Ok----are you sick of me yet?

I am planning to take a few side trips from Rome and am planning on taking at least one tour in Rome.

What guided tours should my family(6 adults 2 children) take? I think since most of my family knows little about ancient rome I would like to take that tour. We also are planning on going to Ostia Antica, Pompeii on a day trip and of course the Vatican. Which of these 3 places would best be seen with a guide? Would it be best to least out Ostia Antica for another trip. My family has it's heart set on seeing Pompeii.

Our basic itinerary is to arrive in the evening of may 26th and leaving the 31st for Florence.

Thanks again!

You can visit Pompeii on your own in a 13-14 hour day (what month of the year?) or for $300-500 extra, have a guided tour for the day (the total day length will be about the same either way, I think) - - the tour will get you to where you want to go, with somewhat greater directness, and you might spend a bit less time there. I think. Did that 36 years ago at age 15.

Forego Ostia Antica - - not that it isn't worthwhile; you just don't have enough time.

You don't need a guided tour of the Vatican. The Scavi is a separate matter.

And no, no one is sick of intelligent questions like these.

Best wishes,

Rex

I would suggest doing a little research on ancient Rome before you go. It would make your tours and sight seeing more interesting and productive and should really start upping the interest in the entire trip I would think. One of the tours I most enjoyed while in Rome was one out to Hadrian's Villa. We also had dinner out in that area so one thing that made it really wonderful was, we were late in the day and the only group there. It was just beautiful, calm, peaceful, and wind was just barely blowing through the trees. It is a gorgous spot and there is enough left of the ruins that you can really see the magnificients of it in it's "hay day". They have a model of the villa that you can see before walking through it that shows what it looked like. Twas GOOD to be the king!!!!

Hi dd,

You can train to Naples in 1:30 hr and take the Circumvesuviana commuter line from the Naples train station to Pompei.

See www.trenitalia.com family pass (2 adults and 1 child) will be 55E each way.

At Pompei you will find licensed guides to take you around. The 8 of you should be your own tour group.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for the replies.

I have done alot of research and have been before. I want the experience to be great for my family, especially my mom who has a fear of not knowing alot about Italian history, art or otherwise. I also have several Rick Steve's and Rudy Maxa shows on DVR and also have one of the Vatican that is really informative. I have had my parents over to watch them and will have to get the group together to watch. I think they will be in awe no matter what they get to see.

Thanks again for the help it seems my trip will be a success with everyones help.

It sounds like your planning is spot on.
Additionally, the Vatican Museums have an audio guide that is said to be excellent.
I used an on-site Vatican Museums guide for a group tour, and it was awful, she spoke incomprehensible English.
On the other hand, some private tour agencies, such as Enjoy Rome, Through Eternity, and Context Rome offer informative 2-4 tours of the Vatican, Colosseum and Forum, etc.
If I had to pick one, assuming all are inerested, I'd pick a guided tour of the Colosseum and Forum; I took one and it was outstanding.

Thanks Elaine.

I know when my friend and I went to Rome in 1997 we took a bus tour to the Vatican that our hotel set up and It was a little informative but we ended up leaving the tour to see the sites ourselves.