ABD Italy

[wdwlover25]

Just looking at the ABD website and it looks like they have updated the Viva Italy trip for 2014. The major destinations appear to be the same but I was curious what people thought of the most recent Italy itinerary.

I've never done an ABD and have to admit a little sticker shock... I'm looking to plan Italy for summer 2016. Many people have posted that its totally worth it if you can afford it. I can say with some diligent saving I'll have the money by 2016!

This trip will be celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary so I want to do something extra extra special. Besides, I've never been overseas so having ABD planning out everything is very comforting.

Any comments or advice would be great! Thanks!

 

[beachcat]

I did Viva Italia in October 2011. It was excellent then. Abd has taken the Signature trip and incorporated the high points into the standard Viva Italia. The guides that I stay in contact with think it will be even better in 2014.

All I can say is do it. You won't regret it. Just make sure to incorporate some extra days before the trip begins to get over jet lag and to do the hop on hop off bus on your own. Have fun.

 

[sayhello]

As beachcat said, there used to be 2 Viva Italia trips - the "regular" trip, and the Signature trip, which had *basically* the same itinerary, but with some upgrades, such as even nicer hotels, an upgraded tour of the Colosseum and a private after-hours visit to the Sistine Chapel (no crowds!) They incorporated most of those upgrades into the regular Viva Italia trip, and got rid of the Signature trip. So, from what I've heard, it's all additions that make the trip even better than before. And Viva Itialia is one of ABD's most popular itineraries.

Sayhello

 

[wdwlover25]

Thanks for the clarification! I did notice the signature trip was no longer on the website. Sounds like a great development. I had originally thought what the heck... May as well go all out with signature.

I'm just afraid ABD will become the only way I'll want to travel in the future!

 

[sayhello]

Thanks for the clarification! I did notice the signature trip was no longer on the website. Sounds like a great development. I had originally thought what the heck... May as well go all out with signature.

I'm just afraid ABD will become the only way I'll want to travel in the future!

Be very afraid! ABD's are *highly* addictive!!!!

Sayhello

 

[wdwlover25]

Be very afraid! ABD's are *highly* addictive!!!!

Sayhello

Lol! Same thing has already happened with DCL!

 

[tgeorge]

wdwlover....are yyou llooking at tthe adult only trips? I see you mentioned a 20 year anniversary trip so I was curious. We were originally looking at 2015 but have decided to do 2016 to celebrate my 40th birthday. We'll probably do the adult only trip in September. Maybe we'll be on the same trip. Even though it is 3 years away, I'm very excited about getting the opportunity to go to Italy with ABD.

I am already addicted to cruising, so I know what you mean about DCL!!!

 

[wdwlover25]

wdwlover....are yyou llooking at tthe adult only trips? I see you mentioned a 20 year anniversary trip so I was curious. We were originally looking at 2015 but have decided to do 2016 to celebrate my 40th birthday. We'll probably do the adult only trip in September. Maybe we'll be on the same trip. Even though it is 3 years away, I'm very excited about getting the opportunity to go to Italy with ABD.

I am already addicted to cruising, so I know what you mean about DCL!!!

No... My DS9 will be with us. We're looking at June 2016.

DH is 1/2 Italian and a huge history buff. We decided together that Italy would be an awesome 20th anniversary trip. DS is very excited too... But neither of them know about ABD!

My 1st Disney cruise was shortly after my 40th bday... Been addicted ever since. The level of service is so wonderful on the cruise. I completely trust we will receive the same on ABD.

 

[tgeorge]

That's funny because my DH doesn't know about ABD yet either, but I know that I'll be able to sell him on this amazing itinerary and opportunities that are available only through ABD. It will be one of my life list trips. I love to travel, my DH, not so much.

I did my first DCL cruise in 2000 and I LOVED it! Did another one the year after. I haven't been on DCL since, but Carnival and Royal just don't live up to DCL. I'd love to one day take a Med cruise with DCL. That may have to be one of the trips I do solo

You and your family will have an amazing time! I know I'm very much looking forward to it. However, I'm very aware that I will become addicted...which I don't think is a bad thing.

 

[sayhello]

That's funny because my DH doesn't know about ABD yet either, but I know that I'll be able to sell him on this amazing itinerary and opportunities that are available only through ABD. It will be one of my life list trips. I love to travel, my DH, not so much.

I did my first DCL cruise in 2000 and I LOVED it! Did another one the year after. I haven't been on DCL since, but Carnival and Royal just don't live up to DCL. I'd love to one day take a Med cruise with DCL. That may have to be one of the trips I do solo

You and your family will have an amazing time! I know I'm very much looking forward to it. However, I'm very aware that I will become addicted...which I don't think is a bad thing.

There was a family on my Greek Odyssey ABD where they went because it was the daughter's choice for her college graduation. The father did not like to travel and really did not want to go on the trip, but did for his family. Let me tell you, I think he had more fun than anyone on that trip! He learned all sorts of Greek words, stomped grapes, danced, all sorts of stuff. The photos of him on this trip show him with a smile a mile wide. Sometimes you just need to get them there, and the magic does the rest!

Sayhello

 

[tgeorge]

Sayhello....thanks for posting that story. I really, really hope that is what happens. On our wedding cruise in 2008 he had a great time once we were on the ship and enjoying ourselves. I hope that will be the case with this trip as well. It's definitely encouraging to hear that there are others out there who don't like to travel, but enjoy themselves on these trips.

 

[wdwlover25]

The more I read about ABD the more excited I become! A coworker came up to me today and just like that said I'm going to Italy in October. Two months from now October!!

This will be a trip of lifetime for us and probably our only trip to Italy. So many adventures await! So I can't say how important it will be to know all the must sees are covered and very little planning effort will be required on my part. I've pretty much committed to June 2016... So I just need to patiently wait until the 2016 dates are released in 2015. . And make the phone call!

 

[tgeorge]

wdwlover....I couldn't have said it better myself. This will be one of the trips I've waited a very, very long time to take and I am excited to be doing it with ABD. The more I look into it and all the extra 'specials' and read about everyone else's amazing trips I know that it will be worth the wait and the cost.

It looks like you'll be going a couple months before us since I'm pretty set on September 2016. And yes, as soon as I can book in 2015 I'll be on the phone with my credit card

 

[familygoboston]

The more I read about ABD the more excited I become! A coworker came up to me today and just like that said I'm going to Italy in October. Two months from now October!!

This will be a trip of lifetime for us and probably our only trip to Italy. So many adventures await! So I can't say how important it will be to know all the must sees are covered and very little planning effort will be required on my part. I've pretty much committed to June 2016... So I just need to patiently wait until the 2016 dates are released in 2015. . And make the phone call!

LOL! We are making some adjustments to our travel schedule and its looking like we could get to Italy in June 2015...a whole year before you guys get there We can't book till May 2014" and I thought I was planning ahead...you guys are good!

Originally, DH and I thought we would do an Antarctic trip in winter 2015/16, but we realized our DD will be a freshman at some (at this point unknown) college. We would need to book that trip before we know where and when her breaks would be, and even though she's not coming, we feel like we can't ditch her or leave her stranded at her college while we traipse through Argentina, Chile and Antarctica...LOL!

We have friends we met on our Galapagos ABD who took the "regular" Italy trip and said it was great! They didnt do the signature, and thought it was great, so the new one with some of those " signature" activities added is bound to be great!

If we have to put off Antarctica, we think we will take both DDs to Italy for DD2s HS graduation in early June 2015. We can take an adult only if the dates work, both would be over 18; but usually in June they offer Family trips- which is fine! my girls like the younger kids and always have a great time! I think it would be the perfect mix of history (which DD2 loves) and art (DD1 is studying design in college now).

I have been coveting this trip for sooooo long, it's a pretty good consolation for having to put off Antarctica! One of the reasons I want the ABD for Italy, is it is so crowded and hard to get into some of these places. Having that special access will be so worth it! Well, now we all wait, right!

 

[sayhello]

LOL! We are making some adjustments to our travel schedule and its looking like we could get to Italy in June 2015...a whole year before you guys get there We can't book till May 2014" and I thought I was planning ahead...you guys are good!

Originally, DH and I thought we would do an Antarctic trip in winter 2015/16, but we realized our DD will be a freshman at some (at this point unknown) college. We would need to book that trip before we know where and when her breaks would be, and even though she's not coming, we feel like we can't ditch her or leave her stranded at her college while we traipse through Argentina, Chile and Antarctica...LOL!

We have friends we met on our Galapagos ABD who took the "regular" Italy trip and said it was great! They didnt do the signature, and thought it was great, so the new one with some of those " signature" activities added is bound to be great!

If we have to put off Antarctica, we think we will take both DDs to Italy for DD2s HS graduation in early June 2015. We can take an adult only if the dates work, both would be over 18; but usually in June they offer Family trips- which is fine! my girls like the younger kids and always have a great time! I think it would be the perfect mix of history (which DD2 loves) and art (DD1 is studying design in college now).

I have been coveting this trip for sooooo long, it's a pretty good consolation for having to put off Antarctica! One of the reasons I want the ABD for Italy, is it is so crowded and hard to get into some of these places. Having that special access will be so worth it! Well, now we all wait, right!

Wow! I just signed up for Scotland in Aug 2014, and I thought *I* was doing good!

The Italy trip, especially with the signature additions, sounds wonderful. I did many of those activities on my Med cruise ABD in 2010, so I can't quite justify doing that trip just yet. But I'm sure it will be in my future at some point!

Sayhello

 

[familygoboston]

Wow! I just signed up for Scotland in Aug 2014, and I thought *I* was doing good!

The Italy trip, especially with the signature additions, sounds wonderful. I did many of those activities on my Med cruise ABD in 2010, so I can't quite justify doing that trip just yet. But I'm sure it will be in my future at some point!

Sayhello

Less than a year?? Id freak out Can't wait for your report!