I'm an experienced traveler in Italy using Rick and other resources for our trip. I offered to help put together a 14 day trip starting in Venice ending in Rome for a couple. They said a sister and husband might be interested but now two other sisters and the number is 10! Most of my nice little hotels are not available for this group. Going in May - itinerary is Venice, Como, Florence, Tuscany, Sorrento and Rome. Any comments?
Posted by
Washington DC Region, USA
7049 posts
If this is just about researching and drawing up a list of recommended hotels and leaving it up to them to work out everything else, then please ignore everything I'm about to say. I may be overestimating the scope of your involvement here.
If not, I mean this in the nicest way possible....get out while you can (or at least limit your exposure to what you can handle time- and effort-wise). Devising an entire tour is a lot of work. It's one thing to help two people, but another to deal with ten. If you remain as kind-hearted as you sound, I would strongly recommend having a "huddle" of sorts to set ground rules as to how decisions will be made and identify only one point person who needs to interact with others, iron out any differences, and then work with you directly on any plan redrafts. Also, you need a schedule. Otherwise, you're going to have a real nightmare on your hands with no one being in charge and everyone chiming in their opinions after you thought things were already decided - and worst of all, the potential of someone not being happy at the end. It's quite hard to get 10 people on the same page and do it very diplomatically. Best of luck to you!
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8170 posts
Being responsible for 10 people going to 6 locations in 2 weeks is just too much. That's where a good travel agent would come in if you're going to stick to the itinerary above.
The trip would be much manageable if you limited yourself to 3 locations--Venice, Florence and Rome.
You could fly into Venice and spend 3 days. Then take a fast train down to Florence rent a villa just south of Florence with a cook. Your group could get 3 rental cars to do day trips throughout the hilltowns. Turn the rental cars in at Hertz in Orvieto and take the train into Rome for a minimum of 4 days.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
14041 posts
My initial response was the same as Agnes' - Run fast, run far. Point them to RS books and Trip Advisor and then back out. You might be available for consulting on occasion but I would have them do all the choosing and booking. What is now 10 people will likely dwindle as people start having to commit time and money.
I also agree with David that the itinerary is much too busy for 14 days. A large group will not be as nimble as a couple unless they are on a tour. Even with a couple this itinerary seems too busy to me!
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Foster here. The three posts below pretty much express what I've been thinking. I've done this itinerary in 2008, 2010 and 2012 but just as a couple. But this is too much. I didn't find out about the 10 until last Saturday. I'll help organize, but something has to give here. The stress level is getting too high. I'm starting think my wife (who hasn't been south of Rome) and I do a week in Sicily and we meet them in Sorrento.
Posted by
Pacific Northwest
2625 posts
I agree that this is too much for 14 days. But more importantly - I wouldn't do this for anyone - not even my own family. It takes me so much time to plan out one of my trips...I'm sure it's over 100 hours when all is said and done....spread out over months and months...heck maybe it's a few hundred hours. People ask me for travel planning help quite often. I'm happy to sit down with someone for an hour or so, but that's about it unless they were willing to pay me.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Yikes!
You deserve a medal and a parade just for offering.
Honestly, I would get a signed contact from each person, including: pack light; share responsibilities (have each person commit to researching and planning one or 1/2 day of the trip; agree on type of accommodation and transportation; and no complaining about what you choose.
Then I would have a drink and go to bed.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Didn't see your second post before I added mine.
Good for you!
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
15852 posts
I'm starting think my wife (who hasn't been south of Rome) and I do a
week in Sicily and we meet them in Sorrento.
Excellent plan, Foster. 6 locations in 14 days is crazy enough for two people, and insanity to arrange for 10. This is a job for an agent so that if people pull out or don't like the flights/hotel/city/amount of moving around/etc. it's not your problem (bless your heart for even thinking about taking this on)!!!