This is the second in the series of compare tours for Italy. This time we are comparing Intrepid and GAdventures.
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.
Both Intrepid and G Adventures didn't have a single tour that covered all must visit places in Italy, so I thought I would combine two tours.
See the comparison between 3 weeks with Contiki and Topdeck, and Cosmos and Trafalgar.
Intrepid best of italy+ Intrepid Around Bay of Napals
Intrepid best of Italy 15 days from A$2613, A$174 per day
+ Intrepid Italy family: Around the bay of naples, from A$1162 8 days, $146 per day
= Intrepid 22/23 day from A$3775, A$172 per day.
Pros
- Really small group, 12 people
- Available through May, June, July
- Lots of free time and options, geared towards independent travellers
- Guarenteed departure
- Award winning tour guides
- Suggests good pace, and not a lot of travel time.
Cons
- Budget extra E775 for meals
- Expensive compared to Topdeck, Contiki
- Not many reviews available
- reviews suggests comfort levels of hotels is budget quality, equivalent to motels in Australia
- still a lot ot plan given that there is a lot of free time.
GAdventures Amalfi family adventure + GAdventures Ultimate Italy
GAdventures Ultimate Italy
13 Days from A$2199, A$169 per day+
GAdventures Amalfi family adventure, Italy 8 days from A$1089, A$136 per day
= GAdventures 21 day from A$3288, A$157 per day
Pros
- Small group, 12-20 people
- Lots of free time and options, geared towards independent travellers
- Good review of accommodations on this trip on tripadvisor
- Cheaper than Intrepid, on par with Contiki/ Topdeck
- More options for scenic hikes/walks
Cons
- Budget extra E630- E765 for meals
- No departures in May, June 2014
- demands a certain amount of fitness, walking up to 6 hours a day
Direct comparison
| Intrepid |
GAdventures
| |
Arrival day
|
Meet & Greet at 6pm
EXTRAS Entrance to Colosseum, etc E12
|
Meet & Greet at 6pm
EXTRAS Entrance to Colosseum, etc E12
|
Rome
|
Free time/ walking tour Rome
(Vatican City, St Peter’s Basilica)
|
Free time/ walking tour Rome
(Vatican City, St Peter’s Basilica)
|
2 days in Florence
|
Florence includes Piazzale Michelangelo
Free time
EXTRAS: Accademia, Florence - EUR6.50 Duomo & Campanile climb, Florence - EUR6.00 Uffizi Gallery, Florence - EUR6.50 Vatican museums, Rome - EUR15.00 St Peter's dome - EUR7.00
|
Free time/ walking tour Rome
(Vatican City, St Peter’s Basilica)
Florence includes Piazzale Michelangelo
Free time
EXTRAS: Accademia, Florence - EUR6.50 Duomo & Campanile climb, Florence - EUR6.00 Uffizi Gallery, Florence - EUR6.50 Vatican museums, Rome - EUR15.00 St Peter's dome- EUR7.00
|
2 days Milan/ Italian lakes
|
Train to Milan (2 hours)
Free time
Lake Como Train/ Bus (3 hours)
Free time
EXTRAs: La Scala Museum, Milan - EUR5.00 The Last Supper from, Milan - EUR29.00
|
Train through Milan (2 hours)
Lake Como Train/ Bus (3 hours)
Free time
|
2 days in Cinque Teree
|
Train to La Spezia (3 hours)
Free time
Cinque Terre Day pass
|
Train to Cinque Teree (3 hours)
Free time (Leaning tower of Pisa side trip)
Free time in Cinque Teree
|
2 days in Lucca/ Pisa
|
Train to Lucca (2 hours)
Cycling tour through Tuscany (3 hours)
Free time
Pisa by local train
EXTRAs: Puccini concert, Lucca - EUR15.00 Palazzo Pfanner house, Lucca - EUR3.00 Guinigi Tower Climb, Lucca - EUR4.00 Lucca bike hire, Lucca - EUR3.50 National Gallery Villa Guinigi, Lucca - EUR4.00 Cathedral of San Martino, Lucca – Free Palazzo Pfanner Gardens, Lucca - EUR3.00 Barga bus day trip, Lucca - EUR8.00 Palazzo Pfanner House and Garden combo, Lucca - EUR4.50 Cathedral Museum, Lucca - EUR3.50 Tomb of Ilaria Carretto, Lucca - EUR2.00
|
Train to Lucca (2 hours)
Cycling (own) through Tuscany
Free time
EXTRAs: Puccini concert, Lucca - EUR15.00 Palazzo Pfanner house, Lucca - EUR3.00 Guinigi Tower Climb, Lucca - EUR4.00 Lucca bike hire, Lucca - EUR3.50 National Gallery Villa Guinigi, Lucca - EUR4.00 Cathedral of San Martino, Lucca – Free Palazzo Pfanner Gardens, Lucca - EUR3.00 Barga bus day trip, Lucca - EUR8.00 Palazzo Pfanner House and Garden combo, Lucca - EUR4.50 Cathedral Museum, Lucca - EUR3.50 Tomb of Ilaria Carretto, Lucca - EUR2.00
|
2 days in Venice
|
Train to Venice (6 hours)
Free time
EXTRAS:
Gondola ride, Venice - EUR16.00 Doge's Palace and Bridge of Sighs, Venice - EUR16.00 Guggenheim Museum, Venice - EUR12.00 St Mark's Campanile, Venice - EUR8.00 St Mark's Basilica Treasury, Venice - EUR3.00 Accademia Gallery, Venice - EUR11.00 Venezia Ca' d'Oro, Venice - EUR8.00Concerto, Venice - EUR30.00
|
Train to Venice (5 hours)
Free time
EXTRAS:
Gondola ride, Venice - EUR16.00 Doge's Palace and Bridge of Sighs, Venice - EUR16.00 Guggenheim Museum, Venice - EUR12.00 St Mark's Campanile, Venice - EUR8.00 St Mark's Basilica Treasury, Venice - EUR3.00 Accademia Gallery, Venice - EUR11.00 Venezia Ca' d'Oro, Venice - EUR8.00Concerto, Venice - EUR30.00
|
Siena
|
Train to Santa Margherita (1 hour)
Walking tour of Portofino, boat ride
Train to Asti (2.5 hours)
Wine region bus
EXTRAS: Archaeological Museum, Asti - EUR5.00
|
Free time- Rome
Bus to Siena (3.5 hours)
Free time
|
Naples arrival
|
Free time
Meet & Greet at 6pm
|
Free time
Meet & Greet at 6pm
|
| Pompeii |
Local train to Pompeii
Climb Vesuvius
Included: Dinner
|
Bus to Amalfi
Pompeii guided tour
Climb Vesuvius
|
Capri
|
Day trip.
Ferry to Blue Grotto, Capri
Anacapri afternoon free to explore
|
Free time
(day trip to Capri)
|
Amalfi coast
|
Free time in Sorrento
|
Day trip to Sorrento
Beach
Make pizza
|
Amalfi coast
|
Free time
Train to Sorrento
|
Positano and Praiano walk
Ferry back to Amalfi
|
Amalfi coast
|
Neighbour of Pompeii (train)
Guided tour (2 hours)
Free time
|
part of the "Valle dei Mulini" route(4 hours)
Free time |
Amalfi coast
|
Free time in Sorrento
|
Bus to Ravello
Free time
|
Amalfi coast
|
Free time
|
Free time
Airport transfer included
|
As usual, I did a quick search on reviews
- Some reviewers on Tripadvisor and other websites talked about the low quality accommodations offered by these two companies. They are marketed as comfortable, but it's really relative. In Europe, accommodation is more worn out than in Australia. So the comfort levels of these are better than hostels and camping but definitely not 3 start Australian quality.
- That being said, both companies offer alternatives to hotel accommodation, but offering local apartment style living.
- Both companies offer some tour connection assistance.
If I had to choose Intrepid or GAdventures for Italy?
- Given that my travel companion has a set annual leave period, G Adventures was not an option due to the departure dates available at the moment
- But I would have preferred this as I love to walk, I don't think my travel companion would have preferred this because she isn't so keen to walk.
- With similar inclusions and itinerary, G Adventures was also significantly cheaper.
What about you, GAdventures or Intrepid for Italy?
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