Looking at a Road Scholar tour of Tuscany and Umbria

We just did a Road Scholar tour in Bulgaria. People who had used Road Scholar for their flights seemed to be having quite a few problems. One person had their US departure airport changed at the last minute, three people got stuck in Frankfurt because they missed their connecting flight and two people didn't get their luggage for two days. I realise none of this is probably Road Scholar's fault but the tour leader was not very helpful for the people whose luggage went missing.

Overall, we were incredibly disappointed with our Road Scholar experience. Our tour was disorganised, hotels were terrible and food was extremely bland. I wouldn't travel with them again.

We have done several of Rick's tours, but have opted for a Roads Scholar cooking class tour in Lucca this year. We always make our own flight arrangements because we like to arrive early and also like to control the transit time and airports. A tight connection increases the possibility that your bags won't make it. There are almost hourly trains from Florence to Sienna. You might want to consider a couple of days in Florence to get over jet lag before joining your group. We are doing that and plan to just wander a bit. Depending on where your tour ends, you could probably fly on an open jaws ticket out of the nearest airport for about the same price as round trip. We have trackers in our luggage to help the airlines locate them if they go astray.

I can’t comment on Road Scholar from personal experience. But I want to point out that Rick Steves offers a “Village Italy” tour that includes both Tuscany and Umbria. Maybe it doesn’t include all the places you want to see? In any case, I took this tour a year ago and it was excellent

I have traveled with Road Scholar 4 times and like them. In fact, I have a deposit down on that exact tour for 2025. I would not use Road Scholar for booking your air - book your own. Many of our tour mates reported trouble, bad connections, missed connections etc.

As to the above comment about hotel choices - they vary with Road Scholar, and with every other company I’ve used. I’m seldom 100% happy with hotels unless I pick them myself - but it’s part of the trade off for the convenience of a tour.

That tour in particular has good hotels - since I’ve booked it, I’ve researched each one in a lot of depth.

I believe AussieNomad’s experience is more a reflection on Bulgaria’s tourism infrastructure than on the quality of road Scholar trips in general.

We are normally independent travelers, taking tours only with an adventure travel company for strenuous guided hiking in remote places like Patagonia, or difficult itineraries like the Tour du Mont Blanc. We use a well-regarded company, MT Sobek, that provides such tours for National Geographic and the Smithsonian. They offer high-end (sometimes luxurious) lodging, great food, and excellent professional guides.

Last year (2023) we opted for a Road Scholar tour for Puglia, as the region is best seen by car and we do not wish to drive in Italy. We were very impressed with the quality of the food and lodging and the overall program. And our guide Emmanuela, was fantastic—-very professional but also kind, friendly, and very well-informed. She went way out of her way to solve transport and other problems for individual guests, arranging a private shuttle for six of us to reach the Bari airport (instead of taking a long bus ride), and (I am ashamed to admit) coming to find my husband and me when we could not find our way out of the Matera sassi.

We chose Road Scholar on the recommendation of close friends who have enjoyed a number of their tours (at least 6), including the multi-generation ones offered for families, and a Normandy tour they found especially informative.

So I do not hesitate to pass onthe recommendation, based on their extensive experience and our own single experience. But I personally would not include the offered flights. I prefer to maintain control when it comes to choosing our flights—-the airline, the schedule, the routing, the seat choice. So we book our own. As noted above, it is easy to reach Siena from Florence.

Thanks to all for your advice.
We will book our own flights and perhaps fly into Rome and take the train to Florence for a night then on the Sienna.
I checked the cost of flying into Florence vs. RT to Rome and the one to Florence is about $300 more expensive for two tickets and we have to change flights in Amsterdam, while we can book a direct flight from Atlanta to Rome for RT.
The tour looks great, in particular the Umbria region, which we haven't visited before.

"I believe AussieNomad’s experience is more a reflection on Bulgaria’s tourism infrastructure than on the quality of road Scholar trips in general."

I agree with Lola on this although the poor guide is unfortunate as well.

@Geovagriffith, I see you've decided to do your own airfare. I knew you used Atlanta and figured you were probably a Delta flyer. RS seems to use American Airlines a lot even when other airlines might have a better routing. I did that Rome->ATL flight in 2022 coming home from a Rick Steves tour and it worked well although my onward transit plans were changed

I've done 13 Road Scholar programs, 8 of them international (5 activity-based in the US). I fly from an end-of-the-line airport and have my preferred airline (Delta), preferred transit airports and preferred transit times. I am a fussbudget when it comes to airlines,lol. I always book my own for the same reasons Valerie does - I want to arrive early and usually stay late. You are an experienced traveler and will have no problem getting to the meet up hotel in Siena.

I have seen some complaints on the FB pages for Friends of Road Scholar and Women of Road Scholar that RS does not book flights until about 2 months out so preferred seat classes are sometimes not available and sometimes prices are higher because they've waited so darn late to book.

As to hotels - the Road Scholar hotels are usually a step above the Rick Steves hotels. They almost all have elevators and are what I would consider a business class hotel. Food has generally been good. I've not done a Road Sch in Italy but I've done several in France and the food has been very good and in France there was wine with every meal. That is not standard but it may also be the case in Italy.

I've been looking at Road Scholar tours recently and have decided to book my own airline tickets.

But... I wish either Rick Steves and Road Scholar had different initial letters! Since I've been on Rick Steves so long, when I see RS for Road Scholar, it really throws me!

It is my understanding that Road Scholar used to be Elderhostel?? My parents always loved those tours. My impression is that there will be an older demographic on the Road Scholar trips. That doesn't throw me, but are the tours designed to be slower pace and less "intense" than say a Rick Steves tour?

Yes, it used to be Elderhostel, but they have broadened their focus, to include more active trips and the multi-generational trips our friends have taken. The activity level of each tour is listed on the website. I do not recall whether we had to carry our own luggage around or not. (That is not something that would matter to us as we are in good shape, fortunately).

They are a non-profit educational organization, not a for-profit tour company, so their prices tend to be more reasonable. The tours are larger than the active adventure tours we have done with MT Sobek (a big difference between 24 participants and the 7-10 or 12 people whom have met on the Mt Sobek trips). The people on the one Road Scholar trip we did (Puglia) ranged from mid-50’s to late 70’s (my husband was the oldest on that trip), but some of the younger ones had mobility issues that were well accommodated. The age range was actually little different from the active hiking tours we have done with MT Sobek and other adventure travel companies.

The one we took was very well done, and I would look to them again as we age past the strenuous hiking tours we like.

One minor aspect of the tour is that if you don't buy the tour's air you must arrange to show up where the tour starts on your own, which is the hotel in Sienna, Italy.

Most tour companies provide that you can pay for the transfer from the airport or rail station.

We are likely to arrange our own transport from Rome to Sienna and to the hotel. Which would entail handling our own luggage to the rail station at the Rome airport, also if rail transfers are required, more luggage handling.

We are in our late 70s and can drag our luggage a bit, but transfers at rail stations can be more an issue. We can likely manage, but would prefer not to do so.
We will likely have to take the train to Florence and then transfer to Sienna, then pick up a taxi in Sienna.
Perhaps we should fly in a day early and head to Florence, spend the night there and proceed to Sienna the next day.

I just ran a trip from the Rome Airport to Siena and it requires THREE transfers. Even the trip from Florence to Siena has one transfer in Empoli. I expected no transfer for that portion of the trip.

What would a motor transfer from Florence to the Siena Hotel cost?

I have not used them but Flix Bus has several trips a day direct from FCO to various stops in Siena.

We took the bus from Florence to Siena and then again to Rome. The advantage is that the bus goes to the top of the hill and very close to Sienna's old town while the train ends at the base of the hill Siena sits on.

We used Flix for the leg Siena to Rome, and it was very comfortable.

Of course you would be doing the reverse of what we did. I would strongly advise leaving at least two days prior to the start of your tour. You want a buffer in case of any delays/cancellations and it would allow you to recover from jet lag and rest up for the tour.

Just looked at the Flix website. Looks like Flix would be really easy
https://www.flixbus.com/

https://shop.flixbus.com/search?departureCity=105d8c7f-86c9-430f-85ea-5b502d2c21bc&arrivalCity=40e10ab9-8646-11e6-9066-549f350fcb0c&route=Rome+Fiumicino+Airport-Siena&rideDate=12.06.2024&adult=1&_locale=en_US&features%5Bfeature.enable_distribusion%5D=1&features%5Bfeature.train_cities_only%5D=0&features%5Bfeature.auto_update_disabled%5D=0&features%5Bfeature.webc_search_station_suggestions_enabled%5D=0&features%5Bfeature.darken_page%5D=1

Another nice thing about the bus is that luggage goes in a compartment at street level. You don't have to lug luggage up any stairs.

juiles,
I had looked at the bus website and saw what you just posted, but was unable to determine just where at the airport one could pick up the bus.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/41%C2%B047'40.2%22N+12%C2%B015'01.6%22E/@41.794331,12.250398,17z/data=!4m10!1m5!3m4!2zNDHCsDQ3JzM5LjYiTiAxMsKwMTUnMDEuNCJF!8m2!3d41.794331!4d12.250398!3m3!8m2!3d41.794487!4d12.25043?entry=ttu

I would double check airport location after purchasing the tickets. Or contact FLIX via email

I've used Flix in Italy and Portugal. Never an issue and the provide adequate information.

Flying in a day or two ahead for a tour is always a good idea.

What time does your proposed arrive at Rome airport? There is a direct train to Florence departing at 13:53 (Frecciarossa 9423). If you can make that, it would greatly mimics the baggage handling issues.

You could take a taxi from the Florence train station to your hotel for that night; and back the next day for the train to Siena (there are lots of options for direct trains, no changes on the way. The taxi driver and hotel staff will manage your luggage for you on both rides.

If you take a train to Sienna, you will have to get up to the top of the hill Sienna sits on which requires a transfer to a taxi. If you take a bus to Sienna, it takes you to the top of the hill and on the edge of the old town. The buses in Florence, are right next to Santa Maria Novella Train Station, direct buses from Florence to Sienna are just about hourly.

You may want to look at the Rick Steves Italy guide where he provides information for travel between Rome and Sienna or Florence and travel between Florence and Sienna.

Remember, with the train, you will have to carry your luggage up into the train car.

Good to know. Thanks, Jules.