Has anyone been on this tour recently?

I just checked the hotels on Trip Advisor and they don't look too great. I had checked out the hotels on another Essentials tour that I had contemplated taking and they looked super so just assumed this one's would be too.
Our hotels are
Rome- Cristoforo Columbo
Venice- Holiday Inn Marghera
Italian Lakes- Le Terrazze
Tuscany- Tuscany Inn
Sorrento- Grand Hotel due Golfi

Thanks again
Sandy

I read the 2 Tour Tales for Highlights of Italy and they didn't use most of the same hotels.

Any other info is appreciated.
Thanks Sandy

This message has been edited. Last edited by: sandry,

I can't believe 100 people have read this post and not one has been on this tour or knows any of these hotels.
Please answer.
sandy

Hi Sandry, Just to say "hi" but unfortunately I am number 101 to read the post but as I have never been there I cant help. Some one will be able to help you eventually and I feel if you are staying Insight the hotels will be fine. we have stayed a the Holiday Inn chain before in singapore and it was fine. It's only a night or two and I look at it as I have travelled to see and do and a hotel room is quite minor to me. Hope you enjoy your holiday
jen

Hi, Sandry,

I believe you will get better results if you go to travel advice. I'm sure someone will respond to your query as this board has a lot of very knowleable and experienced travellers.

Also "find" the travelling alone section. There are numerous people who have done these tours alone and they didn't seem to have a problem. In my experience, the TD does his/her best to accommodate you in the most appropriate room based on your needs.

I promise you will enjoy Italy.

Hi, sandry I have not been on this particular tour, but I have stayed at the Christopher Colombo hotel in Rome. The hotel is fine decent size rooms, clean, little bar in the lobby to have a glass of vino, nothing great, nothing bad, just a regular hotel.

Thank you all for responding. I know I will have a great time.
Sandy

Sandy
I think you will find that the hotels will be fine. Particularly if Insight are using them, I have never had a bad hotel on an Insight tour. You can't always go by what people say on trip advisor, I have stayed at hotels that have been given a bad rep on trip advisor and found them to be great. You will probably have such a good time you won't remember one hotel from the next, they really are just somewhere to sleep and freshen up.

"Don't sweat the small stuff" Just go for it and enjoy your holiday.
Gen

quote:

Originally posted by sandry:
I can't believe 100 people have read this post and not one has been on this tour or knows any of these hotels.
Please answer.
sandy

sandry.....as indicted to you in an earlier Post, I would not book the Christoforo Columbo hotel. INSIGHT designates this as one of their "Gateway" hotels due to its' juxtaposition to the airport and Rome. That title does not, however, equate to satisfactory lodgings.

TC

TC,

your suggestion re the Christoforo Columbo hotel would probably encumber Sandy with some serious logistics difficulties, given that she is booked on the Highlights of Italy tour which includes accommodation at the Christoforo Columbo hotel on both the first night and on the last night of the tour. I doubt that Insight would provide a partial refund if she stayed in an expensive city-centre hotel in Rome on those two nights, nor would they transfer her to/from the alternate hotel.

I wonder why you are so negative about the Christoforo Columbo hotel: have you stayed there or have you simply read the questionable data served up as travel advice on the tripadvisor website?

According to past brochures, Insight have been accommodating passengers at this hotel for at least three years and I am yet to see an adverse report about the hotel on this BB, other than its distance from the centre of Rome.

phil

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Sandy, here are links to all your tour hotels (with information from Insight's brochure):

• Rome: Hotel Cristoforo Colombo (MFC/AC, M) • This is a new hotel located in the commercial centre of Rome. All guest rooms have been designed to maximize comfort.
  
• Venice: Holiday Inn Marghera (FC/AC, M) • A modern hotel with room facilities including private bathroom, satellite TV with Pay Per View movies, minibar, hairdryer, iron & ironing board.
  
• Italian Lakes: Le Terrazze (MFC, M) • The hotel is an ideal place for guests
  who appreciate comfort, hospitality & good service.
  
• Tuscany (Montecatini): Tuscany Inn (MFC/AC, M) • Each room has private bathroom with shower, mini-bar, LCD TV, safe, direct dial phone and internet connection.
  
• Sorrento: Grand Hotel Due Golfi (FC/AC, T) • Overlooking the beautiful panorama of Gulf of Salerno and the Bay of Naples, this hotel offers elegance and comfort in true Mediterranean style.

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HOTEL CATEGORY KEY:
FC: First Class;
MFC: Moderate First Class;
T: Traditional;
M: Modern;
H: Historic;
AC: Partial or full air-conditioning

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This message has been edited. Last edited by: phil,

MY goodness Phil, you certainly are a wealth of information. Where do you find it all?
The hotels don't sound too bad from the write-up. I will check out each website as well. Thank you so much. I know Insight has such a good reputation that i was surprised by the bad reviews on Trip Advisor.
Thanks again. You have really helped me out several times Phil and I do appreciate it.
Sandy