Iconic Italy Rome → Budapest (2024)

Customer Reviews

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  AlanSmith

  · September 20th, 2019
  We have just returned from a 14 day APT Iconic Italy bus tour and we have to say that prior to this holiday we were considering using APT for other trips such as the Alaska and Canada trip in 2020 with some or our friends. However this “luxury” bus trip was terrible and as such we have now contacted our travel friends and advised that we would be looking for another provider. To provide some details, the tour Director Matia was, to be polite, not the best person for the job, she lacked suitable interpersonal skills, failed to interact with the group to the point of not even saying good morning to anyone at breakfast and managed to get into 3 arguments with non members of the group. Further to this when two Gondola operators got into an argument that had nothing to do with our group she found it necessary to participate in that as well, very embarrassing to say the least. Overall this “luxury” bus trip resulted in 7 missed lunches and 3 missed dinners due to being a Coeliac and no suitable food available, including the stops at “Truck Stops” for lunch’s, The bus broke down twice, and was uncomfortable, those with disabilities could not participate in the majority of activities and the number of self funded meals was very high allow yourself an extra 150 euro a day per couple. The only Luxury in this trip was the cost, the delivered product was more akin a low end tour provider. Day 1 got off to a bad start with the Colosseum being closed due to a power outage, not in the control of APT, however the alternative was a walk around the forum before the welcome dinner, we asked if it would be possible to drive by the Colosseum at night on the way back to the hotel and we told in no uncertain manner by the Tour Director NO. At the welcome dinner we needed “special meals” due to being a Coeliac, which resulted in a cross contamination event that made the next couple of days difficult. Day 2 can we reschedule the Colosseum for today, NO we are going on a walking tour to see the Trevi Fountain, ( which is not running as they clean it on Mondays), the Spanish steps and then to the Vatican. After which you have free time and a long walk. Day 3 Pompeii, don’t expect to see anything in the Museum, this luxury tour does not include access to that, instead you are just one of the many walking the streets. Day 4 Isle of Capri Blue Grotto closed due to weather, Not an APT issue, but also missed the Imperial Roman villas. Afternoon Amalfi Coast Tour, road closed, alternate route and very disappointing town and a provided dinner where you had to pay for you drink. Day 5 Assisi, not enough time spent at this location and if you want to buy from the shops you need to ditch the tour guide and go back much to the disgust of the Tour Director. Day 6 Tuscan lunch was a waste of time as it did not cater for Coeliacs. Day 7 Florence, the hotel whilst being nice was in a very Dodgy part of town with a lot of drunks and hooligans out after dark whilst you are trying to find somewhere to eat. Central Market “exclusive brunch” over a glass of Prosecco, that’s a JOKE. You are given a 25 Euro card and told to find your own food, sit at some grotty tables in the market place after the Tour Director had ditched the group and told them they are on free time. Most of the group walked off in disgust. And again if you have a food allergy this is not the place for you. Day 9 We have all been waiting for the views of Cinque Terra, promises by the Tour Director that we will be able to get the Postcard shot and the one that is in the Brochure, except when we ask where we go to get that she suddenly has no idea what we are asking. Luckily one of the locals can tell us but now we have no time to get to it. Day 10 Venice, the walking tour was disgraceful, no access to the Church, Doges Palace, the Bridge of Sighs was pointed out in the distance, and after 90 minutes again the group was ditched and left to our own free time. Hotel was located on an Island, very nice but would have been better if a location in town was found. Day 11 On the road to Zagreb for a farewell dinner, that does not cater for Coeliacs again.
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  Trip date: September 2019