Perillo Tours for Italy instead of ABD ?

[helenk]

I had been thinking of going to Ireland next year, my daughter was there last year and really liked it.
We got to talking today and she thought maybe we should consider going somewhere new and we were tosing around Italy and even thought about Hawaii...talk about 2 ends of the spectrum.
I like the ABD Rome, Tuscany and Venice tour but a co-worker had indicated that they went to Italy with Perillo so I looked up the information on their tours. They have a 10 day tour of Venice, Florence and Rome.
They do not have 2010 prices for Italy but do for Hawaii (I think that is what got us talking about Hawaii) but I was wondering if anyone has used Perillo, do they compare with ABD?

 

[Diskidatheart]

I have not used Perillo tours, but am also interested in the Rome, Tuscany, Venice trip that ABD has to offer. I've been researching other tour companies and found that Trafalgar has a similar tour that is one day longer than ABD's tour, but it is about $1,000 cheaper per person. I think the majority of the savings is due to less expensive hotels and a couple of more meals paid for by ABD. I'd love to go on an ABD trip, but I don't know if I can justify paying $2,000 more to see the same stuff. One thing I noticed about Trafalgar is that you can pay for additional tours during your free time, so the savings may be closer to $1,000 - $1,200 total, which is still significant. I'll be curious to hear if anyone has any insight on Trafalgar and Perillo Tours.

 

[Bobo912]

I have not used Perillo tours, but am also interested in the Rome, Tuscany, Venice trip that ABD has to offer. I've been researching other tour companies and found that Trafalgar has a similar tour that is one day longer than ABD's tour, but it is about $1,000 cheaper per person. I think the majority of the savings is due to less expensive hotels and a couple of more meals paid for by ABD. I'd love to go on an ABD trip, but I don't know if I can justify paying $2,000 more to see the same stuff. One thing I noticed about Trafalgar is that you can pay for additional tours during your free time, so the savings may be closer to $1,000 - $1,200 total, which is still significant. I'll be curious to hear if anyone has any insight on Trafalgar and Perillo Tours.

I don't know anything about Trafalgar tours, but I have noticed that it is one of 3 escorted tour provider that you can book through Costco. The Costco website says their Trafalgar tour prices 10% off the regular price and, like the ABD trips, you get a Costco gift card if you book through them. The gift card doesn't appear to be based on the prices of the trip like it is for ABD. I didn't read all the fine print, but it mentions $35 gift card per booking. The other company is Australian Pacifc Touring which offers tours of Australia (obviously) and New Zeland. I feel confident that Costco selects good companies to do business with.

 

[sayhello]

I also have never traveled with Trafalgar, but I can tell you that they've been around a LONG time, because when I was in England in 1979, some of the people I traveled with took a Trafalgar tour for part of their stay (I was an impovershed student, and just toured on my own). They really seemed to enjoy it.

(Well, and I just checked their website, and it says "since 1947", so even longer than I thought). They have to be doing something right to have lasted that long. So really, the question is whether the *type* of tour they offer suits you or not...

Sayhello

 

[pandafan]

My family just returned from the Disney Ireland trip and we also have toured China with Disney and have seen many other tour companies in the hotels we have stayed in. They just don't seem to have the same magical expreince that Disney provides. Also I don't see many "younger" people and never children. I would ask questions!

 

[Pakey]

I know someone who has done both Perillo and AbD. The answer I got was, No, they do not compare, not even close. The difference in hotels is substantial; the room in Venice was nice but the rooms in Florence and Rome were substandard and not located in the best of areas. The difference in the food was even more substantial. Also, the age group on the Perillo tour was old, the entire group was retired age. There were 50 people on the tour with one guide. The guide was busy and not very friendly.

Also, Perillo pays for part of their tours by "advertising" which means that the tours are going to make stops at various places in the hopes that you will buy merchandise. The person I talked to said that the people on the tour were very upset about these stops.

 

[helenk]

I know someone who has done both Perillo and AbD. The answer I got was, No, they do not compare, not even close. The difference in hotels is substantial; the room in Venice was nice but the rooms in Florence and Rome were substandard and not located in the best of areas. The difference in the food was even more substantial. Also, the age group on the Perillo tour was old, the entire group was retired age. There were 50 people on the tour with one guide. The guide was busy and not very friendly.

Also, Perillo pays for part of their tours by "advertising" which means that the tours are going to make stops at various places in the hopes that you will buy merchandise. The person I talked to said that the people on the tour were very upset about these stops.

Oh this is very good information. I'mm 55 and would not mind an older crowd but my daughter will be 23 so a whole group of older folks would not be fun for her. I know my co-worker indicated that the hotels were nice, but I am not sure what her description of nice is. I have been looking at other tours as well and most, only have 1 guide for the group and if you have a large group I can really see that as being a problem.
I think that I need to keep in mind that less expensive may not always be the best way to go, especially since this will be her graduation present and a once in a life time trip (at least until she gets a teaching job and pays off her loans)
I really like everything that ABD has to offer, I'd love to go on the Italy Signature trip but that is out of my budget.

 

[Diskidatheart]

Thanks for all the good information. I spoke to my TA and she said that she has sent many people on Trafalgar and they have been very happy with the trip. She also said that ABD has that magical touch. I've looked at the hotels for both Trafalgar's Flavor of Italy trip and ABD's Viva Italy trip and the Disney hotels seem much classier. I read some reviews on Trip Advisor for all 6 hotels (3 for each company) and it sounds like the Venice hotel for Disney is a little far from all the attractions, whereas, the Trafalgar hotel is in a great location, but not the greatest hotel. The trip with Trafalgar has something that I think is a little better than the pasta making class with ABD. On their excursion, you actually go to the market and pick out the food you will be taught how to cook later that morning. The Trafalgar trip also inlcudes a trip to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa, which ABD doesn't offer. The only catch that I've found with Trafalgar is that sometimes on your leisure time, you will need to purchase optional tours if you want to see more sights. They aren't extremely expensive and they certainly won't amount to $2,000, which is the savings I would incur on the Trafalgar trip. I also talked to a rep at Trafalgar and found that even though they do not have Adults Only trips, most of their trips are adults and because this particular trip is a little more hands on (similar to ABD), it is not all retirees. Since we don't have kids, that is appealing to me, but I'm sure it would be a turnoff for others with kids. The other good news is that if I put a deposit down on a trip next year, I get the 2009 pricing, unless the price goes down, then I would get the lower 2010 pricing. Believe me, I've tried to come up with reasons to justify spending the extra $2,000, but I can't. The only reasoning is that it is Disney and I know it will be magical. I just don't think magical is worth $2,000. Once again, thanks for all the information and feedback.

 

[beansf]

I know nothing of Perillo, but I will say, my boss just came back from an Italian tour with Trafalgar and she said she had a wonderful time (despite the fact that the airline lost her luggage and she lost her camera). I am thinking very seriously of using this company myself, the next time I do a land tour.

 

[Pakey]

Thanks for all the good information. I spoke to my TA and she said that she has sent many people on Trafalgar and they have been very happy with the trip. She also said that ABD has that magical touch. I've looked at the hotels for both Trafalgar's Flavor of Italy trip and ABD's Viva Italy trip and the Disney hotels seem much classier. I read some reviews on Trip Advisor for all 6 hotels (3 for each company) and it sounds like the Venice hotel for Disney is a little far from all the attractions, whereas, the Trafalgar hotel is in a great location, but not the greatest hotel. The trip with Trafalgar has something that I think is a little better than the pasta making class with ABD. On their excursion, you actually go to the market and pick out the food you will be taught how to cook later that morning. The Trafalgar trip also inlcudes a trip to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa, which ABD doesn't offer. The only catch that I've found with Trafalgar is that sometimes on your leisure time, you will need to purchase optional tours if you want to see more sights. They aren't extremely expensive and they certainly won't amount to $2,000, which is the savings I would incur on the Trafalgar trip. I also talked to a rep at Trafalgar and found that even though they do not have Adults Only trips, most of their trips are adults and because this particular trip is a little more hands on (similar to ABD), it is not all retirees. Since we don't have kids, that is appealing to me, but I'm sure it would be a turnoff for others with kids. The other good news is that if I put a deposit down on a trip next year, I get the 2009 pricing, unless the price goes down, then I would get the lower 2010 pricing. Believe me, I've tried to come up with reasons to justify spending the extra $2,000, but I can't. The only reasoning is that it is Disney and I know it will be magical. I just don't think magical is worth $2,000. Once again, thanks for all the information and feedback.

Just wanted to mention that Disney probably doesn't do the side trip to Pisa because they are a classier tour group. Pisa is not a nice place. We did Italy on our own a few years ago and the only place I really hated was Pisa. Talk about a tourist trap and the swap meet vendors are so aggressive that they actually touch you/block your path as you walk by.

 

[sayhello]

Also, Perillo pays for part of their tours by "advertising" which means that the tours are going to make stops at various places in the hopes that you will buy merchandise. The person I talked to said that the people on the tour were very upset about these stops.

OMG, that alone would turn me off from *EVER* going on a tour with Perillo. Yuck! If I want advertising, I'll stay home & watch TV!

Sayhello

 

[sayhello]

Just wanted to mention that Disney probably doesn't do the side trip to Pisa because they are a classier tour group. Pisa is not a nice place. We did Italy on our own a few years ago and the only place I really hated was Pisa. Talk about a tourist trap and the swap meet vendors are so aggressive that they actually touch you/block your path as you walk by.

Actually, the Bella Italia (Central Italy) ABD tour does go to Pisa. Just different areas of Italy that are concentrated on by each tour.

Sayhello

 

[pklein09]

My mom and her husband did a Trafalgar Tour in Italy last summer. They enjoyed it, but had never toured with any other travel company before. They did say it really depended on your tour guide. They said their's was really great, but passed other Tralfalgar tours at various stops. While chatting with one group, there was much complaining about the tour guide, and that particular group was not happy.

On a side note, DH and I did a Trafalgar Tour in England in 1994, and were very unhappy with it. It was a 7 day tour. We spent most of our time on the bus. We would get on the bus around 8:00 and stop for lunch. They would give us about 1.5 - 2 hours to get lunch and see the town. Then it was back on the bus till dinner time, with maybe a stop to see a church and use the restrooms. By the time we got checked into the hotel, all the shops were closed and most tourist destinations were shut down for the day. Also, there was no food or drink allowed on the bus, not even a bottle of water. The driver would make us stand outside the bus to finish whatever we had. We made the best of it, but I'll never book Trafalgar again.

 

[beansf]

We spent most of our time on the bus. We would get on the bus around 8:00 and stop for lunch. They would give us about 1.5 - 2 hours to get lunch and see the town. Then it was back on the bus till dinner time, with maybe a stop to see a church and use the restrooms. By the time we got checked into the hotel, all the shops were closed and most tourist destinations were shut down for the day. Also, there was no food or drink allowed on the bus, not even a bottle of water. The driver would make us stand outside the bus to finish whatever we had. We made the best of it, but I'll never book Trafalgar again.

Yikes! This is the type of story that scares me. I know that even though ABD wants an arm and a leg, they would never treat their guests this way.

 

[Diskidatheart]

This is all great feedback and makes the decision so much harder. It sounds like it is hit or miss with Trafalgar. Lots more research to do before committing to anything.

 

[helenk]

After reading some of the discussion here I went to Trafalgars website and yes their prices are a lot cheaper. There is a big difference in price, Trafalgers
"11" day tour is $2665 whereas ADB 9 day tour is $3859 for the same timeframe.
One thing I find interesting though is that Day 1 of their tour is you leaving the US (or other country of departure) how can they count that as Day 1 of the tour? Here is an example of their itinerary:

Day 1- Depart USA
Overnight flight to Rome.

Day 2 - Arrive Rome (2 nights)
Welcome to Rome, the capital of Italy and the Eternal City! You will have time to relax and unwind before we meet with our Tour Director and fellow travelers this evening. Find out more about your tour and your traveling companions as you all enjoy a Welcome Drink together with your Tour Director.

So you are into Day 2 and you have not started anything at all. I find that a bit misleading. There does seem to be a lot of time on your on with Trafalgar tours and a few less meals.
There is so much to take into consideration when planning a trip like this

 

[Diskidatheart]

You are correct, the Trafalgar # of days is a bit misleading since day 1 starts with the day of your flight. The Trafalgar trip is actually 10 days. I found the Flavor of Italy trip from Trafalgar to be very similar to the Viva Italia trip for ABD. Depending on when you want to go, there is a huge price difference. I spoke to a rep from Trafalgar yesterday and she said that if you put a $200 deposit down now on a 2010 trip, then you get the 2009 pricing. The dates and prices that you currently see are not the official 2010 dates and pricing. It sounds like the tour dates may be adjusted by a day or two when official pricing and dates are announced in October, but as I said, if you commit now, you get the 2009 pricing. Also, if the pricing happens to go down for 2010, then you would get the lower 2010 pricing. It's a lot to think about.