Obviously this works brilliantly for you, but it would be a nightmare for me. As for the guides, some are knowledgeable, some not, some speak brilliant English, many, particularly in Italy and Greece, poorly accented English, which is hard to understand. They are often so loud, perhaps because of the general level of hearing of the passengers, that I usually wear earplugs. They are often extremely repetitious. And, worst of all, they talk all the time. I don’t want to be talked at, I want to be left in peace to admire the scenery. I have done my homework and read the guidebooks, I don’t need their commentary. The thought of a long day on a coach with someone jabbering away is, as I said, a nightmare. I try and avoid tours of more than half a day, and tend to stick to those involving wine and lunch. Back in time for a nap.