Italy 3 week contiki vs topdeck- trip planning

My friend and I are planning a trip to Europe for 3 weeks next year. We haven't quite decided on where to go or how to go yet. A Europe trip is on my 30 things before 30 list. Having a quick search on the internet, I found out that Italy is a great European destination with a moderate price tag. I am budgeting A$5000 including flights, insurance, all expenses (my companion has a bit more to spend, but I assume they will simply spend more on food, gifts, etc). I don't want to skimp on the experience, but I'm happy to eat less, but have more meals.

Firstly, I wanted to compare Contiki and Topdeck offerings.

Attractions to see:

• St Peter's Square, Rome
• Colosseum, Rome
• Trevi Fountain, Rome
• Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel
• Leaning tower of Pisa
• Gate of Paradise, Florence
• Lake Maggoire
• Romeo and Juliet's Balcony- Verona
• Gondola, Venice
• Pompeii
• Boat trip to Capri
• San Gimignano
• Tuscany

Topdeck 13 Day Bravo Italia: from A$2430 per person, $187 per day.

Pros:

• Within budget, optional activities are detailed
• Wifi on the bus will make the travel time productive
• Includes hotel accommodation
• Max 28 on the tour
• an extra day in Rome
• more included extras : Gondola ride E21, Lake cruise E9.50, 2 extra dinners

Cons:

• A bit rushed, according to some reviews.
• Not many reviews available online for this tour

Contiki  12 day Simply Italy: from A$1855 per person, A$154 a day.

Pros:

• Within budget and about A$500 cheaper than Topdeck!
• Includes hotel accommodation
• really good reviews on their own website.
• exploring Milan
• trip to an outlet mall

Cons:

• Less detailed information about trip add-ons than Topdeck
• Appears to be an exhausting trip
• up to 50 on the tour allowed
• less time in Verona
• trip to an outlet mall if you don't like shopping

Direct comparison

	Topdeck	Contiki
Arrival day	Meet & Greet at 4pm Walking tour Included Dinner	Meet & Greet at 4pm Walking tour Included Dinner
Pompeii	Pompeii Included Breakfast, Dinner  EXTRAS Pompeii tour E20	Naples Pompeii Included Breakfast, Dinner  EXTRAS Pompeii tour E20
Blue Grotto, Capri	Boat to Blue Grotto Swim stops Free time Includes: Breakfast EXTRAS Cruise E10-E30	Boat to Blue Grotto Swim stops Free time Includes: Breakfast EXTRA: Cruise E25. Feast E37
Cinque Terre	Free time (Cinque Terre) Train for villages (UNESCO World Heritage Site) Includes: Breakfast	Free time (Cinque Terre) Train for villages (UNESCO World Heritage Site) Includes: Breakfast
Florence	walking tour Free time Includes: Breakfast	Walking tour Free time Optional clubbing Includes: Breakfast EXTRA: Photo E11, Tuscan dinner E39, Space disco E15
Venice  Gondola	Free time Gondola Walking tour Included: Breakfast	Venice boat Free time Optional walking tour Optional gondola ride Includes: Breakfast EXTRA: Venice walking tour E11, Gondola ride E21, San Giorgio E37.50
Florence	Siena (UNESCO World Heritage Site), and the Piazza del Campo Walking tour Free time Chianti winery Includes: Breakfast	wine tasting Florence free time Walking tour of River Arno Includes: Breakfast, Dinner
Pisa	Walking tour Lucca Leaning Tower of Pisa Includes: Breakfast, Dinner	Free time, inc Pisa Tour for Colosseum, fountain. Free time Includes: Breakfast
Lake Garda	Lake Garda (cruise) Verona walking tour Venice Included: Breakfast, Dinner	Lake Garda optional cruise Milan walking tour Free time Includes: Breakfast, Dinner EXTRA: Lake cruise E9.50
	Assisi Assisi walking tour (Basilica of St Francis) Includes: Breakfast, Dinner	Outlet mall Verona for dinner Includes: Breakfast
Day 2. Rome	Free time (Vatican City, St Peter’s, Colosseum, or just relax) Included Breakfast	Vatican City Optional walking tour Free time Includes: Breakfast EXTRA: Imperial tour E26, Farewell dinner E39.50
Rome	Rome Walking tour Free time Includes: Dinner
Last day	Finishes Includes: Breakfast	Finishes Includes: Breakfast

Differences are highlighted in yellow.

Useful resources:

• My local travel agent, an older lady was really enthusiastic about Italy. She recommended Topdeck over Contiki for me since I'm not a party type. 
• As always Tripadvisor was helpful. There were good reviews for both companies but the general consensus was that Contiki was party oriented large groups and topdeck had smaller groups with a wider variety of people. 
• Searching for relevant blogs. Pictures of the trip really gave a good insight into how good it is, and ideas for add ons. All roads lead to rome 2013 combined the Topdeck tour with a Greece tour.

Tips:

• Don't pay full price. If you book and pay 6 months in advance you can save 5-10%.

But it seems like there are many other options available, I'm going to have a look at GAdventures, Cosmos next.

 

 If I had to choose Contiki or Topdeck for Italy?

• Topdeck has fewer people, so I'll have to waste less time waiting for others
• I'm not really interested in shopping, so visiting an outlet mall seems to waste at least half a day in Contiki but $500 savings for an extra day and 2 extra dinners, well I think I can stay over in Rome for another day for well under $500
• Result: Undecided, I'll have a look at my other options first.

What about you, Contiki or Topdeck?

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