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Private tours

Me and my wife are going to Italy in a week and I reserved a all day private tour of the amalfi coast. The guide I booked with was one that rick steves 2016 tour book recommended, but the price they gave me is 120$ more then the price for the same tour that rick's book quoted which was 160$ a day instead of 280$? I don't want to bring it up if it will cause us not to have a great day and perhaps a relationship for future visits?i know it's been one year but 120$ seems like a huge increase in price?

Posted by
1816 posts

If you already booked the tour and, in doing so agreed on the price, I would drop it and just concentrate on having a good time.

If you're still settling on the details, I don't think it would hurt to ask in a friendly way if there's any flexibility on the price, and you could mention the price quoted in Rick's book. Something like, "I was hoping we could do this for a little less, based on the price of $160 that Rick Steves mentions in his guidebook. Do you have any room to be flexible on the price? Either way, my wife and I are looking forward to our tour!"

Posted by
23419 posts

An increase of 120 does seem high. Are you sure you are comparing the same tour?

Posted by
23419 posts

An increase of 120 does seem high. Are you sure you are comparing the same tour?

Posted by
69 posts

I think it's the same tour, I know it's the same tour guide and it covers the same area,but I don't know if there is a good way to ask for them to reduce the price? I did agree to the price before I even looked at it, I'm more interested in having the time of our life to celebrate our 25 anniversary

Posted by
15976 posts

There could be any number of reasons why the price of a tour has increased plus you're not sure it's the same one you read about in the book. I'd just go with what you've booked and of the mindset that you'll have a great day. :O)

Without the details of the exactly which tour that you paid for versus what Rick described, there's no way to tell if you've overpaid or not. I certainly wouldn't bring it up with the company you booked as it's their company and tours? They're allowed to set whatever price they deem worth the value.

Posted by
11613 posts

Could be that the tour you booked includes things that the RS recommended tour doesn't. If your tour company has to pay other vendors, perhaps those prices have increased.

The only thing I would try, if you haven't already mentioned it, is to ask if there is a discount for the RS referral?

Posted by
6361 posts

Did you ask for the Rick Steves discount when you booked? I know that often makes a difference in hotel prices, even if the listing in the RS book doesn't mention a discount. It doesn't hurt to ask.