This was a very well organised tour enabling us to see a lot of Italy in a relatively short time. The pace was fairly demanding and the quality of the hotels we stayed in was rather variable.
Quality: 4
Value for money: 4
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Brand: Shearings
See the best of Italy with included visits to the world-famous cities of Siena, Rome, Florence and Pisa, and discover the beautiful scenery of the Neapolitan Coast.
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Ok need to improve hotels most of them were run down but clean food OK to nice
Quality: 2
Value for money: 4
Amazing trip.Very long journey,but worth it.However,the last night in France was very disappointing.We had to buy food at a service-station as the accommodation we were booked in to had no dining service. We all would have appreciated a sit down meal .Not up to the standard that Shearings normally shows. Think a re- visit of hotels should be done.Perhaps nearer to the resorts would be better,as there was hardly time to change before evening meals.Very long driving distances.
Quality: 5
Value for money: 5
It's a relatively inexpensive way to see a lot of Italy
Quality: 4
Value for money: 4
The majority of the hotels were outdated , dirty and basic, the food was also pork peas and potatoes every night. The last hotel looked had asylum seekers in , we was told they were fruit pickers but nobody picks fruit in the middle of the night ... Drivers were fantastic and made this trip. Journeys were ridiculously long some 12 hour days , usually started the day before 8am and get to the next hotel for 8pm and do it all over for just under 2 weeks , it's a very very full on tour which I think needs amending. Hotels were nowhere near the cities we visited apart from 2. Some beautiful places to visit but would not recommend this tour to anyone.
Quality: 2
Value for money: 3
This was our first family coach holiday and we (perhaps naively) didn’t anticipate just how much travelling would be involved. We knew there would be a lot – pretty much the first two days and the last two days of the holiday were entirely spent on the coach or in motorway services, but it was not clear just how much travelling there was inside the rest of the holiday as well. We missed the appointed ferry on the way out and therefore arrived very late at our first hotel in France, which was very basic, and then had to get up very early the next morning. This happened so often, late arrivals, late dinners and early starts that the holiday felt like more of an endurance test than a relaxing holiday. One couple left around Day 4/5! There seemed to be no slack built into the schedule for delays, either through traffic jams or getting lost around Pisa for an hour when the Sat Nav tried to send us through an old stone archway too small for the coach, and we consistently seemed to arrive about an hour later than we were originally told. Things came to a head for us on Day 5 when, after another late arrival at the hotel for dinner, we were told that the next day’s trip to Sorrento meant another 6am start. We just couldn’t face it and had to cancel the excursion (thankfully the drivers were fine about refunding us). The “day trip” to Sorrento was over 130 miles from our hotel in Fiuggi! That’s over 3 hours (with a stop) each way! Surely there were closer places that could offer an equally nice day out? And as for the 3- and 4-star hotels – either they were 3 or 4 stars 30 years ago and they’ve just held onto the rating or the Italian system is quite different to the UK’s! Several of the hotels also seemed to be trying to feed us as cheaply as possible, and most seemed ill-prepared for the vegetarians on the trip, despite having been told in advance. Having said all that, after we’d taken the day off instead of going to Sorrento and caught up with ourselves, we felt a lot better. We did see a lot of great places and I’m sure over time those memories are the ones that will stick with us, but it really shouldn’t have been such a slog. We felt like we needed another holiday to get over this one! Also, a tip if you’re still reading – try to avoid having to eat in Switzerland if you can. Four regular Burger King meals at their services cost us £80!
Quality: 3
Value for money: 3
Hi enjoyed the classic Italy holiday very much a long time on the coach and early starts. The only disappointment was the Rome sight seeing walking tour with a guide which said she had a sore throat and you could not here her even when you stood next to her very disappointed thank you
Quality: 5
Value for money: 5
This tour is amazing which covers many scenery spots. Lake Garda and Lake Maggorie are very beautiful and it is worthy to visit Florence, Sorrento and Venice. However, the hotels are too far away from the destination which caused long travelling time.
Quality: 4
Value for money: 4
Saw all the beautiful places described, some far too briefly due to the many, endless hours spent on the coach. Drivers were really great. Hotels variable but generally adequate, as was the hotel food.
Quality: 3
Value for money: 4
Simple....far too much walking, coach drop off points too far. Had to get ubers into centres and sights. Hotels very poor, food...pork, pork and more pork, not Italian food. Put another 2 hours on travel times. Reims to Garda 15 hours. Took two g turn went over mountains. 23.30 evening dinner! While trip needs 3rd thinking. Will never use Shearings again. About to complain before writing on trip advisor to get their reaction.
Quality: 3
Value for money: 4
Great to get to see so many places on one trip. This made the trip special for us. Worth saying that lots of time spent travelling in a coach. This gave lots of opportunity to unwind and relax although could be far too long for some. I enjoyed it but a busy action packed trip. The drivers were not a good combination together on our trip as clashed far too much but this was trip entertainment for some !!!
Quality: 4
Value for money: 4
Whoever arranged the itinerary, excursion timings, hotels and meals needs sacking! Or they actually need to go on the tour themselves and experience what a mess they’ve made and correct it asap. 1st hotel in Reims - no food/bar available on arrival, no kettle, drinking facilities or hot water either, in the middle of nowhere on an industrial estate. Rooms poor and very basic. 2nd Hotel - Riva Del Garda. No issues with room. Meal options - limited choice and not Italian cuisine. Pork chops and chicken. No drink (not even water) with meal. Water 2.50 and soft drink 3.50. Also due to late arrival and delays on 1st night no hot meal options after 14 hour drive, just salami rolls and salad! 3rd Hotel Fiuggi - disgusting in every way. Couldn’t even see out of the window. Like a care home from the 1700s. Food disgusting. More pork chops (think that’s what it was) n soggy spinach. No drink with meal. Lucky to get a drink at all! State croissants for breakfast. 4th hotel - Montecatini. Niceish hotel but again very old fashioned. Lift broke down and trapped us. Arrived too late to use pool. No options re food - set meal, not Italian cuisine - pork chops n spinach again. No drink with meal. 5th hotel - Lake Maggiore. Room fine. Food disgusting, no options again. No Italian cuisine. No drinks with meal again. 6th hotel - back to the original Reims dive. Luckily our driver, Chris, found and took us all to a lovely Chinese buffet to numb the pain. Think prisoners get better accommodation and food than on this trip. Hotels exploiting customers by not providing drinks with the meal and then charging extortionate prices for drinks. You would think that on a classical Italy tour there would be some Italian food or menu choices. Not a pizza in sight! And any pasta was like a ‘pasta in sauce’ pouch from Tesco. Chicken dishes were grey and breaded like a cheap Iceland burger. All in all trip like a poorly organised school trip with one of the drivers in headteacher / dictator mode with questionable driving skills. Not sure why he works with the public when he clearly hates them? Really sorry us passengers inconvenienced him by going on the trip! Other driver, Chris, fantastic, friendly, helpful, productive, informative. Even offered to give his room up at times to accommodate those unhappy. Felt sorry for this driver having to take the brunt for Shearings poor planning and pathetic choices Excursions all need re-looking at as there is literally no time to relax at all. 4 hours in Pisa is far too long, 30 minutes is enough to see the tower thanks as that’s all there is there. Location of hotels in proximity to excursion locations ridiculous. Why stay in Fiuggi? It’s miles away. Also could have stayed in Florence instead of Montecatini to experience Florence night life and get to go in the pool at least. Pls do not ever put anyone in that Reims or Fiuggi hotel again. Will never travel with Shearings again after this.
Quality: 1
Value for money: 1
12 days, 6 hotels, 5,640 km and 10 different places. Would highly recommend this tour, lots of travelling but to be honest how would you see so much in such a short space of time. Hotels are basic but clean. Just do it ..... its a fantastic experience.
Quality: 4
Value for money: 5
Great way to see all the major historical and beautiful areas of Italy.
Quality: 5
Value for money: 5
I think that it is too ambitious as Classic Italy. It feels like you're forever driving around and almost need a vacation from the vacation. It was 17 hours from Reims to Riva Del Garda! Some days were 9 plus of driving. Optional tours should be included as they were the best. I loved Rome and Sorrento as well as the Lake Garda and Lake Maggiore area.
Quality: 4
Value for money: 3
A tale of endurance and weariness made bearable by two excellent drivers who were fun and knowledgeable. If you enjoy waking up at 6-15 am for breakfast and travelling all day between 200 and 600 mile almost every day, you will love this holiday. Some hotels were lovely, some not so good, same with the food, hope you like olive oil. The scenery of mountains and lakes were stunning, some cities were great, Florence Pisa Venice, some were not Sorrento and Rome, we travelled over three thousand five hundred miles, not one person we spoke to on bus would do the holiday again due to the amount of travelling involved.
Quality: 4
Value for money: 4
The coach drivers were excellant they were knowledgable about the places we visited. The places we visited were amazing.
Quality: 5
Value for money: 5