We are booking an Italy Tour for May, most likely Taste of Italy or Great Cities. We have never been to Europe and always wanted to do Italy. My questions: what are the average ages on Globus Tours? I'm looking for leisurely with lots of free time just some direction and, nice hotels and some group tour activities at the most important attractions. Will we be disappointed or should we try and do this on our own? I just dont want to miss anything or struggle with the language barrier but we are interested in being with other people. Anybody with advice.

After looking at many tours DH and I are scheduled on the Leisurely Italy tour in May. The tour is 3 days in Rome,3 days Tuscany and 3 days Venice.I have been to Venice before but my DH has not. I can't wait for him to see this magical city.We will go to Rome 2 days early to have some extra time there.This will be my 5th trip to Europe.Based on the value of the USD compared to the Euro (1.51) the tour is a great value. There is no way we could do this on our own for the same price.At this point DH and I are very comfortable in Europe and have traveled there on our own so that is not the issue. We chose this tour because of the slower pace and the amount of free time.It really is a great bargain.
The best advice I can give you is to take a tour and make sure the tour you take has at least 2 nights at every hotel you stop at.My first tour I took with Globus had several 1 night stops and I would never do that again.You just don't have any time to absorb the culture at all.Do not try to see everything,you can always go back and I am sure you will. Europe is very addictive.Let us know if you have other questions.

Letsgo

Letsgo I like your posts. You always have good advice. I told my wife about your DH and we wonder what that stands for. Is it Darling Hubby? Or Designated Hubby? Just joking with you of course. Have a good trip this coming May. I know you will love Rome. Be sure and climb to the very top of the Castel San Angelo. It is near the Cicerone Hotel and you can walk there in about 5 or 10 minutes from the Cicerone Hotel. The view from the top is really beautiful. They have a really nice cafe on the level just below with some fine views of St. Peter's. I first saw Castel San Angelo in the summer of 1964. It was originally Hadrian's tomb. I think it was one reason I named my son Adrian. My wife(DW)and I went back last June on the Grand Tour of Italy and Sicily and the first place I took her was on our own to the Castel San Angelo. She loved it. Have fun! that is what it is all about.

On most of our tours, the folks were mostly retirement age or close to it.

Hi Joeb
Thanks for the nice comments. I guess DH could be all of the above. I liked the designated hubby!LOL Thanks for the great advice. We are staying at the Esmeraldo Hotel,near Piazza Navonna and Pantheon, for the 2 days pretour and the Castel San Angelo is definitely on our list of things to see. I don't believe its included in our Globus tour. I appreciate knowing about the cafe,we will definitely go there. Do you have any suggestions for non touristy local style restaurants in the area?
I think our tour is staying at the Starhotels Metropole which I believe is near the Termini.We will taxi there at the start of our tour.Is that near where the Cicerone Hotel was?

Well when I was in Rome in 1964 I stayed near the Campo di Fiori. So we booked a hotel last year near there called The Hotel Pomezia. It is near the Piazza Navona also. There are several good restaurants in the Campo di Fiori. I love that old neighborhood. It is the oldest part of Rome. So where you are first staying is ideal. Just a real short walk to the Campo di Fiori.
Nearby is the piazza Farnese and there is a resturant there called Campeneschi that I think you would like. Ask at your hotel and call and make a reservation. I will ask my wife what she thinks and get back to you with more information.
Look up some Rome restaurant reviews on tripadvisor.com
I find these on line tripadvisor.com reviews to be very valuable on any location.

I see I didnt answer your last question in my last post. No the Cicerone is not near the train station at all. But the Cicerone is near the Castel San Angelo which is not far from the Piazza Navona. It would not be a long walk at all from your first hotel. Ask them at your first hotel for directions and be sure and have a good map of Rome. A detailed map.

By the way Camponeschi restuarant might be expensive. We went to one in the Campo di Fiori that was not expensive. But the Campo di Fiori can be full go young people drinking so if you go there go early.

Just go to food network. com and then look for tasty travel rome.
And be sure and search for restaurants in rome on tripadvisor.com