Back in mid-June I requested a tour for mid-September (3 day availability). Received their auto reply within a few days, but have heard nothing else since. The website states to not e-mail further requests, but is there any way to check? Should I try to call? Time is drawing near to leave and I'm getting anxious to know whether we'll have a tour. Help!!

I would definitely e-mail them again. I think at this point you have nothing to lose. I would say at the beginning that this is a second request and tell them when you're first request was sent. Good luck.

or "your" first request.

I can't remember where, but somewhere on this board I recently read that another poster emailed a second time and was successful.

I never got a reply to my June 2004 request and we still haven't taken the tour

Thanks - Maitaitom - I will e-mail them again -- or even try a phone call.

TexasAggie - I remember that post and added to it, but as time draws closer the frustration grows!

I've been this route with the Scavi office before - I believe they are fairly disorganized when it comes to their reservations. Definitely email them a second time. Also - don't be afraid to go to the Scavi office when in Rome and try to arrange a reservation - there are usually openings and they will fill the group to the capacity number. Our group was not full and neither was the one before or after us. It's worth a try - the tour is amazing!

I was wondering the same thing. I emailed them a month ago for reservations mid-september (4 day availability) and I haven't heard from them either, other than the automated reply specifically stating not to email further requests.

I think I'm going to go ahead and email them again.

Yes, yes, yes, email them again, AND/OR go to the Uffizio Scavi (office) while in Rome (It's easy to find, to the left in building on Saint Peter's Square as you walk toward the Basilica--ask any of the many uniformed officers). It is soooooo worth it!! And the tour we were on also was not full!!!!

I too would suggest a second e-mail or showing up at the office. The tour is fabulous and worth the hassle. I received my reply within a month, but from what I've read on here that's pretty unusual. I think that they are not very organized.

By the way, we went in December and our tour was full. If you can't get a response via e-mail, I would show up at the office as soon as you can once you get to Rome.

Good luck!
Tracy

Hi jill_h -

I am having the same frustrations. I sent a request for tickets for early-Sept back in early-June. I never received any confirmation. Just the other day, I sent a second request, and received the auto-reply again a few days later. If I don't hear back before our trip (in a little over 2 weeks!) I will try visitng the Scavi office in person. After hearing about how the tour was the highlight of some many trips, I will be soooo sad if we don't get to do it!

Good luck!

Dukegirl - I e-mailed them last night and received the auto-reply this a.m. I'll give them one week and if I don't get a confirmation, I'm calling them. THEN if I don't get anything, I'll show up on the fat chance I can walk on a tour. I just don't want to miss this tour!

I've posted this before. It took almost ten weeks for me to get my confirmation (ten days to get the automated response and eight additional weeks for the final confirmation). I had read that this sometimes happens, which is why I sent the request in early March for my Oct 1 date!

jill_h, I probably wouldn't show up at the office expecting to get on a tour right away. They offer tours in various languages throughout the day, and there may be only one or two English tours a day. I would go to the office as soon as possible once you get to Rome and have them see if they have room on any of the upcoming tours and can squeeze you in.

I can understand your frustrations. I would be frustrated and upset as well.

Good luck, and please let us know what happens!

Tracy

I e-mailed in April for mid-September date and just received my confirmation. I did send a 2nd e-mail a week or so ago. I read somewhere that they don't necessarily give you reservation until 30 days before tour.

theresa, That's really not true about not getting the reservation more than 30 days ahead (I've also read not more than 60 days ahead, which is also not true). I received my confirmation in May for an Oct 1 date.

It is a shame that the Scavi Office can't find a way to be more efficient. My friends at the Vatican shrug their shoulders and reply, "The Italians." Customer service often feels Third World in the Scavi Office (and elsewhere).

Putting hard and fast rules to securing Scavi reservations is useless because no such thing exists. Every person with experience will tell a different story. One needs to arm themselves with patience, determination, and a refusal to be intimidated by any requests that suggest, "Don't email more than once!" (Bear in mind, being an impatient pest could put you at the bottom of the pile.)

Before I had connections at the Vatican (pre email, pre internet), waiting for reservation confirmation took forever and typically by mail. Knowing someone (a priest) to help you secure a reservation was also a hurdle to overcome.

When ScalaReale offered this service, the heavens opened and it became possible to find great customer service in Italy. But the burden of waiting, juggling, and dealing with impatient or disappointed customers fell upon them. Who needs that aggravation?

So now Scavi reservations are available on-line. I guess many, many customers are pleased with this convenience and the process has worked for them. It's never been easier to "get in" to see this terrific excavation. And for those whose expectations aren't met, they can come here to vent their frustration and hopefully find some encouragement. Shall we call this progress?

jill_h and others having trouble with Scavi reservations -

Update on my story - out of desperation, I called the Vatican Excavations office last Friday and told them my story. The man I spoke to did a search through their email records and did not find either of my email requests (I had sent my first request in June, and a 2nd request in Aug). He told me to try again and this time Fax my request. I did so right away. Of course, I had horrible images of my fax just landing on top of a already huge pile of faxes!

Anyway....this morning I received a reply from their office that I have reservations!!!! Only 5 days before we leave for Italy. *whew*

I'm not sure what eventually did it - but I have a feeling that it was the request via fax. So, if you are still waiting, it's worth a try!

Good luck!

Hi Jill,

I had the same problem and frustration as you, and I could be the one who posted and said that I emailed a second time and got results.

The first time, I got the automatic response, and then nothing. And then the Pope died, so I waited about a month and emailed again and about a month later I received an email confirmation for Sept. 26; maybe it helped that I gave them the dates of September 24th - Oct. 1 and let them pick!

Good luck & let us know if you hear something!

Regards,

Melodie

I'm having the same problems, can you tell me what fax number you used?

witchy -

just saw your message...try this fax number -

Fax +39 06 698 73017