Hey Jack......

Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts with us. It was very enjoyable for us to write this Tour Tale as we could not help but re-live our daily adventure in Italy while putting it together.

Next trip, I will certainly remember your suggestion and load up for myself. And yes, there is so much more of our planet to see. If you get a chance, tell us where else you have been during your travels.

Ken & Angela

What would we all do without Phil?

Phil.....

As ZGordon pointed out, we can always depend on either you or PatrickC to take the time to respond to these types of Posts (of course, your knowledge of these matters notwithstanding).

As it is now 10:45PM EST, I will endeavor to approach this task tomorrow. Also, your recognizing my goal to link-up our photo albums is, once again, greatly appreciated. And....it was good to hear from you again.

Regards,

Ken & Angela

PHIL.....

PLEASE PERMIT YOUR POST CONTAINING YOUR SMALL TEXT FILE TO REMAIN AS WE PLAN ON STILL USING IT.

THANKS MUCH....

ok, here is my attempt at adding the latest photos:

album 11

It seemed to work for me. Would you like me to add any more?

Maybe you could add a comment to your tale to say that a link to album 11 is on page 3.

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

TravlinCpl-
I enjoyed reading about your experience on the Best of Italy tour, especially since my fiance and I are considering taking this tour in September. I just had a few questions I was hoping you could answer:
1) How were the hotels? I have researched the different hotels that varying tour operators use and some of the reviews quite frankly scare me.
2) Was the Amalfi coast drive that you did part of the tour? I didn't see it listed in the brochure and wasn't sure if that was added in at the last minute.
3) How much free time did you have? You stated that you left the tour group at times, but was that on your own doing or did everyone split up at that point?
4) How was the food for the meals that were included? Would it have been better to dine out on your own? On those nights when dinner was not included, was the TD helpful in directing you to possible places to eat?
5) Did you have a wide choice of optional excursions to choose from? Were there any (besides the ones you mentioned) that were worth taking or that you didn't take and wish you had?
6) Have you taken tours with other tour operators and if so, how does Insight compare with them?

Again, thank you for your very detailed description of your trip (and your wonderful pictures too). It made me want to hop on a plane to Italy immediately

Becky

TO: BeckyS

From: TravlinCpl

Just now picked up your kind message and was pleased to hear that you enjoyed our Tour Tale and photo albums.

We recently returned from another "interim" vacation at Sanibel Island, Gulf of Mexico, off the west coast of Florida, and just now unpacked.

Your questions are excellent, and I wanted you to know that all of them will be answered, in detail. Look then, for another POST from us, addressed to you, perhaps sometime today, or not later than Monday.

To: BeckyS

From: TravlinCpl

Follow-up on your request......

Hi BeckyS:

As promised, the following responses to your questions should serve, hopefully, to assist you with your decision-making process when finalizing your travel plans:


Best of Italy tour:
1) "How were the hotels? I have researched the different hotels that varying tour operators use and some of the reviews quite frankly scare me."

Ans:
While reading our Tour Tale, you probably noted that we offered very little discussion on our accomocations, other than the view(s). This was done intentionally.

Our goal was to document the sights, sounds, and scents of Italy, without the Tale becoming a hotel review. Although our accomodations were important to us, we soon accepted the fact that the majority of our time, other than sleeping, was spent outside of the hotel.

I will, however, report to you the following:

a.) Our accomodations ranged from pre-war, modestly furnished rooms, with shower areas that an adult could not turn around in, to large suites with lavish appointments and impressive bathrooms.

b.) One hotel room was so thick with (cigarette) smoke that I was ready to request another room. We are non-smokers. However, we realized that our stay was for one night, and not worth the stress to make the change.

c.) Other than the rooms, the public areas offered a very interesting degree of world charm, complete with grand dining rooms, outdoor, covered terraces, and lobbies resplendant with ornate art and antiques.

Frankly, you will find that living out of your baggage is the theme, as being on the move each day makes unpacking quite redundant. In summary, the diversity of our accomocations provided a sense of interest and added to the european experience.

2) "Was the Amalfi coast drive that you did part of the tour? I didn't see it listed in the brochure and wasn't sure if that was added in at the last minute."

Ans:
There were two Amalfi Coast Drive Options. One included the Amalfi Coast Drive and Positano, with the other excluding Positano, yet offering a dinner.

We chose the drive with Positano. Our motor coach approached Sorrento, which is very high above the Bay of Naples. The road is very narrow, with a shear drop on the bay side, at the cliff, with the mountain wall on the other side.

The road continues to spiral downward to Positano, and then into Almalfi, along the cliffs, into the mainland. At one point, we had to transfer to mini-buses as the local government prohibits motor coaches from the main road, due to their size and turning requirements.

The mini-buses took us further into Positano, and then into Amalfi. Your motor coach tour then, occurs along this magnificent stretch of the uppermost roadway over the Mediterranean. Our official Itinerary mentioned very little about the magnificent views afforded while on this drive. It is not to be missed. Our mini-buses left us off at our hotel in Sorrento.

3) "How much free time did you have? You stated that you left the tour group at times, but was that on your own doing or did everyone split up at that point?"

Ans:
Personally, I would have wanted more free time. Although very interesting, most of the group were reluctant to discretely slip away while the Tour Director (TD) was in the middle of explaining a bit of history.

Make a note of this; Your free time starts as soon as the group leaves a landmark, or building. (Make certain to check with your TD for instructions on re-joining the group.) Do not be shy when slipping away. The more you listen to the "extra" narrative, the less free time you have for yourself. It is your choice.
On the average, we were given approx. 2 hrs. prior to re-joining the group.

4) "How was the food for the meals that were included? Would it have been better to dine out on your own? On those nights when dinner was not included, was the TD helpful in directing you to possible places to eat?"

Ans:
We thought the meals were adequate, nothing to write home about. For a genuine taste of Italy, go out. (TIP: Hold on to your plates, as they are quickly removed from the table; an Italian thing; in the hotels only.)

With respect to dining out, you will probably get a better meal at a local restaurant. The trade-off is not spending time with your travel companions, if that is important to you. Frankly, we saw more when we declined dinner, and ventured out on our own.

We used taxis to and from our destination with no problem. Time of the evening and fatique are also a factor to consider. In our particular situation, the TD did not offer much in the way of referrals (restaurants).
We preferred to choose our own.

5) "Did you have a wide choice of optional excursions to choose from? Were there any (besides the ones you mentioned) that were worth taking or that you didn't take and wish you had?"

Ans:
Our tour offered 20 Sightseeing and Excursion Options, spread among each city, too many to list here. We decided to forego those that included viewing inside architecture and art.

Although these Options were of interest to us, we chose to spend those precious hours as our own "Free Time" exploring the many crowded streets, narrow pathways, and shops in each city. There were no particular Options that we felt we would have signed-on for, that we missed.

6) "Have you taken tours with other tour operators and if so, how does Insight compare with them?"

Ans:
No. However, I do become concerned when reading about cancellations, and issues with the Insight buses not being configured correctly. (We chose Insight due to their 40 person (Max) motor coaches. You should consider these factors carefully prior to making your final decision. In summary, we would have preferred a slower paced tour. (We chose Insight after a family member, who used Insight, recommended them.)

Let me know if all of this was helpful. We are still working on the rest of our photo albums.
I would not travel to Italy during the month of August as it is quite crowded. Remember, you are on a tour, not a vacation.

TravlinCpl

TravlinCpl-
Thanks so much for the very detailed response to my questions. I appreciate you taking the time to answer them. It will definitely help me decide if Insight is the right company for me. I must say that I am still a bit concerned about the hotels, especially the smoke that you mentioned. Both my fiance and I are very sensitive to cigarette smoke, so having to stay in a room that was filled with it would definitely be a problem. I know people say that you're in the room so little that it shouldn't matter, but to me, the time spent in the room should be as comfortable as possible.

Being that it was your first time to Italy, are you glad you went on an escorted tour rather than seeing the sights independently? I like the organization of the tour and being able to fit in as much as possible, but I also like the freedom of being able to do what you want when you want. I guess there are pros and cons to both.

Thanks again for your response and I look forward to seeing the rest of your photos.

Becky

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

quote:

Originally posted by BeckyS:
TravlinCpl-

Being that it was your first time to Italy, are you glad you went on an escorted tour rather than seeing the sights independently?

Becky

BeckyS:

It was good to hear that our responses to your questions proved helpful. With regard to our electing to join an escorted tour vs. traveling on our own, you are correct in that there are Pros and Cons to each:

With a tour company (Tour) all of the logistics, and physical labor related to your baggage, is handled by the Tour.

All point-to-point transportation, dining arrangements, and Options, are arranged by the Tour.

Advanced ticketing for priority sights, such as The Vatican, The Colosseum, and the like, are arranged by the Tour, without having to join the masses already cued, and waiting by the thousands to gain access to those places.

Viewing the countryside, and spectacular ocean and mountain sights are far more appreciated in the Tours' motor coach, than if traveling in a rented car, map-reading notwithstanding.

Having the Tour run interference for you should you encounter difficulties while in another country is another (important) consideration.

Although Free-Time is important, the Tour is, after all, in business to offer their Clients all of the sights, sounds, scents, and more often than not, narrative, that you are paying for.

Personally, we would have wished for more time to linger over a 3,000 year old wall at Pompeii, for example, walked the ageless coblestone back streets of Florence for 4 more hours....., yet those wishes would have us missing the remainder of our itineray.

Unless you have the luxury of a month-long vacation, you could not possibly see all that the Tour shows you on your own. Hench, the Pros and Cons of each.

Hopefully this discussion has not made your decision more difficult than it already is....