Italy Tours? went to Travel Agent yesterday...

so I am hold forever here at work... I am posting this vent/story/question...


we went to Liberty Travel yesterday to get some info on a trip to Italy for our honeymoon. We just walked in, but the receptionist said we could sit down and meet with someone. The person we met with was very nice. She suggested Contiki Tours - because we fit the age group (18-35) and it is geared toward "us". She kept making comments like that, pretty much got the impression she was thinking - "wow you are really young to be traipsing around Italy together". But in a polite way.

Anyhoo I guess it never occurred to her that we were booking a honeymoon, because apparently we look like infants. Which is fine by me - (I am 28 and he is 30 in May). Except that I really need some help! I don't think this exact tour thing is for us. I did a search for "Contiki" here and on the Knot and it looks like a tour for single people, or with a group of friends. Not a romantic honeymoon type a deal. Any feedback?

We would like to have SOME guided tours because we actually want to learn something... but I really can't get my brain around actually planning this trip out. I was hoping a travel agent would be able to help but apparently I was wrong.

Message edited 1/17/2006 3:28:10 PM.

Re: Italy Tours? went to Travel Agent yesterday...

I went on a Contiki 28 day Europe tour back in the day - I would definitely recommend it for a trip, but NOT for a HM. You are on the bus alot with a large group of people, and really it was geared towards singles hooking up! There were a few couples on the tour, but it definitely wasn't Honeymoony. Some nights we stayed in rooms where it was 3 or 4 people per room (not sure if this is the same for the Superior tours - we did budget), but obviously that can take some of the romance out of it!

Re: Italy Tours? went to Travel Agent yesterday...

Contiki aka wild crazy se? tour!!! Only kidding!! But seriously, many of my single friends went and had a wild time. I definitly would not go on my honeymoon through them.

Did you try ABC Tours, I know people who have used them. It is is 50.00 to join and they send you a magazine with their tours and itinerary's. Their prices are excellant. They have a good reputation for having top notch hotels in their pkgs. Not sure about the ages though.

Re: Italy Tours? went to Travel Agent yesterday...

We went to Liberty Travel in Bayside (well, the Bayside location is being redone so we met with the Bayside people at a different location). They suggested Globus Tours for Italy since we don't speak Italian but we want some freedom to explore on our own. They have a bunch of different tours, ranging from ones where you go to a million places in a week, to one or two that are more leisurely.

Re: Italy Tours? went to Travel Agent yesterday...

Here is their site.

http://www.clubabc.com/

Re: Italy Tours? went to Travel Agent yesterday...

Contiki is definitely more of a singles and friends tour place. I went on a couple of tours when I was younger and while I had a wonderful time, it's not the kind of time I want on my honeymoon. There is very little free time and stuff...you are with the group most of the time. It's good for the guided stuff though.

Re: Italy Tours? went to Travel Agent yesterday...

My brother has gone on a few Contiki tours, and I agree it is definitely NOT ideal for honeymooners. What is this woman thinking? I've heard very mixed things about Liberty Travel.

I did a google search and foundthis . Not sure if it's recommended, but it's a start. I went to Italy a couple of times and went through it once with a train and once renting a car. It is possible to do it by yourself, but I'm sure it's good on your HM not to have to worry about transport and making arrangements yourself.

Re: Italy Tours? went to Travel Agent yesterday...

Also found this from Frommers!

Re: Italy Tours? went to Travel Agent yesterday...

Laurie, you know I am a frequent traveler to Italy (or maybe you don't, in which case you do now ) tell me where you want to go, and I can help you map it out so you don't need a tour (I HATE THEM).

I am here to help.

Re: Italy Tours? went to Travel Agent yesterday...

ok, that's what I figured... no Contiki for me. Thanks everyone for responding, and for posting suggestions.


oh and Jessica - I will totally take you up on the help. I knew you had a recent trip, but did not know you were a frequent visitor. I would even like to hear your favs, or something like your "Italy top 5".

I have never been on a tour, but I really don't think it would be for us. Although when we visited the ruins in Honduras last year - we opted to not go with a guide and regretted it. We listened in on other peoples tours and felt like we missed out on some interested information. So in that way - when I say tour - I mean something like that. Like at the actual site... not a group traveling tour type thing.

Re: Italy Tours? went to Travel Agent yesterday...

for Italy in the summer, I would stay away from the south- VERY hot...anything south of Rome is worth a trip in the fall/winter, but of course that is up to you.

for a first timer, I would suggest

Rome
Florence
Siena (see link..dying to do this! it's one of my fav cities)
Venice
with side trips to Pisa and Verona (she shakespeare lover in me! )

Milan is also a great jumping off point for a jaunt in Switzerland.

basically Tuscany, b/c you can get lost there (not literally, please don't do that LOL).

pick up 2 guide books (a cheapie and a regular, like Rick Steve's Italy and Frommers Italy respectively) they have great recommendations on hotels, shopping, and dining- especially the Rick Steve's books which has some very affordable and quaint offerings.

beside your basic sightseeing, I recommend day tours like this one. fh also went one year and toured the wineries on a bike. I can get you that info as well.

something to check out.

Siena in bici

Re: Italy Tours? went to Travel Agent yesterday...

Jessica - thanks so much for posting that info. I am going to show the Mr when he gets home tonight. You rock.

Re: Italy Tours? went to Travel Agent yesterday...

My honeymoon is through ABC tours. (Rome and Positano) They take care of transportation and even include some meals and excursions.

Our tour, however, is a private one -- no charter bus or anything like that -- we have a private driver to pick us up and everything. I checked out the hotels through tripadvisor and everything looks good so far.

Hope this helps!

Re: Italy Tours? went to Travel Agent yesterday...

what about a mederterai cruise?

Re: Italy Tours? went to Travel Agent yesterday...

I went to Florence on a summer study abroad in college. My fondest memory was a spontaneous tour that our Italian professor arranged. We took a bus into Tuscany and toured a famous vineyard that also makes olive oil. Then, they took us to a guest house where we made our own pasta dinner from scratch. While the staff made the final touches, we sat up on the patio, drank wine and enjoyed the gorgeous view of Tuscany. It was amazing.

The tour group is Accidental Tourist. Here is the link:

http://www.accidentaltourist.com/

I HIGHLY recommend it!!

Re: Italy Tours? went to Travel Agent yesterday...

we / I hate Liberty travel, they never give me the info I want and FH is so excited to go away he doesn't care, so we go in with the intentions on spending a week in Tortolla and walk out w/ a 12 day cruise...

Re: Italy Tours? went to Travel Agent yesterday...

Hmmmm, I am glad that you figured out that contiki is awesome for a certain element of people (ie young travelers) but not always the best for romantic honeymoon type travel.

If you send me an FM with the type of tour you want, I can tell ya about the great touring companies I've found in my own search (we're getting married in Rome, staying independently on the Amalfi Coast, and then taking a 3 week tour of the whole country.) I can't wait to be there with my sweet Jeff!

I have so much info about travel to Italy that it makes my head spin haha. Hope I can help! Tour companies are NOT all equal!

For now, my ULTIMATELY FAVORITE PIC of Positano to make us swoon - ahhhhhh!

Message edited 1/21/2006 1:35:12 AM.

Re: Italy Tours? went to Travel Agent yesterday...

I went on a Contiki tour the first time I ever went to Europe. The majority of the group was single, but we did have a couple on the tour who was on their honeymoon. I guess its really to each as own.

When I went to Italy, I used Trafalgar. That tour mainly was families and a few seniors. I recommended Trafalgar to my friends who were going to Italy for their anniversary and they actual had the tour guide that I had. Unfortunately, that was the last tour he was doing.

I was happy with the service of both companies.

Whichever tour company that you'll use, you will love Italy. Its absolutely beautiful!

Re: Italy Tours? went to Travel Agent yesterday...

Swooning over this pic.

I cannot wait to go!!!

Re: Italy Tours? went to Travel Agent yesterday...

i am going ot Italy for my honeymoon. Florence, Rome & Venice to be exact. We decided against a tour only b/c we ddint' want such a regimented schedule on our honeymoon. I would suggest not doing a tour on your honeymoon only b/c you have much more freedom and time to do what YOU want. Also, thru hotels, etc. you can do a lot of guided half day or hourly tours. That might be a great way to see the sights and do all the touristy things but still be able to explore/see things on your own. we used an AMEX travel agent and they set up the travel/hotel stuff for us and a set itinerary. also they specialized a lot of things for us according to our tastes. a tour may not be able to offer you that. for i.e. staying in a hotel vs. staying in a villa. also once you get there, i've been told there are lots of little tours, things, etc. that you might be interested in. like a cooking tour that is offered on a daily basis or different wine tastings at places. i think it would be much more romantic to be sponataneous about hte little details like dinner, day's activities and to be safe to set up some half day tours in teh major cities so you get your sight-seeing in.