We are planning a tour to Italy in spring 2001 and have narrowed our choice of tour companies to Tauck, Caravan, and Petrillo. We would like some comments or recommendations.

Betty <BR>I haven't done one, but I have heard that the hotels Perillo uses are very good, but the included dinners are very mediocre. <BR>Try doing a search ,somewhere on this website I have no idea where, perhaps both Europe and Italy, for Perillo.

Good afternoon, Betty <BR>Took two or three escorted bus tours <BR>of Italy back in the 70's. These at <BR>the time were Amerx. The hotels as the <BR>tour got more costly, naturally got <BR>better. Some hotels on the lest costly <BR>tours were out in the boondocks and <BR>away from the city center. Also the <BR>meals in ALL instances as Elaine states <BR>were mediocre, with the exception of the <BR>last farewell dinner in Rome Travestere. <BR>I personally think that the dinners <BR>offered lean toward the American Taste <BR>and not necessarilly authentic local <BR>crusine. Would suggest that you check <BR>into the locations of the actual hotels <BR>you will be staying at and use that <BR>as one of the measures for your decision. <BR>If you need any help on Hotel location <BR>drop me an e mail and will reply promptly. Richard of La Grange Park,IL..

Betty I thought I would comment again about choosing a tour--I've provided these comments to others before. <BR>Of course, maybe this question should be in the "Italy only" area, but <BR>here we are. <BR>If you want a tour, you still have lots of options. For example, many tours allow you to add on extra days in a city that interests you and a company may allow you to combine two or more of their tours into one trip. <BR>The "optional" daytrips offered are comparatively expensive, but you can still pick and choose. For example, if you are in Florence, you could skip an optional daytrip to Fiesole if they offer one, if only because Fiesole is incredibly easy (and cheap) to get to on your own. <BR>As Richard said above, too often when meals are included, the restaurants aren't good enough. It's much more fun to walk around the city you are in and find a great little place on your own. <BR> Sometimes tours use business-oriented hotels that are more convenient to the airport and train stations than they are for tourist sites. You don't want to waste your precious travel time shuttling back and forth to a hotel on the outskirts of the city. <BR> <BR>Pack light, even if your tour will be doing all your baggage handling. On a long trip with a few days in one location, take some of your travel money and splurge on having the hotel do some laundry/dry cleaning for you. I gladly eat good bread and cheese for one dinner if I have to make up the cost . <BR> <BR>There is a whole other language that you have to learn to interpret. A phrase like "and on our drive we'll see the famous Leaning Tower" may mean that all you'll do is literally see it out the bus window as you drive by, not that you'll actually stop there. If one place is included as a "visit", say the Vatican, find out how much time you'll actually have there. It might be only an hour. <BR>If it is important for you to see a particular site check the tour itinerary and a good guidebook to make sure that what you want is open on the day you will be in the city. Tours are geared toward the majority, and you may have to give up the one church or work of art that you always wanted to see. The tour brochure may have language like "we'll visit the Accademia museum (where "David" is), schedule permitting". If your only museum day in Florence turns out to be a Monday, the Accademia will be closed. continued <BR>

Expect checking in and out of hotels, plus transportation time to the next place, to take longer than you wish. (That's true even with independent travel.) "We'll arrive in Venice in the late morning" may mean that by the time you get caught in traffic, unload the bus, check in, and get settled, you don't get out for sightseeing until 2 or 3pm. If you're moving on the next morning, that's not much time in that particular place. <BR> <BR>Finally, remember that you are not a prisoner, and even on a group visit you can strike out on your own for an hour or two, as long as you are back before the bus leaves. If the group is shepherded into one particular shop (as often happens) and you had seen another shop that interests you more, feel free to go off on your own for a while. If you'd rather shop while the group eats lunch, or if you'd rather relax at a local café or stop into a church while the group shops, feel free. Again, just know where the bus is, and when it's leaving, and tell someone you'll be back in time. Don't even think of keeping the bus waiting, even if you have to give up that last-minute purchase. <BR> <BR>I don't mean to cite only the negatives, only that you should do some reading and comparing before you go, and have realistic expectations to avoid disappointment. <BR>Have a wonderful time. <BR>

I anticipate doing at least one small group tour (10-12 people) to Italy in spring 2000; dates and itinerary not yet set. Please feel free to write me if you are interested. <BR> <BR>Rex