Hotels are FAR, FAR away from tourist attractions. Forcing you to take their additional $$$$ "tours"

STAY AWAY from the thieves at Trafalger !!!

You are never "forced" to take any additional tours on these types of trips. If you choose to do so it's your decision. You can always take a bus or taxi into town and visit on your own. If you choose not to do the research before the tour that is your own fault.

Donna

Took Trafalgar's Italy Bellissimo tour September 18-30, 2012. Had a wonderful travel director, Lidia Bernardin, who made the trip quite a memorable experience. Hotels were great though Capri 's hotel was our least favorite. Considering the crowds and hot weather we were happy to be escorted. Took most of the optionals. Local guides added much to our knowledge. Special surprise trip to the very meaningful American Cemetery in Florence we will never forget. This is our second trafalgar tour and would take another happily. CIE tours of Ireland and Scotland also receive high marks from us. Did Sicily on our own , rental car and such. Had to hire two local guides at considerable expense to really "see" Taormina . GPS had us driving on the Corso Umberto which is for pedestrians only ! Had a grand time but saw less than on an organized tour. It takes lots of time at the car rental counter, both to get the car and to return it. Detours made us lose at least half a day. My biggest complaint now is with United Airlines and Alitalia. Rudeness, teeny , cramped seats. Tiny media screen that lands on your nose courtesy of the passenger in row ahead of you who reclines his/her seat most of the trip. Wll try Air Canada and Virgin Atlantic next. Have heard better things about these two carriers.

Just glad to be able to travel. Italy is a country with lots of soul. Will return. Soon , hopefully.

"Had to hire two local guides at considerable expense to really "see" Taormina"

I am really curious as to what two local guides were needed to show you in Taormina - maybe I missed something. In Cazenovia, yes but Taormina? (Just kidding about Cazenovia - love the place)

We too have not long been back from a Trafalgar tour, 'The best of Italy' we found everything gobsmackingly wonderful, including the Hotels the only problem we encountered was mainly the tour Director, totally overbearing, talked too much, overloaded you with facts, laughed too much (at her own unfunny folks) was at times short and rude to travellers, even took it upon herself to correct my husbands matters that she thought was unacceptable. But my biggest grievance is the minute the tour is over you become invisible and emails of complaint or please explains go unaswered, fortuneately I received better service from the second last Hotel we stayed at and I carelessly left my mobile behind and with no thanks to Trafalgar or the tour director we at least got the sim card back, the cost of a courier was greater than the cost to replace it. Lets face it we don't have to be a genious to know that Trafalgar go through each city almost daily and I feel they could have done something for me, but no, and some eleven weeks later still waiting for some explanation from them, but as I tell them with each email to them I won't go away until I feel that the issue has benn addressed

We too have not long been back from a Trafalgar tour, 'The best of Italy' we found everything gobsmackingly wonderful, including the Hotels the only problem we encountered was mainly the tour Director, totally overbearing, talked too much, overloaded you with facts, laughed too much (at her own unfunny folks) was at times short and rude to travellers, even took it upon herself to correct my husbands matters that she thought was unacceptable. But my biggest grievance is the minute the tour is over you become invisible and emails of complaint or please explains go unaswered, fortuneately I received better service from the second last Hotel we stayed at where I carelessly left my mobile and with no thanks to Trafalgar or the tour director we at least got the sim card back, the cost of a courier was greater than the cost to replace it. Lets face it we don't have to be a genious to know that Trafalgar go through each city almost daily and I feel they could have done something for me, but no, and some eleven weeks later still waiting for some explanation from them, but as I tell them with each email to them I won't go away until I feel that the issue has benn addressed

Which issue are you talking about? You got your sim card back so what other issue is there? I'm lost.

Donna

yes you are right - but it is the fact that I got no co-operation from Trafalgar, had it not been for the Hotel would still be waiting for a reply to my issue re 'after the tour' service. the Hotel too have 100's through their doors and could not have done enough for me, even paid the postage registered mail, although I suggested they send it COD, its the silence from Trafalgar that has left me with a nasty taste in my mouth Erica R

Are you upset that Trafalgar didn't call the hotel for you? Because honestly I'm not sure what they were supposed to do.

I was on a Monograms tour this summer (excellent, by the way) and one of the group left her camera in the hotel in Florence's dining room. While the Monograms rep in Venice did what she could (basically give her the phone number) this was really between the tour member and the hotel where she left the camera and the tour member understood that and did all of the calling, etc. herself.

I only lost my phone on the last day, and didnot discover that until we got to our farewell dinner and we were on the first transfer in the morning to the airport, so no time for me to do anything and no I didn't expect them to ring for me - so as soon as I arrived home I emailed them for some advise, surely I wasn't the first to lose something, I just wanted Trafalgar to answer my emails, I just had no idea how to go about arranging the pick up or anything and explained that in my email, after about 4 weeks of frustration of no replies I emailed the hotel, not only got a reply immediately but a few suggestions, greatly appreciated indeed. We have now been back 11 weeks and still no reply from Trafalgar. Funny the first grievance I read on this site was about the lousy hotels, well we just loved all of them Erica