Is a Rick Steves tour of Italy right for me and also a good value?

My take is - don't let the mere "thought" of planning a European trip stop you from actually attempting it. Planning a trip to Europe is not that different than planning a trip within the US. So just roll up your sleeves and actually try it. It only appears overwhelming because you've never done it before, but once you get over that initial psychological hurdle, it gets so much smoother. There are lots of resources out there, more than ever before, so you have a lot of help out there. Plus this forum can help you refine things once you have a basic framework. You get better at planning trips with repetition, so don't throw in the towel this soon. Either a do-it-yourself trip or a Rick Steves trip will turn out to be a wonderful learning experience - and you'll always miss out on something because even the most organized trips have to make tradeoffs in terms of what to see and skip. I only took one Rick Steves trip so my experience with them is very limited. They are definitely not the least expensive tours on the market, but they're a good fit for many people based on the "no grumps" philosophy, the quality of the guides, and the transparent pricing structure. I loved my one RS trip (to southwest Turkey), but I love my own planned trips even more because I own all the decisions and work that goes into them. I planned my own Italian trip in my 20s, so I know it's totally doable. Good luck!

Hi Kate and welcome to the RS forum!

Agnes has voiced the do-ability of a solo trip very well. Given your ages plus the VAST amount of support you're going to receive from the been there, done that crew here on the Italy forum, you absolutely CAN plan it all by yourself. I am not saying that there is a THING wrong with the organized tours as many folks in the community here have taken and loved them! It's more a matter of the right fit for YOUR personal travel style, comfort level, interests and budget, and how much time and effort you're willing to put into a plan.

The good news is that Italy is one of the easiest countries, IMHO, for the beginner on a maiden voyage. The major cities and other tourist hubs, especially, are well used to hosting visitors from all over the world so language isn't the barrier you might be thinking it will be. Public transit is an efficient and economical way to get around, and it's not difficult once you've done some reading-up and asked some questions.

My husband and I (we're in our early 60's) choose to go on our own as we prefer the "slow travel" approach: longer stays in fewer places so we can settle in and get to know them better than we would over just a couple of days. That right there is probably the biggest reason we don't take tours as they don't spend enough time in the places which interest us. Longer stays provide us more flexibility to work around things like museum-closure days, weather and whatnot, and/or take some day trips if the spirit moves us. We can spend as long or as short a time as we wish at the attractions of our choice and have plenty of free time just to explore at will. Intimate and authentic experiences? We haven't felt as if we've come up short at all in those departments by going it alone.

We can also stay longer for the same amount of $$ as one of the better tours, or do it less expensively over same amount of time as the length of a tour.

What a tour can do is allow you to sample a selection of locations so that you can come back for longer stays at those which you found to your liking. Some folks like to get a small taste before committing to a big meal! :O)

Anyway, the trade-off, of course, is in the time it takes to do the research but even that has become so much easier than it used to be in the days before the internet. Booking a hotel in Italy is no more difficult than booking one in the U.S. The independent travelers amongst us all have our favorite methods but booking.com is mine as I can do it from my laptop on the kitchen table at any hour of the day - in English.

So there's no right or wrong answer: it's down to what works best for YOU. Whatever you decide, you've come to a great place for lots of friendly and very useful advice so ask away!

My hubby and I traveled a lot in Asia when we were in our 20's. He was in the Air Force and we were stationed in Okinawa. That was before the internet but I managed to plan the trips and have a great time.

So we come back to the states and started traveling to Europe. We are now late 60's. The first 3 trips I planned and we rented cars. They went well. A friend talked us into a RS tour (Village Italy) and we are hooked. 7 RS tours later and we find it worth the money and time. One of the things that we really enjoy are the local guides in each town. There is enough down time for us so we can go off on our own or spend time with another couple or 2. We have since hosted 2 couples in our home and traveled overseas with them again. We always go in at least 2 days early to get over jet lag and relax. We also always stay an extra few days, sometimes in a different town or country.

The RS tours are also learning experiences. The guide teaches you how to use the metro, bus and train.
how to buy tickets and plan different stops. So if you are overwhelmed with the thought of planning,
a RS tour may help you to then feel more confident to plan your next tour on your own.

Whatever you decide, Have a Great Time!
Mimi

Kate,
I have traveled on vacation to Europe on 6 occasions. My last trip was a Rick Steve’s 17 Day Best of Italy Tour. This was my first tour and I must say I had the most fun and learned more than I had on any of my previous trips. Italy is a challenging country to travel on your own unless you have the patience to plan your trip and are willing to accept the challenges when things do not go as planned. If you want to experience Italy, there are places where you will want a car and places where a car is a big liability. I remember my first trip to Italy many years ago. In that trip I traveled by train. Sometimes the train does not go to areas that you want and see and often the train schedule does not fit to your plans. With the tour, our time was maximized. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and I learned so much that I would have known from just reading a book. There are other countries in Europe that I think you could easily do on your own, but if you have limited time and want to see more of Italy, I think a tour will serve you well. You won’t have to worry about getting hotels or your transportation. It was great to be able to just walk into the sites without waiting in line or trying to get a reservation.

I put together two 10 minute videos of our 17 Day Best of Italy Tour on YouTube. If you watch the videos, you will see all the places we visited. I think it would be nearly impossible to do this on your own in the time frame that we did it.

https://youtu.be/c5mdy0OzRC4

https://youtu.be/MZia6oOs8iA

Every year millions of tourists manage to find their way in Italy, so why wouldn't you? And there isn't very much planning involved as long as you don't fall victim of the »to see as much as possible« idea. Get yourself a decent guide book and find out what really interests you. Find your way at the website of the Italian railways (and remember to use the Italian place names). Use the already mentioned Booking.com for choosing possible accommodation. You'll find that planning isn't only easy, but a pleasure.

Where in Italy, how many days are u thinking and what’s your daily budget?
All these factor in on whether to tour or not.
Tours can be pricey. If that is not an issue then u have your answer.
Anyway perhaps u can answer to the ? So we can help.

If you haven't read it already, here is a thread from a few days ago regarding the value of a RS tour.

Thank you so much everyone. As far as budget, I think I would like to stay within the range of 500-600 a day for both of us including everything (lodging, meals, sights, shopping, transportation etc.). Not sure if that is realistic. I would like to do about 10 days give or take a couple.

I appreciate the encouragement regarding planning the trip myself. I have a friend who travels extensively and I'm sure he would be happy to help me arrange an itinerary, and there are many internet resources including the fine people on these boards! I'll definitely be considering it.

Kate,
I looked up the Rick Steves The Best of Venice, Florence & Rome in 10 days for 2018 and can tell you the price ranges from $2,595 - $3,595 depending what time of year you go. The lower end will get you close to the $500 per day limit for the two of you. I know you can travel independently in Europe - I certainly have and will continue to do so - but to take a highlights tour like this will give you a foundation for future trips to Italy. The excellent guides not only share a wealth of history and culture with you but they also teach you how to navigate each destination on your own. The Rick Steves philosophy is geared to make you an informed independent traveler. I have taken a few RS tours and also continue to travel on my own having gained confidence after a guided tour.

A couple of important pieces of information are missing from your posts; namely, your dates and whether the figure of $500 - $600/day includes airfare from the U.S. As to the latter, see my posting on low air fares. We have typically spent $10,000 for 3.5 - 4 weeks in Italy, including flights, so your budget seems quite adequate.
Now on the big question . . . I have taken one tour (Turkey) and am slated for another (Vietnam), neither with RS. Based on our experience with Turkey, I would say, as with much of life, there are upsides and downsides with tours. The minuses are that they are much more expensive than independent travel and that you relinquish the ability to follow your own interests. The plusses are that you move around efficiently - - no time wasted getting lost - - and that good guides help you to get more from each stop than you would on your own. You can mitigate this last by taking a guided day tour or two. RS lists some recommended guides, and there is a section on this site just for that issue.
With just 10 days, my first recommendation is that you drastically limit the number of places to visit, the big 3, Rome, Florence, and Venice are the obvious for 1st-timers. Unless there are compelling reasons to the contrary, buy open-jaw tickets; i.e., into one city and home from another.
If you decide on independence, keep coming back with questions, and you’ll get plenty of help.

Rick Steves The Best of Venice, Florence & Rome in 10 days for 2018
and can tell you the price ranges from $2,595 - $3,595 depending what
time of year you go. The lower end will get you close to the $500 per
day limit for the two of you.

Might be worth mention that above prices don't included airfare to Europe, though. It's unclear if the $5,000 - $6,000 ceiling needs to include that? Flights can be a pretty significant chunk.

With the amount of time you're looking at, you definitely do not want more than 3 locations and will want to fly open jaw. As well, count your time realistically: arrival days are always a partial and can be a jet-lagged haze. Departure days plus overnight flight days don't count. You want to look only at how many days you will have ON THE GROUND in Italy when mapping a plan.

Venice/Florence/Rome is the classic first-timer's trip as they're three very different cities, and transport between them is frequent and direct.

Independent travel has never been easier, especially since there are so many hotel accommodations online. I usually use Booking.com.
For Italy, you can purchase train tickets from city to city (Trenitalia.com) at a big discount online up to 120 days early.

And arrange to fly into/out of Rome and Venice open jaw (multistop). Many large cities have budget European air carriers lowering the cost of airfare.
Then your trip is essentia!ly planned.

A word in favor of the RS tours. There are three things you get with the tour that are not directly measurable in dollars: freedom from stress of logistics; the experience-enhancing professional local tour guides; and the encouragement and support of other travelers. It's not forced socialization. I found I got much more out of the time we had, than if we had done it independently (which I have also done successfully). Also learned more and experienced more than we would have, on our own.

I was remiss in not clarifying whether my budget included airfare and what time of year I'm looking to travel. I am not including airfare, and I am able/willing to travel in the off-season to get a better deal. I've been to Ireland in February and practically every day was freezing and rainy, and I still had a blast, so I think off-season Italy would be fine for me! LOL

I have noticed that some of the reviews state that the dinners included in their RS tours often included wine. Is this usual/true across the board for RS tours? I'm a devoted wine drinker. Was also wondering if anyone who has been on the tour was able to make it from the included breakfast to dinner with only a snack in-between.

Just to add to above about counting days? The RS 10-day Venice/Florence/Rome tour is good example. That tour doesn't really start until 4:00 on day 1, and is over after breakfast on day 10. Realistically, it's an 8-day/9 night tour with a fraction of the first day's evening for a walking tour.

You would also want to arrive the day before the tour - healthy insurance against any travel snags - and that evening's hotel would be a separate, additional cost as are transfers to/from the airports on both ends of the trip. Also add in the cost of 6 or so lunches (if you eat lunch; we don't) , 4-5 dinners plus any entry fees for any sightseeing you decide to do on your free time.

Hi Kate, and if you don’t mind, what’s that about the squirrel? Maybe you’re storing your acorns for future travel. I have been traveling the world for much of my life, solo, as part of a couple, and in a group; for business and pleasure; independently and with tours. All can be great! I definitely think that RS Tours make fantastic use of your time. The excellent quality of the guides; traveling in a roomy and comfortable bus, with 50 seats for about 25 passengers, allows you to go places and make stops, sometimes ‘off the beaten track’, where you could not viably or economically reach on your own; and the fact that the RS company and guides take care of almost all the logistical planning of transport, hotels, admission to sites, etc. Certainly you can plan and make a similar trip on your own, probably for less money, but I think you could not duplicate the quality, the richness of the overall itinerary, or the less time investment and frustration in the planning. RS has various itineraries in Italy, focusing on big famous cities, smaller towns, a mix of those, and different regions, for different number of days, so see which fits your fancy. There are 2 ways to compromise between independent travel and a RS Tour. One is to take a shortish tour and add a few days onto the beginning and/or end, either more time in a place where you are beginning or ending, or by adding on one or more new locations. (In any case, you should arrive at least one or two days early, to get over jet-lag and to allow for any travel delays). The other ‘compromise’ is the RS “My Way Italy” Tour, which was my own first RS Tour back in 2013 (I have taken other RS Tours every year since, and those were NOT “My Way” Tours. The My Way tours are quite a bit less expensive, but they basically cover in-country transportaton and hotels with breakfast, and you have a knowledgeable tour manager along to offer individual guidance and handle logistics, but they do not serve as a guide. In each location you need to make plans and any payments for what you want to see, handle and pay for all your meals beyond breakfast, and do your own research on history, culture, etc. The itinerary for My Way Italy is very good and quite diverse, including “the big three” famous cities, and smaller places like Assisi, Cinque Terre, and Varenna on Lake Como. Italy is great, and any way you go, i’m sure you will enjoy and want to return. I highly recommend spring or fall, avoiding the hot and very crowded summer months if you can.
PS: RS Tour meals sometimes, but rarely, include wine. But a glass or two of wine, or a bottle, is usually very cheap in Italy, unless you choose an expensive bottle. Many RS tours also include a stop at a nice winery, with wine tasting, and a meal or appetizers. Often these stops, and interactions with winemakers and farmers, are a high point of the tours for many people.

Hi, Kate:

Another vote for trying RS. We were skeptical when we took our first RS tour, for many of the same reasons you noted: we're not "tour group people," we didn't want to be forced to socialize with a bunch of strangers, etc.

Well. We took our first RS tour in 2009, and are signed up for our twelfth in 2018. The groups are a manageable size, nobody forces you to interact with anybody if you don't want to - but you will probably want to. We've met some wonderful people on these tours, and very few grumps.

Oh, and about the wine? That varies with the tours, but we just took the Village Italy tour this summer, and wine was included! The tour booklet you will get should you sign up says alcoholic beverages are not included, but I think they were included on four of our tours.

I'm not going to repeat what the other folks have already told you; no need. But we are converts. I will say that when we take a tour, we also add in extra time before and after for traveling on our own. This last year we arrived 3 days before the tour began, and stayed in Italy another week after it ended. The combination works well for us.

Whatever you choose, go ahead and get started! Happy Travels.

When we did the Italy tour my wife and I usually had a panini or such for lunch. Often we would share one, depending on how large it was.

Not sure what a 'snack' is to you, but it is certainly possible to avoid having a $30+ lunch and not end up starved.

Many of the hotels had a breakfast that included meats and cheeses in addition to yogurt breads and cereals and fruits. Started the days well fueled and a light lunch was all that was needed.

Going on our 3rd RS tour next Spring. Is it cheap? No. Is it a good value? Yes

Never had the feeling of being 'over scheduled'. If you read the description/itinerary for the tours you will see that most days you will have half the day to do as you choose.

The benefit of an RS tour is that for most of the 'big' attractions you have skip the line tickets: the bus drops you at/near your hotel ( you do not have the added task of getting to/from hotel and train or bus stations-- you can plan your own trip but there is some time lost in transit ) You have a guide for all the major attractions/venues, so you do not have to hire one separately as you go.
RS tours do not lock you into planned to the minute daily 'action plan'

A tour, RS or any other, may not be the cheapest way to do a trip, but I look at it like do I change my car oil at home in the driveway, or do I pay to have it done at a service facility? Some people mow their own lawn, other hire someone to do it. You have to decide what is the better use of your time/money.

10 days? Limit yourself to Venice and Florence, and keep Rome (and the rest of Italy) on your list for a next time. From Venice you can make excellent (and easy) day trips to Padova and/or Vicenza. Florence is a good base for Siena, Lucca and Pisa.
A few days more? Have Bologna as a stop in between. A food city, and an excellent base for a trip to Ferrara and/or Modena.

Regarding wine. On our three tours, it was not included per se. That would be unfair to the non-drinkers. What we encountered was that the hotels or restaurants would often comp everyone a free drink as part of their welcome to a RS tour group. On one of the tours, the tour leader offered to arrange for optional wine service at our meals, collecting an additional voluntary fee from those who wanted it. As he was very knowledgable about the local wines (and the restaurants), this worked out very well for the group. But certainly not part of what we were paying for as part of the tour. As the tour goes on, you might find that some of the group starting to host after hours gatherings at the hotel to taste wine and cheese, etc. Nothing forced.

It sounds like you and your husband could have a great time in Italy traveling independently. My husband and I are also art and history nerds and like to take as much time as WE want at the sights that appeal to US. The major cities of Italy are very easy to navigate on your own. In addition, day trips to smaller towns, and wine regions, are easy to arrange.

I have never seen a tour group in Europe and thought - "Boy, would I love to be one of them". I usually think that they are being herded around like cattle. I know RS groups "aren't like that", but 24-28 people is still a lot of people to corral.

With your budget, you could pick your own hotels, eat where and when you like, and still have money for small-group day tours.

My first RS tour was Heart of Italy which was wonderful! I loved the variety - Rome (big city), Volterra (very cool hill town), Cinque Terre (the 5 towns are a UNESCO world heritage site and really interesting) and Florence (smaller than Rome but filled with art and history) and it's just 10 days. You'd definitely want to add time ahead in Rome to account for any travel issues and to allow yourself time to recover from jet lag before you hit the ground with the tour.

I was overwhelmed by sights/sounds/chaos in Rome, then we headed to Volterra which was much more intimate and doable hill town. Wow! Then on to CT which was a free day and then finished up in Florence. Just a perfect combo. On that tour (mid-May) we had a young group. Three kids in their 20's (2 were my nephews), another couple in their 30's and then it notched up to 60's. The 20-something's seemed to have a great time with everyone, and yes, they went out bar hopping one night in Florence with some of the others.

I'd tell you I'm not a tour person .... but I've done 8 RS tours, hahaha!! I travel solo on the tours and sometimes I'll hang out with others on the tour and sometimes I'll go off on my own during the free time. I love the learning experience from the RS tours and taking them has given me the confidence to travel on my own. Of course I love the tours so I won't stop taking them but I hook extra time on to the beginning and end.

Hi Kate. I am also going to chime in for the RS tours. I am taking my 9th tour thisChristmas to Paris. My very first your was to Italy before the best of your was split and it included Naples and Sorrento. On these tours the value for your dollar is exceptional. The guide in Rome is totally amazing. I find I learn much more than if I was on my own with a guide book. A lot of costs are included in the tour price that might cost extra in other tours.

Also I really like having the logistics taken care of. There are days where you can get on the bus and read, sleep or just look at the scenery without having to worry about getting offa train and finding your way to your hotel.

But if you like some planning take the my way your. The logistics are taken care of and the rest is up to you.

But an RS tour, in my opinion is the way to go.

Hi Kate,

If you were able to take The Best of Italy RS tour, I would say hands-down to take the tour! There's so many "wow" factors packed into that trip, and the bus takes you to some locations that aren't as handy as taking a train. That trip was our springboard to traveling by ourselves, and we've returned to several pieces of that trip since. Italy is wonderful! Also, the RS Village tour receives high marks.

If you are just planning to cover the big 3 - Venice, Florence, Rome, in my opinion you could see them by yourselves after thoroughly reading the RS book to understand the handy train travel & highlights at each location, how to save time to reduce standing in line time, etc. I say this because you mentioned that you love planning, so you're willing to invest time to fully prepare. I would also include one smaller town, so you can experience the ambiance of the lovely smaller towns, too.

We have been to Italy independently three times, and have also taken four RS tours (Paris, Barcelona-Madrid, Sicily and Villages of South England). Yes, you can always go on your own for less money, but it is hard to put a price tag on the richness of the RS tour experience. When you don't have to worry about logistics, you can be free to immerse yourself in the travel experience. It is great fun to be around a like-minded travelers, but there is also plenty of time apart from the group. We enjoy adding some independent travel days before and after the tour.

For somebody with limited time, it probably makes sense to go for the RS tour.

Kate,

Well, you are certainly getting plenty of advice from both camps with a number of them not having experienced both independent travel in Italy AND a RS tour. We have twice toured in Italy on our own and later took 2 RS tours in Italy - Village Italy and South of Italy. So, here is our 2 cents worth.

You can do Italy on your own. If you are a demon planner and organizer it will go well. Reservations for many key sights, especially top museums, must be made well in advance to get the dates and times you want. Same for hotels. Hotel locations merit special attention as getting to and from eats up time. The best locations and values tend to fill up fast. Italy being Italy trains will be late or on strike, buses may not arrive or may be full of locals. Note that standing in line is a British and American custom - in Italy it is every man for himself, especially if the bus looks to be full. Once, in Siena, we ended up in the back of the bus on top of the smelly, noisy engine with the companionship of a British couple who also waited patiently to board while the locals pushed in front of us. These quirks argue for taking a tour for your first experience in Italy so that you can become accustomed to these quirks. But if you are a good planner and tolerant of occasional but inevitable mixups, it can be done and done well.

The RS tours are a better experience especially for first timers for major two reasons:
1. Logistics - trains, busses and local directions are all unreliable in Italy. Personally, it stresses me out and lessens my enjoyment. It is very pleasant to let your guide sort out the problems.
2. Local Experiences - this is probably the best feature of RS tours. His tours got us to places and experiences we could not achieve on our own. Things like dinners in a private home, a truffle hunt that actually found truffles (and then included them in our dinner), stays in villages that cannot be reached even by local bus and the best group tour guides in the area.

Other issues to consider - RS started his tour business with Italy. He has, and uses, connections with the absolutely best local guides and hotels. Several local guides told me they normally did only small groups of 8 or less but did RS tours because of their long relationship (and good pay). Reading reviews on trip advisor and emailing back and forth will rarely get you access to these top quality guides.

As noted in other comments, there is adequate free time at most stops and in many cases, after the morning tour you are left with a local museum pass and a wealth of free advise and suggestions. Also, the no grumps policy seems to work and creates a pleasant informal group of travel companions.

So, my recommendation: take a RS tour for your first experience and then decide if you want to go on your own in a later trip.

Good luck and enjoy your travels, Robbie

I think I would like to stay within the range of 500-600 a day for both of us including everything (lodging, meals, sights, shopping, transportation etc.).

I'd say the RS tour is out of your price range. The tours vary in price depending on date, but lets use $3,000 apiece as the price. Like every tour company, RS quotes tours using "tour math". The "10 day tour" really is 8 full days plus dinner and a place to sleep on the nite before the 1st full tour day. Even if we use 9 days that's more than $650 per day and you haven't yet counted the 5 nites you eat dinner on your own as well as all lunches. Plus other expenses that just seem to come up.

But here's where it gets tricky. You can't do in those 9 days what the tour does. They have reservations for museum and other attractions while you stand in line. Your guide leads you from the hotel to many of the locations or on guided touring around town so you don't waste time fumbling with maps or lost in some piazza. The experience of having local guides, the resource of your trip guide, etc. makes a tour rewarding. So you can't really compare dollars and think your doing an apples-to-apples comparison.

Given that money does sound like a constraint I'd recommend doing this on your own. These 3 cities are easily reachable by train. Even if you splurge and take a taxi from the train station each time to the hotel, you're still miles ahead. You can replace some/much of what the RS tour offers by planning. You have months and months to work out an itinerary, read guide books (and not just Ricks), watch videos by RS and Samantha Brown and Rudy Maxa and a host of others. You can take public guided tours visiting each of these cities, and maybe even splurge for a private guided tour once or twice. And end up saving thousands over the RS price. 9 nights with generous estimates for daily costs of $200 for hotel, $150 for dinner, $30 for lunch is $3400. Add in $500 in train (and with advance purchase its way less than this) and you're still under $4,000. Pick hotels a little more carefully, watch dinner expenses, and at the same cost this can become a 2-week trip with a stop in a hilltown reachable from the train station at the base such as Perugia or a vacation from your vacation in the RS favorite of Cinque Terre.

Of course you have to know yourself. Trains can be late, stations can be confusing, the museum might be on strike the day you want to visit, the weather can be inclement. If you're flexible and can roll with the punches in a country where you don't speak the language, you can make it work. Going on a tour buys you a smoother time.

I have never taken a Rick Steves tour(partly due to money) but would not consider a My Way tour because you only get transportation and lodging. To me, what you're paying for on his tours are excellent guides from whom you would learn so much.

If you decide to go on your own, you may want to know that you can take a very long day tour to Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast from Rome and in my opinion, that's much easier than going there on your own when your time is limited. It is also possible to do a day bus trip from Florence to Siena.

If you go on your own, it's worth the money to stay in lodging near the sites you want to see. On our last(#3) trip to Italy, we stayed at our favorite splurge hotel, the Alimandi(down some steps from the Vatican Museums) for two nights then moved to a much cheaper convent near the Colosseum. Every trip, we stay in Florence longer than on the previous trip-it's a great walking city and so many wonderful art museums.

You definitely can do an Italy tour on your own. My wife and I (both in our 70s) did a 30 day trip of Italy on our own without any major problems (a missed train and got on a wrong train). It was a trip of a life time. We used both public transportation and car rentals. The one item, mentioned above several time, advanced planning is absolutely necessary. Even starting 5 months in advance, I found some B&Bs/hotels we wanted to stay in were already booked. As a budget guide, the average cost of the B&Bs/hotels we stayed in was 100 Euros per night for the 30 day trip and my wife did not have a single complaint. Yes, we found a delightful B&B in Venice that cost only 100 Euros per night and it was only a few blocks (canals) from San Marco. A little research with RS Books, this forum (great advice) TripAdvisor and Booking.com works wonders.

Now that said we are planning on taking our first RS tour this spring. Why? The rental car companies say I am too old.

We're typically independent travelers and sometimes beyond Europe. I like to plan trips so gathering and analyzing information and making decisions is just part of the whole package and not daunting at all. We have taken a number of Rick's tours when we see the preferred itinerary is challenging on our own because of transportation considerations or we see the value with a guide. For example, we took a Rick's tour of Bulgaria...we were very pleased and thought value was received for money spent. We've enjoyed meeting other forks on those tours as well. There is no right or wrong answer, but in my opinion there is a bias in the sense that most active posters are well-traveled folks and generally do so independently.

Answers to your questions: Yes & Yes

The Rick Steves tours are wonderful and an experience like no other, everyone should try at least one!

Hi there is a tour video showing what a RS tour is like. I believe it is BOE14 but would give you an idea what it is like . On all five of our RS tours there were meals that at least some of our wine was covered not sure if RS or the restaurant covered it.

We have added days before & after for our tours that we planned on our own. For us at least between hotel, food , & sight seeing it was almost a wash.

Our number one reason is the guides local and tour guide. We like history & art & museums & learned much more than we could on our own but that is just us.
How fun your first trip to Italy! Enjoy.

Italy being Italy trains will be late or on strike, buses may not
arrive or may be full of locals. Note that standing in line is a
British and American custom - in Italy it is every man for himself,
especially if the bus looks to be full.

I guess everyone's experience is different but we've never had our trains be late enough to make a difference, and only experienced one strike. Strikes are not as common as they might appear as many are resolved before they ever happen. The buses we've taken (largely to/from the airports) have all been fine and no one pushed and shoved to get onto them. Same for the metros in Rome. We certainly didn't experience an "every man for himself" mentality, and transport isn't nearly as unreliable as claimed. The one exception I'd agree with would be the hoho buses in Rome but you don't need those anyway.

You also do not need to rent a car unless you plan to spend concentrated time in the countryside. I don't know as I'd recommend car rental for a first-timer whom has never been abroad, and you definitely do not want to drive into or around the cities.

Hi Kate!
It sounds like you are where I was several years ago. I had been to Europe as a teen with my parents but knew absolutely nothing about planning our own trip. I signed us up for the My Way Europe Tour for September 2015, got on this forum and started asking questions. Everyone here made me feel welcome, answered my questions without making me feel like a fool, and gave me valuable advice - from train stations & schedules, packing, money - you name it. Hubs and I have done two RS tours now - we just got back from the My Way Alpine Tour. Both tours were wonderful, and I'm sure the My Way Italy tour would be just as fabulous! We love the My Way concept of touring - the bus and hotels are pre-arranged for you, but you are responsible for your own plans each day. Both of our guides were very knowledgable and personable and knew a great deal about the destinations we were visiting. They gave us ideas each day regarding what we might like to see, what to avoid for our own safety, and a brief introduction to the language and local customs. We had several tour mates on our Alpine tour that got bad colds - bad enough to warrant a visit to a physician and treatment with antibiotics - and it was very comforting to know that we had someone to turn to in such a circumstance. As for our travel group, both times we were blessed with terrific travel companions - some very outgoing, some more reserved, but all very kind and interested in having the best travel experience possible. Many times we went our own way, but we also socialized quite a bit with the group - that is at the heart of the My Way tour concept. It works really well for us - it may work for you too! Best of luck to you in your planning. Liz

Planning indepent travel is easy! Print out blank calendar pages for the time you want to travel. Fill them in as you plan. Use TripIt! Fabulous app. Pick where you want to travel. Mix cities and countryside, rotating them. We especially love Italy, Portugal and Spain, UK and Netherlands. Been to Germany three times but no desire to return, same for Eastern Europe., so choose a country, then regions. Use booking.com to book hotels.
Europe is so easy to book. Research activities,
cultural sites, restaurants. Rent extended time in one place. Do day trips. Go for it!
We have now graduated to Asia but return to Europe yearly too. .

I also concur with Kathy. We've taken 3 independent trips in the last 8 years in Italy after our RS Italy trip 11 years ago. We traveled by train all over and never had a late train.

Re: trains and buses. Those who have had good luck - Congratulations!

We have taken Trentitalia trains 5 times with 2 departing substantially late and 3 arriving late. Two trips required a change of trains and the first one was late but fortunately the second train was also late departing. Not a huge deal but causing anxiety when waiting in the terminal for your train to post on the board and it is already 15 minutes after scheduled departure and you don't have a platform. Or when you know you are about to miss the connection if the other train is on time.

Local trains are another thing entirely. Went from Verona to Padua (Pavlova) on a Sunday afternoon sitting on the floor. Met some interesting people though.

Airport buses are not the same as local buses. They are mostly tourists. Local buses, say from Florence to Siena, or Pisa to Lucca are another thing entirely. It is a cultural thing. Accept it and get used to it.

I am not saying don't take the train or the bus - just be aware and be flexible.

Robbie

So many great comments but let me add my personal perspective from the vantage point of the last day of the RS Venice-Florence-Rome tour. The people I am traveling with are great. Our guide, Cecelia is a wealth of information and added so much to the tour that I’m sure I would have missed otherwise.

This is my second trip to Italy and my friend and I chose a RS tour for the ease and value this time. While the tour delivered on both these things and many more, I just don’t see myself ever taking an organized tour again.

Despite the advantages, there were two big drawbacks for me. The first was the inability to control my own schedule. I didn’t realize how much it really mattered to me until now. It was not at all relaxing to rush through the cities the way we did. We saw so much but the pace felt very rushed. I realize that I could have opted out of anything and just sat in a cafe with a cup of coffee but even the logistics of doing that were complicated. I learned that, just like while traveling for work, I prefer to control my schedule if I can. I realize that RS is trying to provide value in doing this but it really didn’t provide me what I wanted.

The second drawback was the accommodations. These are centrally located hotels which is convenient. The staff were always very welcoming. However sleeping in a tiny twin bed has been torture. I paid more for a private room. Believe them when they tell you it doesn’t guarantee a bigger or better room although I did get an upgrade in one city, to be fair. It only guarantees that you won’t have a roommate. I’m miserable and looking forward to my own bed after so much bad sleep.

Truly I have some great experiences to take home with me tomorrow. I think RS probably does tours better than anyone and if the drawbacks don’t bother you, I’m sure you will enjoy yourself.

You have been given a lot of great information about travel to Italy but I just thought that I'd add my thoughts. I have traveled to Europe including Italy several times and have done it in different ways. The first trip was on our own and it was wonderful. We saw and did a lot and it really whetted our appetite for more European travel. The only snafu we encountered on that trip was a 5 hour delay due to an issue with a train from Siena to Venice. But we felt that it was just one of the things that can happen when traveling. At that time we felt that taking a RS tour was more than we wanted to spend even though we had dreamed of taking one of his tours for years. After our first trip we decided to to take the plunge and signed up for a Best of South Italy tour. It is an absolutely fantastic tour. We saw more, learned more, met wonderful traveling companions, and did not have any wasted time like the train from Siena to Venice. I can't say that that first trip was less rewarding because it wasn't. I do enjoy the planning phase of travel almost as much as the travel itself, but eliminating much of the possible time wasters and having the exceptional guides to take us to places such as a water buffalo farm for a tour followed by a private meal that featured the fresh mozzarella they produce sure added to our enjoyment! We did tack on time before and after that took care of that desire to plan. On our third RS tour we decided to try a My Tour and found that to be the best of both worlds. We planned our activities without the stress of finding well located hotels and the bus was always on time. I agree with others that say there is no correct way to travel. We all have to find what works for us, and each trip is different and may work better with another format than another trip, but we do feel that we have truly gotten our men's worth from each of our RS tours, and wouldn't hesitate to take another.

Hello Kate...Having read your interests & circumstances, I think a Rick Steves tour would be an excellent match for you & your husband. My husband & I did seven Rick Steves tours (including Italy) & appreciated the friendly people (mostly easy going, well-educated & interesting), meals (excellent quality, but not touristy), accommodations (mostly family owned, smaller hotels, some of which were excellent, a few would not be my first choice, but were acceptable & part of the local ambiance), excellent bus drivers (& spotless, modern buses), outstanding guides & relatively small group size. Rick Steves hires guides he knows & who are like minded. His guides are required to provide a lot of historical & cultural information. As an art & history nerd, you will be pleased. I was very hesitant to do a group tour, for the same reasons you are. But, my concerns were soon dispelled. The Rick Steves philosophy of tours without "grumps" is real. Don't be alarmed about being over scheduled. Of course, many activities are planned. But, you will have free time. Most of our tours also included a built in "vacation from a vacation", one day without any structured activities. The Rick Steves tours we did were Best of Europe in 21 Days (there is also a two week version), which included several places in Italy; Southern Italy & Sicily (which has since been divided into two separate tours); Southern France (started in Paris & ended in Nice); Scandinavia (included an overnight ferry ride); Spain & Portugal (included a high speed train ride from Barcelona to Madrid, I think this tour has since been divided into a separate tours for Spain & Portugal); A tour of five cities (Vienna, Berlin, Dresden, Cesky-Kremlov, Prague); & a tour of three cities (Helsinki, Tallin & St. Petersburg...This one included a ferry ride from Tallin to Helsinki & a train ride from Helsinki to St. Petersburg). We loved all the tours. We usually arrive in Europe in advance & often stay on our own after the tour has ended. A typical tour begins with a group meeting, some kind of an orientation walk with the guide (sometimes including an orientation to public transportation) & a group dinner (with a menu/restaurant representative of the region). Although we have since moved on from Rick Steves, we considered his tours a wonderful introduction to our European travels. We are now comfortable exploring Europe on our own (but still use his books) & have moved on to extensive world travel (for months at a time). However, I highly recommend that you give Rick Steves tours a try. The price is appropriate & a good value for what you are getting. Good luck & have fun!

*My main concern would be not taking full advantage of the time spent there and missing some great experiences.

In that case a Rick Steve's tour is for you. I've seen it stated many times that traveling independently is less expensive. Maybe. You can stay at less expensive hotels, eat less often or at inexpensive places. But, it would be difficult for even an experienced traveler to duplicate all the sights and experiences that make up a RS tour. We often combine a tour with some independent travel that is much slower paced. Having done 7 RS tours I spend my winters looking forward to the next one.

Rick Steves tours take the pressure off all the organising especially for your first trip to Italy such as hotels transport sightseeing. What do you want from your trip do you want to see sights in various places or would you like to base yourself in one area?

I've traveled independently most of my life but have also taken 2 Rick Steves tours, Florence and Istanbul.

Enjoyed both immensely.

Trust me there is something to be said to be the first people through the doors to see David unencumbered by the masses. Our guide had arranged for a art historian to be with us. Turning the corner and seeing David at the end of the hallway took my breath away. To have someone there describing the work made the privilege even more special.

I think deciding to travel independently or with a tour depends on your willingness to research. I did Rome solo and throughly enjoyed myself but there were moments when I knew I was missing out because I had no one there to provide a historical background. The same with Venice.

It's a fabulous country to explore. No matter how you decide to experience it, enjoy.

In the past 12 years, my husband and I have traveled to Europe eight times. Five trips were done independently, two were Rick Steves tours, and one was a tour with another tour company. I absolutely love travel planning and all the independent trips were fabulous experiences, some done quite economically, but I don't hesitate in the slightest in assuring you that all the most special memories are from the two Rick Steves tours and we can't wait to take a third some day! They are a little pricey for us so we have to space them out, but some time in the next two years we'll treat ourselves to another. There is value in these tours that can never be measured in dollars. Have you ever experienced, say, a beautiful sunset and said to yourself, wow, that was lovely, if only there were someone here with me to share this? Well, on a Rick Steves tour, you are enjoying experiences that you would never be able to arrange on your own and you have 25 or so new friends with whom you can share the joy and excitement. On our two Rick Steves tours there was not a grump in the group, which is something we cannot say about the tour we took with another tour company. I love it that the RS company limits you to one carry-on sized bag and warns that you will be responsible for it yourself, toting it to and from all hotels, which may involve carrying it up and down staircases in hotels without elevators. I love it that your tour begins with a meeting in the first hotel, meaning you have to figure out how to get there on your own because you're not being picked up at the airport by someone holding up a big sign. These kinds of policies help to shape the clientele. You will not have stuffy, high-maintenance companions on a Rick Steves tour. They will be fun, easy-going, adventurous people. Some may become new friends you'll stay in contact with in the future. We've now had three annual reunions with three of the other couples who were on the Village Italy tour with us in 2014. The eight of us live within 5 hours of each other and we've enjoyed getting together once per year over dinner, where we share our latest travel experiences, reminsce about the fun things we did together in Italy, enjoy plenty of laughter, and end the evening excited about doing it all again the next year. Your tour guide will amaze you with his/her energy, intelligence, warmth, good humor, organizational skills, and uncanny ability to get you to see things in a new light. Both of our RS guides had such engaging personalities. On our bus rides between destinations, the bus chats taught us so much about the daily life and culture of the country. You can use those bus rides to read or catch up on your journaling or to take a nap, but if you choose to engage yourself in the tour guide's narrative, you'll learn so much and it will enhance your travel experience in so many ways! The local guides in the various cities are amazing. Traveling independently, we've taken some nice private tours, but we haven't come away from those tours with the feeling that we'd made a connection with a local person and learned information not contained in the guidebooks. On our RS local guide experiences, we have had exactly that experience. What has changed us, from our travels, is not the art and architecture we saw, or the food we enjoyed, or the history we learned. It's the connections we felt with the people who live in the places we visited. My memories of Murren, Switzerland vividly include the face of the delightful Swiss man who let us try his alphorn. Memories of the Umbria region of Italy will always include the bright, smiling faces of the wonderful family who welcomed us into their farmhouse, served us a homecooked meal with products from their own farm, then entertained us with song. Their personalities were like warm sunshine. Take the leap . . . you will love your first Rick Steves tour!

Historical footnote: the two times we traveled independently to Italy, we experienced train strikes. Upon reflection, the first strike was a bit funny in that the station was staffed and we could purchase tickets...just no trains running. In both instances, hoteliers reacted with a modest shrug as if it’s normal and no need to be concerned. Well, with an itinerary requiring train travel on specific days and none available, well, you get the idea. It all eventually worked out. If traveling independently in Italy, consider adding some slack in your itinerary to overcome potential transportation challenges and the unknown unknowns.

I am a 14 tour veteran. After the first tour, both my husband and I understood the benefits of tour being transportation, lodging, and education. You say you enjoy history and art, as well as food and cultural adventures, you can get that with RS tours. The guides and local guides are very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. One of my favorite tours is Village Italy. I feel it includes everything you listed.

As to wine, most tours only provide it for the first and last group meal. However, Village Italy and Sicily both included wine at each meal. On the Southern Italy tour, we had a wine kitty. Those who wanted to drink wine made a contribution.
As to meals, it depends on you. Do you usually eat three meals a day, or two with a snack? I can make it without eating between breakfast and group dinners but, I rarely eat three meals per day. If I do get hungry, I grab a piece of fruit at a market, or a gelato. After all, there is always room for gelato!

My husband and I were firm independent travelers until we had more money than time with 2 children 3 and under, and then we tried the RS Greece tour to celebrate our 10th anniversary and boy, it was worth every penny. But if money is an issue, then give planning your own itinerary a go. I got back from a self-planned trip for my sister and I to England and Wales in June and we had a fabulous time with a much lower cost than if we had taken RS tour of England. By the same token hubby and I are taking the GAS tour in May 2018 and are grateful to only have to plan pre, post, and free times during the tour. What is more important for you? Having things planned for you or saving money? They are both valid. To make independent easier you could try pretty much following what a RS tour does on your own (making sure you get entrance tickets ahead of time) or take the My Way. If you decide independent we will all help you!

If you decide the tour I didn't find traveling with people I didn't know to be a problem. Everyone was social, kind, and wonderful to converse with and learn from. You can go be on your own if you want. Good luck!

I loved Vickie's comment on this thread! As I have said previously we do travel independently, and do love the planning phase of travel, but also enjoy the RS tours! As Vickie pointed out, it is about the connection to the locale and its people that is facilitated by the philosophy and the guides that we have had the pleasure of getting to know that stand out so prominently. The RS tours make that connection happen with minimal effort on the tour members part and we come away with that feeling of "WOW"

I'm going to admit I have not read all the responses--just too many--so what I have to say may have already been written (said? written?)

Is a Rick Steves tour right for you? How are we supposed to know? We don't know you. So if I like a tour or don't, or prefer independent travel, that doesn't mean you will or you won't.

I'd like to make two suggestions

First, take a piece of paper and draw a line down the middle. Do this on both sides. On one side of the paper, near the top write "Taking a Tour." On the other side write "Independent travel." On both sides on the left of the vertical line write "pros." On the other side write "cons." Now list the pros and cons of each type of travel. See which lists are the longest. (For you trivia buffs, Benjamin Franklin was credited with coming up with this method.)

Then, if you think you want to travel independently, start planning. See if you like it. If you like the planning stage, keep at it and customize a trip perfect for you. If you don't like it, start looking at tours where most is done for you.

Must disagree with Robbie except about the excellent tour guides. Of course, by posting this question in the Rick Steves Tours forum, answers may be skewed toward tour veterans responding. I have never taken a tour but I have run into many RS tour group members, and they all seem to be in a good mood, so I'm guessing the tours work out well for them.

I like the idea of the pros and cons for tours or independent travel.

I have utilized the Pro/Con list that Frank II mentioned for career changes, home choices, etc. It's a great exercise because you will physically see the list, but also your gut instinct will tell you something. Subconsciously, people usually start listing items in the two options but naturally find more to support the one they'd rather have win. When it's more even, and you've finished the list, trust your gut instinct if you're disappointed in the conclusion. Some factors are difficult to put into words, and those could be the ultimate tipping point.

Many have given you good reasons for their choices based on their preferences. But as Frank suggested you should do a pro/con list for your preferences. For example, if it is important to you to have freedom over every single aspect of your trip (from planning details to being responsible for when the plans don't work out), then you're probably not going to arrive at a cost/benefit in favor of a tour. If the lowest cost is your major concern, but you want a more robust experience, then you might consider evaluating your savings plan for travel and start putting your pennies toward a trip you want to take, not the trip you could afford right now. I have few regrets about the money I have spent on travel, but I worked hard to earn (and save) the money to go the way I wanted to.

Once you've done pro/con, I'd also suggest using a spreadsheet to cost out RS tour (or any other tour) and doing it yourself. Make it extremely detailed for each day. The RS folks tell you exactly what is included in their tours (transport, admissions to sites, meals, tours, etc.). It's easy to look up the costs for doing these things independently - just make sure you factor in everything (e.g. train/bus/flights tickets between cities, admission costs, hotel, food, and the cost of private guides - on RS tours you have a full time guide plus local guides at many stops). Airfare is a wash because you pay for it either option.

I have done this exact exercise and it is illuminating, especially when you consider the value of your time (I love planning too, so I'm willing to do some of the work myself). Based on my own personal criteria, I've done four RS tours and the benefits important to me (itinerary, small groups, efficiency, not worrying about tickets/transport, good food) has outweighed the cost in every case. My last Europe trip, 21 days all planned by me, was not nearly as relaxing or enjoyable. Not bad, just different.

Good luck.

What is more important for you? Having things planned for you or saving money? They are both valid.

This is it in a nutshell. Only you can decide.

To make independent easier you could try pretty much following what a RS tour does on your own

A word of caution, though. It is difficult for independent travelers to duplicate the day-by-day schedule. You can visit all the places, but I'd estimate that the benefit of having reservations at sights, tour guides that meet the tour when RS wants them to, being dropped near the hotel instead of having to make your way there from the train station, etc. means it will take a third longer to do a similar tour on your own. People that try to match the day-to-day schedule usually end up frazzled and feeling rushed; this goes for the schedules in his books, too, the suggested itineraries probably work if you know the country well but on the forum many people report the pace is just too fast.

My suggestion: use his destinations as a starting point, there is a reason they chose them, but add an extra day here and there; if the tour spends 3 days in a location you should plan on 4, if they spend 2 days then 3 would be a good choice on your own.

To add: there are only a few places in each city where advance reservations/tickets are necessary to skip long lines. Should you decide to go the indie method, those are not difficult to obtain through the net. If the math works (there's the time and interest for enough of the places they cover) tourist passes which allow line-skipping can also be worthwhile purchases. Some include local transport as well although not to/from the airports.

The lines which can't be skipped are security checks but they move pretty quickly.

Wow, I am overwhelmed by all these incredibly helpful responses! You are all so generous to take the time to reply. I do agree with the suggestion to make a pros and cons list...no one is going to know where my heart truly lies better than me. I think I am drawn to the idea of a tour because of the no hassle nature of it and, in the case of RS tours, the superior guides. But I also remember being in Paris in my twenties and having a visceral negative reaction to the hordes of tour group tourists. Then again, I had a great time in Paris on a self-planned trip but I also wasted tons of time oversleeping, getting lost, traveling to and fro, etc. and I probably could have spent my time better (but hey, I was in my early twenties).

I probably want the benefits of a tour without feeling like a "tour person" with a bunch of "tour people" (if you have ever seen a TV commercial for Perillo Tours of Italy you know the vibe I mean). To get that maximization of exposure to the culture and significant sights, but not feel like a corny tourist being herded around and eating in tourist traps and missing the local flavor. Does that make sense?

Still going to make that list and really figure it out though.

On a Rick Steves tour, your group will not wear name badges or be assigned "whisper technology" devices to wear around your necks the whole time, although there's a possibility that if you go into a church where guides are required to keep their voices down, the local guide might distribute those before you go in. Also, your tour guide will not lead you around by carrying an umbrella or feather duster or anything else ridiculous. They treat you like adults.

Based on your last post, I think you would love Rick Steves' tours. I despise those big tour groups and I took one walking tour in the Vatican where the guide carried around a flag and it seemed so silly. On RS tours we get the best of both worlds - expert guides that treat you like adults and share valuable information, and plenty of free time to explore on your own. The restaurants have always been neat local places rather than large commercial places. For example, we had lunch on the balcony of a cute restaurant at the base of a castle overlooking the Mosel River in Beilstein, Germany on the GAS tour. On the same tour in Munich we ate in a cute attic room above a very popular traditional German restaurant in downtown. In Italy we had great meals in cozy restaurants that could barely fit more than our group. We had a pesto dinner after a demonstration by the owners of our hotel in the Cinque Terre. We had a traditional Florentine dinner in a restaurant we never would have found on our own where they flambeed the steak tableside and brought around a delicious dessert cart afterward. In Scotland we ate at a delicious local Indian restaurant in Inverness and had our farewell dinner in a popular restaurant with great views over the city.
There are amazing cultural things and little surprises that we would never have gotten to do ourselves. In Scotland it was a private bagpipe performance and several countryside walks to lovely castles or stone bridges over rivers. On the GAS tour our guide took a bad weather day and added an unplanned chocolate shop demonstration and lunch. In Italy we had a beautiful stained glass demonstration in a shop owned by two brothers who make glass for churches all over the world, and we saw the making of a part of the gondola in Venice. On our farewell dinner we ate in a little cellar type restaurant with a performance by two musicians. This is just a tiny peak as to why we love these tours, though we feel more than comfortable traveling on our own and are younger than the average tour goers.
Either way, you will have a great time, Italy is a lovely country!

One last comment from me on this subject. One thing I like about RS travel philosophy is that it encourages interaction and understanding of the local living culture, not just one museum after another. The tours carry through on this. They do not insulate you from contact with locals and having to use your own skills in navigating and communicating. You will not feel confined to your little travel group, or looking at local life through a bus window. Our bus driver on one trip (no tips please) told me that he loves driving for RS tour groups, because the tour members are "above average for Americans".

I probably want the benefits of a tour without feeling like a "tour person" with a bunch of "tour people" (if you have ever seen a TV commercial for Perillo Tours of Italy you know the vibe I mean). To get that maximization of exposure to the culture and significant sights, but not feel like a corny tourist being herded around and eating in tourist traps and missing the local flavor. Does that make sense?

Kate, if this is your main concern, sign up now for a tour. RS tours specialize in local flavor. That's their philosophy, and the genius behind the local guide concept.

Yes, you will see the main sights - the Forum in Rome, David in Florence - but in most cases you will be taught why each of these things is important, how it fits into the history and culture of the area.

And no tourist trap hotels and restaurants. Some of the hotels are quite nice, some are --- ummm, a little more quirky, but all are located in the heart of the city or village. (Almost all; sometimes the group stays in an agriturismo or other rural retreat.) And most of the restaurants are small, family owned places, where you will probably be introduced to the owners.

And the groups are relatively small, usually 25 or so, never more than 28 - and a group that big is rare.

A couple of people have mentioned the one trait that keeps up coming back: you are treated like adults. If you want to skip an activity, skip it. If you want more information, ask your guide. The group does not wear identifying tags or labels, and folks are not herded.

In case you can't tell, I'm a big fan. My DH and I have gone from skeptics to devotees, and it didn't take long to get there.

I understand your fear of "tour groups" as you saw in Paris. I used to lead tours like that. I've also taken RS tours. There are some differences:

1) The average passenger taking an RS tour is different. As one guide put it, "it's the PBS crowd." On the tours I was on, almost all had a true interest on what we were seeing and many had done some research. On the other tours it was more like they were checking off boxes--"Paris, been there done that." They were more interested in shopping and coming back with junk to brag to their friends they had been to Paris.

2) On RS tours, I found the group meals were done at regular restaurants, not just ones that cater to tour groups. It helps that the groups are small.

3) The use of an audio system is actually a good thing. Instead of having to gather around a guide to hear what she is saying, you can actually look at what she is talking about or spend your time near the back of the group without missing anything.

4)The places visited are fairly similar but the extras are different. Large group tours make shopping stops. RS tours only do for actual demonstrations.

5) The large group tours are on a very tight budget. They charge so little that they can't give out any extras or allow the tour director to have too much discretion. Trading notes with an RS guide I found out they are given a discretionary budget to spend on extras. (Granted, you pay more for the tour itself but in the long run it's really not that much when all the extras are paid for on the big bus tour.)

I'd like to also say something about following a tour itinerary. It can be done just not in the same timeframe. A tour has a professional driver and coach as well as a guide who has made arrangements ahead of time. If you want to follow the itinerary yourself allow at least one third more time than the tour to accomplish this.

I’ve followed this thread closely, a great read. About the references to other tours where guides hold up umbrellas or flags, I am called to share an anecdote. On an RS tour in London, we had an excellent guide for the week. One day he was leading us from a tube station to a museum, in a very crowded location, and was challenged to keep our group walking together. I was walking next to him and he turned to me and said: “sometimes I think I actually need to hold up one of those umbrellas so people can follow me.” I responded: “Robert, you’re 6-foot-5, you’re bald, and you’re black. You don’t need any umbrella!”

The average passenger taking an RS tour is different. As one guide
put it, "it's the PBS crowd." On the tours I was on, almost all had a
true interest on what we were seeing and many had done some research.
On the other tours it was more like they were checking off
boxes--"Paris, been there done that." They were more interested in
shopping and coming back with junk to brag to their friends they had
been to Paris.

You hit the nail on the head! On my Paris trip, after hearing a woman screeching for her husband Bob to come take a look at some cheap Van Gogh prints a vendor was selling along the Seine, my friend and I started calling all the "checking off the boxes" American tourists Bobs. I don't want to be surrounded by Bobs!

Have you seen the tour experience video? I’ve taken a number of tours and while it’s a marketing piece I find the sentiment expressed by the guides to be genuine.

https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/tour-experience

Travel skills for DIY or if you decide to take the tour.

https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/video/travel-talks/european-travel-skills

I have taken a number of RS tours and also traveled independently in Europe. Often I combine a tour with independent travel afterwards.

Assuming a tour fits your personality and style (granted that is a big IF) then I think RS tours are a good value for the money. Not necessarily the cheapest way to travel, but a good value.

Last year I was in Italy as an independent traveler. What really hit me was the number of times I had to open my wallet compared to being on an RS tour. Museums, train tickets, bus passes, entrance fees, rooms, meals, tipping, etc. all cost money. On an RS tour about the only things I spend additional money on are: a few lunches, a few dinners, and souvenirs. Meals are not that expensive because RS tends to feed its customers very well. If they are providing dinner that night then I go light on lunch - perhaps purchase a sandwich from a stand. If they provide lunch, then dinner is often simple - a gelato or a pasty, because I can't eat any more lest I feel like a stuffed pig.

FWIW, on my last RS tour of Portugal, we got the breakfasts, 1/2 the dinners (all part of the package), and three fabulous extra lunches wine and coffee included. As I mentioned above, once I ate that lunch there was no need for a big dinner. Wine was included with all lunches and dinner meals since it is part of the culture of the country. Heck, several hotels had champagne available for breakfast. Some tours, in countries where wine is not quite as ingrained, you may have to pay but the cost is not a lot. Another time our guide steered us to a restaurant that had an 8 Euro lunch which included appetizer, main course, dessert and beverage (wine/beer included). Such a deal!

Certainly you can do it yourself for less. Again it depends if the tour approach fits your style of travel. I enjoy both independent travel and RS tours.