We are a family of five heading to Rome at the end of the month. We desperately need a tour guide in
Rome but don't know where to turn.

Should we do a group or hire a guide for just our family (kids 13,11 and 9)?

What is the right amount to pay?


Thanks,

DG

My sister is off to Rome today and we have hired a driver/guide for her and her friends. The cost is $25 euro per hour and I think they have him for four hours. I will let you know if they think it is worth it. When my husband and kids went, we explored on our own and just signed up for a tour of the Vatican. My kids are younger so the tour was a little much esp. for my son (5 at the time). He and I ditched the group and attend Mass at St. Peter's while the tour was going on. I think he didn't mind the mass because he could sit. During our five day stay we also did the red bus one day where you can get on and off. The kids enjoyed that.

Our family of 5 (2 adults) utilized DriverinItaly[.com] last month for private transfers to and from Termini rail to our apartment, a tour of Rome the day we arrived, a day long tour down to Pompeii (where we used a local guide) and Positano and transfers in Florence.

While in Rome we stayed near Vatican City and walked virtually everywhere-Trevi, Spanish Steps, Pantheon, Ancient Rome and major piazzas.

We thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and would do it again. Our children (10-13 years) are not particularly interested in long museum visits, so the guided tours allowed us to take in highlights in an "efficient' manner, without sharing our children's opinions of art with the other visitors. The drivers all spoke beautiful english and were very pleasant and knowledgeable. Prices are listed on the web site. The savings in time and hassle more than justified the expense.

We also hired private guides (TickItaly.com) for tours of the Vatican museums, chapel and St. Peters, and the Uffizi and Academia in Florence. We toured the Colosseum and Forums on our own, though purchased our admission tickets at Palentine Hill-which saved us a very long wait at the Colosseum.

Have a great trip.

http://www.rome-tours.com/guide.shtml

do a search here on Rome tours for lots of information

I would second using Daniella Hunt with Mirabilia Urbis Tours (www.rome-tours.com). We had
a terrific tour of the Roman Forum and Colosseum with her a few years ago. She's extremely knowledgeable, and enthusiastic. Think your children would have alot of fun and
learn quite a bit at the same time.
We used ContextRome for a tour of the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's that was also quite good.