sbmarti2

I like it as well. I don't pretend to be a pro at this, and in fact as its my first trip I like the idea of not having to worry about the Italian part. As well we get to see a lot more of the countryside than before. We also get plenty of time in Paris and London. Its a bit more expensive, but its going to be an expensive trip anyway, so oh well

janisj

sorry about the typos in my post -- (goos plan?? ) A good plan

PalenqueBob

Heathrow economical hotels - depends what you call economical - there is a whole phalanx of hotels on the airport periphery - check www.accorhotels.com for Holiday Inn type places.

suze

I think it's an excellent compromise, some time touring and some time on your own. Thanks for letting us know how things are turning out.

JoeTro

This looks good to me. I haven't been on any tours, but Contiki is meant to be the youngish/relatively inexpensive one. I'm not sure if they have a similar itinerary, though.

sbmarti2

I glad this is getting good replies, as I feel it is a good compromise. We see what we consider the more difficult area in a structured environment first, then we get thrown in the deep end in Paris, but with more experience, and a slight knowledge of the french language.