tours of italy
Nov 16th, 2008, 05:19 PM
#2
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It would help to know who/how old the family members are. Tours are often very difficult for teens or kids (some tours don;t allow kids) due to the very long hours sitting on a bus.
Also, knowing something about your interests and where you want to go will help provide recos.
Also, knowing something about your interests and where you want to go will help provide recos.
Nov 16th, 2008, 05:49 PM
#4
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kob
I saw your other thread on Trafalgar. Here's the deal: a wonderful trip can be planned on your own, but it is work.
It takes a lot of reading, and in order to get the most out of forums like this one, a good bit of writing.
People here can tell you all about the where, when, how, etc. but not until you give a good bit of information yourself.
If you are overwhelmed maybe a group tour would suit you. Is any person in your group really interested in doing the leg work that goes in to planning a trip for 10?
If you want to do something like Rome, Florence and Venice, it wouldn't be that hard to plan with folks here on Fodors.
I don't like group tours, but I like travel planning.
I saw your other thread on Trafalgar. Here's the deal: a wonderful trip can be planned on your own, but it is work.
It takes a lot of reading, and in order to get the most out of forums like this one, a good bit of writing.
People here can tell you all about the where, when, how, etc. but not until you give a good bit of information yourself.
If you are overwhelmed maybe a group tour would suit you. Is any person in your group really interested in doing the leg work that goes in to planning a trip for 10?
If you want to do something like Rome, Florence and Venice, it wouldn't be that hard to plan with folks here on Fodors.
I don't like group tours, but I like travel planning.
Nov 16th, 2008, 06:18 PM
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They are a very reputable company. I completed a superb tour of Italy with them this past summer called Italy Belissimo. It started in Rome, we went south to spend 2 days on Capri with a stop in Pompeii, from there we went to Assisi then spent 2 days in Venice (actually stayed in Lido), spent 2 days in the area of Florence and finished with 2 days in Rome...there was a side trip to Pisa as well as several really great optional dinners.
Don't know where you're from. Trafalgar tours are very international and usually have a conglomeration of Aussies, Kiwis, Yankees, Canucks (tried to insult everybody as I play no favourites).
Don't let others here scare you, they can be very good value for money and on this tour, there was plenty of time to do whatever I might have wanted to do outside the tour activities.
It was always nice after doing some siteseeing to come back to a brand new air conditioned coach.
Trafalgar tours are first class although the European definition of first class might be a bit different from those from North America but the hotels were all fine although, especially in Rome, a bit out of the way.
You'll have a great time I am sure.
Don't know where you're from. Trafalgar tours are very international and usually have a conglomeration of Aussies, Kiwis, Yankees, Canucks (tried to insult everybody as I play no favourites).
Don't let others here scare you, they can be very good value for money and on this tour, there was plenty of time to do whatever I might have wanted to do outside the tour activities.
It was always nice after doing some siteseeing to come back to a brand new air conditioned coach.
Trafalgar tours are first class although the European definition of first class might be a bit different from those from North America but the hotels were all fine although, especially in Rome, a bit out of the way.
You'll have a great time I am sure.
Nov 16th, 2008, 07:40 PM
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Hi kob,
You have 3 threads about your Italy trip. Click on your screen name at the top to see all your posts and responses.
It would help if you said where in Italy you want to go. Cities, countryside, seaside, etc. And how long your trip will be. What is your family interested in - museums, churches, food, scenery, lakes, mountains. Identifying these things will help you to determine where you want to be and then you can decide if you want a tour or do it on your own.
I think tours are good some times and less than desireable other times. If you do decide on a tour look carefully at their itineraries and make sure you're not up early every day and going to many places w/o getting an in-depth visit. Sometimes tours do not take you into sights but show you the outside of a place from the bus. Many tours of Italy cover a lot of ground and have you moving every night or two. That's not my idea of a vacation.
If you narrow down your trip to a couple of cities or one area of Italy then you could do the trip on your own with some help from this forum and guide books. In cities you can hire a local guide which should be reasonable for 10 people or sign up for tours (for instance at the Vatican or Colosseum).
You have 3 threads about your Italy trip. Click on your screen name at the top to see all your posts and responses.
It would help if you said where in Italy you want to go. Cities, countryside, seaside, etc. And how long your trip will be. What is your family interested in - museums, churches, food, scenery, lakes, mountains. Identifying these things will help you to determine where you want to be and then you can decide if you want a tour or do it on your own.
I think tours are good some times and less than desireable other times. If you do decide on a tour look carefully at their itineraries and make sure you're not up early every day and going to many places w/o getting an in-depth visit. Sometimes tours do not take you into sights but show you the outside of a place from the bus. Many tours of Italy cover a lot of ground and have you moving every night or two. That's not my idea of a vacation.
If you narrow down your trip to a couple of cities or one area of Italy then you could do the trip on your own with some help from this forum and guide books. In cities you can hire a local guide which should be reasonable for 10 people or sign up for tours (for instance at the Vatican or Colosseum).
Nov 17th, 2008, 08:58 AM
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If you want to do a tour you need to learn some of the rules- and how to read the tour book.
Generally european hotels are one star down from american - that is what they calla 4* we would call a 3*. Also many hotels - as with everything else - are old - very old - and private baths have been retrofitted into corners of rooms.
Unless you take a very upscale tour your hotels will likely be on the outskirts of the towns.
Unless you take a very upscale tour the food will not be as goon as in local restaurants (often hotels serve "americanized" versions of local food).
Starts are usually early - breakfast at 7 am is common.
Usually a lot of time is spent on the bus and there are typically daily stops for "shopping" for souvenirs.
When you read the brochure for sights:
Visit - means you actually go inside wherever and get a tour
Stop - means a 5 minutes photo op out front
View means you see from the bus window as you drive by
"Free afternoon" means they will sell you optional tours at extra cost (sometimes of things you have "viewed". Or - you can take off and do what you want - but need to get details on local transit - usually to the suburbs.
On the plus side - they do all the planning and haul your luggage around.
So - it really depends on what you prefer.
IMHO Italy is so easy to travel only going independently makes sense. But 10 people will require planning/decisions by more than 1 person. (We've never traveled more than 4 - either with my step-daughters or my BIL and SIL. In both cases we felt free to split up to see different things based on our interests.)
Generally european hotels are one star down from american - that is what they calla 4* we would call a 3*. Also many hotels - as with everything else - are old - very old - and private baths have been retrofitted into corners of rooms.
Unless you take a very upscale tour your hotels will likely be on the outskirts of the towns.
Unless you take a very upscale tour the food will not be as goon as in local restaurants (often hotels serve "americanized" versions of local food).
Starts are usually early - breakfast at 7 am is common.
Usually a lot of time is spent on the bus and there are typically daily stops for "shopping" for souvenirs.
When you read the brochure for sights:
Visit - means you actually go inside wherever and get a tour
Stop - means a 5 minutes photo op out front
View means you see from the bus window as you drive by
"Free afternoon" means they will sell you optional tours at extra cost (sometimes of things you have "viewed". Or - you can take off and do what you want - but need to get details on local transit - usually to the suburbs.
On the plus side - they do all the planning and haul your luggage around.
So - it really depends on what you prefer.
IMHO Italy is so easy to travel only going independently makes sense. But 10 people will require planning/decisions by more than 1 person. (We've never traveled more than 4 - either with my step-daughters or my BIL and SIL. In both cases we felt free to split up to see different things based on our interests.)
Nov 17th, 2008, 09:13 AM
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I think in your situation a tour is a good choice - it will allow your group to maximize their time to see the major sites of Italy. I love to travel and travel plan but I would never want to do a trip to Italy for 10 people. I do suggest you look for a tour with some free time and also one that does not cover all meals - Italy is great for being able to do some meals independently. Have a great trip!
Nov 17th, 2008, 09:37 AM
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We did 3 weeks in Italy last Sept with 7 people (3 in their late 20's, early 30's and 4 in their 50's).
We rented an apartment in Rome, Positano, and Umbria for 1 week each. We found this worked well as we had a home base to hang out and also could cook some meals.
We only rented a car for a week in Umbria (we had 3 cars between the 7 of us to provide flexibility).
It took a lot of work on my part to organize and facilitate but I'd be happy to pass on specifics if you have any questions!
We rented an apartment in Rome, Positano, and Umbria for 1 week each. We found this worked well as we had a home base to hang out and also could cook some meals.
We only rented a car for a week in Umbria (we had 3 cars between the 7 of us to provide flexibility).
It took a lot of work on my part to organize and facilitate but I'd be happy to pass on specifics if you have any questions!
Nov 17th, 2008, 11:20 AM
#12
I think for such a large group a tour might be a good idea, unless someone has experience and is willing to serve as the trip coordinator.
I think in this particular case taking an organized tour (like Globus, Trafalgar, etc.) would take the pressure off everyone.
I think in this particular case taking an organized tour (like Globus, Trafalgar, etc.) would take the pressure off everyone.
Nov 19th, 2008, 05:03 PM
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Over the past five years, my husband and I only use Context Rome. We did our first trip to Italy with Rick Steves (the one week Florence trip.) It was very much better than the Globus tour we took of the U.K. eight years ago. Going with a group on a "coach" means hurry, hurry, hurry. Going with Rick Steves also involves quite a bit of hurry, just with a few less people.
We find that doing the actual travel on our own allows us to choose the places to stay, for that number of days, rest when we need to, and do those things that we particularly enjoy. To supplement this with the guide part of "structured travel," we arrange with Context Rome for either a small group or a private tour based on our interests. The tours usually last about three hours, are led by the most brilliant and friendly folks. Setting up the tours is painless because the office staff is incredible too. We have visited Venice, Florence, and Rome a number of times with Context Rome and plan to do so again this Christmas! Check our their website, you won't be disappointed.
http://www.contexttravel.com/home/
And, no, I don't work for them or receive any kickbacks; I am very discerning about giving my hard earned dollars away. Context Rome deserves every dollar/Euro we have ever given them!
We find that doing the actual travel on our own allows us to choose the places to stay, for that number of days, rest when we need to, and do those things that we particularly enjoy. To supplement this with the guide part of "structured travel," we arrange with Context Rome for either a small group or a private tour based on our interests. The tours usually last about three hours, are led by the most brilliant and friendly folks. Setting up the tours is painless because the office staff is incredible too. We have visited Venice, Florence, and Rome a number of times with Context Rome and plan to do so again this Christmas! Check our their website, you won't be disappointed.
http://www.contexttravel.com/home/
And, no, I don't work for them or receive any kickbacks; I am very discerning about giving my hard earned dollars away. Context Rome deserves every dollar/Euro we have ever given them!
Nov 19th, 2008, 05:35 PM
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Kob, as you can see, many folks on this board discourage tours but it sounds to me that you might be more comfortable on one for your first visit to Italy. Granted, there are pros 'n cons.
Trafalgar is a reliable company but I would suggest you look into Insight which is the higher end of Trafalgar tours. I have taken several of their tours and was always very satified with hotels and options. Be prepared, many options will be offered on all tours. I have found them to be worthwhile because it is unlikely that I will return to particular places and I wish to see as much as I can.
However you go, you will enjoy Italy!
Trafalgar is a reliable company but I would suggest you look into Insight which is the higher end of Trafalgar tours. I have taken several of their tours and was always very satified with hotels and options. Be prepared, many options will be offered on all tours. I have found them to be worthwhile because it is unlikely that I will return to particular places and I wish to see as much as I can.
However you go, you will enjoy Italy!
Nov 20th, 2008, 06:09 AM
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With 10 people touring you are going to need at least one person to step up to the plate and be the tour organizer to make sure everyone is at the right place a the right time. Not sure that I would want that role in a family context. For that reason alone I would stick with a packaged tour and let a professional take care of the details.
The only tour operator that I have any recent European experience is Rick Steves. We loved our time with them but I will admit that their tours cater to a specific type of traveller. Check out their website to see if you think your group falls within their parameters.
The only tour operator that I have any recent European experience is Rick Steves. We loved our time with them but I will admit that their tours cater to a specific type of traveller. Check out their website to see if you think your group falls within their parameters.
