suze

For a couple your age I would highly encourage you to plan your own trip and go on your own.

If you keep it simple (don't try to go too many places in a short time) it's really not hard to plan your own trip to France and Italy for 10-14 days. All you need is a little bit of planning, buy your plane tickets, book your hotels, use the train to get place to place. You can pick up some day tours for the different cities or sights to fill things in, if you'd like.

PalenQ

rude or crude tis true - I would say the same thing as janis - an old fogey speaking. Very very few tours cater to your age - plan carefully - ask questions here and go on your own - put any angst to rest.

RioD

That is not at all what I am saying. I did not say that they would be a good fit on the tour. I gave no such indication.
My opinion is that your use of the words " coach load of old fogies" was rude.
If you want to call yourself an old fogie, go for it. I know several people who have taken coach tours and they wouldn't appreciate the name-calling.

There's no need for you outrage with all the ??? marks and the caps.

janisj

Instead of all this misplaced 'outrage' -- do you have any actual advice suggestions for the OP . . .

dugi_otok

jillian

If you feel more comfortable on a tour, the only one I would recommend for you would be a Rick Steves tour.

Best of Europe in 14 Days would meet your requirement:

https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/europe/europe-14-days

Watch this video:

https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/tour-experience

RioD

Personal attack on me.

RioD

Got cut off, personal attack on me is not necessary janisj.

BigRuss

I agree with myself, because I'm right. I agree twice over with janis and Sassy who told you to stay the eff away from a tour because there are you and the hubby.

Assuming that this is just you and hubby and you're ditching the hobbits with someone semi-responsible or at least a grandparent or two (;-)), there is no way on G-d's green earth I'd stick myself on a bus with a bunch of people who are as old on average as you and hubs are combined. Even a smaller bus with Europe Through The Back Door apostles would suck because it's a chance for you and hubs to hang out and be in your own world for once.

This is your perfect chance to make your own excellent adventure and it'll be that much better for being yours. Avoid tours like the plague. Even ones sponsored by the nerdy guy from Seattle with the moppy hair.

Why are you worried about doing this on your own? Europe is semi-civilized now that the Nazis have been conquered, the Iberian dictators have been tossed or are stiffs, and the US won the Cold War. The train systems are good, the cheap intra-EU flights are cheap and intra-EU, and the currency in Italy and France is manageable because Euros are more comprehensible and rational than being a millionaire in lire-era Italy.

Oh yeah, English is the lingua franca of the continent - anyone who knows more than one language will know some English, especially in places that get a LOT of tourist traffic and even if they don't, they'll understand point-and-gesture -- sheeyoot, you have three kids, you know that yourself.

suze

<Why are you worried about doing this on your own?>

They didn't say they were worried, they simply asked for input about a Globus tour.

kelsey22

I think I can add a bit of a different perspective. I took a last minute Globus Best of Italy (Rome, Florence, Venice and Capri - stops along the way). I had travelled when I was younger solo but I decided I wanted to have a worry-free, non-thinking trip. It was about 11 days too. I chose the slowest pace possible. The demographics were 2 under 40 couples, 2 couples in their mid fifties and the rest "over 55". I fit somewhere in the middle of that. I had a great time but I spent most of my time either alone or in the evenings out with the younger crew. There was also one family on our tour.

I tacked on a day in Rome at the beginning and 3 at the end. It was perfect at the time. After taking a few trips alone since I would not do a tour of that kind. I prefer doing what I want to do when I want to do it and that is not a tour.

The hotels were all clean, the food was good and the extra activities were well-worth the extra price. I got to see a lot and enjoyed myself thoroughly.

Given this information and the other posts, you can judge whether this is the trip for you.

I hope you will post what you decide to do.

jillian711

I'm still shopping around. I would love to stay for two weeks, but I just can't do it. I think we've decided to do only one country, which would be Italy! To be honest I'm not worried about the age of the other participants of the tour, we are a sociable couple, but we will have each other after all and I find my husband utterly entertaining Another option if I even choose a guided tour is Italian Concerto - Preview 2016 by Trafalgar.

https://www.trafalgar.com/usa/tours/...ture=July+2016

It seems to be a leisurely pace with lots of free time. My hubby and I get about 20% discount because we're educators. The hotels are in what appear to be in good locations and have good reviews on trip advisor. If anyone has information on that company and the tour by all means share your opinion. I am also looking at the cost of independent travel. Thanks @PalenQ for that seat website, the euro rail is great!!

Sue_xx_yy

Hi Jillian.

If you indeed have less than 2 weeks - let's say 10 nights plus the night on the plane over:

*I'd suggest this 8 night tour from Rick Steves:

https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/italy/heart-italy

First night on the plane..If you arrive in the morning (as we did) then you will be downtown by around noon. Your tour starts at 3 p.m at the first hotel.

Rome - 2 nights
morning in Rome, then Volterra - 2 nights (it's south west of Florence, a smaller town to give you a taste of something other than cities.)
Via Lucca to Cinque Terre - 2 nights (a great hiking area - especially since you are only 37, and regular tours rarely make time for hikes. The CT area is gorgeous seaside scenery.)
to Florence for 2 nights. For the art.

The tour ends in Florence. Depending on your budget of time and money, you could fly out of Florence; return to Rome by train, or take an afternoon train to Venice for 2 nights, then fly out of Venice for home.

Yup, the last option would make it five places in 10 nights, but you are 37. On our first trip to Italy we were average age 47, and went almost as quickly (on our own) and had a fabulous time.

Sassafrass

I have done a similar tour in almost the exact same time and itinerary.

Some Cons:
It does not allow choices like hotels, mode of travel, etc.
Maiori is an unusual stop for tours and would not be my choice.
Days 4 and 7 will be very, very long travel times. Day 7 will be especially long, mostly sitting on a bus.
You will not have the leisure time you might think because, if you want to see even a few major sights, two days in Rome will be filled. If you do all the planned trips, the Amalfi coast will be busy.
This tour is by bus.
It needs two or three more days to have any leisure time.
One day in Venice is short changing Venice and often visitors don't like Venice when it is basically a day trip.
Up early on travel days.
No rambling around - tied to a schedule.
You don't learn how to travel for yourself. Recognizing a city by the layout on a map, navigating the subway or metro, buying your own vaporetto tickets, etc. lets the city belong to you in a way that does not happen if someone is leading you by the hand, doing everything for you.

Some Pros:
When you are stressed, tired, busy, feeling unsure, time is short, and you need a break, a tour where all the logistics are done for you is like a gift to yourself.
A tour can take you to more places because they have all the arrangements made and usually take you from door to door.
You do not have to use your time getting from hotel to train etc.
The tour guide usually has tickets to museums, etc. arranged, so fewer or shorter lines for you.
Guides provided for some things.
This particular tour does only one country, which is great because you get a bit of an overall picture of the depth and variety of the country rather than a glimpse of one city, which doesn't give you any sense of the country.
You do see a good many things and some travelers like that.

I am a dedicated DIY traveler, mostly because I like choosing hotels and deciding how much time I want in a place. I prefer trains and hate busses. However, I have recommended tours to friends who say they are exhausted, need some excitement, don't care where they go as long as they see something and have little time or interest in planning.

Good luck with your decision.

Lois2

I like the Trafalger option alot it is slower and I think your idea of just going to one country is good idea. As someone with many years in the travel business (retired now) I would take all the negative comments here and bear in mind people posting on forums in general are DIY or independent travelers and do not understand that especially for a first trip having a tour company handle the details can be a real plus. Trafalger is a good company and use good hotels. This tour offers enough leisure time and you are free to join the group or go on your own in the evening etc. Ages...sure many older people but always a mix and usually some very nice people. I think you are on the right track. You will no doubt enjoy the trip and want to return to Europe again and maybe on your own...maybe another tour.

Lexma90

In terms of hotel locations on the Trafalgar tour, Grand Tiberio in Rome is not very conveniently located. It would be a hassle to get to places where, for example, you might want to sit at a cafe on a piazza and people-watch (Piazza Navona or Campo de 'Fiori).

Kind of the same thing with Ambasciatori in Florence; it's 1.3 km to Piazza della Signoria. This hotel is right next to the train station; very convenient for the train, but you're not taking the train! Also, near train stations is not usually the most scenic part of a city.

And again, same thing for Boscolo Bellini in Venice, which is also right by the train station. While Venice is small, and you could easily (and very enjoyably) hop on the vaporetto, it would be a long walk (though a gorgeous one) to many of the main sights and to St. Mark's Square.

Just more information to add to your decision-making.

PalenQ

jillian - just to say there is no 'shame' (except in the eyes of some Fodorgarchs to who the word tour bus in anathema) in taking a tour - there are pluses to tours and minues - too often folks forget the pluses - no handing of heavy baggge on trains - no looking for a hotel or where yours is - maximized time by eliminating some of these drugery aspects of travel and prices are often cheaper than one may do it on his own - considering the quality of hotels which though may not be in the best location but most conevenient location and cheapest option for the buses to get to.

The huge % of folks who go to Europe go on guided tours and nearly all like it from what I hear. This from a veteran veteran traveler who also eschews group tours but that is my personal bent and I do not apply it to others or make rather rude condensending comments as some IMO above indeed have.

And I can't believe there are not tours for your age group - if so very few folks of your age group go to Europe!

BigRuss

Well, the pace of that Trafalgar deal is good. The question is whether you want to hang out with the Polident crowd. Maybe it's a blueprint for you and hubs to work from independently.

ElendilPickle

>>Kind of the same thing with Ambasciatori in Florence; it's 1.3 km to Piazza della Signoria.<<

It's about a 15-minute walk, so quite reasonable IMO. We stayed closer to the Accademia and didn't have any problem walking to the Uffizi from our apartment.

I agree that the pace of the Trafalgar tour sounds more reasonable, but this trip would be pretty easy to plan on your own if you want to use their itinerary as a template of sorts.

Lee Ann

PalenQ

The question is whether you want to hang out with the Polident crowd>

My opinion is that your use of the words " coach load of old fogies" was rude> RioD - what do you have to say about BIGRuss's Polident crowd? Any less rude?

Lois2

really some low i.q. statements here...