I received my confirmation for the Scavi tour around a week ago For May 22nd and decided a few days later I would take the chance and send the payment information (credit card) through e-mail. The next day I received an automated email with the title RE:CONFIRM “tour code/date”,etc.

The body of the message was:
” E-Mail Acknowledgment/Important Notice

This is an auto-generated system message.
Receipt of this acknowledgment confirms that the e-mail message you sent to
Excavations Office of Vatican City has been received.
Please do not reply to this address.”

That was the message received and I decided to check my balance and have not been charged. I checked again today which is now three days later and still nothing on my account balance. For those that have paid through email, is this standard practice for them not to charge right away? I am just a little paranoid over the whole situation so any advice is welcome.

Yes, I went through the same procedure and received the auto reply. I printed this to take with me thinking it was all I was going to get, but a few days later I received a proper receipt and all was in order. My husband, is very cautious about sending card details etc. but we went ahead and did what they asked and there are no problems.

As I recall, it took the Scavi office about 10 days to put the charge through on my credit card and send me the official receipt.

I too got the automated response then the final receipt several days after I emailed my credit card information to them.I read on another post that they don't usually charge your credit card until the week before your scheduled time.Give it a few more days and if you still don't get the receipt email them about it making sure you note your reservation number.

Last summer we received confirmation and I sent cc details about one month before our tour. But we left for Italy only 10 ten days later, and we did not receive the payment receipt before we left. I printed out all of the email correspondence in case there was any question when we arrived for the tour. No need...we were confirmed and payment had been recorded.

Geralyn

In february I requested a scavi tour for my husband and I. Our requested date was in June. I got an automated reply as follows. Do I just wait now for another response?

Regarding your request, the Office of the Excavations sends an automatic answer to confirm the receipt of the message.

The Vatican Scavi, as you are aware, is one of the most sacred spots in the world for Christians.

The Excavations Office receive many thousands of requests each year to visit the excavations.

Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate all of these requests.

First, the nature of the necropolis is such that visits can be made only in small groups.

Second, in order to care for the necropolis and tomb of St Peter, we necessarily need to limit the amount of the visitors that visit each day (only about 300 people each day).

Requests are also being processed and we will communicate the schedules of the visitre as soon as possible when the visit is possible.

If you didn't receive a communication, we are sorry to not be able to fulfil the desire to visit the excavations.

If, due to a cancellation, it is possible to accommodate you, it will be our pleasure to inform you of your reservation as soon as possible.


You are kindly asked not to reapply for the visit by E-Mail or by Fax.

This was my sequence of events to secure the Scavi reservation.

1. 13 Feb - Applied via e-mail. I gave them anytime 20-25th April
2. 13 Feb - Received automated acknowledgement of e-mail.
3. 18 Mar - e-mail from Scavi office offering a date & time.
4. 21 Mar - I sent Credit Card details via fax
5. 28 Mar - Credit card debited.

Good Luck

quote:

Originally posted by TravelerfromToronto: Do I just wait now for another response?

Lots of valuable info on other STers experience with Scavi Tour reservations.

Geralyn