nmonte

With the help of Fodorites , i've planned 6 nights in Sicily at the Villa Schuler. Has anyone used the services they can provide for drivers/guides for day trips to surrounding areas? The info i've received so far is allot more reasonable than Sicilytours. I then took the advice i've found here to fly from Catania to Naples. I'm looking to stay at the Grand Hotel Excelsior for 5 nights, we"re 4 seniors and i thought the "flat surface" of Sorrento would make it easier on our legs.. next .. having a driver take us to Rome for 2 nights, staying at Colonna Palace. I've been to Rome; but my in-laws have not, so i know it isn't much time; but at least they can see a few highlights. I welcome any comments/advise on my itenerary, nothing is set in stone yet.

thanks

adrienne

For Rome sightseeing I would contact Context and arrange for a private tour for your group. This tour company is expensive but I found them to be wonderful. What you see in Rome depends on your mobility, stamina, and interests - there's so much. If mobility is a problem then I would avoid the forum (but you can see it from a higher point without walking through it). The Vatican Museums are vast and you walk though them to get to the Sistine Chapel.

You can get a flavor of Rome by visiting the famous squares and churches (there's tons of artwork in the churches and I'd be hard pressed to say which church is the most beautiful as there are so many exquisite churches).

I'm more fond of Baroque Rome than ancient Rome so my input will be very biased.

I would highly recommend the Borghese Museum (get the docent led tour when you get there - not offered all the time so check the web site). Entrance is for 2 hours maximum. You can order tickets on line but must be there at least a half hour before your ticket time to check your bags, etc. Take a taxi to the museum and afterward walk through the gardens to the top of the Spanish Steps and down the steps. You can continue walking or take a taxi to your next destination.

You can see the Colosseum from the outside if you don't have time to go in to see it.

I would see Piazza Navonna and Campo dei Fiori squares, Trevi fountain.

I would also take a night ride around Rome - your hotel can book a taxi for this and you can give the driver an itinerary to see Rome lit up at night.

For any more advice you would need to let us know your interests. If you haven't read any guide books yet I would suggest that or go to your local library and get some DVDs of Rome to give you ideas of what you want to see. Read some trip reports on this board to give you ideas of what other people did in Rome.

I've used Context and Enjoy Rome tours from the list below.

http://www.contexttravel.com/city/Rome
http://www.romanodyssey.com/
http://www.romewalks.com/
http://www.enjoyrome.com/walking/index.html
http://www.icontours.com/HOME.html

nmonte

Great, thanks Adrienne, that gives me lots of tour options for Rome.
Now for tours in Sicily, has anyone stayed at Villa Schuler and used their tour guides for Taormina and surrounding areas for the 4 of us (ages 60-75)?

Mimar

We stayed at the Schuler and loved it. Sorry, we didn't use their drivers/guides. Just want to warn you that Taormina is up on a hilltop (makes for great views), and there are some stairs and inclines to climb. The Grand Hotel Timeo, by the entrance to the Greek theater, would probably require less stair-climbing.

adrienne

A search on Trip Advisor shows some recommendations for guided tours on Sicily.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Search?q=...eturnTo=__2F__

From the Italy private guide thread (this forum) there's a recommendation for this site:

http://www.sicilylife.com/

dutyfree

Why 6 nights in Taormina?(extrememly touristy and FULL of cruise ship people in the streets) Some of those "daytrips" are going to be extremely long in the car or bus from Taormina!
Have you ever thought of doing 3 nights there and another 3 nights someplace else?You say that you are flying from Catania to Naples-then how about staying in the southeast about an hour south by bus or train of Catania in Ortigia where you could visit Siracusa,Ragusa, and other unique cities,etc.?