Hello and Happy Sunday Fellow Travelers,

As I continue my travels around the world as much as possible when time allows..
I am looking for suggestions for Italy and France "must sees"....
I am in the beginning stages of planning about a 10 day trip between both countries.
I am looking at cost as well as trying to live the best time possible as well.
I am going for business as I am an Independent Home Based Travel Agent and already receive some amazing travel perks, looking to learn the best possible travel education I can.

Thank you all so much...

age, interests, handicapped, anything else we should know about you, maybe accom cost you like to spend in euros?

Ten days for two countries? Do you have a magic carpet?

You want to see two whole countries in 10 days (which is likely only 8 days on the ground).

How on earth can anyone recommend the 'must sees' over two countries -- some cities in France and Italy have enough 'musts' to individually fill many days. And a whirlwind trip ticking off boxes won't gain you 'the best possible travel education' for your on-line business.

Get some guide books (or even watch some Rick Steves videos) -- decide what YOUR musts are.

Oh dear. Only 10 days for two entire, insanely complicated and bountiful countries?

I find it hard to imagine that anyone would use the services of a home-based travel agent who knows so little about France or Italy that s/he thinks the two countries could be covered in 10 days.

But maybe I'm not understanding what you're up to (which brings up another point, which is that if you can't express yourself clearly, you're probably not all that marketable). What IS it you're looking to do, besides getting "travel perks," which really douses your whole thesis with a splash of self-interest juice and doesn't endear anyone to your "proposition," such as it is.

No disrespect intended, just very curious, as "an Independent Home Based Travel Agent and already receive some amazing travel perks", how do you normally do basic research for your clients to answer questions like those in your post? Also, please tell us how we, too, can receive amazing travel perks.

The "perks" are called "FAM" trips.

https://www.travelagentcentral.com/products/fam

I am surprised they are still offered, and just as surprised there are still travel agents.

"I am going for business as I am an Independent Home Based Travel Agent..."

Who are your clients?

The capricious nuveau riche, old money or the GED crowd?

Thanks, cdnyul, learned something.

I don't know what kind of travel agent would need to ask Fodors forum readers for enough "must-sees" in France and Italy to fill ten days.

Maybe I should be a travel agent.

Besides FAM, she no doubt deducts her travel costs on her income tax return.

Certainly, without knowing what kind of clients and what kinds of trips she is purportedly researching we can't help. Not that it is obvious what she can usefully learn in such a short time in any case.

Besides FAM, she no doubt deducts her travel costs on her income tax return.

Kudos to her for being smart enough to set up a business and deduct these costs as business expenses. That's smart financial planning. The IRS gives new business owners something like 5 years to turn a profit, and one can legitimately deduct business losses in 2 or 3 of those years. The specific rules may have been changed with tax law changes, but I do believe she has several years to become more of an expert and to build a clientele to transform a "hobby" into a "business." The IRS has detailed rules to distinguish hobby from business that she'll need to pay close attention to, hopefully with the help of a CPA.

I have no idea what it takes to be successful as an independent travel agent. I would be wary of any company asking you for $$$ up front to get started with the lure of easy take-home money for yourself.

Maybe she's fishing for new dupes for a pyramid scheme.