Jim and I are talking about touring Italy next year on either a totally land tour or a mix of a cruise and land. Because there is so much to see in Italy with so much history attached to it, we are actually thinking of taking an escorted tour. Plus, I wouldn't mind letting someone else do the planning, the driving, and carry the luggage for a change! Too bad RSSC doesn't offer land cruises!

Do any of you have experience with escorted tour companies or know anything about the good ones?? We'd like a company that stays at the nicer hotels, and spends more than one night in each location.

Thanks!

Ginny, I did this several years ago, and did the Deluxe Italy by Rail with Perillo Tours. Wonderful hotels, some meals included. This was the best tour they had available, as most of their tours are "first class" rather than "Deluxe". It only went to Venice, Rome and Florence, and as I remember included a side trip to Siena? Lots of time on your own, but guided tours most days for at least 1/2 day. Best guides I've ever had. Italy has stringent qualifications for certified guides.

I believe ChatKat has also had experience with Tauk tours, and they are very nice. I'd check both websites to see what appeals to you and your time frame.

Ginny,

I did a tour of Sicily with my family in 2000. We used this company, http://www.touritaliainc.com/ and did the Sicily Charme Tour. It remains one of the best vacations we ever had. They had a maximum group size of I believe 20 people and we wound up with only 12 in a 24 person minibus. They allowed us to deviate the air and spend more time on the mainland of Italy and I don't think there were any extra charges. Our flights were delayed going over and they still were there to pick us up in Catania. We wanted to purchase rail tickets for after the tour to the mainland (Lamezia, then Amalfi and later Rome) we asked our guide about it and he offered to get them for us. We had a great time and I cannot recommend them highly enough. Debbie

We are doing a Tauck Tour - Their Classic Italy 14 day tour. All Deluxe hotels and most meals. This will be our second Tauck Tour. The hotels are great and their tours some of the best. Definitely of RSSC quality in a land tour. Prices are a little higher than Perillo, but, the hotels and food are better. You can order anything on the menu in the approved places. We even had Lobster in the fine dining room on our first tour. Enough free time to do what you want with the tour director making arrangements for the things you might want to do that are not included. Wine and Alcohol aren't included. You NEVER handle your luggage once they pick you up at the airport - it "appears in your room". In 14 days we will be in 5 different places, including a 17th century Tuscan Villa with cooking lessons. Many of the museums have separate entrances and you walk in - no lines. I don't know how they do it, but, they do.

www.tauck.com

Kathy: Can't wait to hear about it - sounds wonderful - Joanna

Thanks for the tips, everyone! I will check all suggestions out. I had heard of Perillo and Tauck, but not touritalianic. Sounds very interesting!

Kathy, when are you going to Italy? It sounds wonderful and I can't wait to read a full report!!

Any other suggestions are definitely welcomed.

We're going in earlier than our tour so we're not jetlagged - our tour starts November 2nd. I will spend my 50th birthday in the Vatican in the morning and the afternoon is free. I am really excited. It will be my first trip to Europe. But I already have the 2nd one planned and booked too!

Ginny,

Some very discriminating friends, as they've gotten older, have taken several Tauck tours and rave about them! I only refer to age as they always did European tours independently before; very well-travelled folks! I think Antarctica is their only missing continent. They did a southern Italy tour last fall,, as well as an eastern European, Vienna, Prague, Budapest etc., separately, and loved them both.

Kathy,

Wow, your 50th will be an unforgettable birthday! How many people can say they celebrated their 50th birthday at the Vatican? Where is your second European trip to and when, if you don't mind tellling us? Is it also with Tauck?

Another Kathy,

Thanks for passing that info along. It really helps to hear recommendations from others who have taken a tour. We have never done a tour before - I always plan everything. So this will be a big change for us.

Thanks -

Ginny

We'll be doing a cruise on the Voyager in June 2006 from Monte Carlo to Dover!

Ginny,

While Alan and I have only toured with Tauck through the New England states and not Europe, I can honestly attest to their fine tours, guides, hotels, itineraries, and reputation. If we ever consider an organized land tour again, it will most likely be a Tauck Tour.

I have heard nothing but good things about Tauck Tours but if you were looking for something a little more economical (first class as opposed to super deluxe) I can recommend Insight Vacations (blue book). They have a number of different tours from which to chose and although not as relaxing as cruising, the pace is acceptable for one-country touring. Their tour guides are very knowledgeable and are very well organised. We went with Insight around Europe last year and hope to do a "Country Road" type tour one day. Whatever you decide on - have a fabulous time and be sure to visit Venice for me - I loved it!

Denise,

Thanks for your input! I will definitely consider Tauck if you put your stamp of approval on them!

Lee,

I will also check out Insight as well. Thanks!

Kathy,

You will have quite the busy summer in '06. I just noticed your note after your Millenium cruise - Never Again! I got a chuckle from that.

Ginny

Yes, as far as Celebrity the nickel and diming $5.00 for a cappucino or a water to take ashore, $40.00 for a $7.99 bottle of wine, crowds everywhere for every thing, and the lack of quality food PLUS for a new ship we had some cleanliness issues with our room: The sheets kept coming off the bed, the shower was mildewed and tiles falling off and the vanity was stained. It was "icky"!

It ended up being about the same price or slightly cheaper than an RSSC cruise on promo with discounts and I'd rather spend a little more. There were also several families on board that were not the best mannered and that bothered us.

Tauck was wonderful in New England so we will do it again in Italy and I've heard nothing but the best about it.

I've taken both Tauk tours and Perillo. In my opinion Tauk is the Radisson of escorted land tours and Perillo is the Princess.

They're both good. One is more expensive and you get better accomodations, food and treatment and no nickel-and-diming. Good luck. Tom.

Tom, you are probably correct about Tauk V. Perillo. However, when I am traveling, I prefer to choose my own spots for dining. That's what Perillo gave us on our particular tour. But I notice that it is not even on their website anymore.

Olivia,

One of the reasons we chose Tauck over Perillo is for the meals that are included, there were only two or three entree choices on Perillo at the included meals and the hotels were not as good - some did not even include air conditioning - a concern for Europe if you have unseasonal weather.

Thanks again everyone! It really helps to read about some of the details of each tour company. Sounds like Tauck may be more what like we had in mind, but I will also look at the other suggestions.

No A/C can be scary!! I won't even go to a "no A/C" inn in Canada unless it's the middle of winter!! Our last 2 nights in France, our "charming" inn was supposed to have A/C. Well, they mean those wall units that blow both heat and A/C, which is actually fine. But ours didn't work and it was very warm out that day. Thank goodness, we had a nice balcony with french doors (hey, french doors!!) that we could leave open all night. Of course, we had to close them in the morning because smoke was blowing in from the adjoining balcony. Oh, and the hairdryer was broken, but, I guess that is another "charm" factor!! I like charm, but sometimes, a little charm goes a long way. ;)

Olivia,

There are two identical Perillo Tours - 10 day Vesuvius - one is with and one is without meals.

Ginny there is also Ambercrombie and Kent who do luxury land tours too.
http://www.takeapick.com/3D

Claudia,

Thanks for the link! Wow, they are definitely pricier for their fully escorted tours! They must be the top of the line. Worth a closer look though not sure we are ready for them just yet. :D

Chatkat/Kathy, the tour I took is no longer available on the website. Not Vesuvius. It was
"Deluxe Italy by Rail" and offered great hotels that are among the best. Since they no longer offer it, I think people should go do Tauk instead

I was interested in that tour last year. Olivia, you are right, it was not offered this year when we were booking, so we did go with Tauck.

I looked at the A & K but it was beyond my price for a two week trip and we were happy with Tauck in New England.

We loved our Tauck tour to Canadian Rockies and will tour with them again.

Along the lines of Abercrombie and Kent, Travcoa is an interesting tour company. They are expensive but have very small groups. You might check them out too.

A friend of mine did the Travcoa to Africa and loved it. She also has done the A&K tours but liked her Tauck tour as just well. She said the price difference was not worth it for where she went - France, I think.