Traveling to Rome this summer...

Definitely not ANYBODY you find meandering the locations you will visit.

They ALL are a ripoff and potentially dangerous to your health.

Google: "Professional Private Rome Guides". Get references!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Regards, Alberto

 

We stayed at the Hassler and the concierge hooked us up with a great guide. Don't go it alone. Also if you get the chance eat at Tullio's and get the Steak Florintine , it's a locals place and not a tourist trap. Best , Kirk.

 

Try to visit the Necropolis underneath the St Peters Basilica, google Vatican Scavi. Only 250 visitors a day allowed so a tour must be booked/reserved. I've heard it's good but haven't done it myself, maybe someone can chime in who has done this special tour.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vatican_Necropolis
http://www.scavi.va/content/scavi/en/ufficio-scavi.html

 

I've done this tour and it is phenomenal. Not expensive at all, it's about the exclusivity and the moments you have/things you see. As a Catholic it was very personal for me but even if you are non-religious it is stunning just for the historical facts. Of all the things seen and done in Rome, this by far was my favorite.

They offer the tours in several languages and since they are limited be sure to give them a range of dates that would work. My wife and I had didn't have specific plans so we sent them the days that we would be there and they got back to us with confirmation and a day/time on that.

The office is literally just a small closet on the side of St. Peter's so communication is generally slow and not much "back and forth". To find it I had to approach a Swiss Guard with my confirmation printed out and ask for directions. Slightly intimidating at first but was pretty cool walking into a random, non-touristy area of the Vatican.

After the tour you exit into the grottos where many of the former Popes are laid to rest. At the time we were there John Paul II was right there and so after the powerful and moving experience of the Scavi tour we then were witness to many pilgrims from Poland visiting their Pope's resting place. Was an incredibly moving day indeed.

 

My friend is our travel agent (I know, how quaint these days!) and she hooked us up with IDI Travel. They were excellent to work with. We traveled all over Italy and they provided us with transport, guides, etc. We had my whole family there so it was a trip that needed to work for all ages. They were to arrange a private tour of the Vatican which was just, well, "breathtaking" is a fair word. Granted they don't do the tour, that is the Vatican which does it, but they made it very easy for us and they also had other activities like pizza making and going out to Tuscany etc. Their tour guides were excellent.

For the Colosseum, make sure to get there early and to have advance tickets.

We worked with Roberto Ongaro:

I.D.I. Travel
Via Torino, 2 31021 Mogliano Veneto (TV)
ITALY
Phone +39 041 5936299 Fax +39 041 5931232
After-hours emergency number +39 392 9581927
[email protected] [email protected]
www.facebook.com/I.D.I.Travel I.D.I. TRAVEL

I also liked that they have an emergency number. We never needed it, but there were times we wanted to alter our schedule and they were very accommodating.

 

This district has the small town feel and great local cuisine .
Eat at Da Enzo al 29
go see the canon fire at midday

http://www.romelocalfriend.com/cannon-midday-shooting/

 

I'll be in Rome in early June, will use the advice here too.

 

For those traveling with a family or small kids, we used City Wonders for a private day with our kids and it was excellent. We stayed at the St. Regis, which is steps from the train and relatively central to most sights, but it's a bit stuffy. They do have a Bentley and Aston for house cars to rent for day trips, so there's always that!

 

For some great pasta eat at AL MORO, not far from the Trevi Fountain. If you like spaghetti cabonara have their Spaghetti Al Moro. Reservations recommended.

 

Oh I almost forgot- gelato!

Giolitti | Antica Gelateria Pasticceria dal 1900 | Old Ice Cream Shop from 1900
(our favorite and apparently a place with real history)

GROM - shops
(many locations, I thought it was good but not great)

https://www.yelp.com/biz/frigidarium-roma?adjust_creative=dWJMtmYxpd5N5yoyzSuhtA&utm_campaign=yelp_api&utm_medium=api_v2_business&utm_source=dWJMtmYxpd5N5yoyzSuhtA

(We were told this isn't as authentic, but we loved it!)