Deleted
Posts: 0
May 6, 2024 10:54:31 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2019 13:34:47 GMT
Long story short: it's my 50th birthday this year and I want to travel somewhere in Europe...most likely Italy. If I leave the arrangements up to my DH, I'll be spending it at the local watering hole with our cronies...lol.
Anyway, I know of a few travel companies such as Gate-1 but am interested in hearing what other ones people have tried. It will be a quick trip. Most likely no longer than 10 days or so. We're on the east coast so I'm assuming that we'd be flying in and out of JFK or Philly.
TIA!
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Post by Delta Dawn on Mar 25, 2019 13:39:10 GMT
We travel with Insight and like them a lot. Trafalgar is good, too, but we like Insight.
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Post by bbkeef on Mar 25, 2019 13:49:32 GMT
My friend and I did a Taste of Italy tour by Globus and had a blast. It's travel though, not vacation. We were switching hotels every night or two. To pack it all in, we were on the bus usually by 8am and not done sightseeing/touring until 6pm each day. We saw a ton of stuff, but I would suggest adding a couple extra days at the end of your tour to relax and see what you want to see.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 6, 2024 10:54:31 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2019 14:02:33 GMT
My friend and I did a Taste of Italy tour by Globus and had a blast. It's travel though, not vacation. We were switching hotels every night or two. To pack it all in, we were on the bus usually by 8am and not done sightseeing/touring until 6pm each day. We saw a ton of stuff, but I would suggest adding a couple extra days at the end of your tour to relax and see what you want to see. My biggest items on my bucket list are Tuscany, Florence and Venice. I'd retire to Tuscany if I could!
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Post by bbkeef on Mar 25, 2019 14:07:46 GMT
My biggest items on my bucket list are Tuscany, Florence and Venice. I'd retire to Tuscany if I could! Those were on our bucket list too! I would have loved more time in all those places. Capri was amazing too! I would go back in a heartbeat.
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Post by ntsf on Mar 25, 2019 15:40:59 GMT
rick steves is also a good option..
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Post by shanniebananie on Mar 25, 2019 15:42:25 GMT
We have used Trafalgar three times. LOVE THEM!
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pilcas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,915
Aug 14, 2015 21:47:17 GMT
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Post by pilcas on Mar 25, 2019 15:57:29 GMT
I have used Globus in the past but don’t take their airfare. I usually add extra nights.
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Post by melanieg on Mar 25, 2019 17:13:14 GMT
Escorted tours: Insight Trafalgar Collette Globus National Geographic by Gadventures
Independent: Monograms
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mallie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,253
Jul 3, 2014 18:13:13 GMT
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Post by mallie on Mar 25, 2019 19:18:47 GMT
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Post by Leone on Mar 25, 2019 20:27:57 GMT
Globus is the higher end version of Cosmos...both excellent. I’ve done about five trips with them. Did only one with Trafalger and it wasn’t up to the other two. Gate 1 is low end but people like it. Perillo is well known for Italian tours. All are quite regimented but very organized...you will see a lot in a short time.
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Post by MichyM on Mar 26, 2019 2:30:18 GMT
Have any of you traveled as a single with these tours? If so, what were your thoughts?
Also, do any of the companies do smaller tours, like 10-12 people? If not, how did you feel about the size of your tour?
I've done done two "adventure tours" for photographers and both times the group was that small...I really liked it.
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pancakes
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,993
Feb 4, 2015 6:49:53 GMT
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Post by pancakes on Mar 26, 2019 4:17:56 GMT
For smaller groups, Rick Steves and Tauck Tours. And by smaller, it's still probably about 25 people. I've never personally done either, but I swear by Rick Steves in personal travel and my husband has had multiple tours with his family through Tauck. Tauck provides high quality intimate experiences and are slightly more off the beaten path. I hear they are somewhat like Rick Steves in the "culture" aspect of their tours but their accommodations are really nice, like 4-5 star hotels only. They're not cheap, but everyone I know who has taken them say they're amazing. I hear they also often skew slightly older (majority late 40s and older).
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Post by travelsoul on Mar 26, 2019 5:02:14 GMT
When choosing an escorted tour you want to consider three things: value(budget), level of accommodations and group size. The mass market companies, like Trafalgar, have a smaller price tag but you have to pay for all the optional excursions if you plan on staying with the group most of the time. This adds an average $100 per person, per day to the bottom line. Additionally, you’ll be paying for at least half your meals and the group size will be in the 40’s. If you’re planning on paying for the excursions then you might as well go for a premium company that includes excursions in the upfront price, uses better located hotels and has a smaller group size. If you really don’t plan on purchasing the optionals and would rather do your own thing, then go with Trafalgar or similar. When I was a travel agent my clients loved Tauck for their all-inclusiveness, smaller group size and superior service. Alexander + Roberts is also another great upper premium company for the same reasons as Tauck. Some of Insight Vacations tours are available as a small group and they also have a luxury product called Luxury Gold. The company I worked for didn’t sell Rick Steves but I’m a personal fan and his tours look excellent and appear to be a good value. Happy Planning!
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mallie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,253
Jul 3, 2014 18:13:13 GMT
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Post by mallie on Mar 26, 2019 14:16:10 GMT
Other things to consider:
1. Schlepping luggage. I had zero interest in schlepping luggage in Europe after watching people on other tours struggle with luggage over uneven streets/cobblestones and in Venice, many bridges. The reason is that in many European cities, the tour vehicles cannot get to the hotel.
2. Hotels. Where are the included hotels located? Does it make it difficult to get around without the tour group? Are there elevators? Because again, schlepping luggage up flights is, for me, a no go.
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Post by h2ohdog on Mar 26, 2019 14:54:03 GMT
Agree with all above.
Went on my first non-self-planned European trek last August to Poland and Prague with Abercrombie & Kent. They are considered a luxury tour group, and the experience was awesome (group was supposed to be 24 but was only 12), but I have looked at similar tours since and they are about the same price. I have heard good things about Tauck as well.
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Post by h2ohdog on Mar 26, 2019 14:59:07 GMT
Other things to consider: 1. Schlepping luggage. I had zero interest in schlepping luggage in Europe after watching people on other tours struggle with luggage over uneven streets/cobblestones and in Venice, many bridges. The reason is that in many European cities, the tour vehicles cannot get to the hotel. 2. Hotels. Where are the included hotels located? Does it make it difficult to get around without the tour group? Are there elevators? Because again, schlepping luggage up flights is, for me, a no go. These are excellent points! With A& K, I was surprised they drove our luggage in a smaller vehicle to the hotels that were not accessible. Hotels were all located (Warsaw, Kraków, Prague) in central areas and our luggage was in our rooms when we got in. A nice experience.
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Post by melanieg on Mar 26, 2019 18:30:36 GMT
Have any of you traveled as a single with these tours? If so, what were your thoughts? Also, do any of the companies do smaller tours, like 10-12 people? If not, how did you feel about the size of your tour? I've done done two "adventure tours" for photographers and both times the group was that small...I really liked it. Nat Geo tours are smaller groups. Usually 12-16 guests. Just You is a British company (just new to Canada, not sure about the US) that offers small groups for solo travellers and gte you a single room
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Post by hop2 on Mar 26, 2019 18:44:31 GMT
May I make a suggestion on flights?
Take a non stop flight to Italy. International flights are not as affected by strikes as flights within Europe. My Ex has a devil of a time getting to Rome and I had zero issues he had a layover somewhere in the EU and if there is a strike they won’t start a flight Eu to Eu. I had a direct flight there & back and my biggest affect was a 1 hour delay coming home.
It cost me $49 extra but IMO well worth it.
Btw don’t discount Newark if that’s where the direct flight is
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pilcas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,915
Aug 14, 2015 21:47:17 GMT
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Post by pilcas on Mar 26, 2019 19:06:14 GMT
Other things to consider: 1. Schlepping luggage. I had zero interest in schlepping luggage in Europe after watching people on other tours struggle with luggage over uneven streets/cobblestones and in Venice, many bridges. The reason is that in many European cities, the tour vehicles cannot get to the hotel. 2. Hotels. Where are the included hotels located? Does it make it difficult to get around without the tour group? Are there elevators? Because again, schlepping luggage up flights is, for me, a no go. One of my reasons for taking tours is not having to drag my luggage around. It’s delivered to your room. Hotels are usually centrally located but that really depends on how much you are paying. The cheaper tour companies usually have hotels a little further from the center.
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mallie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,253
Jul 3, 2014 18:13:13 GMT
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Post by mallie on Mar 26, 2019 19:39:31 GMT
Other things to consider: 1. Schlepping luggage. I had zero interest in schlepping luggage in Europe after watching people on other tours struggle with luggage over uneven streets/cobblestones and in Venice, many bridges. The reason is that in many European cities, the tour vehicles cannot get to the hotel. 2. Hotels. Where are the included hotels located? Does it make it difficult to get around without the tour group? Are there elevators? Because again, schlepping luggage up flights is, for me, a no go. One of my reasons for taking tours is not having to drag my luggage around. It’s delivered to your room. Hotels are usually centrally located but that really depends on how much you are paying. The cheaper tour companies usually have hotels a little further from the center. Some tour companies do NOT transport your luggage for you. You have to pay attention to the disclaimers. (The first few times we went to Europe, we worked with travel agents. Every TA pointed out that Rick Steves tours generally mean you schlep your luggage and are often in hotels without elevators. That disclaimer is currently on the RS website.)
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Post by MichyM on Mar 26, 2019 22:47:57 GMT
I often travel alone and have been itching to go to Turkey for 5 or 6 years. I've been putting it off due to the unrest in the region. I think I'm finally ready to go, but want to do so with a tour of some sort, so this thread is super helpful!
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