Lindypc

Thanks, Y'all!

My flight from Boston to ATL was changed from 11:00 AM to 10:05 (arriving from Canada on Celebrity) on Wed. Aug. 30.  Should I change to the noon flight or will we make it in time?

Can someone disembark and find whale watching tours close to the port in Maui?

Thanks to everyone!  Now on to hotels!

1 hour ago, hollins2007 said:

We had forgotten about getting transport from the airport to the hotel when we went in September... thankfully, there are plenty of shuttles and you don’t need to make reservations ahead of time.  Someone from one of the shuttle companies came up to us and asked if we needed a ride!  It was only $12/person I think.  Just let them know (most if not all will be wearing Hawaiian floral shirts) where you’re staying!  I imagine most will take you to any Waikiki hotel or resort.

Thank-you so much!

I haven't booked my hotel yet but was wondering if any hotel had an airport pick-up or are there any general shuttles to the hotel areas?

I get that pretty much everyone who has used RIL has been pleased with their service, what I don't quite get is the hyperbole. Based on the glowing reviews the simple truth is enough.

Not true, no mater how entertaining and talkative your driver may be, they are not guides. That's an entirely different profession and knowledge base.

I'm sure the one you had was, and I've yet to hear any complaints on CC about RIL guides, but how would you know that they are "all always outstanding"? Your excellent experience is a solid recommendation, the "issimo" extra makes it sound like a paid endorsement.

 

Whoa, what snark! :o:eek:I'm a gusher--that's my personality and the last 5 times (in 10 years) I've been to Rome I've used RIL 4 times and as to MY EXPERIENCE, I thought they were fabulous. I'm being truthful. The 3 different guides arranged for us at the Vatican were also wonderful (not just my experience but everyone on our tours also agreed). Someone asked for information and I HONESTLY gave them MY experience. For free;)

Anyone have any experience with them specifically with Rome and Vatican? Do they simply just drop off at the Vatican and wait?

They will make an appointment with a Vatican (not RIL) guide who will be waiting for you at a specific time. Your RIL guide/driver (one in the same) will hand you off and then the guide, upon finishing the tour (you must pay her/him at the conclusion) will return the group to a prearranged site to continue your Rome tour. The Vatican guides arranged by RIL are always outstanding. The one time we took the train to Rome from the port, we spent our time looking for things (like the bus). Never again! With RIL, you will see 20 times more than what you'd see on your own.

We started using ROMEINLIMO in 2007 and have used them probably 8 times in various cities throughout Italy. Their customer service, namely Jany is unbelievable--that gal never sleeps. She can answer all your questions. If someone cancels 2 weeks prior, you should have no trouble re-filling the slot with last minute cruisers. You will love them, I promise. You can decide what you want to see or ask her for suggestions. Especially in Rome, there are so many things to see that you won't have to worry about repeating a tour. Next time we go back (soon I hope), we will definitely use them again.

I am going to book them for our day in Rome (possibly others too) and I can't decide if I should spend the other 350 euros and hire the tour guide. Or, just hire the guide for the Vatican? Any suggestions? It will be my husband and I and our 3 kids (13,12 and 9). Any help will be greatly appreciated!

You definitely do not need to hire an additional guide except for Sarah, the Vatican guide who will be waiting for you when you arrive. All the RIL drivers are extremely knowledgeable and will give you a running commentary the entire time you are in the car. They'll even have some posters and notebooks for you to look at. The best we've ever had was Vincenzo who lived in Canada for 12 years (I tell you this because his English was wonderful) prior to returning to his home in order to be a guide. He'll even have lunch reservations for you. He took us to a divine restaurant and there was a pre-arranged (4 course) divine meal that included bottles of wine and desserts. Our group said it was the best meal of the entire trip. The price was reasonable and the best part was not having to wait--this gave us more time at the Vatican.

Thank you so much for checking back in on this thread!! :D We are booking our RIL tour and will ask for Vincenzo and ask to go to that restaurant. You are the best!!!

Okay, Drew, I went back through my pictures and found the wine bottle that I snapped because it was so good and lo and behold the restaurant was: Torre San Giovanni!!! Vincenzo will know. I'm getting ready to leave on a trip but can post photos when I get back unless I get a few seconds today.So sorry.

Do you know the name of the restaurant? I want to go there when we are in Rome next month! Thanks!

Hi Kdrew, the restaurant was Osteria dei Pontefici. We even bought a bottle of their wine to drink in the cabin. Our entire tour with Romeinlimo was extraordinary and that meal was unbelievable--I need to dig out some photos. If you have any other questions just ask!

Lynne

Good morning. I have learned that our driver/guide in Rome is to be Vinny (or Vinnie). Seems to me I've seen his name on this thread; but when I searched, nothing came up.

Has anyone had Vinny (Vinnie) as a guide? I'd love to know your opinion.

Thanks.

Kathy

The best we ever had in Rome is Vencenzo. Oh my goodness, you will love him. He lived in Canada for 13 years so has perfect English and somehow he took us to every single site in Rome including the Catacombs. He had Sarah waiting for us at the Vatican but prior to that asked if we wanted a delicious lunch. When we all agreed, he called a restaurant close to the Vatican and had an unbelievable 4 course meal with wine (waiting for us when we walked in) that was to die for (we bought some wine to take back ). I've been to Rome probably 6-7 times and I'm still amazed at every where we went in that TRAFFIC.

A year and a half after our cruise, our board is still active and STILL talking about that lunch and Vincenzo! We did not go in to the colosseum but stopped outside where he gave us an interesting history lesson.

Vincenzo was not just a driver but a guide--he would get out of the van and tell us about each stop (such as at the circus maximus).

Tell him Lynne from Alabama said hi--I was the one who got up the tour and was so nervous about collecting everyone's euros that I forgot to tip him! I felt so bad that I had Jany give me their address so I could send euros over. Within a week He was on the phone to thank me! Kind of a nice touch, I thought!

Sorry you had bad luck with your RIL tour. We've used them 3 years in a row for multiple ports and have nothing but good things to say about this company. Jon, in Florence used a microphone and Vincenzo, in Rome had lived in Canada for 13 years so his English was also flawless as was his ability to show us like 20 things in Rome--unbelievable tours. I can't remember our other guide's names but we were extremely lucky (we try to use the same people).

Just email again--usually it's around 25 euros. Jany is the best person on the planet about returning emails. Good Luck!

We used RomeInLimo in 2007, 08 and last spring for Rome, Florence and Naples. They will order your tickets. We never waited in line. One time when we went to the museums in Florence in November, tickets had been ordered however no one was in line; our guide told us that we could buy our own tickets and save the extra € that the 'will call' ticket charged. I highly recommend them. You really need a guide at the Vatican and RIL will arrange that also (she will arrange the tickets).

Lynne

For those of you who said RIL are strictly drivers, I guess you didn't get our guides. Jon, in Tuscany AND Florence/Pisa (2 trips in 7 months) had a running commentary during the entire day. While he didn't get out at all the stops (parking is horrible in those two places) he would stop the car, tell us about a place (like Pisa--he parked right in front of the Leaning Tower) and then tell us he'd see us in 45 minutes or so. He was always there on time and then answered our questions. He did walk with us several places but dropped us off at the museums (went in with us to help with tickets) and then gave a specific time to return.

Vincenzo, for Rome also got out of the car (for example at the Colosseum where he had photos, a book, and before and answer pictures; he gave us an outstanding history of the C and the monuments surrounding it. We had opted not to go inside because there were so many other places we wanted to see). In fact, he got out of the car at most of the places with us. He also had reserved a delicious lunch and even took us into the restaurant. Now he didn't go into the Vatican but did introduce us to our guide. He started his commentary as we left the ship. I'm actually getting homesick as I write this!

Now in Naples, we hired a driver who just took us to Pompeii, Herculaneum and the museum. He told us a few things but did arrange guides to meet us at the ruins.

Ok, I've read everything here done my research and decided to go with Romeinlimo. There will be four of us. This trip is in part a gift to our son who is in cooking school so lunch stops are going to be on the schedule.

 

Here is my question, can a book a tour for four and then add people if roll call folks want to join? Since we don't cruise until July, it is way to early to expect anyone else to join.

Every time I've gone with RIL, I've booked first (sort of)--talked to Jany dozens of times to make sure I see what I want and then advertised. Once I get maybe 4 or 6, I'll book. She knows I'll keep advertising until there is a van load which does not take long at all. Those Italian tours fill up very fast!

If you are referring the question to me, I would ask Jany's opinion since she would know who has children. Duman is young and energetic and I'm sure would keep the children "entertained" while being a great driver/guide. Vincenzo is the other gentlemen we had and he is also great,so run it by Jany and she what she suggests! Shelly:)

I agree-Jany will know who to pair you with. We've used Jon twice in Livorno--once to Florence/Pisa and once to Tuscany. I also have to agree that Vincenzo is wonderful--words can't describe what an outstanding job he did!

As far as getting up a van load, we had no trouble finding people to go with us. We have used RIL for three separate cruises although I didn't book the first one. Just post (when people join the roll call--have you tried the week prior to your sailing? I know several people who are booking a back to back.) where the tour is going and the price. I also included RIL's website.

And, the tipping......since I got up the tours, I always felt compelled to tip more--maybe 10 euros each for DH and myself. I think it was because I noticed some people only giving a couple euros and I was over-compensating. However, on my last trip I was so busy dividing and counting that I failed to tip Vincenzo. I was mortified and emailed Jany that evening from the ship so she could tell him I would mail the euros when I arrived home. Guess what? Vincenzo called me at home to thank me--exciting to get a call from Rome:D

If you have prearranged tickets you don't stand in line as far as I know. We were picked up at our ship around 8 AM. and headed back around 4:30. I don't think you can do the Catacombs and The Vatican in the same day. You would miss too much. I used a RIL tour guide and she was excellent.

We did the Catacombs, The Vatican and like 8 other things in one day (see prior post). As far as pre-ordering tickets to the Vatican--ask Jany from RiL. Our guide was waiting for us as per our guide's phone call and she took us to the ticket booth, there was no line however, this was our last stop so the Vatican wasn't crowded. I probably have 150 emails to Jany with questions about Rome, Florence and Tuscany and she gladly answers everything in a timely matter. I felt like such a pest but she was always so sweet.

Thanks -- it sounds like we can definitely do all this. One more question -- did you tell Romeinlimo everything you wanted to see and do beforehand or did they plan the whole day for you?

After dozens of emails from Jany (2 Med cruises with romeinlimo), we had developed a friendship (she treats everyone the same) and I had asked for suggestions of some places we had not been. I knew that even though we had been to the Vatican 2 years prior, we would need to go again in order to get others to join us on our tour. Of course, I could go every year. So she suggested the catacombs (I had never heard of them before) and then Vincenzo took us everywhere else. You must eat at that restaurant with the four course meal and wine for 20 euros--it was ecstasy.

Wow, this seems like a lot to see in just one day. Did you feel rushed at all? I'd love to be able to see all that but I don't want to just spend a few minutes in each site just to say I saw it and not really have time to enjoy everything.

This was the oddest thing--we never felt rushed. Granted, we drove by the steps and the visit to the Forum was at an overlook,but we could see everything from that vantage point. We did not go into the colosseum but had over 45 minutes at this stop for photos and a little lesson with before and after pictures from Vincenzo. Every other place we had all the time we wanted. Vincenzo would take us one place, show us where to walk and then pick us up somewhere else which saved a lot of time.

Also, by him calling the restaurant ahead of time and our guide at the Vatican--we never had to wait. By having a great group of fellow cruise critic folk sharing the tour, we also were able to meet our driver at exactly 8:00 which meant that by the time we got to the catacombs, an English speaking tour was getting ready to depart. The entire tour was like a finely oiled machine. I do not know how we got to see all we did--a combination of luck, a great driver and never having to wait. It was also nice to not ever have to worry about the time--I knew Vincenzo would do that!:)

We used romeinlimo in November for Florence and last month in Rome and Tuscany. I had no problem filling the van for any of our tours and I highly recommend them. In Rome, I hope you are lucky enough to have Vincenzo who speaks perfect English (lived in Toronto for a few years). I have been to Rome 5 times and last month with Vencenzo we saw more sites than on the previous trips COMBINED. We went to the Catacombs, Circus Maximus, the Forum, Colosseum, an ancient house, the Spanish steps, Trevi fountain, the Pantheon, the 'Wedding cake', lunch, and a tour of the Vatican--museum, St. Peter's, & the Sistene Chapel. One of the high points was a 4 course lunch (restaurant adjacent to the Vatican) with wine for 20 euros each. He called ahead and the restaurant was waiting for us so we had the entire meal in an hour. I can't tell you how delicious it was. Jany had prearranged a guide at the Vatican who was waiting for us as per Vincenzo's phone call. It was worth every penny.

Just keep advertising on your roll call--be certain you list what you are going to see.

I can promise you that I am much smarter after visiting Martinique. After visiting the headless statue of Empress Josephine, I came home and read FIVE books on the lovely and fascinating wife of Napoleon. I even corresponded with the author of a trilogy who told me that Josephine would never have influenced her husband into re-instating slavery. So, her head should be put back on;)!

Thank-you so very much!