We are planning a large group trip to Italy as a fundraiser. Has anyone used Passports or Gate 1 Travel for customized trips? Passports seems to do a lot on school trips, but they also do other trips.

In “general” what is the weather like in Venice in April, October or mid November? Our October and November weather varies between 30-50 degrees in a few hours, with 30-50 mph winds, with rain to sleet to snow; so 50-degree days would be fine. Florence in early March is great.

For many, this will be their first trip to Italy. Any suggestions on the following itinerary would be appreciated. Add a day, subtract a day, or see another town. Not rushed or slow. Any suggestions to make it more enjoyable so they will do it again, or recommend it, would be welcomed. The days listed are actual ground days in Italy.

4.5 Days in Rome: with 2 optional trips one to Hadrian’s Villa & Tivoli Fountains, and another to Pompeii.

1 day to Florence (bus tour) either via Assisi or Siena and San G. I’ve been to Siena and San G. so know what to expect, but not to Assisi. Which would you recommend? Or any other suggestion. The idea of the tour is why pay for a train to Florence and then for a tour to those towns anyway; do it all at once and save time and money.

3 days Florence: with day trip to Pisa and Lucca

Morning train to Venice: 2.5 days there. Any short sightseeing stops on the way to Venice, or go straight to Venice?

Again any advice would be welcomed.

With only 2.5 days in Venice you will be hard put to see all of the best sights, let alone have time to wander and explore. Go straight to Venice.

Hi JS,

11 days is pushing it. Can you add a day to Venice?

Pompeii is a verrrrry long day from Rome.

You might want to add an optional visit to Orvieto from Rome. It's only an hour by train.

I would prefer Venice in late April or early Oct to Nov.

Not much to see between Florence and Venice. Just take the train to Venice San Lucia, not Mestre.

Have a nice visit.

Out of curiousity, please explain about the fundraising aspect of this trip. I confess, Ive never heard of a fundraising trip. Thanks for the info and have fun planning!

How large is the group? Many companies will do a private tour for 20+ people.

Passports is a student travel company and won't guarantee which hotels,etc. Most of the student travel companies will not guarantee hotels or ac although Contiki might let you select hotels. The only student tour companies I would recommend are CHA and ACIS. Passports president/founder already has one travel company bankruptcy to his credit.

Gate 1 or www.go-today.com would probably be better and you would be able to pick your hotels.

Some companies are more hands on than others. Are you wanting guides at every stop or something less structured?

Thanks for all the input.