VitaAnn

I know this site mainly prefers independent travel, however, I am curious if any of you know about some of the travel groups I have been looking into.

Looking into purchasing a trip to Italy this March/April and I have been looking into the following groups, but dont know much about them...

Globus
Insight
Collette
Gate1Travel
Trafalgar
Perillo- too much money though

We need to leave on a certain date and Trafalgar probally best fits our schedule- how are they in comparison to the others? I know we won't be staying in Venice, but outside of in Maestra (?) so I wasnt happy about that but the price is right and the dates are right. Insight told me the tour I liked from them for the date I want won't be available until October. Not sure if it is worth the wait.... risking it.

Thanks!

mulifat

If you are going to do a tour, in order of preference, (mine of course)regardless of price

Collette
Perillo
Globus
Trafalgar
Insight
Gate1

FainaAgain

I have experience with Globus and Trafalgar only. Globus tour was great, not for a budget traveler, well thought through itinerary, fun local guide.

Will NOT recommend Trafalgar: the local guide had changed the itinerary to his personal needs, nobody bothered to pick up the questionnaires they distribute at the end of the tour, the answer to my written complaint was something like sugar-powdered "the guide is always right" type.

ira

Hi VA,

What is Trafalgar giving you that you are willing to:

a) change your travel dates

b) stay in Mestre

c) pay more than if you planned it yourself?

lyb

I did Insight and was very happy with them. If you're going to go to Venice, do take a tour that will stay IN Venice. I think you'd be dissapointed if you didn't. Insight does stay in Venice, at least the tour I took. I looked at their website lately and had some hotels on the Lido. I haven't been to the Lido, but I think it's still better to be in Venice proper.

Bottom line, I don't think you could go wrong with Insight.

Which ever you decided, have a great trip!

crefloors

I took a Globus tour in 1999. We stayed in Maestre and that being my first trip to Europe, I didn't know any better...TRY to stay IN Venice if you can. Our hotel in Maestre, however, was right across the street from the train station so getting in and out of Venice on free time was very easy.

I have a friend who took a Tauk tour and liked it. They are pretty high end from what I understand.

Globus was a good value, the hotels were fine..some better than others. I don't remember where we stayed in Florence but the hotel was fabulous. Anyway, I digress. You need to look VERY carefully at the brochures and see what is included with your tour. I know that Globus puts all the sites you will actually go IN TO, in bold print. Others listed are drive-bys. Globus will offer additional tours. If you don't take these tours you will actually have quite a bit of free time to explore on your own, so it's up to you.

Also, I didn't mind missing a dinner or two if I wanted to do something else. I know it was included so in that sense it was paid for, but it didn't bother me to miss a couple of them.

So, of course, take into consideration poster's experiences with a particular tour company, but also, check each brochure very carefully or go online to the tour websites and check out the class of tour, the cost involved, and what's included, and what is an extra.

There are also message boards that cover tour groups so you might get more information on one of those boards. No matter who or what, I wish you a wonderful trip.

suec1

You might want to check out GoAhead Tours to see if their dates work for you. We did Venice, Florence, Rome with them several years ago. There was quite a bit of free time and many meals on you own - it was a good way to see many of the "must sees" of Italy and give us ideas of where to go on our own in the future. In Venice, the hotel was on the Lido which I think would be more pleasant than Mestre. We actually enjoyed taking the vaporetto from the Lido to Venice - great views as you approcach the city from the lagoon. Bon viaggio!

lindam

We just got back from a GoAhead tour. The hotels they used were a step or more down from those in the past. Also, if you go with them, be warned you will NOT have a direct flight, unless you pay extra. There were people who had to fly to Cincinnati then connect back to Maryland. The Mercure in Nice had mold in the bathrooms and plugged drains. GoAhead had used this hotel in the past, so it was aware of the problems.

We are going to Italy (Venice/como) with them next summer, and I am not expecting decent hotels. GoAhead is noted for it's great itineraries.

jrmama496

I had a good experience with Globus. I do agree that you should find a tour that stays inside Venice. Even though it's close by, I would have much rather stayed inside.

Globus hotels are not great, but they are clean and relatively near transportation alternatives.

We had a very good Tour Director and she handled the tour wonderfully. I think that once you find the itinerary you want and the class of hotels you are comfortable with, the rest is all up to your Tour Director. They can either make or break the trip for you.

Just make sure you do research on the hotels offered by the different companies so that you know what to expect.

Camdenman

Try Gotoday.com They have hosted as well as independent tours. We have used them 3 times for independent tours and have just booked a 4th with them.

Cathic2300

I am currently booked on a tour to Italy with GoAhead tours that leaves Sept. 25. Was disappointed to learn about the hotel experiences above, but it can't be worse than what I've experienced with them before we've even left!

GoAhead has charged me $300 in additional fees for "ticket changes" that were THEIR mistakes! Fortunately, Delta and I found the mistakes - return date was 2 days before the end of the tour and (another time) they did not use my passport name. GoAhead has said that the mistakes were MY FAULT! They were notified in February what my passport name was. The additional fees they charged me were "because that's what Delta charged us to change the tickets and the changes occured after the final payment date meaning you owe us late fees" (x 2). Funny thing is that Delta has told me that they have not yet purchased my ticket - they only have a reservation with Delta and reservations are changed at will, with no cost whatsoever! Do you hear a lie here somewhere? Maybe a little fraud??

I have tried to resolve the issue by being very nice and calling and emailing. I have been stonewalled and blamed. I have requested via phone and email to speak to a supervisor - and been denied. I'm at my wits end and have basically lost all interest in the trip.

Go with whatever company you wish but do NOT use GoAhead! Learn from my experience!

ssanto8403

Just got back from Globus tour of Rome, Florence and Venice. I would recommend them.

teacher33

Check out Grand Circle (gct.com). Friends have done two of their Italy trips and been very pleased. I have not done Italy with them (did it on my own) but have done two of their trips to Central and Balkan Europe. They were well run, stayed in one place three or more nights (so you could go with the group or buzz off and do your own thing), were based in central hotels (or ones with quick and easy connections to sights), had 44 (their limit, I think) on a 55 passenger bus.

Best

teacher33

Sorry, hit the post key bymistake before I was ready.

Meant to add that one of the best parts of both trips was a chance for a meal with a local family. We were divided intosmall groups (8-10) and sat in kitchens or dining rooms for a meal prepared by the family. We had a chance to visit and hear about local issues and customs from the perspective of ordinary people.