It’s truly amazing how many people ruin their vacations, trying to plan it themselves online. We live in an age of Google, Amazon, and online self-service. Online purchases certainly make a lot of sense for many purchases we make, like baby diapers, office supplies, and books. However, not a great way to buy a new suitor or car, and not a trip to Italy or Europe. Perhaps for a single destination, it can work, like maybe a trip to Disney. You can opt for a package deal or choose a flight, hotel, buy tickets to the parks, and done. Even then, I’d say a travel expert could get you better accommodations and itinerary. However, places in Europe like Italy are highly complex destinations that require many hours of research to understand, let alone book.

A friend shared a story of her recent trip to Spain, which ended up being very rough. She did all the research herself and booked the best hotels she thought possible and pre-booked some day tours as well. In the end, all the hotels were further from the center, then she thought, and the day excursions were overpriced and not ideal for the cities she visited. Of course, they adjusted and made it work. But why even have to?

It makes sense to bring in experts for complex areas for our lives, like an accountant or financial planner, and booking an excellent custom vacation is no different. Travel experts, in many cases, book hundreds of tours a year and know the countries, cities, and tour options cold. They have most likely been to the actual hotel or on the excursions they suggest.

Escorted tours can be great for some travelers that are looking for a specific price point and seeing certain cities for the first time. Another reason would be to travel with a particular group for say a religious retreat or art history experience, etc. However, there is nothing better than a meticulously planned customized tour. Don’t waste time trying to figure it out a destination like Italy on your own. You will most likely not save money booking online since tour operators get wholesale rates. It makes sense to worked with an experienced travel expert to plan a great vacation like a completely customized experience to Italy. Again, Italy is a challenging destination, it won’t cost you more, and you’ll save a ton of time and stress. Not to mention, if something goes wrong on your trip, you will have someone to support you. If you book your vacation yourself and don’t like the hotel or room, you’re in trouble. Booking with a tour operator that sends hundreds of people to the property or destination a year can usually make adjustments on the fly. Quite possibly, a modification that can be the difference between a good vacation and a great one.

Learn more about how to book your dream trip to Italy!

 

Here are three advantages of booking a custom Italy tour with an experienced travel expert:

1. You can visit specific places that may not be in the itineraries of most escorted tours.

Let’s admit it—most escorted tours to Italy focus on its most popular cities, such as Rome, Florence, and Venice. It would put some travelers at a disadvantage. For example, those who want to reconnect with distant relatives residing in a small Italian town may not find a package meant for them. Those who wish to visit or stay in a lesser-known town for peace and quiet may also not be able to get the right tour.

That’s where custom Italy tours come in. With the help of our travel experts, we can help you create an itinerary that’s truly off the beaten path.

2. You have more freedom to adjust your schedule.

Yes, it’s true that with escorted tour packages, you are given blocks of free time to do whatever you want. However, there’s still a limit to the number of customizations that you can request. After all, these packages are designed to maximize your time in Italy and value for your money. It sometimes translates to packed itineraries for these packages, with travelers barely spending more than a few hours in each town. Also, many escorted tours depart for the day at 8 am, so sleeping in is not an option.

With a customized tour, you can opt to go for a more leisurely pace. You can decide to extend your stay at a specific place if you wish. You can also have more activities thrown in. These include wine tastings at Tuscan vineyards, private boat cruises around Cinque Terre, or skiing in the Italian Alps.

3. You get all the perks of going on a DIY tour but without the hassles.

Planning a DIY tour can take a lot of time. After all, you’ll need to research which hotels have the best prices for a specific location. Or you’ll also need to compare offers from different tour operators for skip-the-line tickets at the Vatican Museums or the Uffizi Gallery. At the end of the day, if you’re pressed for time, you may end up getting the first deal that pops up. It happens even if there are better offers out there. It’s no fun to be pushed into a decision due to lack of suitable choices.

That’s why getting a customized Italy tour is a better option. By having a travel expert onboard—someone who knows how to create the perfect experience for you—plus, you’ll save lots of time, effort, and stress.

We hope that these three advantages are enough for you to consider having a custom Italy tour created for you. If you want to learn more, get a FREE consultation with our travel experts! Simply fill out our Plan Your Vacation Form, and we’ll get in touch with you to discuss your vacation.