GOAHEAD TOURS:
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Grand Tour of Italy - $3 479 | 14 days
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COLLETTE:
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Best of Italy - $3 499 | 12 days
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Travel agencies offer similar trips, making it difficult to select one that will organize the perfect trip for you. In reality, however, the details are what make the difference. Now let's learn more about the beautiful Italy tours organized by Goahead Tours and Collette. While both tours visit almost the same cities in Italy, there are still many differences between them.
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As a result, there is not a huge price difference between the tours, complicating the choice. Additionally, the number of days varies slightly, but this does not always affect the program. For example, a shorter program may have more interesting aspects. The price and length of the tour clearly affect the decision, but let's consider two tours in more detail.
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GOAHEAD TOURS:
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15–38 people
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COLLETTE:
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15 (small group tour)
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Travel parties of all sizes are significant. You experience your trip differently if you join a group tour with more than 20 participants.
It also means that your guide is less likely to pay you direct attention and that you will have fewer opportunities to ask questions that are important to you. Secondly, A group of this size is most likely to travel in a big bus, since it is the most convenient option. |
Finally, while you may find big buses comfortable enough, they consume all of your time - you need to wait for 20+ passengers whenever your bus stops.
In brief, we believe fewer people in your travel group equals a better overall experience and more time to get to know your destination like you intended. |
GOAHEAD TOURS:
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Not listed in the itinerary
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COLLETTE:
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4-star centrally-located hotels
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Your accommodation plays a crucial role in your travel experience. To have the energy to take part in the activities ahead, you must be well-rested.
So, it's better to pay attention to the hotel section when choosing a program. As the time spent travelling can be spent on leisure activities in the city, the location of the hotel is undoubtedly crucial. The star category of your accommodations is also important. Your accommodations should be no less than 4 stars if you spend a lot on your trip. |
As an example, Collette travel company is transparent about their hotel offering and displays the hotels in every city before travelers make a purchase decision. Each hotel seems to fit our criteria - located in the city center, offering comforts of 4-star hotels.
Hotel options do not appear on Goahead Tours' itinerary right away. There are hotels listed at the end of the itinerary, but the point isn't quite clear. |
GOAHEAD TOURS:
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Buses
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COLLETTE:
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Private transfers
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The itinerary for Goahead Tours includes only one kind of transportation, a big bus, as we mentioned in the section about group sizes. Since buses are relatively comfortable nowadays, it might not be a bad idea.
Nevertheless, traveling by bus takes up to three times as long as other forms of transportation and, in Italy, big buses are restricted from entering city centers. |
As a result, Collette does everything in its power to ensure that you travel as quickly as possible by arranging private transfers between cities or comfortable train travel between them.
Due to your private travel arrangements, you will have a comfortable car and will save time by not needing to adjust to the needs of a group of people. |
GOAHEAD TOURS:
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23 sights/activities
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COLLETTE:
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30 sights/activities
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Program in Venice: Venice backstreets walking tour, St. Mark's Square with St Mark’s Basilica, Doge's Palace, Roman arena, Piazza delle Erbe, and the balcony of Shakespeare’s Juliet
Program in Florence: Renaissance Florence walking tour, Florence Cathedral, Ponte Vecchio and Piazza della Signoria, Basilica of Santa Croce, burial site of Michelangelo, Machiavelli, and Galileo Program in Rome: Arch of Constantine and the Arch of Titus, Roman Forum, Colosseum, Circus Maximus, Baths of Caracalla, free day in Rome |
Program in Venice: Venetian boatyard and river trip, St Mark's Square with St Mark’s Basilica & St Mark’s Campanile, live classical music performance by Venetian Antonio Vivaldi, free time for city exploration
Program in Florence: city walking tour, Piazza del Duomo, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and the Baptistery, Piazza della Signoria with its impressive Palazzo Vecchio, Uffizi, Academy Gallery, free time for city exploration Program in Rome: three tour options to choose from: city walking tour, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona; panoramic tour featuring the Catacombs and the medieval basilica of St. Sabina on the Aventine Hill; Rome’s most recent archeological discoveries on a tour of the Ara Pacis, the Mausoleum of Emperor Augustus and the Spanish Steps; optional tour with Colosseum and the Capitol Hill with its monumental piazza designed by Michelangelo visiting; free time for city exploration and one more free day; Vatican exploring, food tour in Rome’s bohemian Trastevere district |
GOAHEAD TOURS:
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A variety of activities and must-sees are included in the itinerary. While staying in the hotels, the program provides different kinds of meals. Nevertheless, you will have to spend many hours on the bus and stay at rather average accommodations.
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COLLETTE:
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For almost the same price, you can count on better travel quality. Collette offers more customization and time with your guide, excellent accommodations, and comfortable, convenient transfer options.
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