We let Rick Steves plan our trip for us.

Let's face it—we're not qualified to plan a trip as epic as this one. Both of our moms were going to be there, and it was Kathryn's first trip abroad, so the stakes were high.

Luckily, Rick knows exactly what he's doing.

The Perks

We chose the Best of Venice, Florence & Rome in 10 Days Tour and we have no regrets. Here are four reasons why it rocked:

Perk #1

All we had to do was show up in Venice.

Once we got there, the tour took care of our transportation from city to city. We never had to worry about getting tickets, missing the bus, or renting a car in an unfamiliar place. (Although when our tour ended, we confidently took the train from Rome to Florence, and rented a car to attend a wedding.. more on that later.)

Afternoon

We had a built-in group of friends.

The people on our trip were people like us—unfussy folks who love to travel, save money, pack tiny carry-on bags, and want to learn about different cultures. They felt like our family by the end of the trip!

Perk #2

We hit all the major destinations with minimal effort.

This was Kathryn's first trip out of the country, so we had to make it count! But a lot of major spots (like the Accademia, the colosseum, etc.) have metered entry and/or complicated ticketing systems, and are best experienced with a local guide. Our tour made sure we went at an optimal time of day (early in the morning) and coordinated walking tours and local guides for us. We didn't have to print anything, do extensive research, or punch anyone for a spot in line.

Night

Our trip leader literally knew everything.

Including the language. When we arrived in Rome, our guide gave us a hands-on crash-course on how to use the subway system. She taught us useful phrases, flagged landmarks to help us navigate, and made sure we knew of the best wines and snacks in each region.

Ready to go?

All you have to do is scroll and follow the promps at the bottom of the screen. Sound good?