Do you recommend the Venice, Florence, and Rome tour?Absolutely! I can definitively say that this tour was my favorite trip I've taken so far. I hope my photo journey is convincing enough, but beyond that, it's great to be on a multi-city tour where most of the itinerary, organization, and transportation is already taken care of for you. There's so much to see and thankfully being on the Rick Steves tour helps facilitate that in a way that is easy and minimally stressful. A couple examples of why I was really glad I was on a tour was our group being efficiently guided into the Vatican, which would not have been easy on my own, and getting such a great appointment slot to spend quality time with Michelangelo's David.
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I want to go to Italy/Europe but I don't want to go on my own.
That's why I recommend a Rick Steves tour! I originally wanted to travel but was hesitant because I was a single woman and was afraid to go to Europe by myself. Thankfully, my dad introduced me to the Rick Steves tour website, and I was able to find that their Paris tour went everywhere I wanted to go. I felt so great and comfortable on that trip, I had to go to Europe again for another round with the Venice, Florence, and Rome tour. I found it very easy to talk to other tour members and make friends with people who are happy to share tables at restaurants and taxis (and even tickets!) The other great thing about the tours is the safety in knowing that there is a group of people looking out for you and noticing when you're not there. One time in Paris, I fell asleep in my hotel and almost missed an important activity. My tour guide called me and thankfully got me up and out of my room!
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What free time activities do you recommend most for Venice/Florence/Rome?
I ended up doing more free time activities than most other tour members because I tried to see and do as much as possible, but I can pare it down to my favorites. In Venice, I recommend St. Mark's Basilica (absolutely do not miss), Doge Palace, and Peggy Guggenheim Collection. In Florence, I recommend the Duomo, the Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens (the wisteria tunnel.) In Rome, I recommend the Capitoline Museums (especially for the great vista over the ruins), and the Borghese Gallery. And of course, do not forget my award-winning gelato recommendations for each city: Suso Gelateria in Venice, Mancuso in Florence, and Come il Latte in Rome.
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Where will you go next?
The only person that is asking me that question is me, but I've had some places in mind. High on the list are Greece, Spain, and Ireland, however after watching the Rick Steves Festival of Europe, I've added a few more exciting places to the list, like Scotland and Sicily. After careful consideration, I think Sicily is the right place to go next. I'm definitely not done with Italy yet!
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Thank you for taking the time to go through this photo journey with me through Venice, Florence, and Rome. I hope you have enjoyed a little slice of the magic of Italy!