Which of these tours is best ?
May 27th, 2003, 07:35 AM
#1
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Which of these tours is best ?
Hello all,
I need to decide between two Trafalgar tours to Italy..Italy Bellisimo or Italian Discovery.
Bellisimo lists as highlights: Pompeii, Isle of Capri, Sorrento, Monte Cassino, Assisi, Pomposa, Venice, Brenta Canal, Padua, Montecatini, Florence, Siena, Rome.
Discovery highlights: Rome, Florence, Pisa, Turin, Italian Lakes, Milan, Pavia, Mantua, Venice, Verona, Bologna, Assis, Scenic drives.
Discovery visits the northwest, with Rome being the most southern part. Bellisimo heads south from Rome, and then north.
They both stop in Rome, Venice, and Florence.
Thanks for any input you can give. Good traveling.
1under
I need to decide between two Trafalgar tours to Italy..Italy Bellisimo or Italian Discovery.
Bellisimo lists as highlights: Pompeii, Isle of Capri, Sorrento, Monte Cassino, Assisi, Pomposa, Venice, Brenta Canal, Padua, Montecatini, Florence, Siena, Rome.
Discovery highlights: Rome, Florence, Pisa, Turin, Italian Lakes, Milan, Pavia, Mantua, Venice, Verona, Bologna, Assis, Scenic drives.
Discovery visits the northwest, with Rome being the most southern part. Bellisimo heads south from Rome, and then north.
They both stop in Rome, Venice, and Florence.
Thanks for any input you can give. Good traveling.
1under
May 27th, 2003, 08:33 AM
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I don't think either one is especially good. Although I don't particularly care for Florence, if you have any appreciation at all for the Renaissance, the time alloted (less than a day in each tour) is so inadequate as to border on the ludicrous.
The location of the hotels in Venice is pretty bad--Mestre and the Lido are not in historic Venice. Of the two, the Lido is the least objectionable, but it is a beach resort--it's a nice beach resort, but not what most people are looking for when they stay in Venice. Mestre is a an industrial town.
Both give only about 1-1/2 days in Rome--including your arrival day when you may or may not be disoriented and disinclined to undertake any sort of meaningful sightseeing.
I guess I'd go with the one that costs less overall.
The location of the hotels in Venice is pretty bad--Mestre and the Lido are not in historic Venice. Of the two, the Lido is the least objectionable, but it is a beach resort--it's a nice beach resort, but not what most people are looking for when they stay in Venice. Mestre is a an industrial town.
Both give only about 1-1/2 days in Rome--including your arrival day when you may or may not be disoriented and disinclined to undertake any sort of meaningful sightseeing.
I guess I'd go with the one that costs less overall.
May 27th, 2003, 09:09 AM
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First of all you have to realize that this board attracts primarily independent travels so there will definitely be a bias against this type of trip. Secondly most people offering advice are experienced travelers and many are quite knowledgable. That being said, don't be discouraged by negative feedback, but do consider some of the suggestions you are bound to receive.
Personally, I think both these tours cover too much in too little time. Most of the time will be spent being transported or settling into hotels.
Other things to consider are, hotel locations and quality, meals included vs. venturing out on your own, and structured vs. unstructured time. If you are looking to see as much as possible with minimal flexibility, then by all means go for it. If you really want to experience Italy though, I think you seriously have to slow down the pace and allow time to wander and explore on your own.
Personally, I think both these tours cover too much in too little time. Most of the time will be spent being transported or settling into hotels.
Other things to consider are, hotel locations and quality, meals included vs. venturing out on your own, and structured vs. unstructured time. If you are looking to see as much as possible with minimal flexibility, then by all means go for it. If you really want to experience Italy though, I think you seriously have to slow down the pace and allow time to wander and explore on your own.
May 27th, 2003, 09:50 AM
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1under
Not sure if you know that Trafalgar has its own website or not. The webaddress is: www.trafalgartours.com. They have a discussion board there. Sure you can get a better answer to your question from past Trafalgar customers.
Karl
Not sure if you know that Trafalgar has its own website or not. The webaddress is: www.trafalgartours.com. They have a discussion board there. Sure you can get a better answer to your question from past Trafalgar customers.
Karl
May 27th, 2003, 10:01 AM
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Why Trafalgar, just out of curiosity?
I have nothing against them per se, but I'm assuming that unless your trip is at least 3 weeks long you are going to be spending more time on the bus than in sightseeing, especially where time is included for "scenic drives". In tour lingo, "scenic drive" can just be a euphemism for "it takes a long time to get to the next town."
If you absolutely want a tour, there are tours that go to fewer places, or that allow more time in important places. I do understand wanting to cover a lot of ground, but it's going to be just seen it-done it unless you slow it down a little. IMO, for example, to have less than 3 days in Rome is not worth the hassle of going there and being there--it's large, and hectic.
I have nothing against them per se, but I'm assuming that unless your trip is at least 3 weeks long you are going to be spending more time on the bus than in sightseeing, especially where time is included for "scenic drives". In tour lingo, "scenic drive" can just be a euphemism for "it takes a long time to get to the next town."
If you absolutely want a tour, there are tours that go to fewer places, or that allow more time in important places. I do understand wanting to cover a lot of ground, but it's going to be just seen it-done it unless you slow it down a little. IMO, for example, to have less than 3 days in Rome is not worth the hassle of going there and being there--it's large, and hectic.
May 27th, 2003, 02:53 PM
#6
How many days are the tours? Both cover over a DOZEN destinations. Don't underestimate the time and trouble in transport (even with a tour) each time you move.
As others have mentioned this board is frequented most by people who love to plan their own trips, so "the best tour" is a bit of an oxymoron.
As others have mentioned this board is frequented most by people who love to plan their own trips, so "the best tour" is a bit of an oxymoron.
May 27th, 2003, 04:17 PM
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Both of these tours are pretty ambitious, but I would choose Bellisimo. Although you will spend a lot of time in transit on both tours, Bellisimo has fewer one-nighters (2 out of 10 versus 4 out of 9 on the Italian Discovery).
Although I travel independently now, when I first started traveling I went on several escorted tours including China Focus, Cosmos, Globus, and Trafalgar. If you haven't traveled with tours before, please be aware of the sometimes misleading lingo that appears in the tour brochures.
For example, "stopping to admire" the Colosseum and "admiring" La Scala means you will be there just long enough to take a picture, not actually visit it. So does "seeing" the Duomo, and driving along the coast and "seeing" the Abbey of Pomposa.
On the other hand, "visiting an inlaid wood factory to admire the local craftsmanship" and "witnessing the art of Murano glass blowing" means you will be steered to a shop where you will be encouraged to buy goods--time that might be better spent actually sightseeing.
"Free time to maybe visit the catacombs" and "why not take a cruise to the island of Burano?" means you will have to pay extra to do so (i.e., an optional tour.) Unless the brochure says you will actually VISIT a particular site, expect to zoom past it, stop just long enough to take a picture, or pay extra for it.
Don't misunderstand me--I think tours can sometimes be an efficient and low-hassle way to travel. The key is to match a tour with your particular budget, style and preferences.
Most tour companies allow you to add on days at the beginning or end of the tour at the tour hotel. Since you have so little time in Rome, you may want to consider this option.
You also may want to read some comments about Trafalgar before making a final decision by doing a search on this board in the text search box above. I also suggest you read the threads about Trafalgar on frommers.com (go to Community, then Tours and Package Operators).
Whichever tour you choose, have a safe and wonderful trip.
Although I travel independently now, when I first started traveling I went on several escorted tours including China Focus, Cosmos, Globus, and Trafalgar. If you haven't traveled with tours before, please be aware of the sometimes misleading lingo that appears in the tour brochures.
For example, "stopping to admire" the Colosseum and "admiring" La Scala means you will be there just long enough to take a picture, not actually visit it. So does "seeing" the Duomo, and driving along the coast and "seeing" the Abbey of Pomposa.
On the other hand, "visiting an inlaid wood factory to admire the local craftsmanship" and "witnessing the art of Murano glass blowing" means you will be steered to a shop where you will be encouraged to buy goods--time that might be better spent actually sightseeing.
"Free time to maybe visit the catacombs" and "why not take a cruise to the island of Burano?" means you will have to pay extra to do so (i.e., an optional tour.) Unless the brochure says you will actually VISIT a particular site, expect to zoom past it, stop just long enough to take a picture, or pay extra for it.
Don't misunderstand me--I think tours can sometimes be an efficient and low-hassle way to travel. The key is to match a tour with your particular budget, style and preferences.
Most tour companies allow you to add on days at the beginning or end of the tour at the tour hotel. Since you have so little time in Rome, you may want to consider this option.
You also may want to read some comments about Trafalgar before making a final decision by doing a search on this board in the text search box above. I also suggest you read the threads about Trafalgar on frommers.com (go to Community, then Tours and Package Operators).
Whichever tour you choose, have a safe and wonderful trip.
