Rome_Recommendations for Travel Agent to Book Activities or Book Directly?

Hi Nita,
I think the majority of us have booked our own sightseeing reservations/tickets. As you say you've been "looking directly at each site's website", it sounds as if you have the official resources for doing that? Which attractions are you looking at visiting?

Are you taking the My Way Italy in 13 Days tour (May 3–May 15 (Su–Fri) and tacking on 2 nights in Rome at the end?

The Colosseum is extremely popular, and some types of tickets sell out almost instantly they go on sale (in the middle of the night US time). In the past there were reports of some problems with commercial ticket agencies; they'd sell tickets ahead of time, before they were available from the Colosseum itself, then they'd cancel their tours at the last minute when they couldn't obtain the tickets they needed for all their clients. I don't know whether that is still happening; Colosseum ticketing procedures have changed.

The Vatican Museums sell out early, but there's nothing tricky about buying those tickets. St. Peter's is different. It is free but usually has a very, very long security line. You can avoid that line by booking entry online; there's a modest charge for that, but it includes an audio guide. With that entry you are in a separate, shorter security line. This is very much worth doing. I haven't looked into the timing of when those St. Peter's entry tickets go on sale. I assume they do sell out in advance.

The Borghese Gallery and the Domus Aurea also sell out, though possibly not as far in advance as the Vatican Museums. Nothing hard about buying those tickets, you just need to do it early.

San Clemente (church) probably doesn't sell out more than 24 hours ahead, but you do need an online ticket since none are sold at the church.

The Pantheon is now ticketed; I think it's very busy in the morning, but I don't know how ticketing works there.

I may have overlooked something, but most other sights in Rome don't require purchase of a ticket before you walk up to the site.

I'll mention that May 14 (of this year) is Ascension Day. It's not a public holiday in Italy but it is in some other European countries, such as France and Germany, and that it's on a Thursday this year creates a long weekend break. I'm reading that it'll be popular opportunity for families and individuals to make short hops from home so Rome may be even busier than it already is on a normal May weekend. Another reason to make your reservations for the biggies as soon as tickets become available?

Aloha! Yes we are adding (2 nites) in Rome to the "My Way" tour....thank you everyone for your responses!

Just be aware there are many 3rd party operators such as Viator, if you look closely at their tours as an example, somewhere in the small print it mentions the name of the original tour operator. While some folks use them, we always book direct & that way they get 100% of your ticket price. And look closely that you're really at the Vatican museum site, as an example, rather than a 3rd party. Hope that makes sense??? Good luck, sounds like a great trip!