My husband and I are so excited about the Italy My Way tour that begins in two weeks! The Rick Steve's tour has shared wonderful information for us to prepare, including the guidebook and audio tour app. Anyone go on this tour in the past and want to share anything that might be helpful to us? Recommendations? We have booked several city tours through Viator/Trip Advisor.
Anyone reading this that is also signed up for this tour?
Sharon, Fort Worth, Texas
Not signed up for this tour but am doing Best of Italy the end of September. I've got a few separate tours booked as well before and after my tour. I've booked my ticket to the Last Supper in Milan thru their booking site and am doing a guided visit of the Borghese Gallery in Rome thru Walks of Italy. I'm currently waiting for my dates to come open for an entry to the Domus Aurea in Rome as well.
Just wanted to throw something out regarding Viator....it is a 3rd party booker and not a company that actually runs tours. You can easily find out the name of the company who runs the tours and book directly with them. Viator does charge the tour company 20-25% per reservation so you're doing the tour company a favor by booking direct with them.
Not sure if this is your first trip to Europe or not but I recommend you back up all your tickets either by doing a screen shot and filing them in an album on your phone or by taking a screen shot and filing it in your notes section on your phone. Both can be accessed without needing wifi or data.
You'll have a wonderful time!
Hi Sharon,
We are going to be starting a Rick Steves tour on September 4th also….. but it’s the “Best of Italy in 17 days”
So excited! Have a great trip!!
Lisa
I also wanted to add… if you have a kindle there are some fun guidebooks you can buy or “borrow” from the kindle unlimited library.
I listened to an Italy podcast with the author, Corinna Cooke, and immediately purchased her
“Glam Italia” books on my kindle.
There are three- one for Venice, one for Florence and one for Rome. I started the Venice guidebook and it was a fun book with some interesting suggestions. I love the Cichetti chapter and am going to try some of her suggestions for a fun Bacari evening tour of snacks and drinks.
Since you will be planning your own time I thought it might be a fun option for you to check out! Enjoy your travels!
Lisa
Hi Sharon-
We did this tour in May and loved it. We had just finished the RS Sicily tour before starting this one. We arrived on a Friday and the tour started Sunday evening. We had booked the Walks of Italy tour of San Marco and the Doges Palace and did that before the tour started. At the first meeting we asked if anyone wanted to join us for an evening gondola ride. Another couple was interested and we arranged to meet later in the evening for a sunset ride. Our guide told us where he thought the best place was to get a gondola and then went and let the gondoliers know we might be coming by. I’m not sure what else you had planned to do in Venice?
Overall, the group and guide were much more cohesive than I expected. We shared tips along the way and helped each other navigate as we tended to run into each other throughout each day. One particular spot where we needed to help each other out was navigating the ferry system in Varenna. Everyone was respectful and wore masks without hesitation. If you can let me know more specifically where you have questions, I’m happy to share more feedback. For instance, our hotel in Cinque Terre had beach towels for guest use, and Cinque Terra had the best laundry place in the new town area.
Have a great time!
Thank you all for your replies. Al helpful information!
