17 day Italy tour

herman, A few of the Best of Italy tours extend into July, but as you noted there are none in August. I don't know the answer to your question, but can suggest one possibility. Since August especially is peak travel season in Europe, it could be that RS tours isn't able to get hotel bookings for a group of 26 at that time of year. Many Italians tend to take holidays in August, so it's a busy time throughout Italy. If I remember, I'll ask about this next time I'm at ETBD. Cheers!

Herman, first you are not actually talking to Rick Steves on this helpline, you need to contact their offices for that, and well you won't get him, but you will be able to talk to their tour offices and ask that. My thoughts are though is very hot in august and it wouldn't be my first choice to visit Italy then, dissappointing I realize, but there is a tour starting on June 23rd that might work, for students and teachers if school is out earlier in June( my dd school is out on 15th or 16th I think)

I believe most Italians are on vacation in August so a lot of things are closed.

Bingo!

Contact RS Travel Desk - to be found elsewhere on this web site. I spent a month this last september in Italy starting in Venice and then working north. It was plenty warm for me and I live in Hawaii most of the year.
It would be my guess that the weather is a big factor in no mid-summer tours.

I'm not sure if someone from British Columbia could really bear Italy's weather in July and August. I was born and raised there yet I avoid July/August in Italy like the plague exactly for that reason. I think it might be because it's by far the highest peak season for tourists (especially Europeans) and therefore: 1. Cost of everything (esp. accommodations) is stratospheric (i.e. not in Rick Steves' style). 2. Accommodations require booking well in advance (months and even years in advance), especially for large groups and especially in some tourist locations (good luck finding anything available at the Cinque Terre or Amalfi Coast).

Thanks to all for your replies.
We have booked the 10 day tour July 19.

@Roberto, "I'm not sure if someone from British Columbia could really bear Italy's weather in July and August." Some parts of B.C. can be very HOT in the summers, with temperatures at times exceeding 40C. The beautiful Okanagan Valley is one such area. I often tell people it's just like California - Wineries & Rattlesnakes. The area around the small town of Lytton is often the hottest spot in Canada in the summer, with temperatures over 42C. Cheers!

Herman, Which 10 day Italy tour did you book?

We have booked the 10 day Venice to Rome tour.
I have travelled to Italy twice in the last 12 years in August. I found it very easy to get a hotel room (prices actually dropped) and the crowds minimal. There were no lineups at any major sights. The Vatican was easy to get around with no crowds.

herman, Thanks for the info. I'm sure you'll have a great time on the tour. I took the Sicily tour in September, and it was awesome! Happy travels!

@ Ken: I've been to White Rock, BC many times (or better I've driven through that area). Many years ago I used to go on business to Bellingham, WA a lot, so on weekends I used to drive up north to Vancouver and/or Victoria. The weather was nice most of the time (I used to work there during summers) but White Rock's on the water, so it was never so hot as it is in Italy in Jul/Aug. That's miserable hot.

@Roberto, It's interesting to hear that you've been to B.C., and worked here in the summers. If you're interested in exploring other parts of the Province, try a visit to the Okanagan in July or August. It's usually fairly hot in July and August, although the temperatures seem to decrease in the last week or two of August, especially at night. The heat here doesn't seem as oppressive as it is in Rome (not sure why that is?). As you're Italian, I'm sure you'd enjoy visiting a few of the local Wineries which produce some excellent wines. As I recall, President Obama was served an Okanagan Chenin Blanc from Quail's Gate Winery on his first state visit to Canada. Some of the Wineries also offer gourmet restaurants (not cheap, but visitors eat well!). I believe WestJet offers flights to Kelowna from both SFO and SJC. Cheers!