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Post by bbkeef on Jan 28, 2016 14:56:30 GMT
***UPDATE-my friend and I just booked the Globus vacation "The Best of Italy" for 11 days. Thanks for the advice everyone. It wasn't cheap, but I know it will be worth it. We will be going to: Rome, Florence, Venice, Pisa, Capri, Assisi, Pompeii and Tuscany! I am very excited! **********************************************************************************************************
Just curious if it's worth the price. I just got an email deal for 8 days in Italy, semi-guided tours for about $1800 land only. I know I can find airfare for under $1,000. I'm just wondering if it's worth the price since I want to see as much as possible in a short amount of time.
Details: 8-Days GLOBUS - Italy's Great Cities was $1,979 per person, land only - Now $1,880
Travel Dates: 3/6/2016 - 10/26/2016
Itinerary: Rome, Florence, Venice, Rome
Includes 7 nights of first class accommodations, VIP acess to the must-see atractions, transportation and an expert guide throughout your trip. This Italy tour includes it all; amazing architecture, sumptuous food, delicious wine, breathtaking art, historical treasures, and scenic beauty. Visit historic landmarks like the Vatican and St. Peter’s Square, the Colosseum, Juliet’s balcony in Verona or Michelangelo’s famous David. Get first hand experiences watching a skilled glassblower fashion Venetian glass in an age-old, traditional manner. On this Italy tour, scenic rides between cities will highlight some of the country’s most beautiful scenery: the Tyrrhenian coast, the Lombardian plains, the flat Po area, and Tuscany’s Chianti wine country. Plus, Globus has arranged special experiences to provide a true local perspective.
- See more at: marketsquare.vacation.travelleaders.com/promotion-details.aspx?AgencyId=81988&promotionid=1019#sthash.prXH4ron.dpuf |
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Post by Yubon Peatlejuice on Jan 28, 2016 16:35:35 GMT
Sounds worth it to me especially if some meals are included. You could pay that much in hotel rooms alone. Other companies to price-check against would be Collette, Tauck, and Trafalgar.
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Montannie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,486 
Location: Big Sky Country
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Post by Montannie on Jan 28, 2016 16:43:25 GMT
I took a guided tour in Italy several years ago with a different company. It was totally worth it to have a bilingual guide who knew how to navigate the tourist stops, like the Vatican Museum.
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Loydene
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,639
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
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Post by Loydene on Jan 28, 2016 16:55:30 GMT
I think that sounds pretty high for those cities -- each is pretty easy to book everything you'd want to see yourself. And the trains are easy to deal with. But -- I haven't compared prices for those cities since about 5 years ago.
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Post by whopea on Jan 28, 2016 16:58:18 GMT
I've taken two GLOBUS tours. One was in France and one was in Scotland. They were both excellent but the most recent one was over 10 years ago. I can't vouch for their quality now.
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Post by bbkeef on Jan 28, 2016 17:12:49 GMT
Thanks everyone. I think we might just do it. Italy is on my bucket list!
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Post by annabella on Jan 28, 2016 17:17:38 GMT
I've done many tour with globes. You stay in nice hotels in the center of town. But I never go to Europe for less than two weeks, not worth the high cost of airfare.
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mallie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,253
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Post by mallie on Jan 28, 2016 17:32:33 GMT
We've taken several GLobus tours, including one in Italy. We've had good to amazing guides, bypassed almost all the lines (especially important in Venice and at the Vatican), and highly recommend their optional excursions in Italy. (Italy Optionals::Can't say enough about the open air dining experience outside Florence or visiting in/eating in Burano.) Plus in Italy, the guide's advice about time on our own was far far better than any book or research we had done.
We took the Italian Treasures trip (which now also includes the Cinque Terre). I am glad we took it -- that way we got to experience a lot of Tuscany and Umbria. To be honest, I wouldn't have enjoyed it as much if we spent all oru time in the cities -- those towns and villages were so amazing.
(Now that I think about it, I believe we found out about GLobus because another Pea recommended the company!)
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julieb
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,845
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Post by julieb on Jan 28, 2016 19:35:39 GMT
If you don't want a guide, try Europeandestinations.com. We've used it for 5 trips. I may even try them for our Italy trip in October for the airfare and one night at a hotel (we are staying at a villa in Tuscany, but you have to have at least one night to use the site) because the airfare is much less.
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Post by bbkeef on Feb 18, 2016 21:39:38 GMT
bump for update at top
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Jun 2, 2024 14:03:53 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2016 21:48:18 GMT
My BFF and her husband took their college-graduate daughter on that same trip with Globus last May. They LOVED it. Said they truly appreciated the restaurants the tour stopped at as they were more upscale than just "oh, here's a place to eat," and they had great perks with the sightseeing itself. For instance, when we went to the Vatican, we had a group tour through Viator. It was fine. My Globus traveling friends got to go in before the shoulder-to-shoulder crowds and got a lot more details from the guide than we did. That kind made me jealous. Ha ha.
Julie
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Post by shelby on Feb 18, 2016 22:01:06 GMT
We took a Globus tour to the British Isles and Ireland. Can't say enough about how good they were. Our guide was so funny and informative and we stayed at great places. The only complaint was a horrible women on tour with us that we all wanted to throw out the window everyday. It wasn't Globus fault and our guide was as upset with her as the rest of us were. I guess you take that chance with any one you book with though.
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Post by Leone on Feb 18, 2016 23:11:33 GMT
For your time and money, Globus and Cosmos can't be beat. I've been on five. They are the same company...Cosmos is less money. They run like clockwork as they've been in business over 60 years. Plan on extra expenses as they will offer evening outings...we go on most everything they offer. You can see a list of those and the prices on their website, I liked these two much more than Trafalger. But they are very regimented so be prepared to be up before 6am, suitcases out the door by 6:30 and on the bus by about 7:30. You'll come home tired but will have seen so much and made new friends. Have fun.
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Post by jemmls4 on Feb 18, 2016 23:42:41 GMT
When are you going? I can't wait to hear about it. I'd love to take my son on a trip like this so he can experience the world. He's so hesitant for an almost 20 y.o. guy. He never is impulsive or adventurous at all. Yet once finally talked into some new experience he almost always loves it.
if I get a decent bonus from work I want to take him on a trip or send him with his sister on a trip like this. I'd rather do something like this where it's all planned for you instead of tackling it myself.
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Post by kath323 on Feb 19, 2016 0:48:39 GMT
You totally made the right decision! Globus is phenomenal and I hope you have a wonderful trip!
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Post by bbkeef on Feb 19, 2016 15:53:13 GMT
jemmls4- we are going in October. I feel that after adding up hotel, bus, and meals, the price of the tour isn't so bad. We want to see everything we can, so this is a great way to do it.
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Post by craftygardenmom on Feb 19, 2016 17:50:08 GMT
When are you going? I can't wait to hear about it. I'd love to take my son on a trip like this so he can experience the world. He's so hesitant for an almost 20 y.o. guy. He never is impulsive or adventurous at all. Yet once finally talked into some new experience he almost always loves it. if I get a decent bonus from work I want to take him on a trip or send him with his sister on a trip like this. I'd rather do something like this where it's all planned for you instead of tackling it myself. jemmls4: If it's 2 under 35's going on the trip I'd also recommend Contiki Tours for them. I went on 2 trips with them when I was approx. 25-28 yrs. and had a ball. Very safe, run by an experienced 30ish tour guide, it's a great way to tour cities with people your own age. First time I went (by myself!) on a 30 day tour of Europe, had the BEST time of my life, and went on a Spain/Egypt tour the following year with an Australian friend I made on the Europe tour. We are still friends almost 15 years later, and she has visited me in the States twice, I went to Australia 4 years ago to see her and that country. We are both still good friends with our first tour guide as the 3 of us just connected and had so much in common even though we were from very different parts of the world (U.S., Australia, South Africa). Can't recommend Contiki for post-college/pre 35 year olds enough, I already plan to gift my 2 DDs with a trip when they turn 21. |
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Post by digirlwiz on Feb 19, 2016 23:45:33 GMT
sounds wonderful and you will be visiting many of my favorite places in Italy~ enjoy and make sure to tell us all about it after the trip! Tours really help you see so any places that you may not get to if going on your own!
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Post by MZF on Feb 20, 2016 1:32:37 GMT
You will have a fabulous time! We went to Europe for 6 weeks last year, the first portion of the trip was an 11 day tour of Italy (through another co, but so wonderful)! Sounds like Globus is similar to the one we had. We had such a wonderful time. Enjoy! I'm excited for you.
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valincal
Drama Llama
Southern Alberta
Posts: 5,650
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Post by valincal on Feb 20, 2016 1:36:06 GMT
Sounds like an amazing trip! craftygardenmom I agree about Contiki! I had a fantastic three weeks in Europe with them in my early 20s.  |
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