Hi:


we are planning a trip to Italy this spring. there are a few guided tour
packages on the market, i.e. Globus, Cosmos, Alba Tours.. .. .. .. . they more or
less offer pretty much the same route and schedule. So, we like to hear your
experience/comments if you took these type of tours outside of Canada with
any of these companies.


Thanks a bundle


Peter

We used Trafalgar two years ago and they were wonderful!! They met us at the airport and took is right to the hotel, we didn't have to wander around at any time, trying to figure things out. The only thing you should be aware of that we didn't know is that every day there are optional extras that they offer you--maybe dinner at an Italian farmhouse or dinner w/entertainment in an old castle, and you pay an additional amount. These extras can add quite a bit to the trip. Also, at the end of the tour you are expected to tip the guide (which we'd assumed starting out), but some people tipped as much as $200, which we thought excessive. The service was wonderful, though, and when we came home we felt that we'd really seen Italy!

We are going Cosmos, which is the budget arm of Globus and we feel that it offers better value for our trip as there are mainly 2 night stops.

- Cosmos Hotels - may not necessarily be close to the centre of the city so you have to take the shuttle, public transport, a taxi or team up with fellow travellers if you want to do something in the centre of town.
- Free Time - More of this so you can do your own thing.
- Optional Tours - Still offered & we will be doing some of these (Tuscan dinner is apparently great). .