Thanks, you've given us a very clear understanding of what to expect. My daughter and I went on a trip last March (to celebrate her high school grad) and one of our fondest memories is the night in Florence when we went to a local pizza place for dinner. Part of the group took the optional tour and part went with us to the local restaurant. What a hoot that was!! We found it important to balance taking the optionals and using free time to explore on our own and relax a bit. Some days were long and we didn't want to be too tired to enjoy the next part of the trip. Since we don't speak french either, my husband and I would probably try to do the optionals in Paris. When my daughter and I were in Switzerland we found that the prices were reasonable, but that's probably because the Canadian dollar was so much stronger than the swiss franc. We'll see how things balance out when my husband and I go on this trip. You've helped me to feel excited about going. Thanks again for taking the time to respond.