Just returned from Italy trip with globus and was absolutely pleasantly surprised. I have been to Italy before, also have taken separate trips to France, England, spain, Switzerland, Greece. I'm no novice. the Globus trip was great. The tour guide was fantastic, the best I ever experienced. Our driver was also a professional. Great Job. The hotels were all very good except for one. The cicerone in rome, I stayed there before and it is the best. Beautifully redone and wonderfully located. The Bellini in Venice was fantastic. BUT THE SHERATON outside Venice was a horror as was the hotel meal. BUT overall Globus tour director, bus driver, local guides, special trips (by and large - e.g. the Uffizi) were fantastic. I would definitely recommend globus. Besides the big three cities, we even did tuscany and the chianti country which was fabulous. Of course I could make some recommendations but go you will enjoy it even if you have traveled before.

Wag, thanks for the review. I am leaving on Globus' Italy, France +London tour on Sunday. Good to hear you were impressed since I have never used them before. As well, I was considering the optional Uffizi tour-thanks for making up my mind for me.
If you don't mind-did you tip the guide/driver daily? I was considering one lump sum at the end.

We leave next month on the Globus Rome/FLorence/Venice tour with side stops in Pisa and Verona. Globus came highly recommended to us but, it's good to hear an endorsement from a seasoned vet.

I've travelled and lived in Europe (military) but this will be my first trip to Italy and my honey's first sojourn off the American continent so, its especially huge for her!

I'll gladly read any recommendations you have!

We leave in 3 weeks for Globus Italian Mosaic. Glad to hear you enjoyed it. Thanks for posting.

Have done a Globus tour...yes you tip the driver and the tour director. There should be a suggested amount in your documents somewhere..I know there was in mine..at that time..1999..they suggested about 3.00 per day...I think I tipped a bit more than that actually. Those bus drivers are amazing!!!!! We went down a little side street in Paris and I swear there was barely an inch between the bus and the cars parked on both sides of the street..it was more like an alley. Unbelievable. Have a great trip.

Hi

Thanks for the feedback. We have used the budget arm of Globus - Cosmos - on two trips and recommend them highly.

Canuck, yes you tip at the end of the tour. They will recommend you how much but it is really up to you. There is a long discussion about this issue on - http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...enO&fid=2- OP was KarenO.

See ya

Hello wag, I notice that this is your first post on Fodors. What made you decide to post the Globus Italian Tour on Fodors as your first ever post if I may ask?

LoveItaly,

You beat me to it!

correction that is the sheraton outside of Florence - stayed at the Bellini in Venice and it was wonderful - great breakfast room, centrally located and rooms on the first floor are so typically venetian (some complained about rooms on upper floors). Vaporetta is right outside the door.

After five months, wag is back!

Which Globus tour did you take? I am especially interested in the Uffizzi and Tuscany. Did you feel you had enough time in those places? Also having never taken an escorted tour before, I'm wondering what your typical day was like. Did you have to get up at the crack of dawn? Did you feel like you had time to explore on your own? I appreciate any comments you have. Glad you had such a nice trip!