ParadiseLost

Laura, I don't want to be the 'doom and gloom' poster but have you checked availabilty for any of your tour options (Vatican or private) esp for a group of 5 on what must be the busiest day (Dec 24) for the Vatican museums?

Also if you decided to DIY and just wanted reserved entry tickets esp early AM are they still available with 5 open slots?

As you know it's going to be a mob scene that day and your plan of attack has 3 major battles as I see it.

1. Avoiding the long security line at St. Peter's Basilica and 1a. any long line for the Cupula.

2. Avoiding the long entry line for the Vatican Museums.

3. Avoiding the mob getting to and inside the Sistine Chapel.

An early AM tour which exits the Sistine Chapel over to the S.P. Basilica will win all 3 except 1a.

*If* a tour isn't an option for either price or availability I'm afraid you'll have to pick your winning battle and lose the other.

Back to the *If* you know you can win 1 & 1a by getting to the Basilica ~opening time but the visit, climb and walk over will leave you with a long Vatican Museums line.

*If* for 2. & 3. you get on line long before the ticket office opens and later beeline to the Sistine Chapel which might work?

Now if you want to pass on audioguides and visiting the rest of the Museum there is the *possibility* that you could exit the 'Tour Group Only' door in the Chapel and then go straight over to the Basilica and win all 3 battles except for 1a .

But there is the chance that you might not be allowed to exit (Not my past experience but I recall fairly recent posts (1yr) on Rick Steves 'Graffiti Wall' where the posters said they were not allowed to exit).

Well Good Luck! Regards, Walter

Lauratg

Thanks Walter and everyone else. I love this site and all the opinions that come with it!

It has occurred to me that the crowds on December 24 will be brutal in that the museums are closed on the preceding day (Sunday) and the following two days. The Vatican hasn't released December 24th reservations yet, and one of the tour groups had availability on the 24th last week (I haven't checked any others), but yes, I would need to reserve ASAP to ensure five slots.

If I suck it up and pay for an early tour of the museums and then the lines to climb the cupola turn out to be impossibly long afterwards, we could take CarrieAnn's suggestion to climb the Cupula on a different morning -- thus avoiding the issues with 1a as well. Worst case scenario would be that we don't get to climb at all. That would be too bad, but not tragic. (As far as the secret door is concerned, I am such a rule-follower, I probably wouldn't attempt to sneak out of the wrong door. If I did, I'd feel guilty for hours afterwards and if I got yelled at by a guard, I'd probably cry.)

OK, back to the books to figure out what to cut out so that I can aford the luxury of an early entrance. I've already got us eating nothing but pizza and panini for two weeks. Good thing nobody in this family is a real "foodie."

ParadiseLost

"(As far as the secret door is concerned, I am such a rule-follower, I probably wouldn't attempt to sneak out of the wrong door. If I did, I'd feel guilty for hours afterwards and if I got yelled at by a guard, I'd probably cry.)"

<Smile>

So 'Walks of Italy' @ 425e total cost which includes tickets & reservation free.

The big benefit with them is early admission ~8 before the main ticket office opens at 9 plus it's a small group 10-12 with very likey a knowledgeable tour guide who I assume will answer some questions.

www.enjoyrome.com @ 265e total cost including tickets & reservation fee.

Downside; Admission at 9am at the same time when the main ticket office opens.

Now I don't see that as possibly a major problem but just guessing here.

The general admission crowd probably left their hotel ~7 many will be hitting the wc's, checking daypacks, renting audioguides, buying guidebooks or hitting the gift shops for Aunty Em.

Those that aren't; I think the vast majority will begin touring the museums rather than beelining to the Sistine Chapel to avoid the mob scene (that's what I did on my 1st visit).

It's a LARGE group tour vs a more personal smaller group.

But you will get commentary and info via the headphones of what you are seeing.

Remember a small group or a large group you will only see the highlights in a timed visit not everything the museum has to offer.
Regards, Walter

CarrieAnn40

Laura -Italy with Us do a two hour 8am tour for 50 euros, max tour group size is 20, the info is under the pic of the Sistine Chapel on the link below. I don't know if it takes you into St Peter's or not http://www.italywithus.com/daily-vip...ican-tours.php

Lauratg

Thanks for the heads up CarrieAnn! I went ahead and reserved with Italy for Us for 8AM on Christmas Eve. It is a shorter tour (and a larger group) than the others, but far less money and we get to go in early! The tour doesn't include St. Peter's, but I thing that is preferable to me. That way we can double back and take a look at some of the other Vatican Museum rooms that aren't included on the tour (and hopefully won't be as crowded). Also, my photographer daugher can spend as much time as she likes taking pictures of those beautiful exit stairs. I hope they allow that. . .

I need to stop worrying about this.

LaraTombRaider

Hi Lauratg. I know this is an old message board, but was just wondering if you were pleased with your decision? I am confronting a similar choice, and just curious to know if Italy for Us was worthwhile? Thanks so much!