suec1

I think Go Ahead tours has an itinerary very similar to what you are looking for. Check out their website!

TAW

Did you give up the idea of a river cruise as per your other post? Just wondering...

travelbug7

Thanks suec1. I'll check out their website. And TAW...I've given my friend the brochures for the river cruises and asked her to decide if she'd rather do Italy or a river cruise. I wish Italy had river cruises. That would be ideal! Too bad. Thanks for asking.

travelbug7

Okay, after much searching for the perfect tour, I think I found it. It's a northern Italy 14 day tour by Odysseys Unlimited. It covers Florence, Venice, the Lakes region, and Milan with only four different hotels used. I like a slower pace and staying in one place for a few days. We'll fly into Zurich and take the train to Milan where the 14 day tour starts. After the tour, we'll head back to Zurich and perhaps do some side trips. Has anyone been on the Odysseys Unlimited tour? Could you please tell me what you thought of it?

bettyk

I googled Odysseys Unlimited tour reviews and came up with a number of responses, some from Trip Advisor and Fodor's:

http://www.google.com/search?source=...AAAqgQFT9BGV4U

Maybe they will be helpful.

travelbug7

Thanks bettyk. Appreciate the response. It seems there's good and bad in all tour groups. At least Odysseys only have 18-24 people per tour, where Trafalgar is more like close to 50. Anyone have any suggestions on side trips around Zurich?

stevelyon

Noting for later...

VivianK

We have just reserved Northern Italy for September 2010. Whenever I have read reviews about Odysseys Unlimited they have been very good. I liked the pace and the small group as well and can't find it on any other tour, so we're going with it! They run Alumni tours for some very good schools and have been for some time. Please let me know what you find out. Thanks.

travelbug7

VivianK, I've read good and bad about each of the tour groups including the most expensive ones like Tauck. I think we're going with the Odysseys Unlimited tour too, as the itinerary looks closest to what we want. Since you'll be on it next month, would you mind letting me know how it was when you get back. Quality of hotels, tours included, etc. I'd really appreciate it.

VivianK

Sorry Travelbug, I reserved 9/14/11. So far we reserved the post trip extension as well, but I'm not enamored with the Dei Dogi. It is the Boscobel Dei Dogi and Trip Advisor reviews are not terrific.Are you taking the extra days in Venice? When are you going?

travelbug7

Sorry my error. We were planning on booking for May 2011. So I guess I'll be going before you. I'll let you know what we thought when we get back. I wasn't enamored with the Dei Dogi either, but it's only one place. Fourteen days for us is max already, so we won't be taking the extra days. Wish we could!

VivianK

Will you use their air or arrange your own? We haven't decided as yet.If you would like to share information, you can email me at [email protected].

travelbug7

We're arranging our own air travel as my friend is a flight attendant. I'll email you when we return. Thanks for the post.

Delaine

I've done the Tauck Alpine tour, and it was fantastic. It is especially good for those who don't want to have to worry about making transportation arrangements. They are the only tour company I will use. Tauck also has a Northern Italy tour similar to the one you described, but it does not go to Florence. It does visit Milan, Lago di Como, Lago Maggiore, Bologna, Verona, Venice and a few other areas. They also have a shorter tour that visits the Dolomites, Bavaria & Venice.

VivianK

Travelbug7: Thanks, will look forward to your review next May.
I appreciate your time.
Delaine: We have taken several Tauck Tours. The hotels and guides are always wonderful. We found there was not enough independent time and way too much time spent on eating. I'm looking forward to lunch on our own and some afternoons doing our own thing. We also find the prices getting prohibitive, but no doubt you are getting great service etc.

annhig

way too much time spent on eating.>>

really? how could that be possible?

Dayenu

I joined a Globus tour of Switzerland a few years ago, loved it! Bought through AffordableTours website for their 10% discount.

Adriana_Booth

i know its been some time but how did you end up managing your trip? this is exactly the route i want to do in june/ july 13

adrienne

Adriana - travelbug hasn't posted here in 2 years so I don't think you'll get a response. Most people on this board plan their own trips rather than taking tours.

There's lots of information here on trip planning if you search. The first thing is to get a good guide book.