travelsuper

Thank you all for the replies! Some good advice...

I decided to fax the vatican for the museum tour today and included our hotel fax number...I am not 100% confident we'll get it in time and to our hotel, since we are a week and a half away from the day we will be visiting. No big deal- if we have to wing it ourselves...

travelsuper

One other thing, I did email the Scavi office for a tour but there is no availability this close in (oh ignorant me). Here was the reply (which puts things in perspective - so as soon as you book your trip, email for the Scavi tour well in advance!):

Thank you for your request to visit the Excavations beneath St. Peter's Basilica. Unfortunately we are not able to accommodate your request.

During the dates of your request, the Office's program of visits has been completely filled and no opportunity for additional persons or groups is foreseen.

We understand that this is a disappointment to you.

The Excavations Office receives several thousand applications each day to visit the necropolis beneath the Basilica.

Regrettably this means that we are unable to accommodate a great number of requests made to our Office. For the maintenance of the necropolis and the presence of the tomb of St. Peter, it is possible to allow the visit only to around 250 visitors in day.



Hoping that your request can be accepted at some future

Vttraveler

travelsuper--to clarify (and reassure you that you did indeed get a good deal) our $475/pp was airfare only. We paid about $400 pp more for our apartment in the ghetto area for 7 nights.
Since you are already thinking you will probably want to go back to Rome soon, I encourage you to think about renting an apartment next time--very good value compared to hotel rooms.

Again, hope you have a great trip. I wish I were headed to Paris and Rome next week.

travelsuper

Thanks VT..
Looking forward to it as I have only been to London so far in my European travels. I'll be sure and follow up with a post of how the trip was.
TS