The Hotel were ok but did not cater to the tourist. The rooms did not have the use of the fans and found the air stagnant. A little air moving would helped.
The Hotel in Sicily in Jiardini Naxos, Caeser palace, found the hotel desk determinitly unhelpful.
City sightseeing
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Resort
Age Range
5-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Rome, Venice, Palermo, Assisi, L
Rome, Venice, Palermo, Assisi, La Spezia, Florence, Monreale, Agrigento, Taormina, Sorrento, Capri, Vatican City
The tour provides a sampling of the shrines of Italy. I wanted to see the home of Padre Pio and was not disappointed. I was lucky enough to experience a spiritual light here My son died of cancer and followed Padre Pio and it was here I finally knew he was at peace and so was I . The stories of the Nazareth at the church in Lareto was amazing. It would have been nicer to spend more time there. This tour is not for people who cannot do stairs, some of the churches require walking up and down. Food in some of the places was was like banquet food and was terrible at the dinners. The pasta was great but some of the meats were horrible, some of the food was oversalted. Breakfast was the best.
Art and architecture
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
1-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Rome, Assisi, San Giovanni Roton
Rome, Assisi, San Giovanni Rotondo, Amalfi Coast & Campania
It was planned very well by Trafalgar. Hotels were nice, food was good, but the walking distances to and from the bus were more than we were expecting. We are glad we took this trip because we saw so many great things, but in hindsight it was probably too much walking for us.
I cannot think of one thing the whole trip was fantastic or tour guide Michela , was so fantastic. You truly felt that you were family. She explained everything told us what we expect ahead of time took care of everyone’s needs and still made it so much fun a bunch of us were in our 70s and upper 70s and did not feel that we couldn’t keep up with the tour because it was done so well I think one of the best vacations that we ever took
The guys transporting us were really punctual, courteous, and kept us safe. Lino in Pompeii was fantastic! Nicola & Micaela were so hospitable and some of the best food I had in my 3 weeks in Italy was at Sant’ Alfonso Agriturismo. Everybody was top-notch on this trip, however, Vincenzo was the most exceptional Tour Leader and really made the experience unforgettable! He was personable, funny, and incredibly knowledgeable on all topics (with impeccable English)! He made the tour educational, entertaining, and memorable. He went above and beyond by assisting tour group members even on his own personal time. He helped individuals with post-tour travel plans, catching the right trains, and directing them on how to mail postcards to the USA. When the group expressed interest in doing an activity together on our free day, Vincenzo orchestrated a last-minute tour of a cheese making facility and a limoncello factory. He even spent his down time taking a few of us to a restaurant in Sorrento that was less touristy and popular among the locals. We were so grateful for this experience and for the cultural humility he espoused. It was evident that solo hiking and the resulting self evaluation have garnered him much wisdom and have tailored him to be an inspiring mentor. It was special to see him in his element as he prepared us for and led us on a hike on the Amalfi Coast. When someone is doing what they love, it always shows and is a gift to others involved. By the end of the trip he felt like an old friend! We will miss his storytelling and charisma!
Trekking and Hiking
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
This tour is the BEST way to see all the infamous spots in Italy, plus local hidden gems, at a reasonable cost and if you are short on time (we had a school break time limitation). It covered everything! We budgeted for the add-ons, especially those with meals, but you could choose to have more free time if you wanted. The food was extraordinary, the bus was roomy and immaculately clean, our driver Antonello was superb, and our Travel Director Anneleis was amazing! She was so talented at integrating the tour highlights, guests, keeping it fun even in the rainy weather, knowledgeable, and able to troubleshoot anything to ensure we had the best experience of a lifetime!! I would love to go back and explore Southern Italy next. The hotels were elegant (only one was just "OK" only because it was in need of some renovations) and the service with our luggage, tipping, etc. was seamless. I highly recommend the Italian Intermezzo tour and Insight Vacations. Favoloso!
We just got back from the Best of Europe (22 day tour) and it was an amazing experience, but group travel is not for everyone. If you want to meet new people to explore Europe with & can handle being on a schedule - then group travel is for you. If you want to isolate yourself, have trouble with compromise, and are looking to complain about your fellow travelers and the tour guide - then group travel is not for you.
Emma (tour guide) was amazing and reminded professional throughout the tour. She was always willing to answer questions and give a quick history & language lesson about the different cities in Europe. She made the entire trip enjoyable and manageable as she is an excellent communicator.
As for the tour itself, there are a lot of cities and, at times, it's hard to keep them straight - but that's not necessarily a bad thing. This tour gives you a good sense of what Europe is like and where one may want to visit again. The local tour guides were very good for the most part
City sightseeingAdventure
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
10-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Budapest, Paris, Rome, London, V
Budapest, Paris, Rome, London, Venice, Berlin, Vienna, Amsterdam, Prague, Pisa, Zagreb, Lucerne, Innsbruck, Heidelberg, Siena
Loved the whole experience- visited all the best countries in Europe, tasted wines, spirits and other European alcohol In cheapest prices. It’s not suitable for asians with dark skin and if you’re over 34 yrs old unless you have a thick skin to not give any reaction to the comments some people make as a joke- only because they are white and still young. Not sure what they are so proud about in those moments. Other than that I enjoyed my time with rest of them. The price was on discount- I had to add on some extra adventures which worth it. Honestly 24 days is finished so quickly. Recommend to all the people who like explore Europe more in less time in cheaper price. Great work contiki, I am on my second one now- in Thailand, this group of approx 30 people is much better than European escapades (just my personal experience).
Exploring Italy through this trip was an unforgettable experience! It allowed us to see all the iconic landmarks in each city we visited, offering a remarkable variety of activities that left no room for boredom. What made the journey even more exceptional were the guides - their passion for the country, combined with their extensive knowledge, made the trip truly unforgettable. They made it a priority to connect with each and every traveler, ensuring that everyone was fully immersed in the tour. With everything taken care of, this trip exceeded our expectations and more. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to discover Italy in the best possible way!
