We will be in Rome in mid-May but we weren't able to finalize the dates until just last weekend. At this late date, I'm not hopeful in being able to reserve the Scavi tour at St. Peters, so Im looking for alternatives. I know about Context:Rome's tours. Do you have ay other recommended tours? I don't need something that is 'kid-friendly', BTW.

TIA!

I would recommend a private guide, Francesca Caruso.
With another couple, Sandi Travelnut and her husband, two of us took a Palatine/Forum tour with her last month and were very pleased. She will customize to suite your interests and can certainly take you to the Catacombs. You can also go on your own; there have been many helpful posts here on how to do this. Check, especially, the directions provided by poster Paradise Lost.

Hi GoAway - just wanted to pipe in some hope for you and the Scavi tour. I just got my confirm for a tour in late March and I first emailed them in early February - within 60 days of my preferred tour dates. Who knows the sheer volume and timing constraints the tour office places on requests, but I followed other Fodorites' tips and the Scavi Tour offices' instructions to the letter: http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/in...040112_en.html. Below was my timeline:

Day 1: sent email with request

Day 2-9: didn't receive an auto-response; sat on pins & needles and decided not to get my hopes up; kept thinking buying Madonna tickets was way easier

Day 10: received email confirmation with request for credit card info (joyful day!)

Day 10: sent email w/ credit card info

Day 11: received email auto response

Day 12-14: sat on pins and needles again; kept checking my credit card for the 20EUR/person charge from the Vatican; kept thinking, "I hope AMEX doesn't decline a charge from the Vatican."

Day 15: received email confirmation receipt (yey!)

Day 54 - day of tour

Good luck and safe travels!

(oops - I meant 10 EUR/person!)

It really is not necessary to take a tour of the catacombs, as you must go down with one of the catacombs tour guides (who are excellent). So, if a guide takes you to the catacombs they are really just driving you there. We have gone twice and both times just took a taxi there and back. You can try the Archeobus, but I have heard some not so good stories about it on this forum.

We used Benvenuto Limos and they were great at getting us into everywhere.
Try them at www.benvenutolimos.com