The Italian Grande Tour 2012
Number of days: 18 Days
Departs from: Milan
Avg distance travelled / day: 172 kms
Italian Lakes on the Italian Grande Tour 2012
Tour Reviews for European Summer Tours
My wife and I just returned after completing our European holiday which included your 16 day tour 'Through Italy to Oberammergau'. What a fantastic experience.
We have not undertaken a bus tour for several years now, much preferring the leisurely style of ocean cruising. I guess our previous bus experiences were with companies that often had you arriving in a location late one afternoon, then 'bags out of 7am' so you could have an early start with the bus on the next morning. So it was with some hesitation that we booked your tour, even though your promotional material told us that it would be much more relaxing experience.
We have also experienced hotel stays in out of the way or fringe areas of many locations, so again, it was extremely pleasing to find that our tour included hotels in the centre of town. Most importantly, the two and four night stays at each location were really appreciated. We also really enjoyed the opportunity to have a significant amount of 'free time' so we could explore the locations at our leisure.
Our tour manager was sensational. She was extremely professional and seemed able to answer every question or challenge that was presented to her.
We are sure that we will now undertake another European bus tour and it will obviously be with your company.
Once again thank you for a wonderful holiday.
B P from SA
Our tour manager was brilliant – great history and cultural knowledge. Allowed personal time while covering the important destinations. His management abilities ensured a great tour. Thank you Albatross!
M Q from VIC
An excellent tour. Our tour guide had great knowledge of the areas travelled, and was very attentive to all needs. A highlight was the wine tasting at Lungarotti and the town of Spoleto. I would certainly travel with Albatross again.
D H from VIC
We simply wanted to say that the whole tour was absolutely marvellous, we would never consider using another tour company if your company operated in the area we wished to travel. We have already recommended your company to some friends and family. We love your idea of "experiencing" rather than "seeing" and the mostly 3 night stays and not "early bird" starts.
On our small tour - 13 including ourselves - it was interesting to note that there were four people who were repeat clients.
Thank you sincerely for such a wonderful holiday, we realise it just "does not happen" - a lot of hard work goes into such a successful operation.
A & L S
The trip was marvellous. Mary Hammond is something more than a tour guide - her knowledge of, and passion for, all things Italian is infectious. A truly remarkable woman. The coach driver, Fabriccio was also extremely caring, helpful and protective of his people.
The whole experience was more than we had hoped for and I will happily recommend Albatross travel to anyone considering a tour. The "leisurely" coach tour is a winner - keep up the good work!!!!
Richard & Judy
My friend Jean and I were on the June Italian Grande tour. We had a fabulous time and just wanted to let your team know and to say thank you.
We were very lucky to have a great group of people on our tour (we all got on really well - amazing considering our different backgrounds and ages). Our driver Marco was great and fitted in very well with the group. The star of the tour was Aldo Jaworksi, our fabulous tour director. Aldo was very patient and kind to all the group - nothing was too much trouble for him. He was organised yet still flexible to fit in what the group wanted to do (where possible of course). He was lots of fun - I don't think I have laughed so much every day - wonderful!! Aldo was very caring when my friend Jean got sick and he was so considerate and helpful. I really can't speak highly enough of him. I would love to do another tour with Aldo leading the way.
The actual tour was really well balanced. The hotels, the food, the coach, the itinerary, the extra special dinners were all terrific - no complaints, we were extremely pleased with all of it.
Jean and I have done a lot of independent travelling over the past 15 years and this was the first organised tour that we have done. We were quite hesitant that we would find it hard to be "organised" each day but we really found it was great - there was enough flexibility to do what we wanted as well as hitting all the highlights with the tour.
Jean saw the advertisement for the Albatross tour in the RACV magazine - she immediately rang me and we booked the next day. Jean said that surely it sounded too good to be true but we now know what was promised was all true.
Thanks very much to the team behind the scenes as well - nothing this well done happens without the hard work. Please pass on my compliments to Aldo and Marco....thanks for a great holiday.
We will be recommending Albatross Tours to our friends and family and will be looking to see what other tours you have coming up next year as well.
Kathy
I thought you may appreciate some feedback on the Italian Tour we recently completed. To say that we were completely satisfied would be an understatement. The arrangements your office made for us worked out very well with no hitches whatsoever. The tour itself was well paced. Having the ability to stay in one place for several nights at each location made a great difference to travelling and allowed one to soak-up more local flavour, sights, food feeling etc than whistle stop tours. I think this is a one great advantage of the Albatross'way of doing things.
Also I would like to offer a word of commendation for our Tour Guide. Nothing was too much trouble for her. Her knowledge and organisation skills are first class. I would like to think that she will get some feedback from Albatross on this additional to the end of tour feedback sheet. The bus driver was also very skillful and helpful. A delightful person who did his best to accommodate our needs. With a team such as this you are on a winner.
We will happily recommend Albatross as a tour provider of choice and will come back to you again when we next plan an overseas tour/holiday.
K W
I recently had a wonderful holiday on your 'Italian Grande' tour leaving Milan on 1 June. My friend and I had not one single complaint. Everything was perfect!
Our tour manager, Aldo, worked very hard to ensure that everyone knew exactly where they had to be at certain times. He is very professional. The tour went like clockwork.
The hotels were centrally located, of a high standard and the rooms were very comfortable.
The planning of the tour was superb and I felt that we had seen the very best of Italy. In fact I loved every minute.
We met some great Australians and will keep in touch. Thanks again.
When I read your brochure I said 'It sounds to good to be true'. But it was true. Congratulations.
Jean
It has been a fantastic few days with Albatross. Each day was special - we really can't nominate any special individual experience as it all was fantastic.
The care and concern of our group leader was outstanding - always smiling - full of imagination and information.
The food was fantastic throughout our tour, thank you.
M & M S
We would like to say that the Italian Grande tour was everything we wanted, giving us a great cross-section of Italy. The accommodation, in our case, was first class everywhere and some of the special meals provided especially in Tuscany were exceptional and on the whole the hotel meals were quite acceptable.
It is impossible to say what the highlight of the trip was as each area visited had their great points and wonderful memories for us.
We must make mention of our tour leader, who was just amazing in her organizational skills, her general knowledge about all things, her ability to provide interesting information without out too much overload , her friendliness and happy disposition even when under the pump. Our driver had incredible driving skills and not once did we feel uneasy on the whole trip. They were a great pair who looked after us with care.
All in all a wonderful trip for both of us,
John and Rae
John & Rae
Come share our love of Europe
Number of days: 18 Days
Departs from: Milan
Avg distance travelled / day: 172 kms
Italian Lakes on the Italian Grande Tour 2012
My wife and I just returned after completing our European holiday which included your 16 day tour 'Through Italy to Oberammergau'. What a fantastic experience.
We have not undertaken a bus tour for several years now, much preferring the leisurely style of ocean cruising. I guess our previous bus experiences were with companies that often had you arriving in a location late one afternoon, then 'bags out of 7am' so you could have an early start with the bus on the next morning. So it was with some hesitation that we booked your tour, even though your promotional material told us that it would be much more relaxing experience.
We have also experienced hotel stays in out of the way or fringe areas of many locations, so again, it was extremely pleasing to find that our tour included hotels in the centre of town. Most importantly, the two and four night stays at each location were really appreciated. We also really enjoyed the opportunity to have a significant amount of 'free time' so we could explore the locations at our leisure.
Our tour manager was sensational. She was extremely professional and seemed able to answer every question or challenge that was presented to her.
We are sure that we will now undertake another European bus tour and it will obviously be with your company.
Once again thank you for a wonderful holiday.
B P from SA
Our tour manager was brilliant – great history and cultural knowledge. Allowed personal time while covering the important destinations. His management abilities ensured a great tour. Thank you Albatross!
M Q from VIC
An excellent tour. Our tour guide had great knowledge of the areas travelled, and was very attentive to all needs. A highlight was the wine tasting at Lungarotti and the town of Spoleto. I would certainly travel with Albatross again.
D H from VIC
We simply wanted to say that the whole tour was absolutely marvellous, we would never consider using another tour company if your company operated in the area we wished to travel. We have already recommended your company to some friends and family. We love your idea of "experiencing" rather than "seeing" and the mostly 3 night stays and not "early bird" starts.
On our small tour - 13 including ourselves - it was interesting to note that there were four people who were repeat clients.
Thank you sincerely for such a wonderful holiday, we realise it just "does not happen" - a lot of hard work goes into such a successful operation.
A & L S
The trip was marvellous. Mary Hammond is something more than a tour guide - her knowledge of, and passion for, all things Italian is infectious. A truly remarkable woman. The coach driver, Fabriccio was also extremely caring, helpful and protective of his people.
The whole experience was more than we had hoped for and I will happily recommend Albatross travel to anyone considering a tour. The "leisurely" coach tour is a winner - keep up the good work!!!!
Richard & Judy
My friend Jean and I were on the June Italian Grande tour. We had a fabulous time and just wanted to let your team know and to say thank you.
We were very lucky to have a great group of people on our tour (we all got on really well - amazing considering our different backgrounds and ages). Our driver Marco was great and fitted in very well with the group. The star of the tour was Aldo Jaworksi, our fabulous tour director. Aldo was very patient and kind to all the group - nothing was too much trouble for him. He was organised yet still flexible to fit in what the group wanted to do (where possible of course). He was lots of fun - I don't think I have laughed so much every day - wonderful!! Aldo was very caring when my friend Jean got sick and he was so considerate and helpful. I really can't speak highly enough of him. I would love to do another tour with Aldo leading the way.
The actual tour was really well balanced. The hotels, the food, the coach, the itinerary, the extra special dinners were all terrific - no complaints, we were extremely pleased with all of it.
Jean and I have done a lot of independent travelling over the past 15 years and this was the first organised tour that we have done. We were quite hesitant that we would find it hard to be "organised" each day but we really found it was great - there was enough flexibility to do what we wanted as well as hitting all the highlights with the tour.
Jean saw the advertisement for the Albatross tour in the RACV magazine - she immediately rang me and we booked the next day. Jean said that surely it sounded too good to be true but we now know what was promised was all true.
Thanks very much to the team behind the scenes as well - nothing this well done happens without the hard work. Please pass on my compliments to Aldo and Marco....thanks for a great holiday.
We will be recommending Albatross Tours to our friends and family and will be looking to see what other tours you have coming up next year as well.
Kathy
I thought you may appreciate some feedback on the Italian Tour we recently completed. To say that we were completely satisfied would be an understatement. The arrangements your office made for us worked out very well with no hitches whatsoever. The tour itself was well paced. Having the ability to stay in one place for several nights at each location made a great difference to travelling and allowed one to soak-up more local flavour, sights, food feeling etc than whistle stop tours. I think this is a one great advantage of the Albatross'way of doing things.
Also I would like to offer a word of commendation for our Tour Guide. Nothing was too much trouble for her. Her knowledge and organisation skills are first class. I would like to think that she will get some feedback from Albatross on this additional to the end of tour feedback sheet. The bus driver was also very skillful and helpful. A delightful person who did his best to accommodate our needs. With a team such as this you are on a winner.
We will happily recommend Albatross as a tour provider of choice and will come back to you again when we next plan an overseas tour/holiday.
K W
I recently had a wonderful holiday on your 'Italian Grande' tour leaving Milan on 1 June. My friend and I had not one single complaint. Everything was perfect!
Our tour manager, Aldo, worked very hard to ensure that everyone knew exactly where they had to be at certain times. He is very professional. The tour went like clockwork.
The hotels were centrally located, of a high standard and the rooms were very comfortable.
The planning of the tour was superb and I felt that we had seen the very best of Italy. In fact I loved every minute.
We met some great Australians and will keep in touch. Thanks again.
When I read your brochure I said 'It sounds to good to be true'. But it was true. Congratulations.
Jean
It has been a fantastic few days with Albatross. Each day was special - we really can't nominate any special individual experience as it all was fantastic. The care and concern of our group leader was outstanding - always smiling - full of imagination and information. The food was fantastic throughout our tour, thank you.
M & M S
We would like to say that the Italian Grande tour was everything we wanted, giving us a great cross-section of Italy. The accommodation, in our case, was first class everywhere and some of the special meals provided especially in Tuscany were exceptional and on the whole the hotel meals were quite acceptable.
It is impossible to say what the highlight of the trip was as each area visited had their great points and wonderful memories for us.
We must make mention of our tour leader, who was just amazing in her organizational skills, her general knowledge about all things, her ability to provide interesting information without out too much overload , her friendliness and happy disposition even when under the pump. Our driver had incredible driving skills and not once did we feel uneasy on the whole trip. They were a great pair who looked after us with care.
All in all a wonderful trip for both of us,
John and Rae
John & Rae
Come share our love of Europe
