First timers always visit Rome, Florence, and Venice. Our most popular small group tours to Italy involves Rome, Venice, and Florence also. However, we recommend to get past the tourists and trinket shops to get a more intimate view of Italy. In the past few years, I've discovered the Veneto region of Italy. I love the authentic culture, food, in a relaxed atmosphere. Check out my blog post and I will tell you more about Verona, Vicenza, Padua and Lake Garda.
With the strong dollar, the days of luxury hotels at bargain prices are back. The Traveling Professor introduces travelers to one of the most spectacular hotels in all of Europe, perched on the cliffs overlooking the Bay of Naples, the gateway to the Amalfi Coast. We'll see Ravello, Positano, Sorrento and of course, Capri. From there we head up to our top-rated hotel in Florence where we will base ourselves for our tour of Tuscany - at the perfect time of year. Luxury is back at affordable prices. See the details on The Professor's newest tour in this blog post.
Since The Traveling Professor has been running small group tours to Paris, Italy, Spain and other destinations in Europe, every year the price of a tour goes up. In fact, on our first tour to Paris back in 2008, we could run a tour for $999. Since then I have added many, many amenities and improved our tours significantly, but the price has gone up too, almost three times the original amount. But just because of the weakness in the US dollar, costs on running a tour to Europe have risen significantly. But now, the US dollar is stronger than it has been in about 15 years and for the first time since I have been running tours, prices have gone down. NOW is the time to go to Europe.
The Traveling Professor tours to Italy are a little bit different than those standard big-bus tours you see going there. First of all, we only travel with about 12 people. But we don't like to insulate our travelers by putting them in those big busses either. We like to take public transportation like the high-speed luxury trains that go from city to city. Whether traveling with The Professor on a small group tour to Italy or going on your own, you'll appreciate these tips on buying train tickets in Italy.http://www.travelingprofessor.com/
On The Traveling Professor's small group tours to Italy, Venice is one of our most popular stops. Everyone loves the unique canals, history, great food, and of course, the gondolas. Like any other Italian city, Venice is easy and enjoyable. However, there are some things to take under considerations that will greatly enhance your tour to Venice.
Most travelers who have not visited Italy before think of a tour to the Colosseum, the Accademia in Florence to see David, or maybe Venice to visit St. Mark's Square is on what should be on their itinerary. But for those of us who have enjoyed Italy before and want to go past the souvenir stands, escape the hordes of foreign tourists, and enjoy the REAL Italy, does The Traveling Professor have a tour for you. Take a look at today's blog post to see a delightful itinerary of Italy that is yours for discovery.
Whenever we take a Traveling Professor small group tour to the Amalfi Coast, we like to base ourselves in Sorrento. It is easy to get to, full of history, with several cultural opportunities. However, we also like that Sorrento is a charming and bustling little town. There is a wide variety of restaurants and bars. The shopping is good. Sorrento is also one of the best strolling and people watching towns in Italy. So, in deciding where to stay while on a tour of the Amalfi Coast and Sorrento, I have three choices for you.
There is little doubt why Italy is so appealing. First of all, there is so much culture, good food, history, architecture, natural beauty, and friendly people. But what amazes me most is the variety of it all. On The Traveling Professor tours to Italy we often use Florence as a base to explore Tuscany and other parts of Italy. Today our friends from Italy Perfect offer their take on 3 great day trips from Florence
Florence is one of the most popular stops on The Traveling Professor's tours to Italy. One of the big draws to Florence are the multitude of dining options scattered all about the city. When we travel to Italy, we like to eat at top-quality spots without breaking the budget. Take a look at my blog post to see my selections for the best places to eat in Florence.
When picking a hotel in Venice, I use several criteria. First of all, I want the hotel to be in a good location, but not in the middle of crowded or noisy area. It needs to be close to attractions, near good restaurants and transportation. I also want a hotel to be family owned. I think they provide a higher level of personal service that is absent in those impersonal tourist hotels. I need a hotel that is pleasing to the eye and comfortable, yet it won't bust my budget. So, on your next tour to Venice consider staying at one of the hotels I recommend in my blog post.