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HOW DID YOU END UP ON A TOUR? ARE YOU GUYS REALLY THE GUIDED TOUR TYPES?
William and I went to the annual Travel and Adventure show in Chicago, primarily to hear Rick Steves speak. We were so captivated by his presentation that we bee-lined over to his booth and grabbed information on upcoming Rick Steves Tours. Initially, we were less enamored of the idea of a fully-guided tour as it seemed way too structured for us. But, when we saw the My Way tour option for Spain, we knew that was the right approach! We absolutely loved that trip. We were especially pleased with the accommodations offered and the ease of transportation between cities. And we enjoyed our fellow travelers. After that, I think we were primed to go on a guided tour. We had been to Italy with friends for 12 days in Italy (shortly after we got married) and wanted to go back and see places that were not the big cities. This trip to explore Italian villages was perfect!
HOW MUCH WORK DID YOU HAVE TO DO IN ADVANCE?
We actually did quite a lot of work in advance. We opted to fly to Venice to get to Padova for an extra night before the official tour started. Rick Steves tours do not include air travel, so we made our own reservations to get to Venice and then home from Milan
Our early arrival meant we needed to get a hotel reservation. The tour hotel in Padova was booked the night of our arrival so we found another hotel near the University. We relied on the Rick Steves Italy guidebook to help us decide which things we wanted to see. That led to plans to go on a day trip to Vicenza to see its Palladian architecture before the tour officially started.
Before we left, we worked with our cell phone carrier to get an affordable plan that met our needs in Italy. But, all our hotels had adequate wi-fi and we did not exceed our limit for downloads during this trip, despite our frequent use of Google Maps.
Our early arrival meant we needed to get a hotel reservation. The tour hotel in Padova was booked the night of our arrival so we found another hotel near the University. We relied on the Rick Steves Italy guidebook to help us decide which things we wanted to see. That led to plans to go on a day trip to Vicenza to see its Palladian architecture before the tour officially started.
Before we left, we worked with our cell phone carrier to get an affordable plan that met our needs in Italy. But, all our hotels had adequate wi-fi and we did not exceed our limit for downloads during this trip, despite our frequent use of Google Maps.
WhAT RESOURCES WERE THE MOST HELPFUL IN PLANNING YOUR TRIP?
Trip Advisor was a great supplement to Rick Steves Italy book. There, we found some great restaurants not listed in the book.I also spent a lot of time reading questions and comments in the Travel Forum on ricksteves.com. The comments were helpful in answering various questions we had about some of the places on our itinerary.
Between the Italy book, the Travel Forum, and Trip Advisor, we were pretty set for our pre-trip planning. We only had five weeks from the day we pulled the trigger and booked this trip before we left Chicago. We also sought out restaurant recommendations from our well-traveled friend, Heidi, for nights we did not have dinner provided.
I had the TripAdvisor app, the Mobile Passport app (from US Customs), and the apps for Kiwi, United Airways, Ryan Air, and Aer Lingus in case we needed to make changes to our airline reservations (thankfully, we did not). We used GoogleMaps to figure out our way around more than any other app.
Although Rick Steves recommends reading novels and history books about Italy before traveling there, I regret I did not read a single one. In retrospect, that was an error. Getting a more thorough understanding of the history of this country behind my long ago Western Civilization class freshman year of college (which I took way back before the Internet a gleam in anyone's eye) would have made it easier to put some of the art and historical information we saw in context. Sarah, our guide, did a great job of providing some context, but I would have absorbed it better with more of a foundation to start. So, go to your library, get some books on your destination, and read before you go!
For Rick's trips, you should only bring a carry-on bag and a day-pack/messenger bag. We had to haul bags from the bus several times and it was nice to have just smaller bags. If you haven't traveled that way, be prepared to spend time winnowing down what you need and plan to do laundry on the trip (our guide Sarah pointed us to a great laundromat in Orvieto where we washed and dried our clothes in an hour before breakfast one morning).
Between the Italy book, the Travel Forum, and Trip Advisor, we were pretty set for our pre-trip planning. We only had five weeks from the day we pulled the trigger and booked this trip before we left Chicago. We also sought out restaurant recommendations from our well-traveled friend, Heidi, for nights we did not have dinner provided.
I had the TripAdvisor app, the Mobile Passport app (from US Customs), and the apps for Kiwi, United Airways, Ryan Air, and Aer Lingus in case we needed to make changes to our airline reservations (thankfully, we did not). We used GoogleMaps to figure out our way around more than any other app.
Although Rick Steves recommends reading novels and history books about Italy before traveling there, I regret I did not read a single one. In retrospect, that was an error. Getting a more thorough understanding of the history of this country behind my long ago Western Civilization class freshman year of college (which I took way back before the Internet a gleam in anyone's eye) would have made it easier to put some of the art and historical information we saw in context. Sarah, our guide, did a great job of providing some context, but I would have absorbed it better with more of a foundation to start. So, go to your library, get some books on your destination, and read before you go!
For Rick's trips, you should only bring a carry-on bag and a day-pack/messenger bag. We had to haul bags from the bus several times and it was nice to have just smaller bags. If you haven't traveled that way, be prepared to spend time winnowing down what you need and plan to do laundry on the trip (our guide Sarah pointed us to a great laundromat in Orvieto where we washed and dried our clothes in an hour before breakfast one morning).
WHAT WERE THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE TOUR GROUP LIKE?
In short, delightful! William and I met our tour group in the breakfast room of the Hotel al Fagiano in Padova on the first night of the official tour for an orientation by our fearless tour manager, Sarah. Most were other couples, but there several singles on this trip as well. We were the only gay couple, but that never seemed to be an issue for anyone.
Without exception, everyone was incredibly nice and easy to be around. Because of the nature of who was interested in this kind of active tour, we found an easy camaraderie with every member of our group. We greatly enjoyed getting to know each of our fellow travelers over breakfast or other meals, in conversations on the bus, or while exploring an area. It was such a congenial group and there was no drama the entire trip. We felt like we had a whole new group of friends by the end! We have stayed in touch as a group now for several months, which has been a real treat!
Without exception, everyone was incredibly nice and easy to be around. Because of the nature of who was interested in this kind of active tour, we found an easy camaraderie with every member of our group. We greatly enjoyed getting to know each of our fellow travelers over breakfast or other meals, in conversations on the bus, or while exploring an area. It was such a congenial group and there was no drama the entire trip. We felt like we had a whole new group of friends by the end! We have stayed in touch as a group now for several months, which has been a real treat!
SO, WHAT WERE THE TOUR HOTELS LIKE?
Hotels selected by the Rick Steves team are always great. We enjoyed every one of them. The most interesting was the Art Hotel al Fagiano in Padova which had highly original artwork in every room and decorating walls through halls, stairways, and other spaces. Rooms were decorated under five different color schemes. In Montefalco, we had the privilege of staying in at the gorgeous Villa Pambuffetti. We were so excited to get to call this beautiful place our home for two nights! But, all of the other hotels/lodgings were equally interesting.
Sarah worked out room assignments and tried to ensure each of us got at least one stay in a more "premium" room (to avoid the dreaded "room envy"). None of the hotels were huge. Every hotel offered a lovely breakfast with a variety of offerings for nearly every taste, plus always excellent coffee (would you expect less in Italy?) Plus, we enjoyed talking to staff at the front desks. They were great for last-minute directions or suggestions (or for gelato recommendations). As Rick promises in his talks, these hotels are "quirky" (in a fabulous way), family-owned places, and we appreciated all of them.
Sarah worked out room assignments and tried to ensure each of us got at least one stay in a more "premium" room (to avoid the dreaded "room envy"). None of the hotels were huge. Every hotel offered a lovely breakfast with a variety of offerings for nearly every taste, plus always excellent coffee (would you expect less in Italy?) Plus, we enjoyed talking to staff at the front desks. They were great for last-minute directions or suggestions (or for gelato recommendations). As Rick promises in his talks, these hotels are "quirky" (in a fabulous way), family-owned places, and we appreciated all of them.
I WANT TO GO TO ITALY NOW, TOO! WHERE DO I SIGN UP FOR A TOUR?
It's easy! Just go to Rick's website: https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/italy/village-italy
There are Rick Steves tours for other destinations in Italy offered as well. Check them out check too!
Welcome Itinerary Padova Vicenza Ravenna Montefalco Assisi San Pietro a Pettine Deruta Orvieto Civita di Bagnoregio Chianciano Terme
Tuscany Siena San Gimignano Florence American Cemetery
Lucca Carrara Cinque Terre/Levanto Orta San Guilio
How far did we walk? Tips for Italian Travel Gelato Arrivederci
Tuscany Siena San Gimignano Florence American Cemetery
Lucca Carrara Cinque Terre/Levanto Orta San Guilio
How far did we walk? Tips for Italian Travel Gelato Arrivederci