Need help on Italy Tours

[dayg]

Ok I plan to join a 9 day tour to Italy in Oct or Nov and I looked into the following:

http://us.contiki.com/

http://www.perillotours.com/ip...ons/Tours%20To%20Italy

http://www.affordabletours.com/search/it/?t=ZJW

Here are my questions:

1. Has anyone been on Italy tour(s)? if yes, which tour and what were your thoughts on that tour? I'm looking into tour packages with or without flight tickets.

2. Where can I find bargin tours for Italy or other parts of European tours.

3. Any awesome sites for bargin flight tickets?

Thanks.

 

[davestar]

www.kayak.com for flights

i'm extremely anti-tours, so no recommendations from me

 

[dayg]

Thanks for the link Davestar. Just wondering though why are you anti-tours? I mean, what other choice do one have traveling to another country not speaking their language?

 

[davestar]

Originally posted by: dayg
Thanks for the link Davestar. Just wondering though why are you anti-tours? I mean, what other choice do one have traveling to another country not speaking their language?

maybe i'm a control freak, but i don't like having a schedule laid out for me. my favorite thing about visiting foreign cities is wandering around and discovering things on my own/with friends/with random people whom i meet.

if you can find a friendly, sociable hostel, there's plenty of opportunities to meet people (english speakers), exchange travel tips and must-see destinations, and book little tours if you feel that you can't get your desired experience without a guide.

i stayed at one hostel in Prague, Sir Toby's, that had a professor from Heidelburg University living there for the summer. one of the coolest guys i've ever met. he led daily history tours around the town and gave an amazing perspective on things. a "touristy" tour can't compete.

 

[davestar]

oops

 

[yuppiejr]

I'm with davestar, I spent a week in Florence last year and spent a majority of my time on foot wandering the city with a map, a few Itallian phrases, s small water bottle and a digital camera. It was great to wander in and out of the various buildings, gardens, museums, and streetside cafes at my own pace without a stupid schedule or herd of 40 retirees with fanny packs and 0 sense of adventure. Not knowing the language isn't a huge deal as long as you are willing to TRY and communicate by taking the time to learn a few key phrases. Honestly, I enjoyed visiting some of the less crowded museums and gardens in the city in addition to some of the open air markets and residential districts that tourists normally skip.

My wife and I did splurge and hired a private driver to shuttle us on a whirlwind tour of Tuscany (Siena and San Gimignano were both interesting to visit, wish I had more time in Siena) - but that was after 5 days in Florence proper.

If you're going to Italy don't forget to visit Venice, it may not be there in a few more years!

 

[Quasmo]

I went on a tour with Cosmos. It was INCREDIBLE. I loved every minute of it. They really shuttle you threw every city but I didn't feel like I missed out on a whole lot. I would have liked to spend more time in Rome, and maybe a bit more time in Florence, but I saw 12 cities in 10 days, not a bad deal. I took over 1200 photographs, and Italy has the most beautiful landscapes. Make sure you go to San Gandolfo, where the Pope has his summer home (It's the most beautiful place I've ever been in my life, plus they have .75 euro, liter Peroni's)

http://www.cosmos.com/Default....rip=76400&source=Italy

$4,574.00 for two people round trip with airfare from Atlanta.

Had a really hot tour guide too.

 

[EKKC]

i didn't do tours. me and the gf did a 9 day trip to Italy last year in May (Rome, Florence with Pisa, Venice) and the hotel and plane cost me a little over 3000 total for 2 ppl

i used this site called europeandestinations.com they had a package deal for the 3 cities an i just added a few more days to it. they include the hotel, plane and train tickets. i was pretty satisfied with them after the trip and if i go to europe again i may use them

they let you pick the hotels and flight and etc, i picked 3 hotels that are in non-touristy area and i actually like them, very friendly staff there, it's a bit out of the way, in rome i had to take the tram/trolley to the closest metro station, in florence i had to take bus to the tourist attractions, and in venice it was a 15 minute walk (it was a residential area)

i highly recommend getting a guide book and explore yourself as opposed to doing tours where they limit you on what you want to do and what you like. i loved the freedom and i could go back to hotel, go to a restaurant and sit and do nothing and just relax.

one thing is i didn't get to visit any vineyards in tuscany, maybe for another trip in the future.

on the way back I had an early flight from Venice to Amsterdam and decided to take the evening flight back to NYC. i had 9 hours to explore downtown Amsterdam as well. (i took KLM and AMS was the transfer stop for both ways)

here's my order of preference
Florence > Rome > Venice
(I think Venice is overrated, but I loved the islands of Murano and Burano)

 

[homercles337]

Originally posted by: Quasmo
Had a really hot tour guide too.

Ok, pics. Stat! It seems that i have developed a thing for Italian women during my formative years with my step-fathers stash of Euro pron.

 

[Quasmo]

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Quasmo/San-Gandolfo2.jpg

 

[Spineshank]

I went through EF Tours in May. Was a bit over 2 grand for the entire trip.

 

[mrrman]

I ve been to many countries around the world...no tours...always on my own and thats the best way IMO...do what you want and go where you want whenever...no schedules...pick that places that you want to see and arrange bus/train transportation to that location. When in Italy, the train system works great and just pay as you go. I have family there and have travelled this way plus its a neat experience.