Looking to set my parents up on an escorted trip across Italy. Most trips are running around $3500/pp, for 9 days, without airfare. That runs about $800/day. They won't be going to the Amalfi Coast or Capri and staying in 5 star hotels. I remember spending a good amount when I was in Italy in the fall, but not $800/day. Why are these trips to expensive? What other options would you recommend?

Thank you,

merittraveler

It's escorted. The operator gets paid, and so does the guide. You haven't posted what that $800 a day does and doesn't get you, so there's not much else we can add at this point.

The price includes: hotel, meals, guide, and train tickets.

Again, not enough information. What cities, hotels, (types of) restaurants, train classes, etc?

It could be a good value, could be a ripoff, really depends on the details.

Escorted trips generally range from $250 per person per day on the very low side, to $400 per person per day on the high end. At $388 per person per day you are on the high side, but not out of the range. I'd make sure that for that price your parents are going pretty high end, getting cut-the-line passes into the Vatican Museums, the Uffizi, etc.

Keep in mind that some of these escorted tours consist of groups of 30-60 people in a tour group. It's not like you have a private escort. If you're OK with that, have you considered looking at Rick Steve's tours? I haven't been on one, but I know a guide. Everything is included, you get local guides, they have a solid reputation, and run $2350 a person for a ten day all included tour through Venice, Florence, Rome. His website lists a 9 day $2150 tour including Rome, Tuscany, Cinque Terra, Florence, and a few other cities. The savings right there could pay for your parents airfare.

I am in the wrong line of business.

This begs the questions...how old are your parents? have they ever travelled internationally? are they nevervous about possibly travelling on their own instead of an escorted tour?

Whenever I think of an escorted tour, I think of hours upon hours on a bus with a lot of people you may or may not like, but you're stuck with them for all those days.