Blogger and photographer: Thomas Schmuki taken at the Uffizi
This is not our first dance with the tour groups
Most of you know that we spent a month in Italy last year. We visited Venice, Verona, Amalfi, Teramo and Rome. We participated in a number of tours including group and private tours. We are now nearly 3 weeks into our 6 week adventure in Italy and have yet to take a tour.
Overcrowded Italy
Here is my controversial commentary. This year it seems that the overall crowd level is much larger than last year. Last year we went in May-June. This year we decided to go later for a number of reasons one being we thought the crowds would be less. Perhaps there are less American families touring Italy this time of year but tourists from all over the world and especially Japan has dramatically increased.
Tour groups are just too big
Now to the tour groups. Many tour groups of 20-35 people overtake the experience. They all pile in front of a painting masterpiece leaving the general observer with no view. The big crowds of large tour groups are everywhere with the tour leaders speaking every language known to man. I am sure this is very profitable to the tour group companies. I don't understand how the participants experience can be positive with 30 other participants. Problems with hearing the leader from lack of attention on the very important question you want to ask but can't because the loud mouth in the group asks them all. I observe the trail end of the tour groups and see many laggers and disinterested participants. I believe this due mainly due to the size of the group.
The wonderful personal intimate experience of seeing these masterpieces is robbed by the large groups and predominantly the large tour groups that take over the venues.
Personal tous are the way to go
Alice is very strong on personal tours with only the 3 of us. It gives her all the time to ask her great questions and me the time to snap some great pictures if I can get any line of site around the miriad of 30+ tour groups in front is the artwork, sculpture or architecture ahead.
Alice with our wonderful personal guide at Pompeii last year.
My recommendation
Recomendation: don't do tours with large groups. I recommend no more than 10, but oh then the tour companies would have to take the bullet.