I've been reading these message boards for a few days, and really appreciate the great information everyone has already provided!!! My husband and I are taking our first trip to Italy (my first trip to Europe) for a week in early Sept. We've decided to stay in one place-- Rome for the whole week. I'm leaning toward the Grand Hotel de la Minverve, based on my research so far, based on location, reviews, amenities, etc. If someone thinks there is a better choice, I'm all ears. I'm trying to sign up for a Scavi tour based on what I've read on these boards, but haven't been able to get an autoconfirmation yet. We obviously want to do the traditional first time stuff such as visit ancient Rome and the Vatican museums. What I'm really trying to figure out is what, if any, tours we should consider taking, especially for the Vactican? I'd love recommendations on how to best experience this and other sites. I'm definitely amenable to exploring on our own, but maybe with some of the museums and historical cites a tour or personal guide would be best???? Thank you in advance for your input!!!!!!

I would highly recommend a tour guide. While the historical sites are great to look at, guides can bring them to life! We went on a walking tour with www.enjoyrome.com and it was great...only 6 people. Scala Reale (sp?) is highly recommended on this site, but much more $$ Do a search above on Rome Walkint Tours, or rome tours and you should get lots of info and websites!

Have fun!

Scala Reale's website is http://www.scalareale.org/pages/

ana--- for someone planning her first trip to Europe, you are doing a fabulous job; feeling overwhelmed comes with the territory, so learn to love it!!

Since it will be your first visit to Rome, stick with the highlights; Colosseum, Roman Forum, Piazza Navonna. Spanish Steps, Vatican, etc... I recommend guided tours for first timers because IT IS a bit overwhelming to be in such a spectacular city and trying to find the focus to guide yourself thru the tons of historicals sights and sounds. I like the informality of Enjoy Rome Tours. Their agents are typically posted at every major historical sight and recruit customers right on the spot. I took their tour of the Colosseum and was pleased that I did not waited in lines to get tickets and they just "took me by the hand" and explained what was I seeing. Painless.

As far as the Scavi Tour, they take their time in responding, but I was pretty impressed with how closely they keep tabs. The delay has to do also with how soon you are going, so I wouldn't be surprised that you hear from them around June-July....

As far as the Vatcican Museums, I would strongly recommend you get a guidebook for those. The Vatican Museums are actually a huge complex of Museums and the first thing you will need to establish is WHICH museums/collection would you like to see (priority?). I went with my Mom in Nov 2003 and walked right in the Sixtine Chapel, no lines. I had been there in May 1994 and waited two hours...

Have fun in Rome!!

Hello, I am really jealous of your trip to Rome!! You will have a great time!!

I don't know anything about hotels there (it has been years since my Italy trip), but if you do a decent amount of research, and you pick a hotel in a good location, you'll be fine. Keep in mind that in Europe, luxury doesn't mean what it does here. Expect the hotel (and all things!) to be older, not "sanitized" Clorox clean, and smaller. That is part of the wonderful charm of Europe, but would be upsetting if you're not prepared.

As for tours, I highly recommend doing walking tours with or without tour guides. For sites such as the Vatican and St Peter's, a guide will tell you wonderful stories and tidbits you may otherwise miss. But that said, walking tours on your own (Rick Steves usually discusses them in his books) are great too for a different kind of experience.

My advice is to do a general walking tour with or without a guide for the city overview. You can't do all of the city in one day, but you can hit a lot of the highlights. Then specialize into the Vatican, Colosseum, etc.

Allow plenty of "unscheduled" free time for wandering, experiencing, enjoying. Plan an outline sketch and stick to it loosely, but be free enough to do what strikes your fancy. You'll have a blast!

Scala Reale + www.twenj.net--nuf said !

Can't see all of "Ed's best stuff" - from www.twenj.net - - so here's a plus for one of the top 20 also-rans: Galleria Borghese. He mentioned that it was ascending on his list of must-sees before he died.

It is one place that you have plan ahead for.

Best wishes,

Rex

What a wonderful board this is. Thank you all for the great information, I'm doing some more specific searches on this board as well. I'm feeling much more confident about my ability to pull this off too!! Right now I'm looking into the walking tours!!

Flavia Marcella, our Scala Reale tour guide was excellent. She is an Aussie by birth, Italian by heritage and marriage, and professor of Italian architecture at the American University. She entertained and educated us (3 adults & 2 children) for 4 hours last month as we toured Ancient Rome (Palantine Hill, Coloseum, etc.) It was one of the highlights of our trip. I highly recommend Scala Reale and Flavia.

We found that taking walking tours was extremely valuable in helping us to fully appreciate the sights of Rome. We used Roman Odyssey tours for both the Colosseum/Forum and for St. Peter's. The guide was able to direct our attention to important things and he was able to answer our questions.

I regret that we did not use a guide for the Vatican Museum. Even with guidebooks, it is a massive place and easy to get lost in.

When I am travelling I really want to understand the history and significance of the things I am seeing. Although I travel with guidebooks, I find it awkward to keep referring back to the book for explanations. I much prefer viewing the sights while listening to an interesting and knowledgable guide.

When you compare walking tours, you will need to compare what they include, the length, and the price. Be careful about choosing a tour for the Colosseum. Some tours do not go inside but just view it from the outside.

The Scavi tour was fascinating. I hope you get to do it.

We did the guided tour the Coliseum gives and really enjoyed it, but I'm sure the other tours would be wonderful, too. I had been there before on my own but got a lot more out of it this time.
So many choices aren't there?
I'm sure you'll have a wonderful trip - enjoy!