I'm surprising my "never been out of the USA" wife for her 40th birthday in May, with a quick dash to Rome for a 3 night stay. On our 2nd full day there, I want to do a Vatican tour. I've managed to get her to read a couple of new books on the Sistine Chapel, without her knowing my underlying reason. She's an Art Teacher and knows a lot more background of the period than I ever will, and I know she'll be blown away. My questions: Should I get a private guide, and if "yes," is 3 hours enough, or should I go for longer? Our budget is tight, but I'm willing to splurge if it gives her something she'll never forget. Thanks, hope to hear some good tips.

I say YES to a guide. Rome Walks has nice, fairly inexpensive rpivate and small group tours.

Wonderful bday gift, by the way!

While obviously not as good, the audio tour at the Vatican was much better than expected.

I'm leaving for Rome in 3 weeks and booked through slow travel a 3 hour semi-private tour to get our bearings. Only 12 people/group for 55 E.

Yes!!It made our trip. Look in the trip planning section on this website and you will find quite a few. A lot of our friends have used "through Eternity Tours" and loved them. We were lucky because when we went we had our future son-in-law with us who use to be a Rome tour guide!I read as much as I could before we went and still learned so much!
When will you be there in May? We will be in Rome again on May 9th and my son-in-law will be with us giving my brother and sister in law a first time guide through the Vatican. If you there at that time you are welcome to tag along and have a listen!

I agree, yes. We also had about a 3-hour tour of the Vatican Museums with about 12 people. It was greatly enhanced by the tour guide (an art student from Australia) plus we didn't have to wait in line.

Definitely yes. We booked Tony Roma for four hours last August and he was worth every penny. He was a wealth of information and very comfortable with three mid-aged women suffering from jet lag. I've been to the Vatican museum at least six times and got more out of it in the 4 hours with Tony than ever before. Hope this helps.


Luisa

Thank you for your reply and great information. And thanks for the tagalong offer, but we'll be there at the end of May, Friday the 26th, utilizing the Memorial Day weekend.

quote:

Originally posted by l&w:
Yes!!It made our trip. Look in the trip planning section on this website and you will find quite a few. A lot of our friends have used "through Eternity Tours" and loved them. We were lucky because when we went we had our future son-in-law with us who use to be a Rome tour guide!I read as much as I could before we went and still learned so much!
When will you be there in May? We will be in Rome again on May 9th and my son-in-law will be with us giving my brother and sister in law a first time guide through the Vatican. If you there at that time you are welcome to tag along and have a listen!

quote:

Originally posted by Megan in Liguria:
I say YES to a guide. Rome Walks has nice, fairly inexpensive rpivate and small group tours.

I absolutely agree, and with the choice of tour groups.
Rome Walks tends to be around 6 people to a group and the guides are very good.

I think they probably offer the best bet for the money.