Today there are lots of younger people who don't have the time to plan an independent trip and want all the details handled for them. They appreciate the simplicity and service afforded by guided tours. However, at the level of 3-star hotels, it is hard to match the economy of the budget guided tour packages with what you can do on your own at similar hotels and destinations. American citizens need only a passport to visit most European countries. If airport connections are involved, your total journey time will be further extended.
Travel originating from Hawaii and Alaska requires significantly longer flight times.
If you're on the west coast of the U.S. in Pacific time, the difference is 9 hours. You will probably spend one night of your trip on the plane. This is especially important to consider when you are flying back to the west coast of the U.S., because you may depart Milan at 10 am local time and arrive in San Francisco at 1 pm local time, only 3 hours later by the clock. BUT, your day will have been extended by 9 hours, making it very long. The ratings give a relative measure of the facilities and services afforded by hotels.