Custom Group Tour Pricing

The prices for our custom tours depends on many factors, so there is no way to give an estimate without having planned the itinerary. As a general rule of thumb, the more people that are in your group, the lower the per person cost will be. When we work on your itinerary with you, we will be able to give you a final price. At that point, if you need to bring the cost down (or want to raise it), we will be able to add or remove things, make changes, etc. to help you fit within your budget. Here are some factors that go into the pricing:

The itinerary we design

The more time we spend in touristy areas, the higher the costs. Lodging, food and transportation is all more costly in a place like Florence than a more off-the-beaten path place. Additionally parking fees for buses varies city by city, and can reach into the thousands. Parking for a day in florence will cost hundreds, while other places may be free. Small things can make a big difference in costs.

Distance Traveled

Fuel in Italy is roughly 3 to 4 times more expensive than in the US, so distance impacts costs greatly. Additionally, Italy has strict laws that pertain to how many hours a driver can work in a given day. Because of this, longer stretches in an itinerary may require a secondary driver.

The number of days involved

Naturally, a longer trip will cost more.

Special logistics (weddings, extra buses for equipment, etc)

For example, if you are planning a wedding, we have many preparation costs as we handle documents before you arrive, planning details, venue, church offerings, etc. Tours for orchestras or bands will require additional transportation for equipment, as well as logistical support for setup/breakdown.

The number of people in your group.

There is economy of scale in numbers for some costs. For example, a group of 30 people will need the same bus as a group of 45 people. So with 45 people, the per person cost for transportation is spread out more. However, if you have 50+ people, we needed an addition bus, so that cost per person rises.

Whether we will make the itinerary all-inclusive or semi-inclusive

Food is the single largest expense of a tour, and the exclusion of food in an itinerary is the easiest thing to hide. This is where the large tour operators save big on costs. In fact, by excluding a single lunch from an itinerary, the tour operator can cut costs by $2,000.00 or more on a group of 50. So as we design what we include, every meal included or excluded will have a huge impact on the overall price.

Museum and Other Tours

Italian law has strict requirements that govern who may guide a tour in a specific city or area. In general, if we go to a museum we must contract a local guide to conduct that part of our day. The cost of these guides depends on where it is, how long it is, and when it is. For example, a tour of the Sistine Chapel during the day for 50 people will add around $2,500 to the tour cost. But the same tour conducted with JUST our group at night after the museums have closed will add $15,000 to the cost.

The Type and Quality of lodging

As we travel Italy, the lodging choices we make will have a major impact on costs. Do we want to rent a castle, or do we want a 4 star hotel? Do we want 5 star resorts, or bed and breakfasts? Do we want a luxury villa in Tuscany, or simple monasteries? The range is huge, and will affect the cost dramatically.

How to Get Started

Click here to send us a contact request or call us. We will speak, get to know one another and get a feel for your needs and your budget. For example, if you want to design an itinerary that stays within $3,000 per person and achieves specific goals, we will find the best way to make that happen for you, plus help you fill in the blanks based on our own experience and the vibe of your group. If your budget is higher, we'll raise the bar. If it is lower, we'll show you what we can make happen within your budget. If you don't have a budget, we'll start from nothing and work our way up. We're sure you will be pleasantly surprised!