We returned earlier this week from our TB Italia Bella trip (Rome, Florence, Venice). Thank you to everyone on these boards who answered all of my questions and provided valuable information!! We previously did two
ABD trips and I was reluctant to try TB, especially because I could not find more information on them. There is not an active forum equivalent to this one, and I was concerned that it would not be as good as ABD. Fortunately some of you well travelled ABD veterans have also traveled with TB and were very helpful!
We had a wonderful trip! We were very fortunate to be on a departure with only 28 guests. All of the other dates before and after ours were sold out (max 40 guests) but for whatever reason, perhaps because our departure date was July 4th?, ours was not. There are a few departures offered in a smaller group (26 guests) that cost extra, but we essentially got the smaller group experience for the normal price. This added to the enjoyment because it was a really nice size group.
There was one tour director instead of two as on ABD, but there were local guides at each town. Also, when we got to Venice, there was another Tauck guide available to help with our transfers to the water taxis from the train station, and again from the hotel to the airport. Our tour director was excellent. I don't know how the others are, but he was very organized, helpful and personable. Also, we liked that he was originally from Italy, although he has lived in the US for sometime now. But we thought it was helpful that he knew the language and Italian logistics, yet spoke impeccable English.
Everything else seemed very similar to an ABD (minus the pins, lol). The hotels were very nice, in good locations. There was a welcome reception followed by dinner, and on the final evening a farewell reception and dinner. Both nights were lovely and well done. The included meals throughout the trip were good two, and there was a nice balance of group meals vs on your own. The tour director was helpful with recommendations for meals on our own, as well as activities for on our own time.
I would not hesitate to do TB again. The only thing for us, is that our son is going into his senior year of high school, so I am not sure if we would pick TB after he is in college. That is one thing that may be an advantage for ABD. There are some guests who come on ABD even if they don't have kids or have grown children. Whereas, DS was almost the oldest on this TB trip. The only one older was the oldest of three children in her family. Perhaps because Tauck has other types of trips, TB is most likely to be families with children. I asked our tour director about some of the other Tauck tours. He sometimes does the Switzerland trip (Classic, not TB). He said those trips are much less active. He recommended the Tauck Culturious for DH and me if we were looking to do something without kids. They look very nice but unfortunately they only have a small number of options right now. Maybe they will expand, although the Italy culturious trip that goes to Cinque Terre, Lucca, Siena... looks fabulous.
Sorry if this is a little disjointed. I was jotting down things as they came to mind. If anyone has any questions, please let me know!