Thoughts on RS tours taking a bus over the train system between cities.

With organized groups of 20 or more, the bus is always the most cost efficient means of moving around. Plus it takes everyone directly from hotel to hotel. The guide does not have to herd people from the major stations with the high speed trains on the local transit system to the hotel, which I would find daunting. It keeps everyone together and the guide does not have to worry about someone getting lost, forgetting to get off the train at the right station and missing a connection. They can also give out information while traveling, stopping at interesting points along the way. The bus can take you to places the trains don't go.

Trains are great for independent travel for small groups and individuals, but not necessarily for all situations.

I am curious what tour companies you found that use the trains for group travel? Are they really escorted tours? Most fully escorted tours use buses for the reasons given by Sam. The tours I found using trains are packages giving you hotels and train tickets, and a choice of activities in each city. You travel on your own between cities, and are met in each by a local guide who shows you the city. That type of travel is great if it is what you want, but it is not the same thing as a fully escorted tour. It is sort of halfway between a RS tour and fully independent travel.

Don't forget that when you travel by train, you are at the mercy of the train schedules. So the time you "save" on the train may be offset if the train only leaves at (for example) 10:00 a.m., when you could potentially be on the bus at 8:00 a.m. As others pointed out, there's also the extra time/effort of getting to and from train stations. Also, in Europe you never know when there might be a rail strike. There was a brief strike this July, when we were on our RS tour in the Cinque Terre, and we overheard non-tour members talking about the lost opportunities and logistical nightmares just this short strike engendered.

The bus also offers a lot more flexibility, if there is something special going on and your guide decides to stay later or arrive earlier at one of your destinations to take advantage of it. Even small adjustments can make a tour more memorable. When we were in Venice, our guide decided to change our departure time so that people who wanted to could experience the fish market before we left, etc.

Finally, I suspect you will be much more comfortable on the big, cushy RS bus than on a train.

I have not done Venice/Florence/Rome but have done the 21 BOE. We did bus between these cities and it was fine. The guide will use the bus time to talk about history, culture, food, language etc. They will also orient you to the schedule for the rest of the day and usually to assign your hotel rooms so you have your room number when you arrive at the hotel. On a 4 hour journey you will have a bathroom stop, likely at an AutoGrille which is always a cultural experience, lol! All in all, I enjoyed the bus!

The bus was able to get us fairly close to the hotels in Florence and Rome. In Florence we had to walk about 2 blocks, in Rome he was able to pull up right in front.

Thanks for all this info. It makes perfect sense!

Someone had asked which tour company uses the high speed train....it's Tauck. They use the entire front 1st class section of the train. We LOVE Tauck- we've traveled with them 3times, they are high-end & top notch...amazing hotels, food, guides, etc...there is a Tauck guide with you throughout the trip and then local guides for each city....they are fantastic! But, we've always wanted to try RS Tours, so we are taking the plunge!