Is Independent Travel Really Cheaper? Think Again!
Meet Jane and John, seasoned travellers who pride themselves on being smart about travel.
They’re planning their dream trip to Italy and they want to do it right. They’re not looking for hostels or chains; they want a quality experience!
The following story and cost analysis are based on quality accommodations, convenient travel choices, and premium experiences that match the level of service our travellers expect!
Let’s follow Jane and John’s budget as reality sets in…
1. INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS
Jane starts researching flights and quickly learns it isn’t just about finding the cheapest fare. They want reasonable departure times, connections, and flexibility. Those $800 round-trip flights on Google involve lengthy layovers that would waste their precious vacation time in airport terminals.
For realistic flights, they’re looking at $1,200-1,400 CAD per person. “We’ll only be going to Italy once,” Jane reasons. “We’re not arriving exhausted just to save a few hundred dollars.” They’ll need another $100+ CAD per person for luggage.
Flights for two + add-ons: $3,000 CAD
Jane & John’s running total:$3,000 CAD
👉 With Approach Tours, your international flights and luggage are included – no price surprises, no searching for decent connections, and no worrying about availability.
2. HOTELS & ACCOMMODATIONS
Jane’s simple hotel standards: central locations (no long commutes on Italian metros!), good reviews, nice amenities. Prime locations in Venice cost up to $750 CAD/night. Roman hotels could be $550/night… before resort fees.
- Venice prime location (2 nights): $1,500 CAD
- Lake Garda resort (2 nights): $800 CAD
- Florence historic centre (3 nights): $1,500 CAD
- Rome prime location (3 nights): $1,650 CAD
- Amalfi Coast sea view (4 nights): $2,800 CAD
- Italy’s tourist taxes and resort fees: $250 CAD
Hotel total: $8,500 CAD
Jane & John’s running total: $11,500 CAD
👉 Approach Tours partners with quality hotels in ideal locations. Everything’s included in your tour price, with no surprise taxes or fees to worry about.
3. TRANSPORTATION
Jane and John are past the point of renting a car and driving foreign roads. Instead, they research trains and find a world of multiple connections, luggage transfers, and crowded carriages.
Venice airport water taxi: $160 CAD. Driver from Venice to Lake Garda: $500 CAD. Train from Florence to Rome: $160 CAD. Transfer from Rome to Amalfi Coast: $500 CAD. Ferry to Capri: $100 CAD. All local transport: $420 CAD.
Transportation total: $1,840 CAD
Jane & John’s running total: $13,340 CAD
👉 With Approach Tours, all transportation is included – from private home pickup to luxury coach transfers throughout. No planning, no stress, no surprises.
4. ATTRACTIONS & EXPERIENCES
Jane books their bucket-list Italy experiences. They want quality guides and skip-the-line access.
- Vatican Museums access with guided tour: $220 CAD for two
- Colosseum underground access: $150 CAD for two
- Wine tasting in Tuscany: $300 CAD for two
- Pompeii guided tour: $120 CAD for two
- Guided Capri experience: $300 CAD for two
- Personal spending for food/wine at tastings, photos at attractions, and spontaneous experiences: $1,470 CAD for two
Attractions & experiences total: $2,690 CAD
Jane & John’s running total: $16,030 CAD
👉 Approach Tours includes front-of-the-line access to must-do activities, plus unique experiences like a private Murano glass factory visit and authentic regional tastings.
5. FOOD & DINING
John loves Italian food: he books tables at local trattorias and plans special meals.
Hotel breakfasts average $30 CAD per person = $840 CAD. Lunch averages $70 CAD for two = $980 CAD. Dinner with regional wines averages $130 CAD for two = $1,820 CAD. Extras like aperitivos in Venice, gelato, that amazing seafood dinner on the Amalfi Coast: $700 CAD.
Food total: $4,340 CAD
Jane & John’s running total: $20,370 CAD
👉 All 42 meals are included with Approach Tours – breakfast, lunch, and dinner, featuring local specialties. No research, no tourist traps, just authentic Italian dining.
6. HIDDEN COSTS
Travel Insurance: For a trip this important (and expensive!) Jane buys comprehensive medical insurance with baggage coverage. Cost: $1000 CAD.
Tipping: Hotel concierges, porters, servers, tour guides, drivers, housekeeping… Jane calculates $50 CAD per day across all services: $700 CAD.
Foreign Transaction Fees: Their credit card charges 2.5% on foreign transactions. $16,000 CAD worth of European purchases plus ATM fees and exchange rate losses: $700 CAD.
Additional Surprise Costs: Taxi rides ($120 CAD), airport shuttle from their home in Guelph, Ontario ($400 CAD), international phone plans ($120 CAD), emergency fund ($400 CAD).
Hidden costs total: $3,860 CAD
Jane & John’s running total: $24,230 CAD
👉 Approach Tours includes $5 million emergency medical travel insurance, handles all gratuities, accepts payment in Canadian dollars with no foreign fees, and eliminates surprise costs entirely.
7. PLANNING TIME: THE SILENT COST
Jane spent over 50 hours reading reviews, comparing, and booking. John also spent 25+ hours on planning and logistics. “It’s like having a part-time job,” Jane sighs after another evening spent calling Italian hotels.
They are nervously making backup plans for everything that could go wrong:
- Waiting in line at a counter when a flight is cancelled
- Figuring out alternative routes during train or transport strikes (they happen!)
- Pulling out their best Italian when missing towels in the hotel room or lost in the winding streets
- Tracking countless reservation codes, confirmations, and printed emails
- Finding care if they fall ill (when they should be resting!)
Planning time: 75+ hours of stress and research
Jane & John’s final total: $24,230 CAD
👉 Approach Tours handles all logistics and planning. That’s 75+ hours of your life back. You’re accompanied the entire time by a professional Group Guru – it’s their responsibility to ensure you have a stress-free experience by handling all the hiccups.
The Bottom Line?
Jane and John’s independent Italy trip: $24,230 CAD for two
Approach Tours’ 16-day Signature Italy Tour, all-inclusive experience: $21,190 CAD for two (as of September, 2025)
You’ll save while also getting:
- Premium experiences that many never discover (private Murano glass factory, authentic Emilia-Romagna tastings, exclusive local connections)
- Minimal planning time (75+ hours of your life back)
- 24/7 Group Guru and HQ support to make sure you have a great time without any snafus
- Everything’s included – no surprise costs, fees, taxes, or add-ons
- Price locked in Canadian dollars from the day you book
- All gratuities handled without that awkward moment where someone sticks their hand out
- Private car service from your Canadian home (within 100km of our gateway airports)
The real difference? Jane and John’s costs could easily spiral to $25,000+ with a few more splurges or unexpected problems, while your Approach Tours price stays locked in. No budget anxiety, no compromise on quality, no vacation time wasted on logistics.
Here’s what matters most: 70% of our past travellers told us predictable costs were the biggest benefit of our group tours.
When you see the math, it’s clear why: you can save thousands on the Italy trip you’ve been dreaming about, with premium experiences, zero planning stress, and absolute price certainty from day one!
Ready to travel smart and save?
Explore our tours and see how truly all-inclusive group travel gives you more for less.
Signature Italy Tour
A cherished favourite for many travellers and the home of the “Dolce Vita” way of life, Italy has an expansive and established influence in world culture. Fall under the sublime charm of fine leathers, Renaissance art, classical music, delicate pasta, Neapolitan pizza, wonderful wines, fresh mozzarella, and velvety chocolate. From Venice’s waterways and Pisa’s leaning tower to Florence’s Duomo and Cinque Terre’s panoramic views — an unforgettable experience awaits. Our complete itinerary goes beyond the essentials and is the perfect way to discover Italy for the first, second, or tenth time.
Departures: September & October 2026April & May 2027September & October 2027 (+$200)
