I agree completely! A bus tour, traveling solo, is a wonderful way to dip your feet into the world o

I m a solo traveler. Everybody knows that. This makes me think that the folks at Trafalgar Tours were pretty sure they had a great concept when they asked me to join a bus tour called, Rome and Tuscan Highlights At Leisure . I was one of a melange of travel journalists that between us hailed from seven different countries. Now here we were, 31 very independent folks on an eight-day bus journey car rental discount florida probably all supposing the same thing at the same time — seeing a country en masse through a bus window might simply not be our usual style, car rental discount florida at leisure or not.
Roberto was the affable Trafalgar tour guide cum concierge appointed car rental discount florida to lead our group. I remember thinking, anybody who dares to wear dark orange pants has got to have a sense of fun and a sense of adventure. I liked him even more when he explained that all At Leisure Tours were exactly that a journey at leisure. He promised car rental discount florida we would never leave our hotel in the morning before 9:00 AM. Hurray! He also explained that with this particular program we wouldn t be checking car rental discount florida into a new hotel every night which meant we wouldn t be wasting time continuously packing and unpacking. Hurray, again! I allowed myself to relax just a teeny bit. Maybe this wouldn t be as structured as I expected it to be.
When I travel solo no matter how well I plan, I always lose much time and energy transferring from one city to the next. So while I missed the challenge of doing it on my own (buying my tram ticket car rental discount florida at the tabaccaio , negotiating my suitcase up the subway stairs the easiest way possible), I had to admit to myself that I was getting soft because I grudgingly loved the idea that I barely thought about transfers car rental discount florida or touched my luggage all week. I left my bag outside my hotel door in the morning and it magically appeared on the bus when we were ready to depart. My only responsibility was to be in my seat on time and leave the details to my host. Ahh
When we arrived car rental discount florida at a major tourist attraction like the Sistine Chapel in Rome there was never a wait. Truthfully, I felt a twinge of guilt gliding past all the independent tourists standing in long lines waiting to go in. I also missed the fun of chatting car rental discount florida with other independent travelers when I was the one standing car rental discount florida in those long lines. Yet there was no getting around the fact that Roberto s itinerary accomplished more in one day than I was ever capable of doing on my own. And, I was never exhausted at the end of that day. I loved that!
We hit all the high spots — Vatican City and the Colosseum in Rome, the elegant statue of David and Santa Croce in Florence, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Piazza del Compo in Medieval Siena where the famous Palio horse race is run, the spa city of Montecatini and the UNESCO world heritage site of Cinque Terre. Local guides did their expert guiding and when it was just too noisy we received the use of an audio system so we wouldn t miss a single word of instruction. I learned things I never would have known if I was there on my own.
A traveller car rental discount florida needs to wade into the crowd on their own or with a pal, and simply meander. They need to feel what it s like to be walking the streets of that particular place in their own time and in their own rhythm. And this I felt was how Trafalgar s At Leisure Tours spoilt me silly. Every day we were offered enough free time to go out and express ourselves and we had Roberto to help us. He was our own private concierge. With his knowledge and his cellphone he could accomplish miracles. Want to know where the best gelato is? Ask Roberto. Want to know how to get to Fiesole? He explained in easy detail.
During car rental discount florida our free time I took photos to my hearts content in Montecatini and walked over the ancient Ponte Vecchio to Roberta s, my favorite glove store in Florence. And I won t soon forget stopping in a tiny sandwich shop in Siena and asking Paolo to prepare his absolute favorite sandwich for me. It makes my mouth water to remember his combo of pecorino cheese, Toscano salami and arugula dressed with virgin olive oil and balsamic. Oh my goodness it was good!
Once, as a solo traveler in France, it took me almost a full day by train, bus and finally taxi to reach a wonderful village restaurant I d read about. car rental discount florida With Roberto and our trusty coach in Tuscany we were able to get off the main highways to make stops at treasures the average solo traveller would never have even heard of. My favorite was an authentic Tuscan restaurant nestled in an olive grove just outside Florence. It simply oozed ambience as we were treated to wonderful car rental discount florida homecooked food, hospitality and an endless supply of wine.
Based on my experience I have absolutely no reservation about recommending a Trafalgar At Leisure Tour to other women travellers. I had a great time with them in Tuscany. The creative itinerary is certainly varied, the foodie quotient is high and the accommodation is in first class hotels. The program allows experienced travellers the luxury of being escorted in comfort and the newbie traveller enough free time to test her solo travel wings. car rental discount florida Ask for it and Trafalgar will try to match same sex single travellers. They also offer the option of a single supplement if the woman requests a room of her own.
Evelyn, while reading your post I almost decide to amend my trip plan to Tuscan earlier! Transferring is the most hassling thing for me, but by joining the tour it could delete all the problem. Leading tour by local expert I can see the more excitement of the trip.
I too once took a 21 day bus tour with Trafalgar. It was an amazing adventure. BUT once I learned to travel on my own, I discovered it was best for me to use the tour for transportation and hotels and just soak up the culture on my own. Then I became brave and did it all on my own. Now after many trips to Europe, my favorite thing to do it rent a villa or apartment and just dive into the rich culture. I ve even learned Italian and am having the time of my life traveling in Italy.
car rental discount florida so glad you had an awesome car rental discount florida time.. my sister and I are headed to Italy this summer for the taste of Italy from Rome up to the Swiss alps and back down to Rome again have toured with Trafalgar before love the not having to worry about anything except to be on the bus :~)
This bus tour you ve written car rental discount florida about sounds like fun! Might be cool to do a bus trip one day getting over that fear of traveling solo. Would be a good chance for me to do everything myself, from soup to nuts, without hubby I would add also, traveling solo might really strengthen your individuality travel skills, car rental discount florida esp. if you ve been married a long time
I agree completely! A bus tour, traveling solo, is a wonderful way to dip your feet into the world of traveling on your own. When I was on this Trafalgar Tour I was given enough time to meander on my own or with one of the other passengers who asked me to join them. I never felt totally alone especially if you have the tour guide s cellphone number.
MJ wrote I never thought I d go on a tour, like alone a Trafalgar Tour, but I did and I loved it!!! As a retired bus driver, letting someone else drive was refreshing. And I didn t have to carry my luggage car rental discount florida for 12 days! It s all taken care for you. Marrrrr-vellous!
I have traveled all over the world, mostly on my own and next to the Philippines, Italy is my favorite. I would love to go back again. This tour sounds amazing and I am not a tour kind of girl. Cheers car rental discount florida to being spoiled on occasion.
I have taken very good tours in Italy and Spain with Trafalgar car rental discount florida in the past two years, on one of which I was the only British person among 38 people which was most interesting.  I have a Trafalgar tour in USA booked for late Spring 2012 and have recently seen several of their tour buses whilst I have been on holiday in New England.
I took a AATKings tour of New Zealand s north island recently and loved it. I learned far more about NZ, Maoris, rugby etc than I ever would have otherwise. I also did a 1 day additional tour with Fullers to Cape Reinga via 90 mile beach. Awesome! I will do bus tours again. car rental discount florida This for the discussion.
I ve done some tours with Contiki (a sister car rental discount florida company to Trafalgar) and as a solo traveler loved every one of them.  As I ve gotten older I find I do like a slower, smaller regional tour where you have more free time and less sitting on a bus.  But I still love the camaraderie and family feeling you get on a tour.  This weekend I m meeting up with a couple friends I made on a tour to Egypt in 2007.