Doing a mid june tour of italy with 2 teenagers. Any advice on motorcoach tours vs. traveling on your own? This is a first time visit for all. Any ideas on how to make this appealing to teens?

I think you'd be better off on your own either by car or by train. A car will get you to more out of the way places but the trains are excellent and would give you more room and comfort. Also, most of the sights would be easliy accessable from train stations

Fran

I went to Italy with my parents and sister when she was 16 and i was 15 we drove around for 6 weeks and it was amazing. They let us go out a couple of nights but curfew setting was easier cos we we're in another country so early was good. I'd reccommend driving because then you can do what you want, and stay in places you love for a bit longer. It really depends on your family dynamic though. In a coach trip it can turn into Parents and kids and they'll make their own friends, which can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on how you want it to go.

First, you'd better get right on it, or you won't find flights or tours available for June.

Second, I've done both. Advantages of a tour--no hassle, all plans are made for you, you show up before the bus leaves, and go to all the sights with a guide that is a lot more fun than any guide book. If you pick a tour that doesn't try to cover a lot of territory, you'll have free time to do what you want. You are with a group of people, so you have others to talk with, maybe even some other teens!

Disadvantages, you can't customize where you go. (But its all interesteing). . You are stuck with a bunch of people. You have to keep someone elses schedule.

With a car of course you can go where you want to. You can set up your own trip.

Disadvantages, have you ever tried to ask directions in Italian? Everyone doesn't speak English. The cars are small, you won't have much luggage space. You have to be sure the car is parked in a secure place, especially in Southern Italy. You have to find the road to your own hotel. If you don't set reservations ahead of time, you have to devote some precious time each day to setting up the place to stay. Basically, it's a fair bit of hassle. Oh, and italians drive like they were on a Grand Prix. They regard traffic laws as recommendations, not givens.

Whichever you pick, leave time to do what you didn't plan to do, but looks good at the moment.