savannah300

I want to take an escorted tour next year to Europe and am researching Globus, Trafalgar, Collette, and Insight. I would appreciate some feed-back about any of these four. I've heard some good things about Insight. Thanks

carolyn

I have used Globus and Insight. Insight was fine, but I believe I prefer Globus. They are really organized and have good guides, plus you get good value for your money.

ira

Hi Savannah,

Have you done a text search on each of these firms? There are some threads mentioning them.

Cynde

I recently came back from a 12-day Trafalgar Tour of Italy called Italy Bellissimo. It started in Rome, then went to Capri, Assisi, Venice, Montecatini, Florence and back to Rome. There were 30 of us on a bus that usually holds around 45 people. I am married but went by myself and I had a lot of fun. The major drawback is that you're limited on time since you have places to be at by a certain time. You're up early, anywhere between 6 and 7 in the morning. The big plus is that you don't have to worry about driving and parking. Your luggage is usually in your room before you reach the hotel. And you can pick whatever optional side tours that your tour offers. Optional tours are tours that aren't included in the price of the tour. So for instance, if you're in Montecatini, you can take an optional tour to Pisa for 40 euro, or you can pass on it and use the time to go shopping or just sleep in. In Venice, there is an optional to go to the isle of Burano and eat a fabulous lunch. I passed on it and spent a whole day shopping in Venice. That was a major accomplishment.

Anyway, do your research on escorted tours. I only did it because I was by myself and I needed a little hand holding. When I go back to Italy this October I will go solo.

Any questions, just back here.

Laters!

lyb

I just did a 14 day tour to Italy with Insight and would highly recommend it. Their hotels (except for 1) are usually in the center of the city as opposed to the outskirts. I have heard that other tour companies have their hotel further out, but then again, you're not in your room alot, so it doesn't matter that much. Example, in Venice, we stayed in Venice itself, apparently, many other tours' hotels are on the mainland.

I loved not having to worry about my luggage or having to figure out if I was on the right road, etc....

I definitely recommend Insight, but I have also heard great things about companies.

Go luck and have a great time planning your trip.

Schildc1

Look up the destinations for Far and Wide, focusing on Grand European Tours. We were extremely satisfied with our 16 day excursion all over France in May.

Italiano

I can highly recommend Collette Tours. I have Taken several . They use some of the Best Hotels . Example Regina Palace Stresa It,Hotel Colon Barcelona 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 .

Intrepid

Our only experience with Trafalgar was mixed and be aware it happened several years ago. We found the hotels used were almost always on the very outskirts of cities or definitely away from the center of things. I have heard this from others as well. We also had a less than happy guide experience who was a last-minute substitute forour France tour and seemed to know little about France..and we had a French bus driver who gotr lost several times. The whole thing kinda soured us and then we realized we could do a lot of planning and traveling on our own and haven't taken any group tours since. I am NOT in any way against group travel because it has MANY advantages. I would simply advise you to plan carefully as you are doing now by getting opinions but please beware that all of these are "opinions" and someone else's "great" or "bad" experience may meet your own standards as to what constitutes great and bad. Good luck and have a wonderful trip!

kybsbfan

We went on the Continental Introduction tour with Globus in March and it was wonderful.

travelinwifey

My parents are on a 2 week Trafalgar tour of Italy as we speak. They are having a terrific time, love their guide, the hotels (I was worried about that) and have made some friends.