No need to blast someone for a difference of opinion. When you visit a place often I can understand wanting to make later visits more spontanious. However, when you are a first time visitor or have specific things you want to see - then it is important to plan ahead because some places require advanced reservations and some places are not open on specific days or hours. You may end up missing some very wonderful things if you do not plan ahead. But, I also agree that leaving time to wonder, enjoy, and explore is an important aspect of the journey, too. That is why it is good to spend more time in one place then trying to cram in a lot of cities or countries into one trip.

There will definitely be time to just wander and even get lost as I am sure we will. So I agree too much of a schedule is tiresome. Jan.16 our 2nd day in Rome is my daughter's birthday so that one will be her choice of things to do. Keep all the suggestions coming. I think we will just stay in Rome as I can see there is much to keep us busy.

I have just returned from Rome (three nights) and had a great time. The one tour you MUST do is the Scarvi tour. It was amazing. Unless you have a good historical background into the reason why the Vatican was built in the particular spot it is now I dont think you will get the benefit of visiting the building. The Scarvi tour brings the whole place to life!!!The tour lasts an hour. The guide takes you under the Vatican to reveal the site where St Peter was put to rest. Its amazing. Under the Vatican there is a large graveyard (in simple terms) and they have restored it to reveal the most interesting and well preserved items. I am not a massive history buff and I took the tour because others recommended it and I am so pleased I took their advise. BOOK IT if you can. You have to contact the Vitican directly and request a place on the tour well in advance of your trip so I would get onto the vatican site now and send them an e mail.. You wont be disapointed!!

Amelia, my daughter is suggesting a trip to Pompeii one day. I realize it is a long day to make that trip. You mentioned you would have done that differently. What is the best way to make the trip? I have already read old posts concerning this subject on Fodors that gives alot of info. Anyone else also I would appreciate your input.

LoveItaly - Most people on this board have OCD and HAVE to plan or take more meds. LOL

Ky Bourbon,
Got a good laugh. Know exactly what you mean!!There must be some planning,but I also understand not having every minute planned. Want opinions on Pompeii, please.

Maryanne, you said you have read the old posts about Pompeii; if so, you have probably come across some of mine. I really enjoyed my two day trips from Rome to Pompeii, and I would encourage anyone with an interest to do this. One time I took the Enjoy Rome shuttle bus and it was a very relaxing way to do it; however, it isn't running in January when you will be there.

The other time we took the train to Naples and the Circumvesuviana train from Naples to the Pompeii scavi stop. I believe that when Amelia said she would do her trip to Pompeii differently, she meant that she had gone to the wrong train stop and that next time she would go to the right one.

These trips were highlights of both my visits to Rome. I had been fascinated by the story of Pompeii and by volcanoes when I first read about them as a child, and it was wonderful to have the opportunity to go there in person. Walking among the ruins with Vesuvio in the background was very powerful.

We didn't use guides or an audioguide, just wandered and looked in the materials we got on site.

risab in an earlier post you said you were going to be there for christmas. try to go to the papal blessing at st. peters on christmas day. it is a pretty neat experience even for a recovering catholic. it starts at noon but if you get there at 10:00am you should get pretty close.

Maryanne, Nikki hit it right. It was as though my "tour guide" role in the family went kaput that day. I had done the reading, knew the route, just had a brain freeze.

Going in Pompeii "the back way" made the day a bit longer, and I thought my kids weren't enjoying it. I was totally wrong. They tell me to this day that it and the priests walking on the seminary roof were their favorite Rome memories.

marianne - - - We did the Pomepii trip in one day and it was fine - not overly taxing at all. We hired a private vane for the 4 of us- it cost us about $100 each - well worth it. We had door to door service - left at 8 AM - stopped along the highway for bathroom and coffee. We also found some great souveneers at these roadside stops! Got to Pompeii a bit before 11 - hired a guide there for $100 for 3 hours and we saw everything and got all the history from the guide - he was great. We got back into Rome about 5 or 6. It was well worth the extra money and was really our only expensive excursion on the whole trip.
We did not take a tour of the Forum - only the audio tour which was fine. At the Vatican museum we hired one of their guides and I thought it was overpriced and it was very hard to hear him and he had a thick accent. Next time Iwould wander there on my own. We did not take a guide of St. Peter's - just walked around on our own. I think this was a mistake and would recommend a guide for the Vatican. The highlight was the Scavi tour - wonderful - altho I almost backed out when I got there because it was rather claustrophobic. I made it thru ok though.
Leave yourself plenty of free wandering time and you will have a great time.

Thank you for all the help. My daughter will be here for Christmas so then we will have a discussion and decide what we want to do. There will be some things definitely I want to do. I don't think she has done her research yet,but her time will come in Rome being what I call the guide person reading the maps, figuring out the bus schedules, etc. Any other thoughts will be appreciated. Checked out from the library the Rome Eyewitness DK book. This book will probably get a free trip to Rome with me. Best I have seen for guidance on streets and sites of interest.

maryanne, just as a point of interest my SIL who was born and raised in Rome bought the DK Rome book for me as his first Christmas present to me (after he and my daughter got married). He knew I had been to Rome several times and loved it so much. Evidently he spent about 2 hours in the bookstore looking at every travel book he could find regarding Rome and this is the one he chose so assume this will be a terrific book for you to bring with you.

BTW, the next year he gave me the DK Italy book.

You must be getting so excited. January is almost here!! Do have a wonderful trip with your daughter. I will sure look forward to your trip report.

OCD??? Ah the possibiiities -

Overly Cautious Dysfunction
Often Challenged Dedication
Once Caught Defenseless
Only Cherished Destinations

Well, enough of my silliness, but what does it mean?

Bramama, OCD: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

I definately agree with Gracie04. Next time I get to Rome I would take the same tour (Message: I highly recommend taking Scala Reale's Arte Vaticana tour. Try to get Elizabeth Lev as your tour guide, she was fantastic! You won't regret it.) again. It was the highlight of our last trip to Italy. I would also try some of the other Scala Reale tours. They have a web site where you can reserve tours. They are expensive but well worth it.

Don't forget to find some time to just eat and relax. Have a great time.

Hi Maryanne,

I highly recommend taking a personal guided tour. The lady was fantastic and she also gave us the chance to visit many places without the usual crowds of tourists. We really got to know Rome!
She has a web site where you can reserve tours. They well worth it. You'll see parts of Rome you'd never see otherwise. And you'll really do as the Romans do.
You can check out the website http://www.romeshoppinguide.com

With a whole week, you should also consider a daytrip, such as to Tuscany or Umbria.

Whatever you decide, have a wonderful time!

I would suggest alternating days with tours (for example:a vatican tour with scala reale or rome walks or whatever group you choose)one day, then a day where you head off on your own, in an opposite direction...perhaps a walk to the Aventine Hill for a look at the churches, enjoy the park with views, look through the "keyhole" at St. Peters, strolling back by crossing the river to Trastevere for an afternoon of neighborhood wandering.
the following day, take another tour..this time of the colosseo, forum and palatine...
and so on.
and you are right..the Borghese is a must see, and so easy to book right now on line..
and you should line up your tours before you leave..
I know you don't have that much time, but a day (not Monday)that you feel like taking a train ride..90 minutes on the Eurostar and you can be in Florence where you can easily get to the Accademia to see David, the Duomo and climb to the top, visit the Museo del opera dell Duomo, have a nice lunch, get to the Ponte Vecchio, stop in the Santa Maria Novella church and catch a train back to Rome for dinner.
most important, get a few good guide books, stay in a hotel in a central location and spend some time just wandering..in search of the perfect fountain..or cafe...or gelato..or church

Hi Maryanne, if I were you I'd book a personal guided tour. They are highly professional and let you save time and money organizing both the sightseeing and the shopping tours. We used a very nice lady from a company in Rome and she let us have very good discounts everywhere, she wasn't expensive at all and took us around with a private car. How comfortable! Just be careful to hire a real professional, ask in advance for everything you want to do and if you want to make a very nice present for your daughter's birthday book, as a gift idea, one day of style and shopping consultation. I didn't do that but I saw in their brochure they had such a service and I found it brilliant. Their web-site is www.shoppingconsultants.it

linked to Helpful Information Italy superthread

I want to thank all of you for your help. Rome is a wonderful city that 1 week is not long enough. I cannot wait to return to see more of Italy. I cannot think how our trip could have been any more perfect than it was. All of your suggestions were read and appreciated. Many tips were used.
My post of the trip is titled
First Roman Holiday
Thanks Love Italy for your kind comments on my post. There are quite a few mistakes-hitting wrong keys. Please excuse.