swamp
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THEY’RE EATING THE DOGS!!!!!!!
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Tuscany
Mar 20, 2015 11:55:16 GMT -5
Post by swamp on Mar 20, 2015 11:55:16 GMT -5
A local group is arranging a group tour of Tuscany. It's affordable.
While I don't want to travel with a bunch of people, I find it attractive as I have never been there, don't speak the language, and all arrangments have been made for me. There is plenty of "free time" to wander around too, not just group activities. I'm pretty sure I don't have to take part in the scheduled events and can wander off on my own, and as long as I'm back to the bus on time, I'm good.
DH and I are considering it.
Would you do it?
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TheHaitian
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Post by TheHaitian on Mar 20, 2015 11:56:33 GMT -5
Yes yes and yes!!!
And leave the kids at home!
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Cookies Galore
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Post by Cookies Galore on Mar 20, 2015 11:57:22 GMT -5
TAKE THE NON-DISNEY VACATION IDEA AND RUN WITH IT!
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The Captain
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Post by The Captain on Mar 20, 2015 11:58:38 GMT -5
Oh.hell.yes!
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justme
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Post by justme on Mar 20, 2015 12:00:37 GMT -5
Yes
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NancysSummerSip
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Post by NancysSummerSip on Mar 20, 2015 12:43:00 GMT -5
As long as I am not tied to the group, yes. I hate that kind of thing. I prefer to go off on my own, or with my own hired tour guide. But to go to Tuscany and have it be affordable - oh, heck yes!
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Pants
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Post by Pants on Mar 20, 2015 12:50:13 GMT -5
No. I learned during business school I am not good on tours. My dislike of people is too intense. I would just go to Tuscany...
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ArchietheDragon
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Post by ArchietheDragon on Mar 20, 2015 12:50:38 GMT -5
Is everyone else going 65 years old or older?
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Mar 20, 2015 12:57:03 GMT -5
Absolutely. Go.
Beautiful area and full of history and culture. Birthplace of the Renaissance.
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imawino
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Post by imawino on Mar 20, 2015 13:03:08 GMT -5
A local group is arranging a group tour of Tuscany. It's affordable.
While I don't want to travel with a bunch of people, I find it attractive as I have never been there, don't speak the language, and all arrangments have been made for me. There is plenty of "free time" to wander around too, not just group activities. I'm pretty sure I don't have to take part in the scheduled events and can wander off on my own, and as long as I'm back to the bus on time, I'm good.
DH and I are considering it.
Would you do it? well, it depends. I'm certainly not opposed to the idea, but without any details about cost, lodging, flights, the other people who are going, what the planned activities are, etc I'm not sure how anyone could say whether it sounds like a great vacation or not.
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swamp
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THEY’RE EATING THE DOGS!!!!!!!
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Post by swamp on Mar 20, 2015 13:04:48 GMT -5
A local group is arranging a group tour of Tuscany. It's affordable.
While I don't want to travel with a bunch of people, I find it attractive as I have never been there, don't speak the language, and all arrangments have been made for me. There is plenty of "free time" to wander around too, not just group activities. I'm pretty sure I don't have to take part in the scheduled events and can wander off on my own, and as long as I'm back to the bus on time, I'm good.
DH and I are considering it.
Would you do it? well, it depends. I'm certainly not opposed to the idea, but without any details about cost, lodging, flights, the other people who are going, what the planned activities are, etc I'm not sure how anyone could say whether it sounds like a great vacation or not. I've been given a general cost, lodging, activies, but I don't know who is going. How bad can it be? It's Italy. There's wine.
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imawino
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Post by imawino on Mar 20, 2015 13:10:00 GMT -5
well, it depends. I'm certainly not opposed to the idea, but without any details about cost, lodging, flights, the other people who are going, what the planned activities are, etc I'm not sure how anyone could say whether it sounds like a great vacation or not. I've been given a general cost, lodging, activies, but I don't know who is going. How bad can it be? It's Italy. There's wine.
Then sign up!
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HoneyBBQ
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Tuscany
Mar 20, 2015 13:24:39 GMT -5
Post by HoneyBBQ on Mar 20, 2015 13:24:39 GMT -5
I'm allergic to group tours, but if you aren't then definitely GO!
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Miss Tequila
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Post by Miss Tequila on Mar 20, 2015 13:57:25 GMT -5
I would definitely go
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lexxy703
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Post by lexxy703 on Mar 20, 2015 13:59:31 GMT -5
I would go as long as you aren't tied to the group.
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imanangel
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Tuscany
Mar 20, 2015 14:02:20 GMT -5
Post by imanangel on Mar 20, 2015 14:02:20 GMT -5
Tuscany is my favorite region of Italy, but I wouldn't want to do it with a tour group. I am with Pants, I just don't like other people enough to be able to handle it.
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swamp
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THEY’RE EATING THE DOGS!!!!!!!
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Post by swamp on Mar 20, 2015 14:04:30 GMT -5
Tuscany is my favorite region of Italy, but I wouldn't want to do it with a tour group. I am with Pants, I just don't like other people enough to be able to handle it. I dislike making plans more than I dislike people.
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Deleted
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Tuscany
Mar 20, 2015 14:09:38 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Mar 20, 2015 14:09:38 GMT -5
oh hell yes you should go!!!!
and I agree with you - the thought of having to plan out every aspect of a trip sounds soul sucking. I prefer tour groups and all-inclusives.
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swamp
Community Leader
THEY’RE EATING THE DOGS!!!!!!!
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Tuscany
Mar 20, 2015 14:46:45 GMT -5
Post by swamp on Mar 20, 2015 14:46:45 GMT -5
$2600 per person. includes flight, hotel, breakfast, 4 dinners and day trips.
Stay in Mantecatini. Day trip to Florence: visit Piazza Del Duomo, the CAthedral, the Giotto tower and Church of Santa Croce. Tour a leather making shop. DAy trip to Pisa. Day trip to Carrara/Portofino, Day Trip to SanGinignano/chianti, includes wine tasting and winery tour day trip to venice day trip to Siena Go home
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 20, 2015 15:05:17 GMT -5
I think tours can be an ok way to see a place you haven't seen before, because it gives you an overview of what is there. Next time you'd know where you want to spend more time.
That said, I've never actually done a tour like that before... I might like general info on what type of group is going. Definitely would want time off to do my own thing.
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simser
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Post by simser on Mar 20, 2015 15:08:12 GMT -5
How do you like to travel? Is that too fast paced for you (it sounds like a lot!) or do you want to do all that? Do you really hate making plans? I love planning trips- so much that if I could make it a side business I would do it! It doesn't sound like a terrible trip though, and it sounds much better than disney! How much for the stuff not included?
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Mar 20, 2015 15:14:00 GMT -5
Borneo was a group trip.
If I do it again I would go by myself or with just DH. I found out that tour groups really aren't for me.
I do think it was a great way to go for my first visit. I wouldn't have known where to begin trying to plan the trip on my own with no familiarity with the country.
Going as part of a tour I got to see the "greatest hits". I also didn't have to worry about organizing my own transportation or figure out where to stay.
We had plenty of time to explore each city on our own as well.
I'd do a group tour of Italy. Then if I wanted to go back I'd have the benefit of all the knowledge I gained via my tour.
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swamp
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THEY’RE EATING THE DOGS!!!!!!!
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Tuscany
Mar 20, 2015 15:17:48 GMT -5
Post by swamp on Mar 20, 2015 15:17:48 GMT -5
How do you like to travel? Is that too fast paced for you (it sounds like a lot!) or do you want to do all that? Do you really hate making plans? I love planning trips- so much that if I could make it a side business I would do it! It doesn't sound like a terrible trip though, and it sounds much better than disney! How much for the stuff not included? I like to travel a lot.
No, I'm OK with the pace. I want to see and do it all, and I have a hard time traveling with the kids because I want to do too much.
Yes, I hate making plans.
I have no idea. It really doesn't matter. Lunch can't be that much, and if a tour costs isn't included and I don't want to go, I won't.
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Robert not Bobby
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Tuscany
Mar 20, 2015 15:27:11 GMT -5
Post by Robert not Bobby on Mar 20, 2015 15:27:11 GMT -5
A local group is arranging a group tour of Tuscany. It's affordable.
While I don't want to travel with a bunch of people, I find it attractive as I have never been there, don't speak the language, and all arrangments have been made for me. There is plenty of "free time" to wander around too, not just group activities. I'm pretty sure I don't have to take part in the scheduled events and can wander off on my own, and as long as I'm back to the bus on time, I'm good.
DH and I are considering it.
Would you do it?
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Robert not Bobby
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Tuscany
Mar 20, 2015 15:29:57 GMT -5
Post by Robert not Bobby on Mar 20, 2015 15:29:57 GMT -5
Absolutely...do it, you and your husband won't regret it.
Obviously your tour will go to Florence (a brilliant small city and the heart of the renaissance)...but make a side trip to Siena and the the Tuscan countryside...gentle beautiful hills, vineyards (Chianti country), olive groves...just a really relaxed and cultural feeling.
I would avoid July, if you can. You will meet more Americans and Germans and Japanese, that locals.
Still, if you have a bucket list, and this is on it...do it.
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Deleted
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Tuscany
Mar 20, 2015 17:43:04 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Mar 20, 2015 17:43:04 GMT -5
DH and I generally hate tours but they have their place/advantages. We took a Nile cruise / tour years ago because the price was right and it would have been WAY too complicated to organize something like that on our own. We had a wonderful time, we saw a lot. Maybe we were lucky, but the people were great, and we all joked about how much we hesitated on signing up for fear of all the other people. They were very live and let live, none of the "false camaraderie" or "friends for life" type of shite that I absolutely loathe. They, like us, felt that this was the most practical solution for the amount of time and money they had. Plus, the last two nights, some of them were extremely generous with the alcohol they had smuggled on board because they were better informed than us, and knew that you couldn't buy alcohol in Egypt in the places we docked without a contact. You won't have that problem in Italy LOL.
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Happy prose
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Tuscany
Mar 20, 2015 17:54:50 GMT -5
Post by Happy prose on Mar 20, 2015 17:54:50 GMT -5
I did a tour once to Canada and loved it. There's plenty of time to be by yourselves. We really only hung out with the people during the dinners that were included. And the group turned out to be fun.
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cktc
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Post by cktc on Mar 20, 2015 18:00:21 GMT -5
I'm twitching here. There are people who can handle the planning for you if you would rather travel independently. Organizing FIT tours to Italy is exactly what I do for a living.
If this is your preferred speed, and it focuses on areas that interest you, just go for it. The price isn't bad, depending on hotel class and time of year, but it isn't unheard of either so don't let that be your only deciding factor. There are a lot of air specials out of New York.
Just a few thoughts... Montecatini Terme is a spa town, and in Italy that is pretty much synonymous with sulfur. A day trip to Venice would be 6 hours on the bus. Carrara is a marble quarry, interesting enough, but interesting enough to bypass the Cinque Terre?
Honestly it is pretty hard not to enjoy a trip to Italy, and you will probably want to go back to see and do more no matter what, but it is always best to make the most of your time and money when you do get the chance to go.
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tskeeter
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Post by tskeeter on Mar 20, 2015 18:13:50 GMT -5
A local group is arranging a group tour of Tuscany. It's affordable.
While I don't want to travel with a bunch of people, I find it attractive as I have never been there, don't speak the language, and all arrangments have been made for me. There is plenty of "free time" to wander around too, not just group activities. I'm pretty sure I don't have to take part in the scheduled events and can wander off on my own, and as long as I'm back to the bus on time, I'm good.
DH and I are considering it.
Would you do it? I look at arranged tours this way. They let me see the highlights and figure out what I want to spend more time seeing on the next trip. And help me figure out what sounds interesting that isn't part of a highlights tour. Another advantage of tours is that if they have guides that can help you better understand what you are seeing, you get more out of the trip. So, after a "get to know the area" trip, you can arrange a wine tasting trip. Cause you've already seen the highlights.
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Jaguar
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Post by Jaguar on Mar 20, 2015 19:04:54 GMT -5
Life is fragile, just do it.
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