Independent Touring

We arranged this trip via Monograms, an independent touring division of Globus.  They call this independent touring because you have a small amount of organized activities included and a lot of independent time on your own.  The hotels are arranged, the transfers to/from the hotels are arranged, and certain touring activities are arranged.  For example, in Rome we already had an 8am appointment for the Vatican tour, bypassing the crowds and the multiple-hour wait just to buy s ticket.  Likewise at the Colliseum later the same day.  In fact, what we did in Rome in one day would have taken an individual two or three days to do on his/her own.  

While there was a "group" of us, the members changed along the way as all were not on the same itinerary.  You could have as much or as little group involvement as you wanted.  Breakfast was included in the hotel arrangements as is standard in most of Europe, and no other meals were planned.  We all ate where and when we wanted.  Everyone we met on the tours was just like us, wanted some help and advice and arrangements, but lots of freedom to be on our own.  Overall we were very pleased.  It was a good way to travel in Italy.