[Minnesotalyn]

My husband & I are planning to travel to Italy in the next 2 years. We' re looking into some of the tour groups, Trafalgar, Globus, Perillo's. Not planning on going on our own. Has anyone used any of these or someone else & what were your views good or bad? Did you book through the tour company or do it though a travel agency?

[buggyone]

I have heard good things about Globus. No first hand experience, though.

I would NOT recommend Legendary Journeys. They put us up in a tourist hotel that they said was a 3 star hotel. Very poor service. Some of the group had signed up for - and paid for - optional tours to some farm area. Due to flooding, the roads in that area were closed and the tours were cancelled which is reasonable. Legendary Journeys would not refund the optional tour costs and just said the people could try and collect from their travel insurance after they got home.

[manaboutown]

Doesn't this thread belong in The Travel Forum?

[chachacha]

i am taking a Gate 1 tour this winter which i found the most reasonable of all, although it does not include any dinners...since i have been to all the cities before and have some favorite restaurants that did not pose a problem for me, but it should not for anyone as while you are sightseeing it is fun to just pop into a place that looks interesting rather than worrying about getting back to your hotel for a preplanned dinner. have read good reviews of their trips and also some good comments from friends. hoping for the best! have also traveled with Go Ahead Tours and been satisfied but they are a bit more expensive than Gate 1. since i do not drink wine i am not impressed by paying for dinners that include wine, which most tour dinners do. i am sure perillo is luxury all the way but quite pricey. different strokes for different folks, right? took a globus tour while living in spain and did not like it very much...research the locations of your hotels as that can make all the difference. way out of the center robs you of precious time getting back and forth, as well as possible pick pocketing in subways, etc. central location is safest and best.

[chachacha]

forgot to mention that although one can book directly from the website, i booked through Theresa Odom at Expedia Cruise Ship Centers 352-751-5160 ext 412. it costs the same and if there are any problems you have someone to help you. she has been great!

[Bonny]

Also look into Tauck tours.

[swrinfla]

First of all, I must acknowledge that I left the travel business in mid-2002, so some things may well have changed.

That said, here are a few thoughts:

* Trafalgar: well thought of; moderately priced; good itineraries; decent lodgings. Neighbors of mine just took one of their European trips and have been raving.

* Globus: generally well thought of; generally on the inexpensive side; good itineraries; hotels may be away from the town center, not necessarily a Good Thing, especially in Europe; in the business for seemingly forever.

* Petrillo: has a very well-established reputation; specializes in Italy; good itineraries; good lodgings; that said, I've heard some say "They've gotten complacent!"

* Gate One: low-price reputation; the agency I worked in for nearly 20 years never booked them.

* Tauck: One of the best tour companies going, for domestic (i.e., within North America) especially, but also world-wide; brochures carry some high degree of sticker shock, but they end up being worth every penny.

As with all traveling, you've got to weigh the costs against the benefits! On an international tour, you must be prepared to deal with the inevitable language difficulties (a good tour's director knows how to cope); to deal with the probable different standards that you may have with respect to hotels; etc. And, you must include your personal comfort level with the "foreign/strange" or "first-class/third-class.)

Whatever, have fun and take lots of pictures!

SWR

[VICAR OF DIBLEY]

Globus has an excellent tours in Italy. I hear nothing but rave reviews about them.

If you have any questions please ask them. Have you decided what you want to do in Italy, and where you want to go?

We have been to Italy a couple of times, I think whatever you decide to do, will be great.

[OnTheMoveFromMi]

Originally Posted by Minnesotalyn

My husband & I are planning to travel to Italy in the next 2 years. We' re looking into some of the tour groups, Trafalgar, Globus, Perillo's. Not planning on going on our own. Has anyone used any of these or someone else & what were your views good or bad? Did you book through the tour company or do it though a travel agency?

Hi There:

My Mom has taken multiple trips all over the world with Collette Travel and has always been pleased with their service. In 2010 she took our 21 yro daughter on a 13 day trip to Italy thru Collette and they LOVED it (went in July and it was super hot so she doesn't recommend that time of year).

They aren't cheap trips but has been worth the money. Hope that helps and happy travel planning!

S. Clark

[JP]

Originally Posted by Bonny

Also look into Tauck tours.

I agree. Tauck is great. We have used them on several trips and you get treated like royalty and EVERYTHING is included. The avitar is a picture in Tunisia on a Tauck tour when we were at a fantastic persian rug shop.

[cab1948]

Isn't it exciting planning for such a trip! My husband and I are also planning on going to Italy in the next few years. I have brochures from all the companies mentioned so far. Also, I went to AAA. They deal with Trafalgar and some other tour companies. It is nice to have someone you can talk to face to face. Since we've never been there, we just want to go to Rome, Florence and Venice with a few side trips. We had friends who did a Trafalgar tour and they loved it. Good luck!

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by cab1948

Isn't it exciting planning for such a trip! My husband and I are also planning on going to Italy in the next few years. I have brochures from all the companies mentioned so far. Also, I went to AAA. They deal with Trafalgar and some other tour companies. It is nice to have someone you can talk to face to face. Since we've never been there, we just want to go to Rome, Florence and Venice with a few side trips. We had friends who did a Trafalgar tour and they loved it. Good luck!

Along with the Big Three, suggest adding some of the hill towns of Tuscany. They will blow you away.

[chachacha]

my favorite area of italy is the lake como region but since i am going in winter this time am not going there. one can get a b&b centrally located on the lake and take ferries each day to different lovely villages to peruse. very relaxing. so much to see, so little time!

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by chachacha

my favorite area of italy is the lake como region but since i am going in winter this time am not going there. one can get a b&b centrally located on the lake and take ferries each day to different lovely villages to peruse. very relaxing. so much to see, so little time!

Chachacha, I've always wanted to go to Italy in the winter. We've been there in spring and fall, and my favorite time between those two is definitely fall.

But tell us what you will be doing and where you'll be going in the winter! I can't get DH to go in winter. He's afraid we'll slip in the ice on those hills.

[Minnesotalyn]

We're planning a 2 week trip all over because I don't know if we'll get back there. I'll look into the other ones you gave me. Thanks