45th anniversary for the two of us and we are planning a two week getaway. Have done many fly drives in Europe but really wish to try an upscale coach tour trip as part of the timing. I know what you are thinking :-) But We are tired of driving and missing things, finding parking, etc. Anyhow one tour takes us to Lake Como area for three days, then Verona and Bologna and finally Venice...a ten day trip. We have done Tuscany and Rome and have visited Lugano and the lakes region with the children for a couple of days decades ago. We thought it to be beautiful. Other options are Portugal, the Adriatic and into Slovenia and then the north coast of Spain, Barcelona to Santiago. We don't anymore need to see every museum, church and castle. In fact, have enjoyed our European river cruises in the past...wineries, small town courtyards, cappucinos, etc. any advice greatly appreciated.
Posted by
Olympia, WA, USA
6713 posts
Not sure what question(s) you're asking -- recommendations for a tour or tour company? Friends have enjoyed Tauck, which I think meets the "upscale" standard. Evidently you've thought through the pros and cons. For me the hard part is finding the right size group. A 40-person tour moves slowly and takes up lots of space. A 5-person tour (with strangers) can be too small if your interests and priorities differ. I'd say 16-20 is a good compromise between mobility and diversity.
Since the tour you described is ten days and you have two weeks, consider staying on in Venice after the tour ends. By then you'll speak fluent Italian, right? ;-) And there's so much to see and do there, especially mornings and evenings and away from the crowded central sights. A wonderful city to explore on foot, with the help of a vaporetto pass when your feet give out.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area
5697 posts
Have you considered trains in Northern Italy ? We spent May 2017 in Italy, only used a car in Tuscany -- flew into Venice for three days, saw Padua, Verona (day trip from Padua), Bologna, Ravenna (day trip from Bologna), Florence in the first 14 days all by train. And we are both 70+ travelers, who take lots of breaks.
Posted by
OP
oakville
185 posts
Not very open minded when it comes to starting rail travel. I know the trains are so much different in Europe though..
What am I asking...well subjective opinions on destinations in post if there are any. Aesthetics in Northern Italy versus Portugal, say. Beauty, landscapes, the people, your experiences. If you have been would you go back to any of these regions?