Still confused with Rome in Limo tours

[World Gallery]

I am sorry to ask this because I am sure it has been answered in different ways. I am still a bit confused about how Rome in Limo works. When I am looking at their prices online, am I looking at "Transportation only" prices? For example, we are interested in Rome Highlights and Vatican, http://www.romeinlimo.com/kid-civitavecchia/rome-day-kid.htm. Does this mean that our driver will drive us to each place and just drop us off to be on our own? We really want a guided tour of the Coliseum and the Vatican. Also, it states: you will walk through the Piazza Navona. Are we walking alone to then meet up with the driver later?

I am trying really hard to compare "apples to apples" but it is becoming difficult because I can't figure out what tour companies include what. We will probably use a combination of Rome in Limo and Context Travel.

 

Also, I noticed that Rome in Limo offers "kid friendly" tours. Has anyone taken these? What makes them kid friendly? The description seems to be the same as the regular tours.

 

Thanks. I very much appreciate all of the help!

[epixx]

We really want a guided tour of the Coliseum and the Vatican.

 

For the Colosseum, I highly recommend the Underground and Third Tier Tour http://www.revealedrome.com/2010/10/underground-at-the-colosseum-how-do-you-get-there.html#tp . This tour is offered as a group tour at the Colosseum and lasts about 80 minutes. We took it with our teens in August, and we all loved it. There are 2 problems for you with a tour of the Colosseum, however. You might not have time for any tour of the Colosseum with the itinerary described on the Rome in Limo website. Rome in Limo can probably advise you about timing. The second problem is specific to the above referenced tour. This tour "ends" in October and cannot be scheduled thereafter. However, all indications are that the tour will be re-instated after the winter when the weather improves. You would need to check back in the spring.

 

For the Vatican, Rome in Limo can probably provide you with a private guide. As above, you probably won't have time for a Context Travel tour. Aren't these about 3 hours?

[baggal]

Rome in Limo can provide you with a tour guide for the Colosseum as well as the Vatican. Contact Jany for prices.

[ksps cruise fan]

Rome in Limo... When I am looking at their prices online, am I looking at "Transportation only" prices? For example, we are interested in Rome Highlights and Vatican, http://www.romeinlimo.com/kid-civitavecchia/rome-day-kid.htm. Does this mean that our driver will drive us to each place and just drop us off to be on our own?

 

Yes. Your understanding is correct. The driver is licensed to drive. He may know something/a lot about the sites and he may share what he knows en route. However, he is not a licensed tour guide and will not accompany you at any sites.

 

We really want a guided tour of the Coliseum and the Vatican.

 

Many posters ask Rome in Limo to hire a licensed guide to accompany them into the Vatican. I can't recall anyone mentioning hiring a licensed guide for their time in the Colosseum, but I can't imagine any reason why this can't be arranged. Actually, once you add up the cost of both a Vatican and Colosseum guide, the additional cost to have a guide the whole day is probably quite small.

 

Also, it states: you will walk through the Piazza Navona. Are we walking alone to then meet up with the driver later?

 

You'll be dropped off at one of the entrances to the Piazza Navona to walk on your own. Besides the licensed guide issue, this Piazza is not accessible to cars.

 

The web site text doesn't quite match up with the geography. You can't walk through the Piazza Navona pausing at the Spanish Steps. You've got to walk/be driven between these two separate destinations. Ditto with the distance between the Steps and the Trevi Fountain.

 

I am trying really hard to compare "apples to apples" but it is becoming difficult because I can't figure out what tour companies include what. We will probably use a combination of Rome in Limo and Context Travel.

 

Will you be doing Context Rome's "Full Day Tour From the Cruise Ship"? If so, the description makes it quite clear that the price includes car transfer from/to the port, car service in Rome for six hours, and a docent for the entire tour.

 

If you are doing the walking tours with Context Travel during your stay in Rome, you'll get yourself to the designated meet up point and walk with a docent to and in the sites.

 

As helpful as we all try to be, you really have to ask these questions of each of the tour companies.

Edited September 25, 2011 by ksps cruise fan

[wantocruisemore]

If you are interested in a guide at the sites, contact Jany, tell her specifically what you are looking for and then ask for the pricing. We had a RIL guide who met us at the Vatican and gave us a wonderful tour. I know that they can provide guided tours by the hour of the sites you wish to see.

 

I'm sure there are other companies that can do the same as well. The important thing is to be clear up front what you are looking for so you can make the apples to apples comparisom.

[World Gallery]

Thank you! This is very helpful. I am going to contact Jany.

 

I think I have it figured out for Context Travel in regards to price. Please tell me if this sounds on the high end because it does to me (but I have never been to Rome):

Context Travel 8 hour Pompeii Adventure for families (This full-day excursion, in the company of a classical historian, archaeologist, or art historian is thus designed to give you and your family a full understanding of ancient Roman civilization and its development around the bay of Naples.)

620 + 243(driver) + 147 (tickets for 7) = 1010 euros ($1362 USD).

If this is the cost for one day, we are going to have to pick and choose which ports to do a guided tour in or start downloading all of Rick Steves podcasts!

[bobalink]

We have used Romeinlimo several times. They are wonderful and will take very good care of you!

 

Your driver will drop you off and make it very clear, specifically where and when he will pick you up. He may suggest the amount of time you can have, depending on what else is on your itinerary. However, you have the freedom to customize your tour and if you want to spend more time at one particular site, they will arrange for that, as long as you tell them ahead of time.

 

The drivers are very knowledgeable and although they are not guides, will share lots of great information along the way.

 

As suggested, just contact Jany and Duman at RIL and they will answer all of your questions promptly.

 

We told Jany we wanted a guide for the Vatican, and she arranged for Sarah to escort us. She was wonderful.

 

We did not have a guide for the Colosseum, but we did have a good tour book. Another option is to take an iPod and download the Rick Steves tours. http://www.ricksteves.com/ae/ae_menu.htm

 

Enjoy your visit to Rome!

[wantocruisemore]

Thank you! This is very helpful. I am going to contact Jany.

 

I think I have it figured out for Context Travel in regards to price. Please tell me if this sounds on the high end because it does to me (but I have never been to Rome):

Context Travel 8 hour Pompeii Adventure for families (This full-day excursion, in the company of a classical historian, archaeologist, or art historian is thus designed to give you and your family a full understanding of ancient Roman civilization and its development around the bay of Naples.)

620 + 243(driver) + 147 (tickets for 7) = 1010 euros ($1362 USD).

If this is the cost for one day, we are going to have to pick and choose which ports to do a guided tour in or start downloading all of Rick Steves podcasts!

 

 

That is actually very close to the price we paid for RIL to take us to Pompeii/Herculaneum & Sorrento with a guide for our party of 9 from ROME! It was an all day excursion and for all 9 of us it was only 1200 euros for the 12 hour plus tour.

 

Is the one you quoted from Naples? I am pretty sure you can get a more reasonable tour with guide from the port.

[cruisemom42]

That is actually very close to the price we paid for RIL to take us to Pompeii/Herculaneum & Sorrento with a guide for our party of 9 from ROME! It was an all day excursion and for all 9 of us it was only 1200 euros for the 12 hour plus tour.

 

Is the one you quoted from Naples? I am pretty sure you can get a more reasonable tour with guide from the port.

 

I believe they are quoting the price from Rome.

[World Gallery]

That is actually very close to the price we paid for RIL to take us to Pompeii/Herculaneum & Sorrento with a guide for our party of 9 from ROME! It was an all day excursion and for all 9 of us it was only 1200 euros for the 12 hour plus tour.

 

Is the one you quoted from Naples? I am pretty sure you can get a more reasonable tour with guide from the port.

 

Yes, it is from Naples.

I was wondering about this: getting tours with guides at the port, just booking on the spot. I don't think I would do this for Rome but for other ports that we are unsure about and may want to wait to see what the weather is like, I may do this. But we are traveling with kids (11 - 18) and from past experiences, they are much more engaged with a good guide (and you never know what you will get when you book on the spot). If it were just my husband and I, we would use a lot of Rick Steves podcasts.

[ksps cruise fan]

Thank you! This is very helpful. I am going to contact Jany.

 

I think I have it figured out for Context Travel in regards to price. Please tell me if this sounds on the high end because it does to me (but I have never been to Rome):

Context Travel 8 hour Pompeii Adventure for families (This full-day excursion, in the company of a classical historian, archaeologist, or art historian is thus designed to give you and your family a full understanding of ancient Roman civilization and its development around the bay of Naples.)

620 + 243(driver) + 147 (tickets for 7) = 1010 euros ($1362 USD).

If this is the cost for one day, we are going to have to pick and choose which ports to do a guided tour in or start downloading all of Rick Steves podcasts!

 

 

The 243 Euro cost for a driver seems to be the one place to save a bit of money. A 24-hour ticket on the Circumvesuviana line would cover your round trip transportation to Pompeii and would cost somewhat less than 7 Euros per person. However, you'd have the cost of getting between the port of Naples and the train station. This might be difficult for a family of 7 since lots of posters write that taxis are reluctant to take passengers short distances. (You'd have to solve this problem twice for two taxis.)

 

If you work with Context Travel, perhaps they can arrange for taxis to be waiting for you at the port. Then, you could take the Circumvesuviana. Otherwise, I'm reluctantly going to have to conclude that you need to pay this expense.

 

This day-long trip includes pizza lunch and a visit to the archaeological museum in the afternoon. I recommend you ask Context Travel about the possibility of customizing the walk before/after lunch and downsizing the time in the museum. I think you family would really enjoy a walk through the neighboring historic districts of Spaccanapoli and Decoumano Maggiore. The Chapel that contains the Veiled Christ is in this area, but I'm going to recommend two other sites: San Lorenzo Maggiore ( Via Tribunale). The church itself is a typical over-the-top Neapolitan Baroque church. However, there's a secret world lying under the cloister. For a fee, you can go underground to an excavated Greco-Roman city where you'll walk along a market street and see individual shops, an oven from a bakery, and slab beds (hotel? massage parlor?)

 

Nearby Via San Gregorio Armeno is the center of the Neapolitan creche carving tradition. You'll lose count of the shops selling carved figurines for a nativity scene. What makes the Neapolitan tradition so distinctive and appealing to people of all religions is that the scene typically includes more figures than just religious ones. Neapolitans put butchers and bakers and fishermen and pizza makers and famous people from politics, pop culture, and sports -- and more -- into their creche assemblages. You'll have a great time wandering around from store to store to see the different carving styles and the slightly different emphasis of each store (e.g. some specialize in famous folks on the modern world).

 

I really think this variety will round out a nice day for your tween and teen kids. Again, ask the helpful Context folks for their input.

 

A suggestion about your docent: Ask for Maria Laura Chiacchino or Fiorella Squillante. I think Federico Poole has young sons so he might also be good with a family group.

Edited September 25, 2011 by ksps cruise fan

[ksps cruise fan]

I am sorry to ask this because I am sure it has been answered in different ways. I am still a bit confused about how Rome in Limo works. When I am looking at their prices online, am I looking at "Transportation only" prices? For example, we are interested in Rome Highlights and Vatican, http://www.romeinlimo.com/kid-civitavecchia/rome-day-kid.htm. Does this mean that our driver will drive us to each place and just drop us off to be on our own? We really want a guided tour of the Coliseum and the Vatican. Also, it states: you will walk through the Piazza Navona. Are we walking alone to then meet up with the driver later?

I am trying really hard to compare "apples to apples" but it is becoming difficult because I can't figure out what tour companies include what. We will probably use a combination of Rome in Limo and Context Travel.

 

Also, I noticed that Rome in Limo offers "kid friendly" tours. Has anyone taken these? What makes them kid friendly? The description seems to be the same as the regular tours.

 

Thanks. I very much appreciate all of the help!

 

Am I right in remembering that you're going to be staying several days in an apartment in Rome (Campo Fiori)? Assuming that's true, I'm surprised to read that you're thinking about taking an all-day Vatican-Colosseum- and-everything-else tour.

 

I don't know exact distances, but my best estimate is that your apartment is a 10 minute walk from the Piazza Navona. A 15 minute walk from the Pantheon. I assume you'll be in either Piazza Navona or Piazza Rotonda (Pantheon) every night for gelato!

 

The nearby bus hub at Largo Argentina will get you to a considerable number of places when walking is unappealing. Even so, I estimate you're only a 25 minute walk to the Colosseum. Ditto to the Vatican.

 

Since you don't seem to be pleased with your current plans to be without a guide for much of the day, consider breaking this day into several half-day itineraries using the services of a walking tour guide.

[hylasgirl]

I am sorry to ask this because I am sure it has been answered in different ways. I am still a bit confused about how Rome in Limo works. When I am looking at their prices online, am I looking at "Transportation only" prices? For example, we are interested in Rome Highlights and Vatican, http://www.romeinlimo.com/kid-civitavecchia/rome-day-kid.htm. Does this mean that our driver will drive us to each place and just drop us off to be on our own? We really want a guided tour of the Coliseum and the Vatican. Also, it states: you will walk through the Piazza Navona. Are we walking alone to then meet up with the driver later?

I am trying really hard to compare "apples to apples" but it is becoming difficult because I can't figure out what tour companies include what. We will probably use a combination of Rome in Limo and Context Travel.

 

Also, I noticed that Rome in Limo offers "kid friendly" tours. Has anyone taken these? What makes them kid friendly? The description seems to be the same as the regular tours.

 

Thanks. I very much appreciate all of the help!

 

With Romeinlimo you get a driver/guide. He is not allowed into the sites in Rome. By law you have to have a licensed guide (this should be the case with every company). I definitely would get a guided tour of the Vatican museum. I think it's truly worthwhile. If you email Jany she can set up (or price) guides for you so that logistically it makes sense at the time you need them. We have done MANY tours with Romeinlimo with guides and without.

 

One thing also to remember with Romeinlimo is their tours are suggestive. You can tweak them to meet your own needs and wants.

 

As far as "kid friendly" we took our 3 older children there in 2009 and I would say the biggest thing they try to do is incorporate things that kids would enjoy. Again, I would get with them and see what they suggest for your kids. One important thing I think people miss with the beauty of private tours is your ability to have some voice in your tour. I have NEVER booked a private tour with anyone where I didn't discuss a little of what I wanted to do for the day.

 

Communicate with Romeinlimo about what you are wanting to do for your day. They are SO accommodating. I can say after our trip with our children, every tour we took with Romeinlimo is a highlight for them. They still talk about our crazy fun driver in Naples.

 

Enjoy!!!

[chipmaster]

The onlything fishy I se what 620+243? For RIL you pay one rate for the driver for the day. If you want a guide that is different, and IMHO not worth the money. A guide is well worth it at the Vatican if you go as you could spend a couple hours there, anywhere else, do some research, download a podcast, bring a book and you can get a good experience for just the price of admission or for some places like Trevi, Panthoeon and others are free.

 

As expensive as this sounds price out the difference for the best big bus affair from the cruiseline and remember they won't take you to see as much and you need to walk further as bus can't park close to many attractions.

 

happy planning

 

Thank you! This is very helpful. I am going to contact Jany.

 

I think I have it figured out for Context Travel in regards to price. Please tell me if this sounds on the high end because it does to me (but I have never been to Rome):

Context Travel 8 hour Pompeii Adventure for families (This full-day excursion, in the company of a classical historian, archaeologist, or art historian is thus designed to give you and your family a full understanding of ancient Roman civilization and its development around the bay of Naples.)

620 + 243(driver) + 147 (tickets for 7) = 1010 euros ($1362 USD).

If this is the cost for one day, we are going to have to pick and choose which ports to do a guided tour in or start downloading all of Rick Steves podcasts!

[World Gallery]

Am I right in remembering that you're going to be staying several days in an apartment in Rome (Campo Fiori)? Assuming that's true, I'm surprised to read that you're thinking about taking an all-day Vatican-Colosseum- and-everything-else tour.

 

Yes, that was the plan but we just changed the cruise itinerary. I "accidently" came across an itinerary on the NCL that was a few days longer (but not higher in price) from Venice to Barcelona (not Rome to Rome). It was the only intinerary I have seen on any ship that included all the Italian ports we wanted plus Ephesus and Istanbul. Turkey was huge bonus for us and we couldn't pass it up!

I am saving all of the info I have collected because we definitely will return for more time in Rome.

 

Thanks for all of these excellent ideas. I am working through all of them. My kids tend to do better with an actual person guiding them because they are engaged (especially when the guide is interactive, they love that). We have been to the Alamo and Ellis Island in the past year and I noticed my kids drifting with the audio tours we did at those places. I also noticed my son with the I-pod bud in one ear!

 

I did some number crunching and it seems Rome in Limo would be about $200 less in each place for the same tour (but not sure the quality of the guides).

Also, someone on the boards mentioned

pleasantravel dot com. Their total price for the Naples day is $505 less!

So much to consider! Anyone heard of them?

[hubofhockey]

Am I right in remembering that you're going to be staying several days in an apartment in Rome (Campo Fiori)? Assuming that's true, I'm surprised to read that you're thinking about taking an all-day Vatican-Colosseum- and-everything-else tour.

 

Yes, that was the plan but we just changed the cruise itinerary. I "accidently" came across an itinerary on the NCL that was a few days longer (but not higher in price) from Venice to Barcelona (not Rome to Rome). It was the only intinerary I have seen on any ship that included all the Italian ports we wanted plus Ephesus and Istanbul. Turkey was huge bonus for us and we couldn't pass it up!

I am saving all of the info I have collected because we definitely will return for more time in Rome.

 

Thanks for all of these excellent ideas. I am working through all of them. My kids tend to do better with an actual person guiding them because they are engaged (especially when the guide is interactive, they love that). We have been to the Alamo and Ellis Island in the past year and I noticed my kids drifting with the audio tours we did at those places. I also noticed my son with the I-pod bud in one ear!

 

I did some number crunching and it seems Rome in Limo would be about $200 less in each place for the same tour (but not sure the quality of the guides).

Also, someone on the boards mentioned

pleasantravel dot com. Their total price for the Naples day is $505 less!

So much to consider! Anyone heard of them?

 

I like that NCL itinerary. It is similar to the Ruby Princess Grand Med. The good news for you is that the Istanbul and Ephesus driver guides are often licensed guides and those are great ports.

 

I agree with post about using real licensed guides in important areas like Rome and Pompeii. Our kids (and us) enjoyed our walking tour of Ancient Rome and saved a bundle taking the train to Rome from the port. The train station is very convenient to cruise port. The first time we went to Rome we used a driver guide service. It was great, but not nearly as good as our waking tour of the Forums, Temple, and Colosseum. After lunch, we went to Piazza Navona, Pantheon, and Trevi Fountain on our own.

[ksps cruise fan]

Yes, that was the plan but we just changed the cruise itinerary. I "accidently" came across an itinerary on the NCL that was a few days longer (but not higher in price) from Venice to Barcelona (not Rome to Rome). It was the only intinerary I have seen on any ship that included all the Italian ports we wanted plus Ephesus and Istanbul. Turkey was huge bonus for us and we couldn't pass it up!

I am saving all of the info I have collected because we definitely will return for more time in Rome.

 

Got it! That's a lovely itinerary.

[cruisemom42]

If you just want to see Pompeii, why not take public transportation (train or bus) to Pompeii and then hire a guide (around 100 euros) for a tour when you get there? There are licensed guides available at the site.

 

With regards to Context Travel versus someone like Rome in Limo, a good (but very generalized) way of looking at the difference between the two is that with Context, their primary focus is on a very high quality of guide (note, this doesn't necessarily mean "child friendly" unless you book a tour that is listed as that) and the transportation is the extra. Whereas with RIL, the transportation is the primary focus of the company, and the guide is the extra.

[D4]

...Yes, that was the plan but we just changed the cruise itinerary. I "accidently" came across an itinerary on the NCL that was a few days longer (but not higher in price) from Venice to Barcelona (not Rome to Rome). It was the only intinerary I have seen on any ship that included all the Italian ports we wanted plus Ephesus and Istanbul. Turkey was huge bonus for us and we couldn't pass it up!

I am saving all of the info I have collected because we definitely will return for more time in Rome.?

 

Oh I see. I also remembered that you were staying in Rome before the trip and wondered why you'd book an all day tour.

 

I think an all day private tour with RomeInLimo will be money well spent. It will be hot and you'll be in an a/c vehicle getting dropped off and picked up close to the sites.

 

I don't know if you've researched Ephesus yet, but Ekol is the favorite tour company there. Their prices are also very reasonable for private tours (not like prices in Italy.) We used them and understood why everyone loves them. One price gets you a driver and a guide.

 

You might try to plan some 'light' port days between the busier days so the whole family can recharge.

 

I hope your spouse and kids appreciate all the work it takes to plan a trip like this!

[World Gallery]

Thanks D4 - I haven't started with Ephesus yet. I will contact them. We are very much excited about Ephesus. My husband and I went on one Med. cruise (most Holy Land ports) 12 years ago. There was a huge storm that wiped out the pier overnight in Ephesus so we missed it. All I could do was cry, then we watched movies all day. Over the years we have talked about one day returning. Now we can do it with our kids.

 

Cruisemom - Do you happen to know the cost, time, and ease of taking the bus to Pompeii? That is a good idea. Also, is the museum close to the Pompeii site?

[cruisemom42]

Cruisemom - Do you happen to know the cost, time, and ease of taking the bus to Pompeii? That is a good idea. Also, is the museum close to the Pompeii site?

 

Here's a thread with good detail on both the train and the bus to Pompeii. The bus is very convenient to the port. The train is a bit faster but the station isn't as close.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1449126&highlight=bus+pompeii

[World Gallery]

Thanks! Looks very easy. I am going to talk to my husband. If this is all we will do, then we will take the bus.

 

We are also considering climing Mt Vesuvius. Does anyone know how this is done? Do you need a guide? How far from Pompeii is it? For example, are there taxi at Pompeii that can take you to Mt Vesuvius and can you hire a guide there like at Pompeii>

[euro cruiser]

Vesuvius is easy to reach either from Pompei or from the Circumvesuviana station in Ercolano.

 

From Pompei there is a bus, or from Ercolano a van service, that take you to the base of the hiking path up to the grand cone.

 

The walk from the base parking lot to the top is only about twenty minutes or so (faster for those in better shape than me). The ground is lose gravel so it can be a little uneven, and it's pretty steep in some places. There is a handrail you can hold onto, if needed.

 

I went there via the van service; the fare was around 15 or 20 Euro, which included the round trip ride and the tickets to climb the volcano. They dropped us off and arranged to meet us back at the base lot after 90 minutes, which was plenty of time to climb up, take pictures, and get back down.

 

Information on the Pompei-Vesuvius bus can be found here: http://www.unicocampania.it/index.php?lang=en&center=inside&colonna=turisti&action=vesuvio

 

Slightly more information on the bus here: http://www.napoli.city-sightseeing.it/depliant_pompei_vesuvio.pdf

Edited September 26, 2011 by euro cruiser

[Roadrunners2016]

It was an incredible experience to use Rome in Limo in Florence and Rome since we only had one day in each city. Our Drivers Simona and Alberto were experts and so accommodating. Rome in Limo helped us book the tickets to climb the leaning tower in Pisa ahead of time and get our Vatican tickets. We were picked up at the dock as we exited the boat in a newer model Mercedes van. Both drivers knew the history of the city and parked us close to the major attractions. At each attraction we received a cell phone so that we could contact the drivers. In Rome, Alberto even made reservations for us at an incredible restaurant, reasonably priced and good!

 

Having a guide steer you through the Vatican is essential. I do not know how you would be able to see anything if you had to wait in line for tickets. We had Maria Linda and without her we would have never seen the Sistine Chapel, Necropolis and the Basilica. Rome is extremely crowded be prepared to be elbowed and pushed. We tipped both drivers and our guide generously since there were five people in our group and they each deserved every penny.

[CruiserBruce]

Hmmm...interesting. You found a 5 year old Rome in Limo thread, when there is a HUGE, very active Rome in Limo thread just down the board, that you also posted on...