Rome Tour Companies
 

Has anyone ever used Icon Tours in Rome?

Just got back from Rome. Our hotel there (Daphne Veneto) said they had been using Icon for years with nothing but compliments from their guests. We had already pre-booked tours with Context Rome so we didn't actually use Icon. Our hotel's recommendations on everything else in Rome was right on the money, so I wouldn't hesitate to use Icon.

Dave

We are considering using Context while in Rome this summer. I have read the info on their website, but wondered about your experience with them. Which tour did you take?

rlbpf, My wife and I highly recommend Context. We did 4 tours with them: Arte Vatican, Pompeii, Roma Antica, and Borghese Gallery. All were excellant. The guides were enthusiastic and knowledgeable. Most of the tours ran over the alloted time and the guides couldn't have cared less. The guides appear to be independent contractors who offer their services to Context while holding down other jobs. The intimate, small group setting lends itself to a lot of give and take with the guides which we really enjoyed. The Pompeii trip was really interesting and was supposed to include a tour of the museum in Naples where all the neat stuff from Pompeii is being preserved from the elements. However, Air Italia was engaging in a one day sick out/strike the day we took the tour which somehow led to the Pompeii portion of the museum (80% of it apparently) being closed... Our guide, who lives in Naples and met us at the train station, took us on a lengthy city tour instead which was terrific. Considering that it was a gorgeous sunny day in the upper 60s and that Naples has a lot to see, we weren't too disappointed with the way things turned out. One word of caution. There was some confusion on where to meet the guide for the Borghese tour (the info provided by Context gave 2 locations). We found the guide but the other people did not. So if you do that tour, I'd double check the meeting point.

Dave

Did you spend the day in Napoli with Marialaura? I just love her!

massagediva, No, we had Fiorenella (sp?) who was quite lively and lovely!

Dave

Off topic but please tell me if you likes the Hotel Daphne?

Mishka, we loved the Daphne Veneto. Super friendly and helpful, reasonably priced, excellant breakfast, use of a cell phone during your stay, free internet access, and good location for visiting most of the major sights, excepting the Vatican and Colliseum which would probably be 45 minute walks. If you didn't want to walk, there's a taxi station, bus stop and a metro stop less than a minute from the hotel. You can read a lot of reviews about the Daphne Veneto on www.tripadvisor.com (it's under the B&B icon for some reason). I also recommend the Veneto's website: www.daphne-rome.com. The property may be listed under the "Daphne Inn" which consists of 2 properties in close proximity to one another, one of which is the Daphne Veneto.

Dave

dcd, thanks for informative reply and we will make it a point to use Context while in Rome. Had you been to Rome on a previous trip and visited any of the sites you saw with Context? We took a Vatican tour on our last trip and since there is so much to see there wondered if a second visit with Context might be worthwhile.

rlbplf:

I hadn't been to Rome in 20 years and my wife had never been. With our Context Vatican tour, most of the time was spent in the museums/Sistine Chapel as opposed to St. Peters. I'd say maybe 30 minutes was spent in St. Peters. That said, Context is flexible and if your group preferred to focus on St. Peters, I'm sure the guide would oblige.

Dave

I highly recommend Context Rome, but I also had a great separate experience in St Peter's by using the services of one of the guides who conducts groups through St Peter's--you book through the Vatican Tourist Office on St Peter's Square
Tour was about an hour

dcd:
Who did the Roma Antica tour? Do you recall? We are signed up with Giovanna Terzuli for that tour and Elizabeth Lev for the Vatican. I've read good things about Elizabeth, but haven't heard of Giovanna. Thanks.

rlbplf:
We are going on the tours in late June and since I've been looking at the web site I've noticed quite a few of the tours filling up so you might want to make your plans now.

I have not met Giovanna,but in the last for years I have taken about twenty walks with Context Rome,and all of the docents have been really great.If you click on her name on the CR website,you'll get her bio.

that's the last four years! ((d))

For tours, I highly recommend Julia at Odyssey and Daphne at Three Millenia Tours. They've been amazing and shown me such a great time around the city!! Julia does a great Vatican tour and Daphne does a fun wine tour and Off the Beaten Path tour among others. ?'s feel free to write to [email protected]

wliwl:

Giovanna did our Roma Antica tour and was very good. The tour ran about 75 minutes long but she didn't mind at all. She appeared to be the youngest of the Context guides we had and one of the others told me she was relatively new. I think you'll like her.

Dave

Just back from our trip and for those planning, we used ICON for our Ancient Rome tour. They were GREAT!!!!

Had a Vatican/Catacombs tour booked through EnjoyRome/Vastours that was cancelled. We took their Catacombs/Religious sites tour. The sites were great but the guide was HORRIBLE. He could barely speak English.

motor_city_girl:

What was the size of the group on your ICON tour? Did you pre-book? I had been thinking we would do a couple of Context Rome tours, but the ICON option would be more affordable and with two teenagers, the shorter timeframe might be better as well. Thanks for any additional feedback!

motor_city_girl: Oops. I see from your post on another thread that you have already answered the number of people on the tour question. Do you know if they limit it to 10?

Without hesitation, I would use contextrome.com - my husband and I were in Rome in November and could not have been more pleased with our tours. They only take a max of 8 people and the tours are run by people with Masters Degrees or Ph.D.s. You truly will get a great experience out of these tours (definitely do the Forum, Colliseum, and Vatican with them). I cannot say enough great things. As I saw tours that had 20 people or more (and the tour operator had the big obnoxious umbrella), I was so grateful for our tour. You are free to and encouraged to ask questions on these tours - they are scholars and love to answer all questions.

I am going to say no because I didn't get that impression but I can't say for sure if they limit it to 10.

Also, just check context rome's site. They charge 60 euro per person.

Icon is 25 euro per person. The tour definately gave GREAT historical info. Our guide was a sociology major and had more "people-oriented" stories to share as well. We found that really interesting and more of a fun way to tour.

Thanks to both of you for the helpful info.

Hi motor_city_girl --

Digging up this thread as I'm about to book a tour for my upcoming trip to Rome. Just wondering, did you prebook the "Ancient Rome" tour though Icon? Their site says you can pay via Paypal or call in advance for availability.

Thanks for your help! -- h.

I tried to prebook but it was just a few days before we left. We were there in early April and I went into panick mode prior to leaving because of the Pope's failing health (we arrived the Saturday he passed). I wasn't planning on prebooking anything but got concerned that things would really book up.

I called the day we arrived and got into a tour that afternoon. Don't know if I just got lucky but we truly enjoyed this tour.

The only complaint I have heard is that they are not quick to reply to e-mail ( I think they are more focused on the people they have infront of them because they are so into it). Don't give up because it is worth it.

Thanks! We might go that route, as well. We'll have several days to play with should they get booked up. Did you end up paying when you got there then? Thanks again! =)

Yes, we paid at the end of the tour...they want to make sure you are happy!

Hi Motor City Girl, and thanks for your recommendation of Icon!! I wrote several times to Icon and they were great about responding, once the itnitial contact was established. (The first time I wrote was via an ad from SlowTrav's site.) All emails--about 5-- have since been promptly, enthusiastically, and courteously answered
I probably will pre-book and pay for tour (Ancient Rome) as it has to be on a specific date--we don't have much flexibility. Again, thanks for the rec!!!

We are looking at a tour company called Rome In Limo Company. Anyone have comments about this?

We had a great tour of St. Peters and the Vatican Museum with Angel Tours. They are quite reasonably priced (25 euros for a 4 hr. tour). Our Irish guide was very knowledgable but his humour and personal touch made it interesting for our 11 and 14 year olds. Our group was about 15 people.

We did Ancient Rome and the Vatican Museum with Icon Tours. Both guides were awesome (Keffie and Douglas). My ONLY complaint is that they don't seem to have a policy in place for a maximum number of people on a tour, even though they say they offer small groups. For Ancient Rome we had 6 people, including us (2 other people were no-shows). The Vatican tour, which we booked well in advance, surged to 30+ people, many of whom seemed to have just wandered up. When I asked before booking, they said their tours were ususally 10-15 people.

That said, our experience of both sites was infinitely richer because of the tour guide's insight, knowledge and ability to share their passion for their subject.

Respone for Powellrk. I too am considering using Rome in Limo Comapny. Will share any feedback I get. Hope you will as well. I am taking 1/2 day tour after Westerdam docks October 2, 2005. Would love to get a small group together to save costs. [email protected]

Context Rome-most walks-maximum 6 people.Orientation walks- maximum 12.

The best!

Just wondering about Context tours - whats the pace? Vigorous, brisk, leisurely? On a 4 hour tour would there be times to rest?
We're both 30 somethings but my husband is diabetic and needs to occasionally check blood sugar, especially during vigorous activity.

Most tours are pretty vigorous but give you time for photo ops and taking in the view. You should be okay. Take bottled water!

We did two Context Rome tours in June. I thought the pace was fairly vigorous. The Roma Antica tour had fewer rest opportunities than the Vatican Museum. We were going along at a good pace at the museum and so had a brief rest stop (enough time to use the bathroom and grab a drink and sit for 10 minutes). The Roma Antica tour, because it is all outside, really didn't have any good places to sit down or use a bathroom. (Bring your own toilet paper if you do this tour - there are a couple of bathrooms but no TP. Same at Ostia Antica.) The main thing that makes the Roma Antica tour a little tough is the heat! There isn't a whole lot of shade at the forum! :) They are really great tours though.

Talk to the docent before the tour begins and let him/her know of your needs and concerns.He'll/she'll be sure to see that you're o.k.

Just returned from Rome and enjoyed both the Context tours we took. "Roma Antica" tour was great with Carlos and "Arte Vatican" was also wonderful with Caspar. Small groups and took lots of time for whatever areas we were most interested in.

My husband and I highly recommend Context tours. Our guides were fantastic and never more than 4 people to share in the info. The tours are intense information from 30 somethings who are finishing up their PHD's in Ancient Rome or Renaissance Art or the like. All were passionate about where they were and what they were doing. It was great fun to be around such energy.We just returned from 10 days in Rome and booked five different tours with Context. The Baroque stoll at 9 PM through Piazza Narvona, the Trevi and Spanish Steps...with a gelato stop. Made good friends with the other two on the walk and shared a bottle of chianti afterwards in the piazza. Each tour was amazing and different.We put all our eggs in the 'context tour' basket (due to this and other websites)and had booked all of it before we got there. We hoped for the best and were not disappointed. We had Jessica,Carlos and Petulia. I am sure all the guides are great.FYI..we did;
Roma Antica, Ostia Antica, B Stroll, Vatican and booked the opera through them. La Boheme under the stars. Also booked our car service to and from airport.Everything without a hitch. I would say this is too much for small children unless they are obsessed with antiquity and history..I also suggest journaling your days. I am not an avid journaler, but found it invaluable with all the infomation flying at me. We have even managed to retain some of it due in part to the journaling. Cannot wait to use them again when we go to Tuscany.