Help!! which tour company is the best for group tours in Italy?
 

Hi there!
My husband and I are planning our first trip to Italy (Or Europe for that matter!) in Sept. 2015 and I wanted to take a motor tour group type of holiday as this is our first time there and I wanted to be able to relax a bit more vs. renting a car and parking and driving everywhere which I hear is challenging in Italy.
We wanted to spend 3 days in Venice and 3 in Florence then onto Rome for 3 more.
I have done a little research and liked the tours offered by Gate 1 and Insight Tours. I spoke with Globus but they did not seem to have what I was looking for.
What I was hoping to find on the site was a little help or advice from anyone out there who has done any of these types of tours in Italy and their thoughts and experiences!!
Any help is greatly appreciated!

I have done the Rick Steves Venice, Florence, Rome in 10 days tour and enjoyed it. My trip was in November, and I spent time on my own traveling to Christmas markets in Innsbruck and Munich after.

Steves' tours offer quite a bit of time on your own at locations so that in addition to, say, a group tour of the Uffizi, you also have time to visit the Pitti on your own - or anywhere else you might choose. The detailed itinerary is available on Steves' site.

Tours are not necessarily relaxing. Some have very early starts and lots of bus time. I'm guessing this is the tour you're looking at. It help to give links to tours if you want people to comment on them.

http://www.discovery-tours.com/small...1ditldv15.aspx

Have you called Gate 1 and asked what time they start in the morning. Have you looked at hotel locations? The Florence hotel is not in Florence but in the hills above, in Fiesole. It's a pretty town but it's not Florence. If you want to walk around Florence in the evening you will need to arrange for transportation.

Did you read the daily itinerary? You don't have 3 days in Venice, you have 2 full days. You have 1 day in Florence for sightseeing. If you don't take the cooking class you have 2 days. You have 2 days in Rome. The Gate 1 tour is not giving you what you want - 3 days in each city.

If you only want to visit Venice, Florence, and Rome there would be no need to rent a car. There are no roads in Venice so you can't drive there and the central part of Florence does not allow private cars. You would definitely not want to drive in Rome. You're not the first person to think about renting a car to visit cities and I'm not sure why people think this is a good idea or the only idea. The best way to get to these 3 cities is by train.

Most people on this board do not take tours. They make their own arrangements so you won't get a lot of feed back on these tours.

The few tours we have been on, it's luggage outside the door at 7am and breakfast at 7:30am. Then on the bus at 8:30am.

So it is a consideration, but if you decide on a group tour and after getting the best price, try pavlus.com for an additional discount.\

We did and were satisfied with the customer service and the discount.

Adrienne is right about people on this site, but we know a little having been on 33 trips to Europe and only 6 on tour.

All others were driving.

We did enjoy our tours. but the tours have specified stops and things you may have wanted to see, is just a ride bye.

Good luck in your decision.

I think there are several unrealistic assumptions.

For some reason, you have determined
no car = group tour.

As the previous poster mentioned,
no car = group tour OR <b>train</b>

Also, you have imagined; tours = relaxed. But in reality:

<b>Tour</b> = relax before the trip, but hectic once the tour starts
<b>Doing on you own</b> = busy defining itinerary, but you decide how to allocate much time you plan the trip at home. Once the trip starts, you go at the pace <b>YOU</b> decided, not some tour companies. How can this be not relaxing the way you have defined it? <b>You</b> decide where you care to spend time and where to skip.

Stay on your own in those locations, arrange for private guides prior to arrival if you want their help, travel via train between cities. Dine is small restaurants you prefer, ordering food you want, when you want to eat, wander those cities,explore on your own, not dictated by a tour guide. Get a good guide book, research on this site and you'll find names of guides, airport pick up drivers, restaurants, etc. It will be easy and enjoyable.

Wow, thanks for some great information already!
I guess in my initial question of which tour group was the best, I should have mentioned that my husband is a complete home body who is not a huge traveller and pretty much ready to go home after ANY trip we have been on within about 4-5 days and it is me, who is so anxious to cross of Italy off my #1 bucket list and go on my dream trip to Italy and planning this trip and trying to make it the easiest as possible for him. We live in Canada and have done many trips within Canada and the US and he always get stuck doing all the driving and organising and he does not get to enjoy the trip like the rest of us do. It just wears him out.
I am just excited he actually agreed to go on this trip~ knowing how many days it entails.
This is the reason I thought a bus tour vs. the train would be better for him as they pick us up at the airport, get us to all the right hotels and get us to the touristy sights we would like to see etc. I guess having a forum gives me more insight into travelling throughout Italy.
I have heard it is a very early start and I have already viewed the hotels offered by both tour groups. I understand that one of them is not directly in Florence.
This is just such a major trip VS. a Disneyland trip etc. and I appreciate all of your help! Thanks

Hi

We have done several tours and can happily recommend Insight. Your tour is rated as "Leisurely" so you will not be rushed. You will be staying at some pretty nice hotels hence the price tag!

You can very easily organize this yourselves - getting as many days in each city as you want - and not have ti get up at 6:30 am every day.

People here can help you plan a trip that includes a number of tours in each city - that fit your needs and schedule - but allow you to have more central hotels, better food and travel wasily be train from city center to city center.

BUT, you need to be wiling to do the work - guided by people here.

Tours are NOT relaxed - they are typically very rushed - and include a lot of stops for "shopping" that most people don;t want but get the guide and driver a commission on whatever is bought.

You can se much more on your own - assuming you really allow for 3 days in each city - plus time to travel between them.

Open jaw tickets - for instance into Rome and out of Venice - are not more expensive than RT.

If you wan to explore this option - let people here know.

If you decide to go with a tour so you have less responsibility - realize what you are giving up to get it. Also - look VERY carefully to see what is included versus what is optional on each tour - since that can signficantly change the final price.

>>> the central part of Florence does not allow private cars.<<<

Neither does Rome (or many Italian cities/towns).

You could easily book a flight to Venice, stay a few days, catch the train to Florence (the fast train takes 2 hours), spend a few nights, take the train to Rome (fast train takes 90 minutes), spend a few nights, fly home from Rome.

For each of these cities, you could select any local guided tours that meet your interests although tours for many places are unnecessary. Many historic centers are very compact and have pedestrian only areas. The historic center of Florence is only a 20-30 minute walk side-to-side and a short walk from the train station.

If possible, add some days to your trip. Three hotel nights = 2 sightseeing days. You will also be jetlagged the first day after your overnight flight so day 1 in Europe (you typically arrive early morning) can be a blur to many people and not much should be planned.

Before booking any hotels, ask about them here first. It's much more efficient to book central hotels on such a short trip.

You could easily do a lot of things on your own, but after your last post about your husband, do a tour.

For al the drawbacks, there are positives.

It is up early and out early, but it is relaxing, regardless of what others say.

We have been on 6 tours and I can only speak from my experience.

You don't need an unhappy travel companion.

Good luck

Thanks again all!!
You are right Iris 1745!!I certainly need to have a happy travel companion!!
can I ask what tours you did take, with whom and where??
and yes, I am in a bit of a pickle considering my travelling partner!! haha
He works away from home and when he gets home, he is not happy to go anywhere, just a small town boy!
I travelled to New York with my best friend as my hubby would be so miserable with all the people, noise, walking etc! We walked for MILES and saw and did a ton of things I never would have been able to do with him.
Also did a trip to San Francisco and Seattle with my daughter this summer as my husband was not up to it!
This is certainly not a trip I would like to go alone on(but I will if I have to!) or with a friend and I want to experience it with him as we are both half Italian and turning 50 in 2015!
Heck....I could find fun anywhere I go and be happy learning and seeing new things and so he has agreed to go which in itself, is a thrill so this is why I am trying to appease him!

>>certainly need to have a happy travel companion!! <<

Will he be happy being totally regimented, and dressed and out the door at 0700 or 0730 every morning?

If so - take a tour. But do not think you will be 'seeing Italy' or doing any relaxing. Most days will be spent sitting on the coach or rushing from point to point and gawking at the outsides of sites - actually going inside relatively few.

I also wouldn't want to drive on my first trip to Italy . . . I am TOTALLY w/ you on that.

But a few days in Venice, an easy train ride to Florence, an easy train ride to Rome -- and doing as much or as little as you want in each city could not be easier. Just walking around every day soaking up the atmosphere - and not having to answer to anybody. IMO that is easier than a regimented coach tour. You can arrange private transfers in from /out to the airports -- but otherwise be totally unscheduled - or you can take day tours in each city.

If your hubby wants to leave early from most of your trips . . . what on earth will he do stuck on a bus w/ 40 others - mostly elderly and some very annoying.

Hi Erin; We have taken a tour in Ireland. Everything arranged.

2. Sicily. Everything arranged.

3. Independent tour from Prague to Budapest.

4. A cruise up the Rhine

5. An independent tour in Spain

6. Scandinavian tour for our 50th. Everything arranged.

On the independent tours, hotels, train arrangements, breakfast and sometime half day city tours are all in the package. Then you are on your own.

This is the tour we used beginning in Prague.

tradescotours.com

Rhine cruise was KD Cruise line and I think they were taken over by Viking.

Forget the other.

I will tell you this, on the all inclusive tours, we have had great tour directors.

Well after reading through these replies, it is making me more confused!! lol
I am not keen at getting up at 6am to eat and be out the door everyday. This does not sound relaxing at all.
I guess I was worried about getting from place to place and not speaking Italian and having to stand in mile long lineups to get into attraction as well as how to find the proper trains etc to get through Italy as I have read that some locals are not friendly and willing to help out lost or confused tourists!!
I will look into private tours in each city and see what that entails and decide from there!
Thanks again!

Not all tours are the same.

I generally travel independently, but I have taken a few tours. In Europe I have used Rick Steves. I was not required to be ready to leave at 7:30. The hotels were central. Half the meals were included and the food was good. There were no or minimal shopping ops (depending on the tour). There was plenty of free time. The tour guides were excellent. You are required to handle your own luggage, and be willing to do some walking.

I was just reading a scrapbook by someone who took the Venice-Florence-Rome tour this year. See http://goingsolowithricksteves.weebly.com or the official tour description here: http://www.ricksteves.com/tours/ital...-florence-rome

Are you sure it wouldn't be better for both you and your husband it you go on your own?

No reason to worry about the trains if you go independently, though. But for all the info you need on Italian trains, go here: http://www.seat61.com/Italy.htm#.VJT0HEAAIA

>>>and having to stand in mile long lineups to get into attraction<<<

Many attractions can be booked online in advance which allows you to bypass the lines. If you decide to do that, we can list the official sites to book (there are lots of reseller sites that mark up prices). Most sites, such as the Colosseum or Vatican Museums, offer their own tours or you can book with a local company (higher priced, but often smaller groups).

You know, some people just don't enjoy travel and trying to force a square peg into a round hole doesn't work.

Many couples have differing interests. I know a guy that would rather spend all day Saturday washing his car while his wife would rather go hiking in the woods. So that's exactly what they do.

The more you write about your husband the more it sounds to me like he probably has zero interest in this trip and is only going to 'keep the peace'. Personally, I'd tell you NO, I'm not going, go with your girlfriend or daughter.

Forcing someone to do something the person doesn't want to do just results in neither of you getting what you want. If you wanted to travel you should have married someone else. That may sound harsh but it's reality. Nothing you do is actually going to 'appease him' as you put it.

I'll make a suggestion. Figure out the cost of this trip. Tell him you plan to take half that money and go and he can decide what to do with his half of the money. See what he does. My bet is he will find something BETTER to spend his half on. You just won't agree with his idea of what is better.

Read what YOU wrote:

"I should have mentioned that my husband is a complete home body who is not a huge traveller and pretty much ready to go home after ANY trip we have been on within about 4-5 days"

" He works away from home and when he gets home, he is not happy to go anywhere,"

"I travelled to New York with my best friend as my hubby would be so miserable with all the people, noise, walking etc!"

"as my husband was not up to it!"

If this were a phone call I'd say put HIM on the phone. Let us hear what HE has to say. My bet is he would say, 'I DON'T WANT TO GO.'

Guess this forum has officially turned into a counselling appt!
and I get it.....Sojourntraveller....I totally get what you are saying and thank you....and I have given him the out....many times...but he says he wants to go...
We are different people but compliment each other so well.
But yes,,,,, I am the travel fiend and he is not....
but do you continue to have adventures without your partner at your side?
Perhaps it will end up a solo trip and if so,,,then I would certainly do a tour (mainly for safety and convenience)
I do like the Rick Steves site and the Insight sight and will go from there!
Thanks for the advice

Erin.. please check out the links provided by Thursdaysd.. Rick Steves tours are not as some have described what they THINK a tour is ( usually people dissing tours have never taken one.. lol)

Go on the Rick STeves website you can watch videos of the the tour experience.. plus they have some new type of tour call a "My Way " tour .. its just hotels arranged and bus between cities but then you do your own thing.. no need to get up unless you want to or on transit days.

I like to travel independently and have done so since the 70s.. BUT.. I also took one RS tour with my daughter when she was 11,, and it was nothing like I see some people saying tours are like.We had only 26 people in the group.. we had lots of free time.. and while some mornings we were on our way by 8.30.. sometimes it was 9, and of course on our free days it was whenever we chose to get up..

Funny, Justineparis, I am just on the links provided by Thursdaysd (THANX!) and wow, really, really loving the online scrapbook!!
wow, makes me want to go today!!
will definitely will do some more research on the RS tours!!
thanks!!!

>>Guess this forum has officially turned into a counselling appt!<<

Yeah, that tends to happen here.
Apart from your marital relationship, the problem is in asking, "Which tour company is the best?" With tours, you tend to get what you pay for, but what's "best" for one person might not be "best" for another. For you, I think it's a simple matter of research.

Keep in mind, too, that you're asking the question in a forum where people largely reject tours and do their own planning -- and even enjoy it. I don't do tours, but I totally understand how making plans and getting yourself from point A to point B might be stressful and no fun. (For some others, it's all part of the adventure.)

As someone noted, there are tour companies that arrange transportation, accommodations, and sightseeing w/o putting you on actual tour (on a bus with the same group of people for the whole trip). Look into that, too.

Good luck.

Erin222. I feel that our travel situation (and husbands) sound very similar. I also considered a tour, but ultimately have decided to go it on our own traveling by train through Italy. It comes down to time. Do you have time to do the research, planning, organizing on your own? If not then you are right, tour it up!
We looked into Rick Steve's (which was recommended to me by a friend) Globus and Cosmos... Unfortunately I have no advice since I took the other option of planning it myself.

I wanted to bookmark this post and wish you happy travels. You and your husband will have a trip of a lifetime.

Thank you all and cbgetaway.... perhaps you have convinced me to just plan our own trip. I have planned cruises, Disneyworld, Disneyland, Caribbean trips etc but I find Italy a little daunting because it is a big country with a language barrier.
I have time to research and ultimately, I just want to have a fantastic holiday with my husband who is my best friend and lifemate!. He just does not enjoy travelling and if he goes, I want him to enjoy it as much as me cuz we are a team!
I know once we are there, he will love it if we are not rushed around.

Perhaps you can suggest private or small group tours while in Venice, Florence and Rome that can fast track us into some of the attractions while allowing us plenty of time in each that are reputable?? as well as shuttle services to and from the trains?
guess I better get researching!!
thanks

Check viator.com.

They use local guides in most of the cities and stand behind them. I've used them a few times -- Doges Palace in Venice, Last Supper in Milan, others -- and always been satisfied.

If, when in Florence, you're looking for someone to take you on a tour of Tuscany, lost of people here, including me, have used Luca at hillsandroads.com. He's very good.

Hi Erin,

I thought I would give my opinion (based on my own experiences traveling in Italy) on some of your "things I have read" "I have heard" "people have told me". Everyone has different opinions and perceptions.

Here are mine - There really isn't a "language barrier". Most Italians you will encounter as a tourist speak English quite well. Even if you try to practice your tourist Italian with them, they will just automatically answer you in English. I assume you are a reasonably intelligent person - if you study up on a few common travel vocabulary words and take along your smart phone or some type of translator, you will be fine. You should catch on quickly to the translation of common Italian words.

"People aren't nice and willing to help lost tourists." The most ridiculous statement I've heard in a long time. The vast majority of Italians are outgoing, hospitable, friendly. I have been offered help and directions many times without even asking! Once a college age young man offered to carry my small suitcase up and over the stairs in the Naples metro. Then a uniformed metro employee gave me a free return metro ticket for my ride because the ticket office upstairs had been closed. He refused payment even when I offered. Traveling last year in Sicily (first visit and solo), a lovely older man (who spoke no English at all) gestured for me to follow him in my car to the salt museum across the Trapani salt pan dikes. Many more instances than just these. If you are polite, friendly and respectful and try to use a few words of common courtesy - you will have no problems.

Safety - I have never felt unsafe anywhere I have traveled in Italy and 2 of my 4 trips have been solo. I use basic, big city common sense and don't worry about anything else. In the major cities people are out walking very late at night so it's not like you would be completely alone. Inform yourself of the common tourist scams, keep your wits about you.

Planning Italy overwhelming? No. Not with the help you have available here. I would personally not do a tour, especially with the 3 cities you have planned. There is just no need. However, walking day tours in a city can be very enjoyable. You can pick one according to your interests and enjoy! I used Context Tours (no more than 6 pp and sort of a walking seminar, very in-depth) and thought they were well worth the money. I used a private guide for a 1/2 day historical tour in Palermo. Wonderful!

Fodorites here can give you suggestions and answer literally any question. As you can see we are an opinionated bunch, but you can usually find some regular posters you identify with and who's travel styles sound like yours. It's worked for me. I've planned 4 completely independent trips with help here. They have all been wonderful!

Get your home body husband to participate in the planning so you can show him you care about his enjoyment. If he really doesn't want to go, leave him at home and have a wonderful time!

Viator is a terrific compromise. You travel at your own speed city to city for as many days each as you want but take Viator tours w/i each city/region. They are very good (there are other good ones like http://tours-italy.com/venice-tours/...FQ1ufgodXbQAAg )

Walking tours or half day coach tours -- then you don't have to plan all your sightseeing. Let them do the heavy lifting.

And re the comments above about not knowing what tours are really like -- I do. Been there/done that.

There are definitely exceptions - and if you do decide on a group tour some Rick Steves are good and there are also higher end/small group tours that are very good (but also pricey)

A couple of notes:

Someone has been giving you very erroneous info:

The people in Italy (by and large) are VERY friendly and welcoming, will help with language problems and do their best to support tourists and tours

Large scale tours are VERY regimented. The only way to get 35 or 40 people to do/see everything on the list is to move them quickly along - typically with very little free time - except after dinner.

There is also usually also a substantial amount of walking (I have never been to europe - 2 tours - never again) or independently when we didn't walk miles every day (unless it was a day just in a car getting from one place to another)

Also the places you are going are definitely cities and they are OLD cities (not like NYC) - so expect to need a map to get around, lots of people (yes, you can get advance tickets to minimize lines) but expect all major sights to be crowded

The benefit to going on your own is that you can make days busy or more relaxed, decide to spend an hour just sitting in a cafe watching the world go by (not possible if you have to make the group bus for the next stop).

Based on your posts I'm not at all sure that this trip will be doable for your husband (he doesn;t sound like the type to keep to someone's very strict itinerary from 7 am to 8 pm every day - and if the tour is moving on you can;t just say you wil catch up later - how - get a cab for hundreds of euros or find a train to the next town?

Viatour is not a tour company. Viatour is simply a middle man agency that sells other companies tours. Problems arise you will not be able to deal directly with the tour company as they have sold the space to Viatour and Viatour has a record of not intervening. I would look at Viatour for ideas.. but book the tours directly with the tour company.

There is also the matter of price difference.. while occasionally a tour sold by Viatour can have a competitive price ( due to their ability to buy blocks of tickets) most often the case will be that purchasing directly with tour company will get you a better price.

The point was viator is a single point of contact if the OP doesn't want the hassle of searching for individual tours. But yes, they are a broker/middleman.

For someone w/ the time/inclination to search out the best deals -- that is always best. But for simple get in/get it booked - viator is a good source.

I think the OP's main concern is not having to do too much legwork and to make things as easy as possible . . .

Thanks all....
yes I actually used Viator this summer while touring Montreal and the tour was fabulous!! It was a great experience and was exactly as described and I was thrilled with it!
And thanks to all the posts here, I have decided to book the trip independently minus the tour group idea!! sounds like too much of a stretch for my husband and lets face it...I want this to be a trip of a lifetime!
I love the idea from Vincenzo and having a more private tour of Tuscany!! sign me up!

I guess I could have certainly worded things differently about "locals being rude or short with tourists" It is just something I have read from other reviews etc.
One of the things I enjoyed most about NYC was the local people who were fabulous in helping out my friend and I and getting to chat it up with dozens of people!
I even had one man walk me from my hotel(alone as my friend was tired) in Times Square to Grand Central Station as he was heading that way and we had a fabulous talk along the way and I learned a lot from him! he was an angel!

I took a level of Italian and my husband has even bought the Rosetta Stone course, so I am sure by Sept I could be somewhat fluent!

Still researching!

I'm going to give a pitch for Grand Circle Travel which was how we saw Italy some years ago. This was Sorrento area and Tuscany (Florence etc) plus Rome. They continue to offer a similar trip. Although GCT is more into river cruises now which we have also done. We have enjoyed group tours even though you are indeed traveling with others and luggage is out at 7 etc. But for one thing you really learn about what you see. Yes, traveling on your own can be fun though you do need to plan where to stay each night and make your reservations.

Just checked the latest catalog and they offer a Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast similar to our trip...with an extension to Venice.

Group tours can be positive and negative. We have done both group tours and travel on our own, depends upon what you are looking for. We did a combination cruise and land tour one year and enjoyed it immensely. The driver/tour guide we had was absolutely the best ever! However, on the negative side we had to have our luggage outside the hotel door by 5:30 am and we were on the road early as we had a lot of territory to cover. These tours are generally very rigid as far as time is concerned, they have so much to show. Sometimes you only spend one night in a town/city and that is another negative. I like to have at least 2 nights so you can relax a bit.

You mentioned Gate One Travel. If you google you will find a lot of negative reviews on their tours. Can't say from experience tho as we haven't taken one. I recently spoke w/ someone that did their river cruise and she said it was fine. It might be the hotels that they use that generate the biggest complaints.

Having been to all 3 of your destinations, I think that it would be fairly easy for you to visit on your own. You can travel at your own pace and your husband can get a real sense of the city and its' people. We have found the Italians to be very warm and caring.

Take your time planning your trip, come up w/ a proposed itinerary and get back to us for fine tuning. You just need to put your transportation in place from city to city. Touring on your own is easy. There are many excellent resources to help you plan. You can download tours to your ipad, iphone, etc. Get a good tour book guide and read, read, read. Browse on the travel boards and see what others have done and recommend.

It is difficult planning your first visit to a foreign country but once it's done and you've been there, you will say that wasn't too bad and start planning your next trip. Don't worry about your husband, just tell him the date he needs to have his suitcase packed! LOL I do all our trip planning, my husband doesn't have a clue where we will be going and how we are getting there. It all comes out in the wash!

Enjoy!

Ozarksbill: I personally would never ever take a Gate 1 / Grand Circle tour. Not because of the quality but because of their ploy of asking customers to register all over the net and post glowing reviews of their products.

Not a week goes by that Fodors monitors delete posts from first timers who register simply to flog Gate1/GCT and one or another 'amazing' tour guide.

But the OP has decided on a more leisurely, independent trip w/ maybe some day tours along the way . . .

Thanks Luv2travel!!
even your name is me to a tee~ I love to travel and end up doing all the planning. It is like I just get home from a trip and I am ready to go again!

I think you hit it on the head when you said "planning your first trip to a foreign country is difficult" , it kind of sikes me out!

I think that at this point, I have decided to plan and book the trip myself on our own vs. doing any kind of touring bus. That just sounds a bit exhausting knowing my hubby!
I do have a few travel books, done some research regarding hotels, transportation and daily tours to attractions and I think it sounds exciting and full of adventure!
Thanks for all of your great suggestions!!

Don't worry -- you will get just tons of help here. About anything you need . . . Hotel recommendations, how to get in from the airport(s), how to book train tix, local tours . . . just anything you want.

janisj, you may know more than do I but I have never been asked by GCT to be a booster and would be surprised that others have. I know of no ploy. And I've been a satisfied customer on nine of them. Yet I do realize group tours aren't for everybody and there is fun making your own plans and exploring on your own. Most Fodors folks are individual planners. On the other hand I recall some problems...like when good friends got to a Paris hotel at midnight to find they had no record of any reservation.

<< I personally would never ever take a Gate 1 / Grand Circle tour. Not because of the quality but because of their ploy of asking customers to register all over the net and post glowing reviews of their products. >>

Grand Circle does NOT ask for endorsements. They never mention posting reviews for their company nor for their tours.

I've seen lots of pseudo trip reports on this board for Gate 1 but never for Grand Circle.

jsutine: >> Viatour has a record of not intervening. <<

You know this because ...?
That's not my experience with Viator. In fact, most times you're dealing directly with the local company once you get to your destination. And if you pick a local tour company at random, what's your guarantee of quality, performance, punctuality, etc?

>>while occasionally a tour sold by Viatour can have a competitive price ( due to their ability to buy blocks of tickets) most often the case will be that purchasing directly with tour company will get you a better price.<<

Again, not in my experience. Viator's prices tend to be very competitive because of the volume, I assume.

Erin, you are welcome! Hope that we all have given you some good suggestions for planning your trip. I can already see that you are less stressed about planning and doing on your own. Once you get a sense of what you want, where to go and how to get there the rest is easy. Your husband will be fine and will say what a wonderful trip you had! LOL

These boards are great sources of information, and as janisj has indicated, you will get plenty of ideas here. I have a few sights that I use to book hotels.

As I noted in a previous post, we took a GCT river cruise and it was wonderful! No complaints about anything. However, everyone has a different concept about travel. We were not asked to write a review either.

Happy holidays to all. I will probably not be checking back in until after the holidays. Off to bake some more cookies. :-)