Can anyone give me an idea of how early you need to be ready in the morning for these tours? I'm not much of an early riser (I'm in my 30's and would rather go out at night and enjoy!), and I'm fearful that I will be expected to be ready to leave the hotel far too early in the morning. I understand that Trafalgar's Breakaway tours are geared towards younger people and boast that they don't start tours before 9:00 a.m., but I'm not reading such wonderful things about their tours in general. So I'm leaning towards Globus, but I need to sleep!!! Thanks!

I took the "From Thames to Tiber" tour a few years ago. I am not a morning person either, but you adjust, after all you are seeing the World! Looking through my notes I saw that Breakfast was generally around 6:30 am, departure was around 7:45-8:00am and you often have to have your luggage ready (out in front of the doors) before or around Breakfast time. It is important that you follow the times because your other travelers quickly become irriated with being late.. .. . late = longer lines. When I went with Globus there were several people my age (early 30's), some married, some single, some with kids. Overall a great time.

[quote="west5567"]Can anyone give me an idea of how early you need to be ready in the morning for these tours? I'm not much of an early riser (I'm in my 30's and would rather go out at night and enjoy!), and I'm fearful that I will be expected to be ready to leave the hotel far too early in the morning. I understand that Trafalgar's Breakaway tours are geared towards younger people and boast that they don't start tours before 9:00 a.m., but I'm not reading such wonderful things about their tours in general. So I'm leaning towards Globus, but I need to sleep!!! Thanks![/quote]

I went on the Globus "Best of Italy" tour. You see a lot, but you are almost constantly on the go. Suitcases usually had to be out before 7 A.M. and breakfast began no later than 7:45 A.M. (usually earlier). . The latest the morning ever started (meaning-be on the bus) was at 8:15 and one morning we had to be on the bus by 7:00. Globus is very good with the logistical arrangements and we rarely had to wait to get in somewhere (where other tourists often had to wait in long lines). . I'm not a "morning person" myself, but I didn't go to Italy to sleep in mornings- I wanted to see it and I did! I wouldn't hesitate to take another Globus tour. It was great!
P.S. There was a real mix of ages on the tour Everyone had a wonderful time and got along well.

GO GLOBUS. (If you want to sleep, perhaps travel is not for you.)

Of the nine or ten so escorted tours I've been on, most started abaout 8:00 AM

I'm planning a globus tour this winter as well and I'm happy to be reading that the tours are great and that there are folks in my age group (early 30's) going as well. Even when I took a contiki tour last year (18 to 35), we still started early, which was annoying at first but then it made sense b/c we were always trying to get some place. I too enjoy the nite out, but the logic here is to maximize your time.. .. ..sleep on the bus!