Let’s explore available 'free-time' in one of Rick Steve’s older tour packages: RS Italy (Venice, Florence & Rome) 10 day (2023)”: https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/italy/venice-florence-rome

Side Note: After my ~20 yrs of Rick Steve’s Travel Guide’s experience, I have great respect for his organization’s integrity and Mission.

Anecdote: Traveling around France one summer: my taxi cab driver advised that he had driven Rick somewhere a few weeks earlier. Later at a hostel, I was told the same thing by the owner. 

This was SOLID PROOF that Rick at that time, personally, lived up to his boast that, “Rick Steve's guidebooks are updated yearly.”  Ironically, on that same trip, I walked to a Lonely Planet listed hostel only to discover it had been closed for 3 or 4 years.

I chose this Rick Steves' tour example because his tours tend to be:
    1) small to medium size,
    2) guest-focused,
    3) generally higher quality,
    4) trends older (late 40s⁺), and
    5) considerate of fitness parameters for older guests.  

I presumed Rick Steves'  had taken into account a tour’s required walking distance, relaxation times, and guest’s desire to explore on their own.

The goal of this quick & dirty, horseback analysis is to teach you how to calculate your available mornings, afternoons & evening 'free-time' segments so you can fully exploit them. 

For example, on your arrival day I have only counted the night segment as part of the actual tour, which may often include orientation, dinner and a walkabout tour. AND the last day not counted at all because it may primarily your departure day.

While many days may begin with a most justifiable ‘old or historic town walkabout to quickly give you a sense of the old town or historical context, I also wanted a sense of specific site & activity’s allotted times. 

1. Ruff analysis of Rick Steves Tours: “Best of Venice, Florence & Rome in 10 Days Tour (2023)”:
       https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/italy/venice-florence-rome

Ruff analysis of official tour time segments vs 'free-time': by morning (m), afternoon (a), and evening (e) time segments which I will call Tour Units*

2. Synopsis of Ruff Itinerary: 

Rick Steves Tours: Best of Venice, Florence & Rome in 10 Days Tour:
       https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/italy/venice-florence-rome