We are gpoing to Italy for the first time. We are looking at a 12 day escorted trip arriving in Milan then Lugano, Venice,Florence,Sorrento and Rome with the flight home.
We are in need of help with. 1.Should we have dinners on our own or with the pre planned tour group
2. Anything or place that we have to see outside of these big cities.

Thanks
J

Do you have to go on an escorted trip? Have you looked into an independent trip?

Assuming that the tour offers you two different prices - one w/dinners included and one w/o dinners, I would do the dinners on my own if I were you.


"Anything or place that we have to see outside of these big cities"

There is a lifetime of things to see in and outside of these big cities.

You will not have as genuine a travel experience with a tour. I have been to Europe many times and on a tour (Italy) once when I filled in for a family member who could not go at last minute and had no insurance. I had been to Italy twice before and hated this tour. What was really annoying was the emphasis on "shopping" at designated places so the guide could get their cut of the sales, (I'm sure). We had to spend so much time at the inlaid wood factory on our way to Florence that when we got there it was getting too late to go our and about wandering and only one day was to be in Florence...such a shame..

You can plan everything yourself with the help of this site and others. Friends, first time abroad, just got back from a trip to Italy that they did on their own and loved the experience.
Italy is just so beautiful, has so much to see and a lot of that is not in the big cities. Also be aware that you will have to stay in mostly big hotels with not much character, eating probably just so-so food.

With 6 places in 12 days, you definitely won't have time to see anything outside these cities. You will barely have any time in any of the cities! You will spend most of your time on the bus or train getting to the next stop.

As others have said, it would be easy to plan a trip yourself, and with 12 days, pick no more than 3 places. I would suggest Venice, Florence and Rome. If you insist on the tour, try to find one with fewer stops in 12 days.

Understanding that on your first trip -- and for many people, they're only trip -- to Europe, you may want to see any number of cities in a small amount of time. But to the extent you are going on an escorted trip, which inherently may be "canned" to what they choose to select for you to see, I would wholeheartedly recommend that you at least either (a) consult reputable tour books or (b) just explore on your own, those restaurants that appear promising to you for any reason that pleases you most. I would further suggest you definitely put a toe, if not a whole foot into those places where tourists are few, and seem like family run establishments. In this fashion you will get the truest and must authentic travel experience with the locals. This is the mantra of Rick Steves and for wonderful reason. So YES -- dinners on your own. I'll bet you deserve to award yourself that modicum of independence.

Above all, be open-minded and let whatever happens, happen!

A lot of escorted tours do not use hotels near city centers because it is cheaper on the city edges. Therefore, your dinner options may be very limited.

Thank you all for your reply's. Im sure I'll be back on with sugestions for lunch and dinners
JW

To go on a tour or not , that is the big question.

I prefer to go on my own . Be my own boss. It is not difficult if you do some homework which in turn will help you to enjoy more, appreciate more. Sometimes you would feel you did the wrong choice but many times you would be delighted to have done the right one.

Tour meals are usual not very good. Maybe your tour company will do better than some I've been on.

In hindsight, wherever possible I would skip the included dinner and go on my own. I'm not a "foodie" but, really, tour food is generally quite poor. Edible but......

The tour you mention will be moving fast but if you'd rather see quick glimpses of these cities, then go for it. You will go back, probably on your own next time. I doubt you will have any time to go out on your own during the day. The thing about tours is you have to be back at the bus to get to the next location.