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Trying to locate private tour guide for 6 adults 2 days in Rome. Also will arrive in Messina Sicily on cruise ship and trying to find tour there as well. All leads appreciated!!!

Try this lady - she is one of the few Americans licensed as a Rome Guide and I have heard lots of good reports about her. http://www.eternaltourist.com/

Previously posted (excerpts only below) Author: Lisa ([email protected]) Date: 04/17/2001, 02:43 pm Message: I was in Rome four years ago and has the time of my life with my family and our personal tour guide, Massimo. It helped that he was my age, handsome, and able to communicate with me in my Italian/his English. We actually stayed in touch after my trip. He was recommended by our hotel, Hotel Tirreno, and I have his business card. If you think you're interested, post a note and I will email you his information. ---------------------------------------- Author: Rex ([email protected]) Date: 04/20/2001, 09:28 am Message: Mayta - - at http://www.eternaltourist.com - - charges a very reasonable 40.000 LIT per hour. The services at http://www.customitaly.com (which include a car and driver) are $385 for 3 hours (1-3 people), $430 for 4-7 people, $495 for 8-15 people. Affordable for 15 people, outrageous for 1 or 2. ---------------------------------------- Author: Len ([email protected]) Date: 04/20/2001, 11:40 am Message: Rex her name is Christiana and you can book her through Sacca Tours at 800-326-5170. Do you think I could do better than $350 for a good three hour tour? ---------------------------------------- Author: Rex ([email protected]) Date: 04/20/2001, 01:17 pm Message: Len - - thanks very much for the lead (I think). I called the number and they don't know who Christiana is! but they do have a website and they quoted me $284 for 4 hours, chauffeur-driven, in a 7 seat mini-van. The driver is a knowledgeable English speaker, who is NOT a licensed tour guide (i.e., can NOT accompany us into any of the "sights") - - but this actually sounds like something that matches my objectives pretty well. Sounds like we can specify our "route" pretty much any way we wish (75 km max, but I don't see that as a problem withIN the city). The website is www.saccatours.com - - no booking online - - over the phone only, and their cancellation policy is NO refunds for this short notice - - so I am still thinking about it. Anybody else ever heard of this company or have any other ideas? Author: Len ([email protected]) Date: 04/20/2001, 01:44 pm Message: Rex, I just spoke with Enrica at Sacca Tours. I was quoted $270 for 3 hours. I asked about Christaiana and she said she would check to see if she was available, so I don't know who you spoke with. My friend had her an said she was a great guide. Author: Cindy ([email protected]) Date: 04/20/2001, 04:07 pm Message: Max Leotta (www.RomeLimousineService.com) came highly recommended to me. He has quoted $600 US for a full day tour of Rome for 3 passengers. ---------------------------------------- Author: Rex ([email protected]) Date: 04/20/2001, 04:36 pm Message: Eva, Pretty much everything I know is here - - though I will post follow-up when I return. And, for what it's worth, Ed (and Julie) wrote back to me to say that "licensed" tour guides are EXTREMELY rare - - doesn't necessarily connote good or bad.

I was in Rome two weeks ago, and used Dr. Richard Westall for a private tour for my family group of six. We did a morning tour of the Vatican and spent the afternoon touring the ancient historic sites. We made it into the Sistine Chapel with only 3 people ahead of us, then saw the rest of the museums and St. Peter's.Our afternoon itinerary included the Colosseum, the Forums, the Palatine Hill, the Pantheon, and others. We covered a lot and received great information. I highly recommend him. His e-mail address is [email protected]

I'm a little confused. How is that this thread has all these old dates messages mixed in with newer date messages?

www.romanholidays.com or E-mail [email protected] and request info on Rome..

Has anyone done something not associated with a tour service - such as hiring a cab driver or maybe contacting a school to see if any students want to earn a few extra bucks by driving a copule of people around. Although it would probably not be as professional seems like you would be able to get it much cheaper. Or am I just out there?

In many institutions you need to be licensed in order to lecture before a small group--even in museums in NY--so this is one limiting factor.

In many institutions you need to be licensed in order to lecture before a small group--even in museums in NY--so this is one limiting factor. In some places (London, Prague, St Petersburg, Madrid) you can get a real professional for a reasonable sum.

I think that Ed was referring to the issue that Marc is mentioning. But in Rome it is very difficult to cut through the bureaucracy to become licensed if you are not Roman or at least an Italian citizen.

Hi Fran, I was in Rome last year and took a wonderful tour with Odyssey Tours. They have fantastic SMALL group tours (which I took) but I believe they also offer private tours. Their web site is www.odyssey-tours.com Enjoy Rome, I know you will! I loved it and am envious of you.

try Scala Reale. they do small tours of Rome (4-6)and are great, reasonalble too 25e each.they can be founnd @ Scala Reale.com. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. my wife and I just spent 2 weeks in rome, and took 4 of their tours. All the guides are americans living in rome with extensive art history background. Highly recommend their Vatican tour.

We booked Mayta (Eternal Tourist) for a half-day trip to Tivoli in October 2002. Cost for her & auto/driver was about 400 Euros - a splurge for us. She was knowledgeable, but be forewarned. 1) Conversation during drive-times provided minimal information about sites unless we initiated questions. 2) At her suggestion, we had lunch at a local trattoria before seeing gardens. It soon became apparent that she expected us to pay for her meal. 3) She can't walk extensively due to her health, so we were left to walk most of the gardens alone without her expertise.