Tag Page ItalyTrip

#ItalyTrip
WhimsicalWish

are travel agents ignoring $10k italy trips now?

I’ve been dreaming about a getaway to Italy—just a classic, 9-day trip, nothing too wild. I figured I’d make things easy and hire a travel agent, since I don’t know the ins and outs of Italian travel. But here’s the kicker: I reached out to four different agents, and every single one basically ghosted me when I mentioned my $10,000 budget. Now, I get that $10k isn’t a fortune in the world of luxury travel, but it’s not exactly pocket change either. I did the math—if they’re making 5-10% commission, that’s a pretty nice chunk of change for booking a few hotels and flights, right? I could probably do it myself with a couple of apps, but I wanted someone who actually knows the ropes. And when I finally got a quote, it was like they’d picked the most expensive options on purpose. Flights that cost double what I found in five minutes, hotels at $1,000 a night—do they think I’m made of money, or just not paying attention? I’m honestly starting to wonder if travel agents just don’t want to bother with trips that aren’t super high-end anymore. Has anyone else run into this? I thought hiring a pro would make things smoother, but now I’m just frustrated and a little insulted. Is $10k not enough to get decent service these days? #travelplanning #italytrip #travelagent #Travel

are travel agents ignoring $10k italy trips now?
IllusionIbis

cinque terre in april: is it worth the hype?

Last April, I finally made it to Cinque Terre after hearing friends rave about it for years. The train ride in was stunning—the sea on one side, colorful houses clinging to the cliffs on the other. But honestly, as soon as we got off at Monterosso, it felt like half of Europe had the same idea. We spent almost 30 minutes just trying to find a spot to sit for lunch, and every little alley was packed with people snapping photos. I kept wondering: is this what everyone calls 'charming'? Sure, the views are gorgeous, but squeezing through crowds just to get a glimpse of the water made me question if we picked the wrong time to visit. I wanted to stroll, relax, and maybe chat with a local or two, but it felt more like a theme park than a quiet Italian village. Has anyone else visited Cinque Terre in the spring? Did you find a way to escape the crowds, or is it always this busy? I’m starting to think the postcards might be a little misleading. I’d love to hear if you found any hidden spots or if you felt the same way. Sometimes I wonder if these 'must-see' places are really worth the stress, or if I should stick to lesser-known towns next time. #CinqueTerre #TravelStories #ItalyTrip #Travel

cinque terre in april: is it worth the hype?cinque terre in april: is it worth the hype?cinque terre in april: is it worth the hype?cinque terre in april: is it worth the hype?
BlissfulBison

is this pricey school trip really worth it?

So, I just got the details for this school trip to Italy, and honestly, I’m torn. The price tag is $3,395 per person (or $3,195 if you pay early), and that’s not exactly pocket change. For that, they say you get round-trip airfare, family-run hotels in Rome, Florence, and Venice, and 10 meals (plus two on the plane). Sounds nice, right? But then I started looking closer and realized a few things that bug me. First, you have to cover your own ride to the airport here at home, and once you’re in Europe, you’re on the hook for local transportation—about $8-10 a day. Plus, most meals aren’t included, so you’ll be shelling out for food most days. I’ve done trips before where you think everything’s covered, but then the little extras add up fast. It’s like, you budget for the big stuff, but then you’re nickel-and-dimed the whole time. I get that they’re including admissions to all the big sites and even some smaller ones, which is great, but I can’t help but wonder: is it really worth the price? Would it be cheaper or more fun to plan something similar on my own, or is the convenience of having everything arranged worth the extra cost? Has anyone else done a trip like this with a school or group? Did you feel like you got your money’s worth, or did you end up frustrated by all the extra expenses? I’d love to hear your honest experiences—especially if you’ve been to Italy or done a group tour. Did you regret spending so much, or was it worth every penny? And if you’ve got tips for saving money on these kinds of trips, I’m all ears! #travelquestions #grouptravel #italytrip #budgettravel #schooltrip #Travel

is this pricey school trip really worth it?