HI, JSUT RETURNED FROM OUR HIGHLIGHTS OF ITALY TRIP AND AM PLEASED TO REPORT THAT WE HAVE A GREAT TIME AND NO PROBLEM AQT ALL GOING SUPER SAVER. YES, THE HOTELS WERE VERY FAR FROM TOWN AND YES IF YOU DO NOT TAKE THE OPTIONALS YOU ARE KIND OF STRANDED. WE CHOOSE TO DO MOST OF THE OPTIONALS AND THEY WERE GREAT. THE DOMUS MARIAE IN ROME HAD A VERY ELEGANT LOBBY AND RESTAURANT BUT THE ROOMS WERE A LITTLE SPARTAN, COMFORTABLE, BUT NOTHING TO WRITE HOME ABOUT. OUR HOTEL IN "THE ITALIAN LAKES" WAS REALLY IN A TOWN CALLED ALBAVILLE. PRETTY SHABBY ROOMS BUT TOLERABLE. THE OPTIONAL TRIP TO LAKE LUGANO IN SWITZERLAND WAS PERFECT. I MUST SAY, WHY DOES INSIGHT BOTHER TO GO TO NAPLES? NAPLES IS FILTHY,SLUMMY AND IN MY OPINION DANGEROUS. THE HOTEL, THE HOLIDAY INN, WAS JUST OK. NOT DIRTY BUT NOT REALLY CLEAN EITHER. THEY NEED TO CHANGE TO A HOTEL IN SORRENTO WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC. WE HAD A WONDERFUL GROUP AND OUR TD ANDIE BROWN AND DRIVER LEONARDO WERE THE BEST. I WILL SAY THAT ANYONE WHO IS BOOKED ON THE SUPERSAVER HIGHLIGHTS OF ITALY NOT WORRY, JUST GO AND HAVE A BALL.

Any idea of the costs of optional extras on this tour please- travelling end of July

Glynnt, All the optionals that we did were great. We only missed two, the pizza party on the first night and the "passagiata" in Rome at the end of the tour. Instead of the pizza party, we went to a restauant that one of the couples knew about from a previous trip and IT WAS WONDERFUL, but we heard that although the pizza party wasn't that great, that's when all the tour mates got acquainted. Oh well, can't do it all. The "passagiata" is nice but you can really do that on your own. The optionals cost us about $900 US for the two of us. Will be glad to tell you more. Have a great time.

MaryLou:

What was the age range on the SuperSaver? I was advised by a few experienced travelers that tours that cost less generally attract younger travelers (those anywhere from their 20's - 40's).

I am 31 years old. I don't mind traveling with a diverse age group, however, I would feel a bit uncomortable if everyone in tbe group were above 40's.

When you get time, please let me know. I appreciate your help.

Staci

Staci, there was a mix of age groups on our tour. There were 30ish girls traveling together or alone, a family with three teenage children, couples in their 40's and 50's, college girls with their mom's, newlyweds and us in our late 50's and very early 60's. Don't worry about it, everyone is so nice and will get along well. Average price of optionals is about 50 euros per person, but as I said, they were well worth it. as we were couples traveling, if there were younger people traveling alone, we asked if they wanted to join us at dinner or whatever, most times they did, but some just wanted to travel on their own but didn't want to eat alone. You will have a great time. Would love to hear about it when you get back. Any other questions?

Thanks, MaryLou. I'll consider the SuperSaver in the near future. I'm going to try to get a few girlfriends together as well; only problem is, money is tight for them, even on a cost-saver tour, which is sad. I always tell them that if I could afford us all, I'd take us all! ha ha.

Good luck in all your future travels--glad you enjoyed your trip.

Staci