wendyr

My Sister and I would like to plan a tour. It all started with a Perillo tours of Italy magazine. There are so many tour companies out there. Who do we go through! We want the best experience possible! Most likely once in a life time trip! Looking for insight and recommendations! We were looking at the South & Sicily. 14 days. But then I saw Trafalgar? And heard Globus? Help please! We would like to go through a tour company, for security. Help us to see as much as we can with some free time and optional choices.

thursdaysd

Not sure what security issues you expect. Many, many people travel safely in Italy on their own, and people here can help you plan a trip yourself. (Starting with guidebooks.)

If you are set n a tour you need to consider:

How large is the group? I prefer groups around 10-20, and will not consider a tour over 30.

Where are the hotels located? Many companies like Globus economize by putting their groups in hotels out of the center, where you may have to use their transport to get into town.

How many nights in one place? One night stands are exhausting and give you little time to see anything.

What sightseeing is included? If the brochure says "see" or "view" you will get a drive-by or at best a look at the outside.

How are the leaders paid? If you are expected to tip there will probably also be a lot of shopping oportunities, possibly disguised as de,onstrations, where the guides get a big kickback.

I am a senior female traveler who almost always travels on my own, but I have occasionally used Rick Steves for a European tour. His leaders are excellent guides and are on salary, the groups are max. 24-28, the hotels are central, included food is excellent. However, you need to pack light and handle your own luggage, and be up for a fair amount of walking.

See: https://www.ricksteves.com/tours

janisj

>>We would like to go through a tour company, for security.<<

Not quite sure what your concerns are and how a tour company would alleviate them.

But -- re tours a HUGE consideration is your budget. The mass market/large group tours (Globus/Trafalgar/most Perillo) will be cheaper. But they will be very fast paced, with lots of bus time, and 'tour group' hotels. Higher end tours will costt a lot more but will generally be smaller groups, much nicer/more central hotels, slower paced and often with special/unique excursions.

In the middle are tours like Rick Steves -- a good compromise, but generally more 'physical' with more walking/exertion.

StacyB

It would be very helpful if you told us a little more about yourself and your expectations. What are your approximate ages and physical limitations? What is your overall budget including airfare? Do you prefer museums and churches? Large cities? Cooking classes? Have you traveled to Europe before? Italy is very welcoming to tourists and you can make your own trip quite easily. What security are you addressing? I always tell people "You are more likely to have many sorts of troubles driving or walking in your own city"

There are many helpful, well-traveled people on these boards who are willing to give good advice.

kybourbon

>>>We were looking at the South & Sicily.<<<

What do you consider south? Some people think Naples is south while others consider it more central Italy. I haven't seen many tours that combine southern parts of Italy with Sicily.

nlm

We did an Italy tour through a company called Nada's Italy. Found them when we searched small group tours.
Their max # is 12 people. We had a great tour of the Milan, Lake Como and Piemonte areas. Recommend them and are going on another tour with them in 2018 to the Amalfi Coast. Check them out.

massimop

I've never heard of people traveling with tour groups have trouble with pickpockets or being hassled in train stations or dealing with unscrupulous vendors. While people traveling independently usually don't have trouble that way either -- Italy is very safe country -- one does hear about it, it does happen, especially in Rome & points south of there, including Sicily.

So I think that is probably what the OP is referring to, and while many people would not think the marginal trade-off for extra-security would be worth the cost & limitations of taking an organized tour, others would consider it & not unreasonably so, given how upset people get if they do become victims of theft or scams traveling abroad.

DaveJJ

My wife and I have taken 8 tours with Insight Vacations. Two of these tours were centred on Italy, Italian Escapade and Sicily in Depth (with Malta option).

Obviously we would recommend them.

The main difference between them and say Trafalgar or Globus is: there will be as many as 40 on the tour compared to 50 on the others, the hotels are centrally located whereas the others provide accommodation more outside centre town, they may be a little more expensive than the others.

When on tour there are early morning departures and most days can be quite fast paced.

If you click on my name you will be brought to may page. At the bottom are trip reports for both Italy tours. After reading them you may decide that touring is not for you.

thursdaysd

Of course people on tours may be subject to pickpocketing. Standing in a group concentrating on a leader makes a tempting target, I would have thought, and on decent tours people get free time.

The unscrupulous vendors people on tours encounter are those paying kickbacks to the tour leader. Of course, the best defense against such vendors, whether on tour or not, is not to shop in the first place. Or, if you "have" to, research beforehand and be clear on the cost of expensive items, and how to identify fakes.

wendyr

Ok... being more spacific. I am 58 and my Sister is 46. We are physical fit and quite able to walk. I would be glad to have someone fight with my luggage for me. Neither my sister or myself are very good with directions, and not knowing the language... is the security I was speaking of. Having someone help us to get the most out of our time and be able to see as much as we can in the time we are alotted. So... feel like tour is right option for us... just trying to find right group. We don't have as much money to spend as we would like... who does? So would to get the biggest bang for our buck! Don't want a huge group... is $5000.00 including airfare per person... doable?

thursdaysd

Airfare is highly variable. Depends on where you are flying from, what time of year and whether you are willing to fly one of the budget airlines.

That said, you should be able to afford any of the Rick Steves Italy tours except the 17-day one. You would need to pack light and handle your own luggage, but packing light is a very valuable travel skill.

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

janisj

>> have someone fight with my luggage for me<<

No reason to 'fight' with luggage. Pack light -- you don't need the kitchen sink.

As thursdaysd say -- we have no idea where you are flying from so who knows what airfares would be.

Sounds like you are set on taking a tour -- If you can find a Rick Steves that fits your wish list, that would probably be your best bet. Your budget is probably too low for any of the small group tours.

I personally would not do Globus/Perillo/

historytraveler

I have to agree that Rick Steves is the best choice for a tour company. Personally, I'd avoid Globus, Trafalgar and Perillo. Packing is light is essential. A 21" suitcase will hold everything you'll need and there are plenty on this forum who can tell you exactly what you'll need and how to pack.