Just returned from Rome and used the advice on this board and booked tours with through eternity. We showed up for 2 different tours and both times no guide showed up. This company to me is a waste of time!

thanks for the heads up.Sorry about your experience.<BR>I've used Scala Reale and they were not only reliable, they had information and confirmations waiting for me at my hotel. They also apparently keep their office staffed into the early evening, which I appreciated when a change in schedule came up. The change was made, and they faxed another confirmation to my hotel for me to have.

Jim,<BR>Did you confirm your reservations with times, dates, and meeting places within the week prior? Did you try to contact them after either of the no-shows? I am considering using them for their Forum/Colosseum tour. I would like to know what their response was. Thanks for the info.<BR><BR>Holly

I confirmed my tours by E-mail after seeing their website. I showed up at 2 p.m. as the confirmation had told me, when I called the office they told me the guide had called in sick, he will definitly be there tomorrow, so I showed up the next day and the guide showed up and told me as there were only 2 of us he couldn't give the tour as it wouldn't cover his costs. I called again and complained and was told we could have the Vatican tour 1/2 price again no guide showed up. We spent 2 days in a beautiful seaside town named Sperlonga after Rome which was heaven.......

People post Scale Reale until they're blue in the face ... it's a shame people do not slect it. Elaine is correct. We've used it four time ... never a problem. And yes, they leave confirmations at your hotel before you arrive. And you can always reach their officers, night or day, in the office or at home, just to reconfirm. Sorry about your problems. For those of you still planning a trip to Rome, remember Scale Reale. And thay are good for airport transport service too, which we used.

I couldn't get a booking with Scala Reale cause they were all booked solid for the day I needed. They recommended Through Eternity. I am now booked with them for this coming weekend. I hope they show. I'll let you know when I get back in a couple of weeks.

Lois, contact Tom Rankin of Scale and tell him your concerns. He'd probably confirm for you, I bet. He's very nice. Send him an email, ask that the guide provide info. to your hotel before you arrive, to be waiting for you, and call Tom when you arrive just to touch base.

topping

The last time I tried to book through eternity it took forever.

I have a Vatican tour scheduled with them for June. I plan to email and call them before I get there. I hope they follow through...or should I just book with some other group?

I just returned from Rome on May 13. We also booked a walking tour of Rome with Through Eternity. We picked them because they were mentioned in Frommer's newsletter along with Scala Reale.<BR>We showed up at the appointed time and the guide showed up. We were the only two who showed up and the guide told us that he could not take us as it would not cover the cost if only two people pay. We wondered if he was hinting that he wanted us to cover his costs. We played dumb.<BR>I did not confirm when we arrived in Rome as the email stated only to call if we were not going to show up.<BR>They do not require any money to be prepaid. Maybe that is the problem.<BR>I seriously would reconsider if I had them booked.<BR>The guide did ask us if we would consider going on another tour the next day. But what would make us think that even that would be a go if no one showed up.<BR>I hope this message gets to Through Eternity.

I have to say that the American Express tours from their office in Piazza di Spagna were pretty decent. I booked mine in person the day before I wanted to go & had no problem at all. <BR><BR>Buon Viaggio,<BR>BC

Has anyone had any good experiences with this tour? Scala Reale is priced too high for our group.

We just booked a private tour with the three amigos. We decided the itinerary and the cost is 80 euro for 3 hours, as there is 4 of us that is only 20 euro per person. [email protected]<BR>They are very helpful.

I agree with Book Chick--the two American Express tours we took were very good.<BR><BR>Byrd

I found it very inconvienent to go all the way to the Spanish steps to book a tour with American express as they would not accept my booking over the phone, the tour we took was o.k though nothing amazing.

Hello, my name is Rosario Gorgone and I am one of the owners of Through Eternity. <BR>Thank you for the comments you wrote although unfortunately for us for the first time they are negative and quite embarrasing, but this will help us avoid similar situations in the future. I was only aware of two incoveniences in the last five months. Only yesterday did I find out, thanks to two e-mails, of these other facts. Obviously I am extremely sorry about what happened and I invite you to contact me directly ([email protected]) so that I may find out in detail what exactly happened. This way I can also personally offer you a private tour of Rome the next time you visit (of course we will show up unless Zeus himself strikes a thunderbolt after another to all of our guides—it seems that this probably did occur in ancient Rome, and even now, Romans knock on iron (not wood) to avoid this awful fate, and I'm doing it myself right now).<BR><BR>When I founded this group years ago I believed, like I do today, that there is a mysterious beauty in the stone face of the priest, Laocoon, who fights against death in order to save himself and his children; that there is an infinite story inscribed in the bas-reliefs of the Arch of Constantine; that there is a secret and fatal passion in the hand of Bernini's Apollo that feels the body of Dafne turn itself into laurel and escape from him. <BR><BR>Yesterday, like today, I believe it is beautiful to recount and share the emotions and visions that history and art offer us every single day. Again, thank you and please accept my sincere apologies for any incovenience we may have caused.<BR>

I just returned from a trip to Rome where I joined Through Eternity's Vatican tour with Tatiana. I have to say it was the BEST tour I have taken in years. She was extremely knowledgable and kept the tour interesting the entire time. I don't think one unfortunate incident should ruin a reputable company like Through Eternity.

Rosario you are one seiously strange person. What the hell does Zeus, Apollo, Daphne and all other Pagan gods have to do with you wasting peoples time.

Stacey. You may well have had a good tour. If Through Eternity addresses the problems they seem to have been having lately, it will not "ruin them". But just think, if you had had the experience that Jim and I had, would you honestly tell people to sign up unless you knew they would take you no matter what.<BR>In my opinion, this is what should have occurred. When we were there for the tour, we should have been taken on it even if we were the only two. It would be an unfortunate loss for the company, I think the dollar value we were given was that the guide is paid 60 Euros for a two hour tour. And because we would receive a discount for booking on the internet, he would only be getting 36 Euros for my husband and myself. This would certainly not bankrupt this company. And I think it would go a long way in good will.<BR>xxx. When I read the reply that the owner of this company wrote, I seriously doubted that it was legitimate. It was just downright weird.<BR>