Comparing Rick's 2012 Italy Tours
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| Comparing these tours is like comparing good Italian wines. You're bound to find a favorite...or two...or... |
Find the right fit for your budget and your travel dreams
Best of Italy in 17 Days Tour: Covers the most places in Italy, including the lakes and mountains. "I've got the time and money, and I want to see the most — and best — of Italy in a single trip."
Heart of Italy in 9 Days Tour: Covers the core sights of our Best of Italy tour — in just as much detail — but skips Lake Como, the Dolomites, Verona, Venice, Siena and Assisi. "My time and budget are tight, so saving a week's worth of vacation days and $2,000 per person is a big plus."
Venice, Florence & Rome in 10 Days Tour: Each city is covered in the same manner as the other tours, but with more free time to explore on your own. It's strictly an urban tour, with none of the countryside stops offered by the two others. "My time is limited and these cities are on my must-see list. I'll come back for more of Italy later, I promise!"
Looking for no overlap? No problem. Our Village Italy in 14 Days tour meanders near some of the quieter Best of Italy and Heart of Italy stops, but it's a very different tour. Our Best of South Italy in 13 Days tour (except for 1 day in Rome) and Best of Sicily in 10 Days tour do not overlap with any tours mentioned on this page.
Want more independence? Our new My Way: Italy in 13 Days "unguided" tour sets you free in Venice, Verona, Varenna, the Cinque Terre, Florence, Siena, Assisi and Rome — for $2,000 less** than our fully-guided Best of Italy in 17 Days tour.
Want to focus on one great city? Our Best of Rome in 7 Days tour immerses you in the thrills of the Eternal City.
How the three best-sellers compare...
| Best of Italy | Heart of Italy | Venice, Florence & Rome | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of days | 17 | 9 | 10 |
| Tour cost | $4,995 | $2,995 | $3,295 |
| Cost per day | $294 | $333 | $330 |
| Lake Como (2 nights) + ferry pass | YES | • | • |
| Dolomites (2 nights) | YES | • | • |
| Verona visit | YES | • | • |
| Venice (2 nights*) + walking tour | YES | • | YES |
| Florence (2 nights*) + walking tour | YES | YES | YES |
| Florence Uffizi Gallery + Michelangelo's David | YES | YES | YES |
| Lucca visit | • | YES | • |
| Pisa visit | YES | • | • |
| Cinque Terre (2 nights) | YES | YES | • |
| Siena (2 nights) + walking tour | YES | • | • |
| Hill town visit or stay | YES | YES | • |
| Rome (2 nights*) + walking tour, floodlit night walk | YES | YES | YES |
| Roman Forum, Colosseum, Pantheon | YES | YES | YES |
| St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel | YES | YES | YES |
*Our Venice, Florence & Rome tour spends 3 nights in each city.
** On a My Way tour, you are responsible for arranging — and paying out-of-pocket — for your lunches, dinners and admissions.
To compare a bit more: read Eight Ways to Explore Italy in 2012