Clicking the link to small group tour - we are leaving in 12 days and the hotels in the link are completely different to those now marketed... Sorrento we are in La Favorita, W in Rome, Brunelleschi in Florence and Splendid in Venice , all seem very highly rated in Google and Trip Advisor which is why we picked this tour...Temps looking cool at night 50/60's but sure the sun can be hot mid day for a few hours...let's see....
gladysorlando984 HI.
Apparently, it's the new trend, I booked Turkey with Kensington tours and no price either... they told me average for 15 days about 13-17K but nothing set yet.
Yep, all our group got rooms looking out at the air shaft. I hope you get the dinner at the roof top restaurant (we didn't) but did go up to the bar and had a drink on our own.
If you stay in the heart of the old city in Florence you'll be lucky to see anything more that the sides of other buildings, in all directions, unless your building faces a large piazza and your room is on that side. Maybe if you are close enough you can stick your head out the window, and look up, you may see Brunelleschi's dome! (or if you have the penthouse suite at the top of the hotel tower. )
Front entrance to Hotel Brunelleschi in Florence. It was only two short blocks to the Duomo, but we couldn't see it. (we could see the hotel tower from the Dome, however. See if you can find it?
BKMD - It looks like you had some nice shared patio space with some other rooms, with some covered space in case of rain. I think they give the solo travelers these rooms so that they can hold mixers on their patio. Hopefully you made some acquaintances during these mixers. 😂
I'm sorry you aren't happy with your hotels, but I hope you're happy with the trip, food, things you are seeing and learning. Italy is such a wonderful country.
We've been on 6 Tauck land tours, most recently in April we were in Bern Switzerland and we are not solo travelers - our views looked into a brick wall, even worse than the photo you posted -- many of our rooms since 2004 have had NO view. For us - it's a place to sleep, and shower, and dress- the adventures happen outside the hotel. Hope the trip gets better for you. Italy is probably our favorite country.
Just a side note, we often travel with a single friend - her views are sometimes better than ours, sometimes worse than ours. Europe has single rooms meant for singles - that is where Tauck has to place the solo travelers - I don't think they have a choice - they put solo travelers in single rooms - they can't change what the view is in those rooms. The hotels are built this way. Our TG mentions this on most trips when people start talking about and 'comparing' rooms. Most of these hotels were built 100s of years ago- most were old abbeys, palaces, etc - so all the rooms and views will be different. Embrace the history and differences. It's what makes Europe so special compared to America.
We are going in October on the Tuscany and Umbria tour and look forward to staying in places that are centuries old - we aren't concerned with our view - we just can't wait to be in the culture. Please post a review when you return. I hope the trip is great on other aspects for you. We all spend a lot of money on Tauck Tours and it's tough to be disappointed. I hope you feel like it's been worth it when it's over.
And congrats for making it to the top of the Duomo, we hope to do this in October.
terrilynn - Other than some hotel issues, I am enjoying the trip. The time is flying by. Just killing some time before dinner right now.
Maybe I'm not remembering correctly, but to me it seems that the trips have been "cheapened" since Covid, in terms of premiumality (a new word) of hotels/rooms, the number of included meals, etc.
Regarding the Duomo climb, I suggest you buy the ticket online a few months before your trip. There are none available for sale at the site for several days going forward.
I went on the Classic Italy tour in 2014 and stayed at the Westin Excelsior in Florence situated on a piazza with All Saints Church to the left of the hotel where I attended Mass. The hotel was close to a bridge (don't remember the name) just before Ponte Vecchio, I crossed the bridge and on the other side visited San Frediano in Cestello church that had beautiful works of art.
Gladys, yes that is the Westin Exelsior. The hotel itself is nice but if you look at it on Google earth you can see there is an open space in the center. I've had hotel rooms with windows looking into a similar interior space but usually it was a garden and you got a decent amount of light.
No guarantee you will have success, but if you learn ahead of time from previous travelers or by calling the concierge, you can sometimes get a better room by paying the hotel an up charge. We did that years ago on England, Scotland, Wales at the Edinburgh Sheraton- the Tauck rooms had no view; we had a castle view! 🙂
We start our trip next Monday so I'll try to remember to report - staying Grand Favorita in Sorrento, W in Rome, Alia Posta in Perugia, Grand Universe Lucca one night, Brunelleschi Florence and Spendid in Venice
Same for the England, Scotland, Wales trip…went up by $1,000. Putting together that trip with the Week in Scotland one would be about $5K more than the cost of the Grand Au/NZ we took last fall. We’re going to look at another river cruise instead.
BKMD, yes, we are in a small group... for all the others commenting on increased costs, this is 2024 inflation! I believe the opfficial numbers are way undercounted
It’s the airfare that’s gotten so costly too…..and there re not as many choices. I’ll take fewer trips, but will continue to travel with Tauck as long as I can.
Getting back to the trip, I gained more weight on this trip than any other (5 lbs). And I kept active, doing three 200ish step tower climbs, the 500ish step Duomo climb and walking 6-10 miles/day during free time.
And speaking of food, on the flight home, on my second leg (PHL-DEN), I was offered a choice of pasta or enchiladas for dinner. I said to the flight attendant, "After 2+ weeks in Italy, I can't eat airplane pasta" and had the enchiladas (which weren't bad)
Regarding AC in Italy, we did the Sicily trip this month and had AC at all our hotels. Also FYI: The weather was lovely in the high 70's, and most of the hotels had beautiful pools, but none were heated.
Comments
Clicking the link to small group tour - we are leaving in 12 days and the hotels in the link are completely different to those now marketed... Sorrento we are in La Favorita, W in Rome, Brunelleschi in Florence and Splendid in Venice , all seem very highly rated in Google and Trip Advisor which is why we picked this tour...Temps looking cool at night 50/60's but sure the sun can be hot mid day for a few hours...let's see....
I booked Ireland for next year over a month ago and still don't have a price.
gladysorlando984 HI.
Apparently, it's the new trend, I booked Turkey with Kensington tours and no price either... they told me average for 15 days about 13-17K but nothing set yet.
Back to my original subject. As long as I'm complaining about hotels, here's a pic of my becautiful view of Florence from my room at the Westin:
Yep, all our group got rooms looking out at the air shaft. I hope you get the dinner at the roof top restaurant (we didn't) but did go up to the bar and had a drink on our own.
If you stay in the heart of the old city in Florence you'll be lucky to see anything more that the sides of other buildings, in all directions, unless your building faces a large piazza and your room is on that side. Maybe if you are close enough you can stick your head out the window, and look up, you may see Brunelleschi's dome!
(or if you have the penthouse suite at the top of the hotel tower. 
)
Front entrance to Hotel Brunelleschi in Florence. It was only two short blocks to the Duomo, but we couldn't see it. (we could see the hotel tower from the Dome, however. See if you can find it?
BKMD - It looks like you had some nice shared patio space with some other rooms, with some covered space in case of rain. I think they give the solo travelers these rooms so that they can hold mixers on their patio. Hopefully you made some acquaintances during these mixers. 😂
Sam, funny you say that because it is the solo travelers who got the crappy view rooms. Others look out over the river.
AlanS, I did have a great view of the city. but I had to work for it. I climbed the almost 500 steps of the Duomo up to the top of the dome.
(edited for typo)
I'm sorry you aren't happy with your hotels, but I hope you're happy with the trip, food, things you are seeing and learning. Italy is such a wonderful country.
We've been on 6 Tauck land tours, most recently in April we were in Bern Switzerland and we are not solo travelers - our views looked into a brick wall, even worse than the photo you posted -- many of our rooms since 2004 have had NO view. For us - it's a place to sleep, and shower, and dress- the adventures happen outside the hotel. Hope the trip gets better for you. Italy is probably our favorite country.
Just a side note, we often travel with a single friend - her views are sometimes better than ours, sometimes worse than ours. Europe has single rooms meant for singles - that is where Tauck has to place the solo travelers - I don't think they have a choice - they put solo travelers in single rooms - they can't change what the view is in those rooms. The hotels are built this way. Our TG mentions this on most trips when people start talking about and 'comparing' rooms. Most of these hotels were built 100s of years ago- most were old abbeys, palaces, etc - so all the rooms and views will be different. Embrace the history and differences. It's what makes Europe so special compared to America.
We are going in October on the Tuscany and Umbria tour and look forward to staying in places that are centuries old - we aren't concerned with our view - we just can't wait to be in the culture. Please post a review when you return. I hope the trip is great on other aspects for you. We all spend a lot of money on Tauck Tours and it's tough to be disappointed. I hope you feel like it's been worth it when it's over.
And congrats for making it to the top of the Duomo, we hope to do this in October.
Well said Terrilynn.
terrilynn - Other than some hotel issues, I am enjoying the trip. The time is flying by. Just killing some time before dinner right now.
Maybe I'm not remembering correctly, but to me it seems that the trips have been "cheapened" since Covid, in terms of premiumality (a new word) of hotels/rooms, the number of included meals, etc.
Regarding the Duomo climb, I suggest you buy the ticket online a few months before your trip. There are none available for sale at the site for several days going forward.
I went on the Classic Italy tour in 2014 and stayed at the Westin Excelsior in Florence situated on a piazza with All Saints Church to the left of the hotel where I attended Mass. The hotel was close to a bridge (don't remember the name) just before Ponte Vecchio, I crossed the bridge and on the other side visited San Frediano in Cestello church that had beautiful works of art.
Gladys, yes that is the Westin Exelsior. The hotel itself is nice but if you look at it on Google earth you can see there is an open space in the center. I've had hotel rooms with windows looking into a similar interior space but usually it was a garden and you got a decent amount of light.
No guarantee you will have success, but if you learn ahead of time from previous travelers or by calling the concierge, you can sometimes get a better room by paying the hotel an up charge. We did that years ago on England, Scotland, Wales at the Edinburgh Sheraton- the Tauck rooms had no view; we had a castle view! 🙂
Claudia you are right, there was no view from the room, just like your pictures, in the future I'll take Alan S suggestion and see if I can upgrade.
We start our trip next Monday so I'll try to remember to report - staying Grand Favorita in Sorrento, W in Rome, Alia Posta in Perugia, Grand Universe Lucca one night, Brunelleschi Florence and Spendid in Venice
Those are all diff than my trip. Must be Small Groups.
Switzerland Crown Jewel for 2025 was finally posted today, price went up by $800, $10590 to $11390
Same for the England, Scotland, Wales trip…went up by $1,000. Putting together that trip with the Week in Scotland one would be about $5K more than the cost of the Grand Au/NZ we took last fall. We’re going to look at another river cruise instead.
I’ve noticed that many of the 2025 tours in Europe are small groups with very few classic tours, which are cheaper, offered for the season.
BKMD, yes, we are in a small group... for all the others commenting on increased costs, this is 2024 inflation! I believe the opfficial numbers are way undercounted
It’s the airfare that’s gotten so costly too…..and there re not as many choices. I’ll take fewer trips, but will continue to travel with Tauck as long as I can.
Getting back to the trip, I gained more weight on this trip than any other (5 lbs). And I kept active, doing three 200ish step tower climbs, the 500ish step Duomo climb and walking 6-10 miles/day during free time.
And speaking of food, on the flight home, on my second leg (PHL-DEN), I was offered a choice of pasta or enchiladas for dinner. I said to the flight attendant, "After 2+ weeks in Italy, I can't eat airplane pasta" and had the enchiladas (which weren't bad)
Regarding AC in Italy, we did the Sicily trip this month and had AC at all our hotels. Also FYI: The weather was lovely in the high 70's, and most of the hotels had beautiful pools, but none were heated.