Lsbcal
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Yes, we do our own planning too. Just went on one RS tour to Southern Italy 2 years ago. We enjoyed some of it but maybe the socializing was not optimal for us. Getting out on our own after the tour was kind of refreshing. I guess I'm not all that versatile. I asked one couple how our tour compared with other RS tours they took and they said it was representative. One thing that bugged me is that were a few couples who had couple friends and they kind of stuck together. Felt a little like high school.Guided/organized tours are expensive, but it's a great option for folks who don't want to do the work - especially for the first time Europe traveler. There are lots of gotchas and it's easy to make rookie mistakes. At least Rick Steves tours aren't priced as high as many.
See my sig line - our Europe excursions sometimes take months for me to research, plan, and reserve/purchase.
This year we're taking a break - staying in one location. Next year it will be back to the whirlwind.
Still I am glad we did it as it might be a preview for years when we are more ancient and need the support tours provide.