annhig

hi wrenwood,

personally I've never done a tour like the ones offered by context [or anyone else come to that], though sometimes I've tagged on with ones offered by whatever attraction I'm visiting. Generally a decent guidebook will do me.

However, the one place I wish we'd had one was the Forum - it was just a heap of stones to me. the Palatine wasn't so bad - the heaps had some sort of shape. perhaps now it's not free, so there are fewer people it will be better but even so, a guide would be good. so if you are going to spend some preciosu $$ on a guide, IMHO you should spend them there.

Lexma90

Another comment about Context Travel. We are very much the guidebook kind of people - actually I usually work from two guidebooks, preferring to move at our own pace, and get really in depth.

The ONLY walking tours we've taken are the ContextTravel tour of the Palatine Hill, Forum and Coliseum, primarily for understanding the Palatin Hill, and another tour by ContextTravel in Venice. Their tour guides are very knowledgeable, usually grad students and the like, and go very much in depth. The small group size is great. But it's not only for history geeks - my husband is not a history geek, and he liked the tour too.

wrenwood

I'm thinking of 2 tours ~

The first day ~ Appian Way, Catacombs (Palatine Hill?????) Forum and Coliseum ~ kind of an "Introduction to Rome"

Also the Vatican and museums on another day, all of that is way over my head.

The thing I don't like about Audio Guides ~ when you are with others (there will be 3 of us) it seems like you're always in a "different spot" than those you're with, and there is not always someone around to ask questions if you don't understand something.

Rome Walks is less expensive than Context Travel. Need to do more "investigating"

maitaitom

Tracy really likes the audio guides. That way she doesn't have to hear me talk for a couple of hours. Have a great trip. I will be interested to hear about the Appian Way. Still have that left to do on the next trip.

wrenwood

I'm hoping we can leave a day or two earlier than planned so we can do the Appian Way Tour on a "traffic-free" Sunday.

I can squint my eyes and pretend I am walking into Rome in a (much) earlier time..............

annhig

one snag with audio guides in the Vatican museums is that you have to return them to the desk by the entrance, which means that you can't take the "group" exit at the back of the sistine chapel which takes you down to the side of sst. Peter's and lets you avoid the long walk back round the Vatican walls and going through the security queue again.