Pre and Post MyWay tour Itinerary questions

Posted by wcdowd54 on 06/29/23 01:07 PM

Hi, my wife and I are taking the 5/5/2024 through 5/17/2024 My Way Italy tour. This is our first trip to Italy (we're also spending time in England).

We're leaving Boston on Friday, May 3 and spending Saturday May 4 in London to get over jet lag, etc. We're planning on flying from London to Venice the morning of May 5. The tour begins at 5PM later that day. Does this sound reasonable, or s/ we try and get to Venice Saturday? That would add a night to our trip.

After the tour concludes on Friday 5/17 AM, we're planning on adding two extra days / nights (5/17 and 5/18) in Rome. We're planning on flying to London on Sunday 5/19 and spending a week in London and the Cotswolds.

Thank you for any feedback!

Posted by LIZinPA 🧳

SE Pennsylvania

06/29/23 01:26 PM

2482 posts

I wouldn't want to be flying to Venice the morning of the tour. Chances are the flight will be on time, but if it isn't you'll be stressed.

You will be busy from 5pm on, and I like to settle into my room before joining the group.

Posted by lnbsig 🌍

North Carolina

06/29/23 01:59 PM

2475 posts

Spending just one day in London at the beginning of the trip sounds unsatisfying. Have you considered booking ‘open jaw’ into Venice and out of London? Venice is great for getting over jet lag, as you don’t have to contend with automobile traffic.

Posted by hiredman

San Diego, California, USA

06/29/23 03:54 PM

885 posts

Hello wcdowd54, and welcome to the boards,

Especially since you are going back to London I think I would opt to keep going to Venice on your initial trip or if the time into Venice is just too late stay in London and fly over on the afternoon/evening of the 4th and have all day in Venice before the tour.

We fly from the west coast and the temptation to stop in London is real, but one day seems like too short a time to make it worth it. Especially with two transfers to LHR (or LHR and LGW) it's only another 2:20 hours of flight time and VCE into Venice proper is probably faster than LHR into the city - even if some of that travel may include boats.

Keep in mind I think Venice is a magical place and I would always encourage you to spend more time there. If you haven't been I'd definitely work to investigate it as much as possible at as unhurried a schedule as you can.

Have a great trip!
=Tod

PS Are you BA frequent fliers BTW? Just curious.

Posted by Patty

Used to be Steilacoom, now it’s Las Vegas

06/29/23 08:53 PM

2218 posts

I would echo the advice to arrive on Saturday for 2 reasons. We took that tour last year (identical week) and arrived the Friday before the tour started. We still could have filled more time because the tour really only gives you 1 full day. Either you’re going to have to catch an early flight from London and then be tired the rest of the day, or by taking a more reasonable flight time you’ve taken most of that day.

The other reason is that there seem to be more and more issues with delayed and cancelled flights. As people resume traveling, flights are full and if something happens, options are limited. It doesn’t happen to everyone, every day, but it would be a shame to miss Venice and it would also be more complicated to catch up to the tour.

We loved this tour and there were several couples that were making their first trip.