My wife and I would like to travel to Italy from the US in
mid-September. Hoping to visit Rome, Naples, and Florence. It will be
our first visit to Italy and we are thinking that perhaps a guided tour
would be the easiest way to see it for the first time. We do not speak
the language (language skills are not in my gene pack). I do not want
to drive in Italy.

Tours packages to those cites seem to be about 8 days in length, but 10
or 12 would seem to be a better pace. We would have about two weeks
available and we are flexible in departure and return.

We have found a package from Gate 1 Travel and wonder if anyone here
has any experiences with them or where we might obtain information on
peoples' ratings of their services.

Anyone wanting to suggest alternatives to tourgroup travel would be
entertained as well. We are experienced travelers in our late 50's in
good health and condition.

Thanks for taking the time to read and hopefully respond.

Vector

"vector" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected] ups.com...
    > My wife and I would like to travel to Italy from the US in
    > mid-September. Hoping to visit Rome, Naples, and Florence. It will be
    > our first visit to Italy and we are thinking that perhaps a guided tour
    > would be the easiest way to see it for the first time. We do not speak
    > the language (language skills are not in my gene pack). I do not want
    > to drive in Italy.
    > Tours packages to those cites seem to be about 8 days in length, but 10
    > or 12 would seem to be a better pace. We would have about two weeks
    > available and we are flexible in departure and return.
    > We have found a package from Gate 1 Travel and wonder if anyone here
    > has any experiences with them or where we might obtain information on
    > peoples' ratings of their services.
    > Anyone wanting to suggest alternatives to tourgroup travel would be
    > entertained as well. We are experienced travelers in our late 50's in
    > good health and condition.

Well, if you are just going to those 3 cities, it would be easy to take the
train between them. And the train in Italy is cheap. (At the site
www.slowtrav.com there are detailed instructions on taking the train in
Italy.) Then all you need is to book 3 hotels and maybe get some restaurant
recommendations. In each city you can pick up local tours for the city and
for any excursions you want to make (like Pompeii from Naples).

I think it a shame to miss Venice, however.

Marianne

vector wrote:

    > My wife and I would like to travel to Italy from the US in
    > mid-September. Hoping to visit Rome, Naples, and Florence. It will
    > be our first visit to Italy


In that case, I would recommend leaving out Naples, and going to Venice
instead.


    > and we are thinking that perhaps a guided
    > tour would be the easiest way to see it for the first time.


Each to his own of course, but I think a guided tour is neither necessary
nor desirable. It's very easy to get around on your own.


    > We do
    > not speak the language (language skills are not in my gene pack).


It's not at all necessary in the big cities, although learning a few words
of politeness (good morning, good eveneing, please, thank you, yes, no,
etc.) is very easy and would be helpful.


    > I
    > do not want to drive in Italy.


Again, neither necessary nor desirable. Cars are a handicap, not an asset,
in the big cities, since parking is next to impossible. And trains are much
more convenient to get between them.


    > Tours packages to those cites seem to be about 8 days in length, but
    > 10 or 12 would seem to be a better pace. We would have about two
    > weeks available and we are flexible in departure and return.
    > We have found a package from Gate 1 Travel and wonder if anyone here
    > has any experiences with them or where we might obtain information on
    > peoples' ratings of their services.
    > Anyone wanting to suggest alternatives to tourgroup travel would be
    > entertained as well. We are experienced travelers in our late 50's in
    > good health and condition.


In that case, I would even more strongly recommend that you forget about
tours, You will be far better off on your own.

--
Ken Blake
Please reply to the newsgroup

    > Thanks for taking the time to read and hopefully respond.
    > Vector

vector wrote:
    > My wife and I would like to travel to Italy from the US in
    > mid-September. Hoping to visit Rome, Naples, and Florence. It will be
    > our first visit to Italy and we are thinking that perhaps a guided tour
    > would be the easiest way to see it for the first time. We do not speak
    > the language (language skills are not in my gene pack). I do not want
    > to drive in Italy.
    >
    > Tours packages to those cites seem to be about 8 days in length, but 10
    > or 12 would seem to be a better pace. We would have about two weeks
    > available and we are flexible in departure and return.

[snip]

    > Anyone wanting to suggest alternatives to tourgroup travel would be
    > entertained as well. We are experienced travelers in our late 50's in
    > good health and condition.

Well, as experienced travelers, you could certainly plan your own trip
and travel together, without a group or a guide.

I think that is the style of travel that appeals to many who post here,
though obviously there are many reasons why you or your wife might not
prefer it.

This would entail some boning up on your part--buying some guidebooks
and really thinking about your trip. For some of us this adds to the
appeal, but it's a matter of personal taste.

Make a stab at an itinerary and post it here for comments, if you like.
I don't think the great cities of Italy are especially difficult to see,
language barrier notwithstanding.

You could easily visit all these destinations by train.

Either way, have a great trip!

    > vector wrote:
    > Hoping to visit Rome, Naples, and Florence.
    > Anyone wanting to suggest alternatives to tourgroup travel...

As a U.S. citizen who's been to Italy 4x without speaking
more than a few words of Italian, I can tell you that this is
a trip you can easily do on your own, and travel using trains.

As another suggested, unless you're including Naples for
some special reason or /have/ to see Pompei, do Venice
instead. You can easily make train reservations and buy
tickets online at http://www.trenitalia.it/en/index.html The
online receipt is all you need for express Eurostar trains.

Here is what my wife and I did last year: Land in Rome.
Take dedicated airport train into Rome. Spend 3N there.
Train to Florence. Rent car for 2N in Tuscany. Back to
Florence for 2N. Train to Venice for 1N. Fly from Venice
to Rome Airport. And yes, we could have used more time.

definitely try it on your own and substitute Venice for Naples. Take only a
carryon with wheels and read all the guide books in your local library. If
art is an interest to you plan at least 4 or 5 or 6 days in Florence. You
can side trip to Pisa, Lucca & Sienna from there. A car is not necessary.
I would be terrified to drive in Italy where auto racing is the national
sport!
"oughtfour" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:TdBug.1742$pR4.657@trndny01...
    > vector wrote:
    >> My wife and I would like to travel to Italy from the US in
    >> mid-September. Hoping to visit Rome, Naples, and Florence. It will be
    >> our first visit to Italy and we are thinking that perhaps a guided tour
    >> would be the easiest way to see it for the first time. We do not speak
    >> the language (language skills are not in my gene pack). I do not want
    >> to drive in Italy.
    >> Tours packages to those cites seem to be about 8 days in length, but 10
    >> or 12 would seem to be a better pace. We would have about two weeks
    >> available and we are flexible in departure and return.
    > [snip]
    >> Anyone wanting to suggest alternatives to tourgroup travel would be
    >> entertained as well. We are experienced travelers in our late 50's in
    >> good health and condition.
    > Well, as experienced travelers, you could certainly plan your own trip and
    > travel together, without a group or a guide.
    > I think that is the style of travel that appeals to many who post here,
    > though obviously there are many reasons why you or your wife might not
    > prefer it.
    > This would entail some boning up on your part--buying some guidebooks and
    > really thinking about your trip. For some of us this adds to the appeal,
    > but it's a matter of personal taste.
    > Make a stab at an itinerary and post it here for comments, if you like. I
    > don't think the great cities of Italy are especially difficult to see,
    > language barrier notwithstanding.
    > You could easily visit all these destinations by train.
    > Either way, have a great trip!

"Sue and Grey McGown" <[email protected]> wrote:
    > Florence: A car is not necessary. I would be terrified to
    > drive in Italy...

Florence is a good base from which to do day bus-tours. I
found driving around the hills of Tuscany to Sienna, Volterra
& San Gimigano to be quite enjoyable.. much easier than in
England+Ireland. However, I admit to having trouble finding
my way out of and back into the center of Florence. :-)

On 16 Jul 2006 15:29:25 -0700, "vector" <[email protected]> wrote:

    >My wife and I would like to travel to Italy from the US in
    >mid-September. Hoping to visit Rome, Naples, and Florence. It will be
    >our first visit to Italy and we are thinking that perhaps a guided tour
    >would be the easiest way to see it for the first time. We do not speak
    >the language (language skills are not in my gene pack). I do not want
    >to drive in Italy.

In Rome, Naples and Florence, you will not have much of a problem if
you don't speak Italian. All three cities have good public transport
and a car would only be a nuisance. There are fast and inexpensive
trains between the three cities. I would suggest traveling on your own
and spending 6 days in Rome, and 3 each in Florence and Naples. If you
have two weeks, that leaves 2 days free for travelling between cities.
I would suggest finding centrally located hotels so that you can walk
around the centers of these cities and return easily to the hotel to
rest or drop off purchases.

The best of tours are always somewhat inflexible. They are probably
most useful for visiting out of the way spots in the countryside,
where public transit is scarces. If you do take a tour, look for one
that leave maximum amounts of free time, because it's a lot more fun
to walk around and stop when you see something you like than to follow
a tour guide and stop where she wants you to stop.

I would suggest that you learn at least to say "buon giorno" (bwone
GYORN-oh) (good day) and "grazie" (GRAHTZ-ee-ay), whether you travel
independently or on a tour. People really appreciate your effort to
speak their language, and won't mind if that's the only thing you can
say. The first time I travelled in Italy, I knew no Italian and had no
problem at all.


--
Barbara Vaughan
My email address is my first initial followed by my surname at libero dot it
I answer travel questions only in the newsgroup

"B Vaughan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > On 16 Jul 2006 15:29:25 -0700, "vector" <[email protected]> wrote:
    > >My wife and I would like to travel to Italy from the US in
    > >mid-September. Hoping to visit Rome, Naples, and Florence. It will be
    > >our first visit to Italy and we are thinking that perhaps a guided tour
    > >would be the easiest way to see it for the first time. We do not speak
    > >the language (language skills are not in my gene pack). I do not want
    > >to drive in Italy.
    > In Rome, Naples and Florence, you will not have much of a problem if
    > you don't speak Italian. All three cities have good public transport
    > and a car would only be a nuisance. There are fast and inexpensive
    > trains between the three cities. I would suggest traveling on your own
    > and spending 6 days in Rome, and 3 each in Florence and Naples. If you
    > have two weeks, that leaves 2 days free for travelling between cities.
    > I would suggest finding centrally located hotels so that you can walk
    > around the centers of these cities and return easily to the hotel to
    > rest or drop off purchases.
    > The best of tours are always somewhat inflexible. They are probably
    > most useful for visiting out of the way spots in the countryside,
    > where public transit is scarces. If you do take a tour, look for one
    > that leave maximum amounts of free time, because it's a lot more fun
    > to walk around and stop when you see something you like than to follow
    > a tour guide and stop where she wants you to stop.
    > I would suggest that you learn at least to say "buon giorno" (bwone
    > GYORN-oh) (good day) and "grazie" (GRAHTZ-ee-ay), whether you travel
    > independently or on a tour. People really appreciate your effort to
    > speak their language, and won't mind if that's the only thing you can
    > say. The first time I travelled in Italy, I knew no Italian and had no
    > problem at all.

Yep - all the above.
Save money easily by booking travel & hotels on the internet - gives you
much more personal choice too.
If you really do need/want some guidance, you'll find ample mini-tours
available on the spot - especially the 'unusual' tours that you might like
and that the mass tours can ignore.
Be prepared for Rome, especially, to still probably be rather hot and close.

Surreyman

"a.spencer3" <[email protected]> wrote:
    > Save money easily by booking travel & hotels on the internet...

For hotels, I recommend that the OP try www.venere.com .

"vector" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected] ups.com...
    > My wife and I would like to travel to Italy from the US in
    > mid-September. Hoping to visit Rome, Naples, and Florence. It will be
    > our first visit to Italy and we are thinking that perhaps a guided tour
    > would be the easiest way to see it for the first time. We do not speak
    > the language (language skills are not in my gene pack). I do not want
    > to drive in Italy.

Most of the regulars here will probably advise you to "do it yourself". I've
never taken a multi-day guided tour. I always have preferred to just wade
in, immerse myself in the culture and get as far from my fellow Americans as
I can. The thought of spending a week on a bus with a bunch of other
American tourists gives me the shivers. That's just me, you need to do what
makes you comfortable.

I'm sure that any good travel agent, even a really lousy travel agent, can
book a good tour of Italy. The regular circuit is Rome, Florence, Venice,
Pisa (photo stop) and maybe Sienna. Naples is different. You have to get
"into" Naples. You have to be in a Naples frame of mind. If you can get into
Naples, into the experience, the smells, the sounds, the foods, then you
will have a great time. You can't experience Naples wrapped in the cocoon of
a tour bus. Just MHO.

--
Donald R. Newcomb
DRNewcomb (at) attglobal (dot) net

Am 16 Jul 2006 15:29:25 -0700 schrieb vector:

    > My wife and I would like to travel to Italy from the US in
    > mid-September. Hoping to visit Rome, Naples, and Florence. It will be
    > our first visit to Italy and we are thinking that perhaps a guided tour
    > would be the easiest way to see it for the first time.

If you limit your visit to a few cities you won't need a guided tour. You
don't even need to book a train-ticket in advance. It's very easy to get
around.

    > We do not speak
    > the language (language skills are not in my gene pack).

You don't need to. I'm German and I don't speak any Italian, but I never
found it difficult to get by in english (I've been to Rome, Pisa, Florence
and Venice).

    > I do not want
    > to drive in Italy.

Thats a wise decision ;-)

    > Tours packages to those cites seem to be about 8 days in length, but 10
    > or 12 would seem to be a better pace. We would have about two weeks
    > available and we are flexible in departure and return.

I wouldn't book a tour package. Once you're in the city, you can book a
guided tour with an english-speaking tour-guide, to get an idea about whats
there to see. For things like the museums or Vatican-city it's much nicer
to walk around yourself and spend as much time, as you like. It's not too
much fun to visit a museum with a group of 30 people ;-)

    > Anyone wanting to suggest alternatives to tourgroup travel would be
    > entertained as well. We are experienced travelers in our late 50's in
    > good health and condition.

As I said, Italy is easy to navigate by yourself. You can buy good
guide-books in english on every corner, and signs at museums are always in
english as well. People are open and friendly, so if you get lost
somewhere, just ask someone. Its much more fun than being in a crowd of
people with a tour-guide.

Regards,

Frank

On Mon, 17 Jul 2006 11:12:33 GMT, "a.spencer3"
<[email protected]> wrote:


    >Be prepared for Rome, especially, to still probably be rather hot and close.

and the incredibly rude locals NOT.
--

Martin

Martin <[email protected]> wrote:

    > On Mon, 17 Jul 2006 11:12:33 GMT, "a.spencer3"
    > <[email protected]> wrote:
    >
    >
    > >Be prepared for Rome, especially, to still probably be rather hot and close.
    >
    > and the incredibly rude locals NOT.

I love a culture where two men are referred to as "ragazzi."

--
David Horne- http://www.davidhorne.net
usenet (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk
http://homepage.mac.com/davidhornecomposer http://soundjunction.org

David Horne, _the_ chancellor of the duchy of besses o' th' barn and
prestwich tesco 24h offy wrote:
    > I love a culture where two men are referred to as "ragazzi."

Disturbingly attractive Cuban waitress in Monte Testaccio bar last
month referred to a friend (36) and myself (44) as her "ragazzi" on
only our second visit. Needless to say we kept frequenting her bar.
(Yes, I actually visited Europe and didn't file a trip report to r.t.e.
It was only four days in Rome on the way to New York - mostly a
gastronomic orgy).

Cheers,
George W. Russell
Bangalore