Travel

[bargainsgirl]

Has anyone used Collette for tours to Italy?  Do you recommend a tour or going on your own.  Seems safer to go with a tour but not sure we want to be tied to a plan each day...

[Still Raining]

Since I am alone, I have only taken tours to places that I knew would be difficult, like 2 weeks in Russia.

Never would I do a tour to Italy.  It is safe and has buses and trains.  I also rented a car for a few days.  No language problems.  Tours can be very confining.  

Go and have fun nosing around as you like.

[We rescue cats]

One of the premiere travel companies for Italy is Perillo, take a look at their offerings. Some of the companies, Collette, Globus and Trafalgar also offer hosted programs, meaning that they have the travel itineraries set for you but are not fully escorted, they include travel between cities, hotel accommodations and have hosts or offices in the cities that can help out should the need arise. If you are not an experienced traveler that may give you a bit more peace of mind. Sometimes they include a basic city tour to help introduce the area. Take a look at their websites or reach out to a travel agent in your area.

[Travone]

I prefer on my own when traveling to Europe.   It is easy to get around and you can spend your time the way you want.   If you want to spend a little more time at a certain museum or just sitting in a lovely park you passed,  you can if your time is your own. 

[kaydee50]

If you have some travel experience and feel comfortable making your own arrangements, definitely do Italy on your own.  As others have said, we have only taken tours in countries that are not so tourist friendly or where language would be a problem, i.e,, China.  Neither is the case in Italy.

I always like staying at least 3 nights in a city and most organized tours do not do that plus there are typically 30 or more people on the tour.  

Buono viaggio!

[Another new name Sue]

Tours are wonderful because you see and learn so much. 

[Alter Ego]

There’s so many excellent guidebooks and websites for Italy, I’m actually taking a Backroads tour of Tuscany next month, but that’s because I needed to reschedule a different trip and this fit my schedule. You can always schedule a day tour via Viator, etc, if you want, but at least you can make your own schedule and go where you want to go. I know someone who ended up hating Italy because all they did was go into churches on a tour.

[FranandZoe]

My husband and I always loved going with tours.  You waste a lot of time on your own.  You have to know what you're signing up for though.  Surely the "church tour" was described as such prior to signing up for it.  

[Janey2]

There are pros and cons of going either way. It also depends on how adventurous you tend to be. My friend went to Italy and had a personal tour guide. It was thebest trip she ever took. Learned a lot but went at a slow pace. No "stay with the group and wake up 5 am to leave one place to get to the next".  There is also the option of taking very small group tours. They have 8-9 on the tour. I think one of the best things about a tour is you learn a lot from a good tour guide. Have fun either way, Italy is a beautiful country.

[Janey2]

@bargainsgirl  I was thinking about this and one of the pros about having a tour guide or being on a tour is they get you into places fast. Alone you might wait on long lines to see an attraction.