Hi, my husband & I are making plans to go to Rome, Florence & Venice next spring. I have had pros and cons against using a tour company, such as Perillo. has anyone ever used a tour company and if so how was it. Or should we just go on our own and see what happens. It is our first time to Italy. Thanks for your suggestions.

This is one of the most frequently discussed questions on this forum, Elena - - and you'll find a STRONG bias here in favor of doing it yourself independently. One question that immediately comes to mind is: "do you mean spring 2002? or spring 2003?"<BR><BR>If 2003, then this is a great place to let "us" help you evolve this trip, as you learn more about the pros and cons of how to plan it. It can turn your trip into a year-long "adventure in your head" - - a delight to many, a nightmare to a few.<BR><BR>If you choose a tour, you will find opinions about tours a-plenty here - - and likely find a lot of favorable experiences with Perrillo, with the possible exception of being a bit high-priced. But then, you often get what you pay for, in travel, as in life.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

Please please please dont go with a tour! Thats my opinion. All of the best things we did in Italy were happenstance occurances (many of them came as a result of getting lost!). Tours limit your exposure to the odd and wonderful. To the little family run restaurants. To the ability to stop and enjoy street life. <BR><BR><BR>Italy is terribly simple to enjoy on your own. Driving is really easy (despite my humorous post on driving "The sum total of what I have learned driving in Italy"). Tours concentrate on the big name typically. You will get a rushed view of San Gimignano on a day trip while San Gim is best enjoyed after dark, after the tours have gone home.<BR><BR>Please be adventureous and go it on your own!

Elena, Hi. Yes, you will find many opinions here. I think maybe the reason people do book with tours is that they may be somewhat afraid to plan a trip. This is the very best place for help. If you are planning on Spring of 2003, why not tune in here for a little while? There are many here willing to give advice. You already know where you want to go. Guidebooks can help you brush up on what you would like to see in those cities. You can ask just about any question here and get an answer. Try it. If you feel lost after spending some time researching, you will always be able to find a company willing to take your money. Good luck,

Hello, Elena! My husband and I have both toured with a group and also on our own. We had taken the Perillo NOrth Italy Classic in 2000. We had a wonderful time and we met a lot of nice people there. Our only regret is that there is not enough time to see everything you want in such a short period of time. Needless to say, my husband and I broke away from the group many times to do things on our own. In addition, tour groups are very expensive.<BR>For me, half the fun of traveling is planning it out. This website has been very helpful to us for our other trips to Europe.<BR>I hope this helps. Have a great trip!

whatever you do please don't book with Italiatours....no service on the phone... they just left us hanging....but still expected their deposit....we cancelled a few weeks before take off and rebooked on our own using the internet and had a fabulous trip. It was our first time in Italy.

We just went through your same problem and decided to go it on our own with the help from this site. <BR><BR>I am sooooooo glad that we did not go with a group!<BR><BR>We were able to cover so much more on our own and eat better food for less money. <BR><BR>I did get an Italian language tape and learned some simple phrases so that I could try and be polite.<BR><BR>We did the same cities as you before leaving for Germany. If I can help, feel free to email me.<BR><BR>

Hi Elena,<BR><BR>I have done the tour route and done it on my own on my vacations. I prefer to do it on my own which is what I now do. As mentioned above, on the tour route, you are on a schedule and time limitation which I hate. If I want to spend more time at a certain place and cannot then I am not enjoying my vacation. I prefer to have the flexibility which you enjoy when you do it on your own. You will get a lot of help on this site, all you have to do is post your question. What ever you decide, I hope you have an enjoyable vacation.<BR>Manny

Ah yes, the big debate. There are many parts of the world where a tour group is necessary. It isn't not wanting to do the planning, I love that part. But with independent travel which we tend to do in W. Europe, there is some uncertaintly with regard to reservations, making the train on time, feeling compelled to walk to the next location instead of taking the subway or taxi and then being too tired to fully enjoy the museum or whatever. We have done and still do both tending to alternate them as long as we can. Certainly if we are going to stay within one region, we will rent a car and do it ourself. But some of our most memorable experiences have been with extremly well qualified guides (so I don't have to have my nose stuck in the book telling my husband what is significant) and the great travelers we have met on the tours. That said, we try to choose tours that leave a fair amount of free time to dine on your own and just mosey around picking our own interests to explore but make the transfers and baggage lugging (and we travel light) off our hands. And we did Italy independently years ago in our late 20's , now that we are 60, we will probable do that again when he retires. I desparately want to rent a villa or a small place for a month and explore the countryside at our own pace. But we'll miss alot!! Judy

I have already decided if I ever want to 'tour' Italy again, it will be the "Venice, Florence, Rome" package with GoAhead Vacations. You have 3 nights in Venice, 3 in Florence and 4 in Rome, and one of the optionals is Pompeii. They will provide some sightseeing, but there is a lot of time for you to arrange your own preferred visits or just stroll, people-watch or whatever. It seems to be the least rushed tour for the 'big three' of Italy, and that means less time being bused (bussed?!) around...

Elena, Only you can answer the question if your confidence level is adequate to plan your own trip. There is no doubt it is more enjoyable if you are feel up to the task. Here are some overview sample itineraires that I have used in the past. I hope they help.<BR>BOB the NAVIGATORS’ FAVORITE ITINERARIES<BR>___________________________________ ____<BR><BR>MAGICAL FAIRYLANDS:<BR> * Arrive and depart from Munich--14 nites--May thru Sep.--car travel<BR> * ITINERARY: Salzburg, Dolomites, Venice, Lake Garda, Bavaria<BR>======================================= =====<BR>BELLA ITALIA:<BR> * Arrive Milan, depart Venice--15 nites--car & train travel--April thru Oct.<BR> * ITINERARY: The Lakes, Ligurian coast, Tuscany, Florence, Venice<BR>======================================== ====<BR>CLASSIC ITALIA:<BR> * Arrive & depart Rome--12 to 14 nites--car & train travel, all year<BR> * ITINERARY: Florence, Tuscan & Umbrian hilltowns, Rome<BR>========================================== ==<BR>LA DOLCE VITA:<BR> * Arrive & depart Rome--12 nites--car & train travel--March thru Oct.<BR> * ITINERARY: Amalfi coast, Tuscan/Umbrian hilltowns, Rome<BR>========================================== ==<BR>OF ALPS & LAKES:<BR> * Arrive and depart Zurich--12 nites--train travel--June thru Sep.<BR> * ITINERARY: Berner Oberland, Lugano, Lake Como, Luzern<BR>======================================== ====<BR>THE VILLAGE SAMPLER: [my off-the-path personal favorites]<BR> * Arrive Milan & depart Rome--12 to 15 nites---car travel--April thru Oct.<BR> * Small quaint villages to include: Lake Orta, Portovenere, Montalcino, Spello, Orvieto, Sperlonga, Ravello, Castelrotto [ pick four of above]<BR>============================================ <BR>These are merely intended to be sample itineraries. Every TRIP PLAN is unique<BR>and is designed to meet your personal travel style, budget, and preferences.<BR>__________________________________ ______

Travelling with a large group of Americans may not be the smartest thing to do right now no matter where you are going. Why call attention to yourself. Something to think about.

I would recommend investigating tours through an art, architecture or history society. They can get you in places an average tourist, or tour group, cannot, such as private libraries and behind the scenes tours. You will learn a great deal more than you would on your own.<BR>Another excellent choice is hiring a local guide for some of the days of your trip.

Hi Elena,<BR><BR>If you are really interested in taking a tour, I strongly recommend you rent the movie "If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium". Aside from the love story, the movie is hysterical. A lot of it is true, I'm sure.<BR><BR>Funny, this past Monday, it was on TCM in the afternoon. I also have it on tape.<BR><BR>By the way, Suzanne Pleshette never, never looked better.<BR><BR>Dick

Read some of Rick Steves books or rent one of his videos at the library. This helped us decide to go it on our own.

Knowledge is power! If you have the time, do what you are doing....ask questions, check out the travel internet sites and the guidebooks. Then, if you feel confident & energetic enough to enjoy going on your own, I'd highly recommend it. The flexibility you have on your won is priceless. We travelled on our own in Italy this summer, taking the trains from Ancona to Rome, Milan, Verona, Venice. Actually, as you've chosen the big 3 of Rome, Florence, Venice to visit, you can fudge it a little. Divide your time between being on your own and using local tour outfits. I used ScalaReale (http://www.scalareale.org) in Rome and highly recommend them. I know there are similar excellent outfits in Venice and in Florence. Best of both worlds. Whatever you decide, relax & enjoy!

topping for Elena<BR>