visit the coast as a day-trip.

Hope this helps ...

Steve

Gate 1 Tours seems like it may offer what we want and the hotels are 4 stars. Also less than half of the dinners are included. Thanks for the tip!

She asked for an escorted tour, steviegene, so what didn't you understand?

Trophywife--I would suggest these two Odysseys Unlimited tours, both include the Amalfi coast. It is a small group tour company (12-24 guests) that uses very good hotels. Some dinners are on your own. I have taken two of their tours and would recommend them highly.

The first tour is 15 days to Sicily and Southern Italy (including the Amalfi coast)
http://www.odysseys-unlimited.com/to...cfm?tourid=111

The second tour is called Portrait of Italy and is 17 days from Naples to Venice (also includes the Amalfi coast.
http://www.odysseys-unlimited.com/to...cfm?tourid=111

Good luck in your search. Sometimes organized tours are the way to go. I have done several and I and Husband have also driven all over Europe on our own.

Margo

whats with the rudeness margo?
I asked a question - god forbid.

Margo, thanks for all the info., you must live on the East Coast, you're organized like me. And no fighting with Steve please.

Not intending to fight, just expressing frustration when a poster asks a specific question like wanting a tour suggestion and someone gives a totally different opinion.

Also among this gripe is the one where a poster will ask about a driving tour to somewhere, say Switzerland, and will get the answer that they should take the train. Or the other way--wants to take a train and someone says they should drive.

Just letting off steam, I guess. No offense meant.

Margo

Also, just as a comment about the Grand Circle tours and you are not THAT old, I have traveled with them extensively since I was about your age and that group could possibly give you a JOLT at how active a lot of them are. NO OLD FOGIES THERE. Good, I feel better now. Halfpint

trophywife27 (love that title, is that your situation?) Another small group tour that I can vouch for is Road Scholar, the younger persons Elderhostel. It has a tour that spends 9 whole days along the Amalfi coast. It is based in Sorrento at a 4 star hotel.. I actually liked Sorrento--interesting old town with a nice position on the sea. The website is below:
http://www.roadscholar.org/prog/adv-...v%2Dmain%2Easp

I have done several 4 Road Scholar trips, in fact Husband and I are leaving in 5 days for the Mekong Delta, including Thailand/Laos/Cambodia/Vietnam with
RS tours. Usually Road Scholar tours are like most tours--most people are 50+, after all that is the group that has the time and money to go touring.

What I like about RS tours are that they are all inclusive--no optional things added and most meals are included and are at local restaurants or other places--like in Queensland, Aust. we had breakfast with the birds in a bird park. Funny, I know!

Let us know what you decide.
Margo

Because of the nature of the region, you’d best be served by a company that does small tours – and that usually means around 15 people or less.

I don’t have any first hand knowledge about these tour companies . . . found them by running a Google search. That being said, I’d investigate one of the “Amalfi Life’s” tour, specifically the “Walks and Hikes on Italy's Amalfi Coast” --- my suggestion is based on the itinerary & hotel choices (3 nights - Hotel Luna Convento, Amalfi; 4 nights - Hotel Palazzo Murat, Positano).

http://www.amalfilife.com/tours.html

http://www.classicaltours.net/tours/?page_id=141

http://www.girosole.com/italy-walkin...oast-walk.html

http://www.backroads.com/trips/WAMI/...st-hiking-tour

Can you walk? There are lots of walking tours.
http://www.goaheadtours.com/master/d...p?tourcode=WAM

Any reports since '08 about how best to experience Amalfi Coast...on your own or with a small tour? We and another couple, also in our 50's, plan to go in May 2010 and would appreciate advice...tour or no tour, best places to stay, any unique experiences to share to make the trip special?

Dieeat:if you click on my name you can find the report for our trip(on our own),last september to the amalfi coast.Lovely stay!!!!!
We are reaching our 60s and we were very comfortable walking and taking the public bus(SITA.Please, don't miss Ravello and Capri.Our base was amalfi,and we were realy comfortable there.
We took a tour to Pompeii.
If you have any questions,I will be glad to answer.I desire a nice stay for you both and your friends...you are so young!!!!

For a tour company, I HIGHLY recommend Insight Vacations. They are a sister company to Trafalgar, but upscale from Trafalgar, and the hotels are always 3 to 4 star and are generally very centrally located.

They have a Southern Italy and Sicily tour for 14 days, as well as others that go into the Amalfi area. I know of no tours that go ONLY to the Amalfi area. They have other tours that also touch on that area. Go to their website and do some research.

http://www.insightvacations.com/us/index.php

Gate 1 is good, but you pay extra for every little thing, as not much is built into the tour package. Depending on the tour, their hotels are usually pretty good.

Gate 1 has an 8 day Rome and Amalfi tour: http://www.gate1travel.com/italy-tra...southit09.aspx which is shorter than you were after.

Gate 1 also has a 14 day Italy and Amalfi tour: http://www.gate1travel.com/italy-tra...4dromit09.aspx plus some that fall between those two.

None of them spend more than 3 days in the Amalfi area.

I'm with you, Margo.