Best of Italy tour

I took it in 2022 before they changed the itinerary a bit.

Venice - yes, the bridges in Venice have steps not ramps so you have to carry your suitcase over.

Monterosso al Mare - I've stayed here 3 times and each guide has done it differently. Last time it was pouring rain and the hotel sent a small pick up truck to collect the luggage while we walked from the Monterosso train. The bus parks at the Levanto train station so you do have to get your bag on the train and off again in Monterosso. Going back it was pouring again and we walked with suitcases to the train station. Other times I've walked. The whole route is paved, not cobblestones so it's not bad.

Castelrotto - Some tours stay here some stay in other locations. Here, the hotel was in a pedestrian area so we had to walk a block, go up a flight of stairs and then on to the hotel.

Rome, the bus had to stop a few blocks away. Had to roll over the broken pavement and dog poo of a typical Rome sidewalk. And yes, I wiped the wheels down when I got to the hotel, lol.

Siena, Florence and the agritourismo the bus could get either in front or fairly close. Am I forgetting a stop?

I used a 2 wheeler Osprey Ozone as I was flying one leg on Air France and worried that I would not meet their dimension and weight restrictions. I did not have any problem with rolling mine but it was light enough that I can lift it up for a flight or 2 of stairs.

Thanks, Pam. The bag Im contemplating is an Osprey too — the Fairview 36. I’m also planning to bring the Fairview as my day bag.

It sounds like 80-90% of the time I can roll my bag. That’s very helpful as there’s less space in a convertible so I’d like to fill it up assuming it won’t need to be on my back most of the time.

Hello,

Take a look at the Osprey Daylite 40. The backpack straps are completely removable, and/or can be tucked into the outside compartment. We really like this bag. It's very similar to Pam's bag. Hopefully you have an REI nearby so you can check it out.

I hope this helps.

Hi Cherry, I use a Cotopaxi Allpa 35L bag, and I am not trying to talk you into my bag although I absolutely love it! The reason for this reply is that there can be the tendency to think a convertible is a great option - just add backpack straps, and it’s so versatile! Well, the important factor for anything going on your back is if the total weight is okay for you, and if it would be comfortable carrying it a distance; otherwise, it’s a hindrance. We took the RS 17-day Best of Italy tour back in 2006, and it’s a fantastic one!

For me that total weight packed is about 16 pounds. So, my Cotopaxi packed is 13.5 pounds - less after I eat my snacks. ; ). Set out your entire amount of clothes, extra shoes, the filled toiletry kit, iPads, etc. Then test-drive anything you’re considering on your back. If it’s too heavy, then skip the convertible option and just use your wheels as much as possible. Back in 2006, I used a 2-wheel carry on and did fine with this tour. (Buy something with sturdy wheels; some I see are so flimsy for cobblestones.)

I was on the tour with Pam. Hi Pam

One thing I would add is that in Venice we could leave bags on the bus and only take what we needed for our time in Venice. I had a Travelpro carryon suitcase which has two inline skate wheels and it worked really well at all our stops except Venice. There I packed what I needed for the two nights into my day pack sized backpack and left my suitcase on the bus. It is amazing how little stuff one really needs for two nights... Enjoy your trip,

Hi Cherry!
I took this tour last year. The itinerary was a little different (I think starting in Venice is so much better!). To help me remember, I'm going in the old order from 2024. My tour also stayed in Lecco instead of Varenna and Bolzano instead of Castelrotto. I travel with a carry-on sized rolling bag and a personal item backpack for reference. Keep in mind that RS hotels may not have elevators, so if you are not as comfortable carrying a rolling bag up flights of stairs, that might be a pro in favor of a backpack!

Lecco - bus pick-up across the street from the hotel, no issues with rolling bags (elevator in hotel)
We did visit Varenna on our free day. If your tour is staying there, I'm not sure how close the bus could get to the hotel and rolling bags might be tricky on uneven pavement/with crowds.

Bolzano - bus drop-off/pick-up across Piazza Walther, no issues with rolling bags but we definitely made a racket! (elevator in hotel)
We didn't visit Castelrotto, so I can't speak to what it would be like there.

Venice - our guide hired water taxis to pick us up at the bus depot, it was a couple "blocks" from the canal to the hotel but nothing too bad for a rolling bag (no elevator, I was on the 5th or 6th floor)

Florence - the bus had to park several blocks from the hotel, it was a walk and there was some uneven pavement, but it wasn't too much of an issue with a rolling bag (no elevator, several stairs up to hotel level then some stairs within to get to certain rooms)

Monterosso al Mare - our guide/the hotels sent vans to pick us up/drop us off where we had to leave the bus (we were split between 2 hotels, I was in the one not on the beach, there were stairs to get to the hotel from town but the hotel had an elevator, but it wasn't an issue with luggage)

Siena - bus drop-off/pick-up near the hotel, no issues (no elevator)

Orvieto - I don't think tours will be staying at the resort where my group stayed, but the resort was pretty spread out along a hill. Some were near the bus (parked at the top of the hill), but others had a much longer walk.

Rome - bus parked several blocks from the hotel, only a few issues with uneven pavement (no elevator)