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Best Italy Guided Tour
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Destinations
Best Italy Guided Tour
<font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="1">Share your great vacation ideas with others. You never know what wonderful vacation locales the conversations will whisk you away to — or which duds they'll help you avoid.</font>
My wife are plannng to travel to Italy this late spring/early summer. We would like to take in Rome, Florence and Venice, primarily. As far as I can tell, there are no river boat cruises t
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Cat:0c5cdad1-0db7-41bc-8a31-35c3337db815Forum:ac18d0fb-9f4e-4606-9f09-a401e84f6adcDiscussion:1a437441-b920-46f7-996c-3d9baeeb1363
Forums » Travel » Destinations » Best Italy Guided Tour
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Best Italy Guided Tour
posted at December 19, 2011 6:08 PM EST
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Posts: 1
First: December 19, 2011 Last: December 19, 2011 |
My wife are plannng to travel to Italy this late spring/early summer. We would like to take in Rome, Florence and Venice, primarily. As far as I can tell, there are no river boat cruises through any part of Italy. Is that right? In any case, what are the tours you've gone on that you'd recommend? Grand European seems to have some nice tours -- balancing quality and cost. What have been your expereinces (those who have taken one from Grand European) and what about others? Thanks. |
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Re: Best Italy Guided Tour
posted at December 20, 2011 9:52 AM EST
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Posts: 1
First: December 20, 2011 Last: December 20, 2011 |
y wife & I spent 3 weeks in Italy and did our own 'tour'. We saw many, many tours and took one in Milan. They are all very similar. You receive a headset or earplugs and follow a large group of people through various places and buildings. We found it difficult to hear when we are out of 'line of sight' of the leader. The english was OK but, was difficult to understand many times. We took one another in the Vatican Gardens and was best to stand next to the leader to hear. It seemed other tours we saw.. the people had the same problem. We folowed Rick Steve's book and suggestions and found them perfect for us. We downloaded his narratives and listened to them as we romaed Venice, Rome, Florence, etc. We enjoyed our own pace and as I said, made our own itinerary. We took the train from Milan to Venice and then to Florence. They are clean, quiet and efficient. You must buy your tickets beofre you leave the US. We spent the extra money on first class... it was not much and well worth a reserved seat. We stayed in a small town called La Signa with a company called 'A Taste of Tuscany'. http://www.tuscany-cooking-class.com/ We stayed in Valentina cottage and took the train from La Signa to Florence. Again, clean, efficient, easy. We got our own tickets.. some online and some throuhgh the good people at Taste of Tuscany. For the Uffizzi and Acadamia, no tickets, jus a reservation for a time. We showed up at our time and our reservation number and walked right in. Otherwise, plan on spending hours in line. To climb the tower in Pisa. Get advanced tickets online or, wait 2 - 3 hours. In Rome, much to do but, the Vatican and the Forum/Coliseum is enough. Spend as little time in Rome as possible. It is filthy and dangerous. The restuarants rip you off as a tourist, charging unbelievable fees for house wine (as an example). ASK how much beofre ordering anything. The bread you get on the table... yup, $6. $4 to sit down. We were robbed on the metro so.. read up on how to avoid this. Do not miss the tour under the vatican... to the grave of St. Peter. This must be arrange ahead of time through the Vatican offices. http://www.vatican.va/various/prefettura/index_en.html We found no problem diriving through the Tuscan hills and seeing the hill towns. Once we were in a city though, no car. Agsin, we bought the Rick Steve's books and had them with us on the trip. We both had 1... ONE rollaboard suitcase.. no checked luggage for 3 weeks. Yes, difficult to do but sooo easy then to get around. We saw many people struggling with large suitcases. We washed clothes in various places/hotels. Bring plenty of money and don't count it as you use it, especially in Venice. Venice is a must see, do not miss, multiple day wonderous place. Hope this is useful. |
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Re: Best Italy Guided Tour
posted at December 27, 2011 8:05 PM EST
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Posts: 1
First: December 27, 2011 Last: December 27, 2011 |
My husband and I went on the Globus Best of Italy tour in October. It was wonderful! However, it was not relaxing if that is what you are looking for. We were exhausted by the end of the tour, and loved every day of it! We stayed in Rome, outside Florence, Venice, Assisi, Capri, and back to Rome. We saw many sights along the way- Pisa, Pompei, Amalfi Coast. The knowledgeable tour director and guides taught us more than any travel book could. We also never waited in any line (Vatican, St. Mark's Cathedral, Dogges Palace.....) We prefer guided tours since we enjoy being with groups of people and getting to know others from other places. If that is not for you, you may not want a guided tour of a large group. It was our 2nd guided tour and we plan to take another one next year. If you have trouble walking or using steps you may not like this tour. From what I understand Grand Europeon Tours go at a slower pace. We are 63 and 65 and in good physical condition. We were on the older end of those on the tour; we really enjoyed our traveling companions and shared many conversations, laughts, and glasses of good Italian wine! |
Forums » Travel » Destinations » Best Italy Guided Tour
