Should we book a tour or try to do it ourselves for our first trip to Italy?

Question

We are in our 50's and looking to take our first trip to Italy next summer. We are looking at Perillo and some others. I'm one of these book every meal at Disney ahead of time and know which park we are going to on which day. Not sure how to approach Italy, might even consider a cruise and then go back in a couple of years.

Answer 1

Every time I've gone to Europe, I have done extensive research before leaving. Get a good travel guide (Frommer's, Michelin) and read about the various sites, restaurants and hotels.  I also made use of Gourmet magazine's travel sections for both great restaurants and hotels. The advantages of a tour are that you will be sure to visit the "must see" sites; the guides are very knowledgeable about the history; accommodations are arranged and you don't have to drive (I must say that driving in the major cities can be quite hair-raising!). Make sure you get a reputable tour service. I know many people who have taken a tour the first time, then returned to take in some of the places they didn't see, or wanted to re-visit.

Answer 2

Actually, just kind of wing it.  Plan where you would like to go to and make a route for you to follow so you don't backtrack and waste time back peddling.  There is a book by Rick Steves  http://www.ricksteves.com

He has a lot of information regarding italy and other parts of italy.  You can go to the library and get his book on Italy. Its informative and gives you suggestions as to where to go and what to see so you can get an understanding of the country.

But if you are nervous about just winging it, he also does tours for Europe, the link I sent you has all sorts of information there and other links to useful websites.  Or you can take a tour with many types of tour groups.

http://www.tourvacationstogo.com/

That is a good site for tours available.

Gate 1 and Trafalgar I have heard some good things about those group tours.  I would recommend one of the two groups.

I actually took a tour in Australia/New Zealand with Contiki which is with Trafalgar, but its for 18-35yr olds...and I had a wonderful time... try Trafalgar if you want to do the group thing.  For your first time, it might not be a bad idea, it will give you a sense of direction and when you go next time, you wont need a tour group, you will be able to do it on your own... but I would recommend going solo, so you dont have to be told how long you have for where, etc.

Also, if you plan to stay for awhile in italy and just italy, and plan to travel around the country, get a Europass for just italy and you can use it for your trip, they offere different amount of days/weeks to use it for which ever suits your needs.  

Good luck

Buono Viaggo

Answer 3

If can bring yourself to do it, just go and take it as it comes. Planning where you will stay and what you would like to see are good ideas, but my most memorable trips were the ones where little was planned outside of essentials. When you plan everything, it puts pressure on you to check them off your list instead of going headfirst and seeing where the trip takes you. That's what I did my first trip to australia. Sure I saw the Opera house and whatnot, but that wasn't near as fun as finding a live octopus and seeing a wild koala in a tree at the beach.

Answer 4

If it is your first trip and you do not want the stress of try to do it all yourself, choose a tour.   However, you can do it yourself, just plan where you would like to visit, the number of days you want to be in Italy, etc. You have plenty of time.

Rick Steves has a great site that is very helpful  http://www.ricksteves.com

I would be glad to help you if you would like.. send me a message ..click on my name and send me an e-mail.

Robertina

Answer 5

Your first trip to Italy should be a tour. There is so much to see. By the time you figure out what to see, how to get there, how to use the public transportation, etc. your day is done. I used Trafalgar tours twice and it was great. They will make sure that you see everything worth seeing. It is very organized and they also give you some free time. Your tour guide will tell you so many interesting things about Italy and they also hire expert guides at different places to tell you history of what you are seeing. They keep it very interesting! If you go on your own, you are looking at things that you know very little about. You go on your own for lunch in whatever city you are in, but dinners are planned for you. Breakfast is at your hotel and all of the hotels are nice. You will absolutely love Italy with Trafalgar and will want to go again. My first trip was "Simply Italy"  Rome, Venice, Sienna, Piza, Florence, which I strongly recommend for a first trip. Everything you have ever learned about Italy, you will see on this trip. You will never forget this trip and will want to go back. My second trip was "Italy and Sicily" Unbelievably beautiful trip also. Rome, Amalfi coast, Sorrento, Taoramino, Agrigento, Syracuse, Palermo,Capri. Trafalgar makes everything so simple for you. Yes, you do get up at 7 or 8 am but to see everything, you have to get up early. We were excited to get started everyday. The other people on our tour ranged in age from 20-70. All nice, friendly people.I am early 50s and my daughter in early 20s and we both enjoyed the people on our tour. I never had one complaint about our tours.

Italy is breathtaking!!!

Answer 6

you do this tour :you see roma after napoli especially do you go to costiera amalfitana  (now is clean), capo vaticano in calabria,

do you go to the eolie islands they are very exellent (north sicilia), la toscana:firenze siena and elba island, do you try to go to turin, milano (i live here) and you visit como's lake but also another lake near, if you want the mountain you visit the dolomiti e valle d'aosta and after do you go a venezia (pass by padova i don't know if you know) at end you do cruising in the mediterraneo.

this are the best

spero che ti divertirai

ciao