Hi Everybody !
I am obviously Very Excited about this trip.
Never been to Europe, and Italy sounds like the best of the best.
Hoping to connect with some of my travel companions, I saw the roster list, but didn't see a way to reach out to anyone ahead of time. Is there a way?
I have a tour booked for the Vatican and museums and the cost covers 3 people, thinking if a couple on the tour is interested in joining me not only would it be fun but it would definetly help to split the cost.
I've seen a couple of people recommend taking gloves to the Dolomites. Wow, didn't think of that! Do you really think it will be that cold?
Posted by
977 posts
The roster is purposely private, and you won’t get contact info for your tour mates while on the tour either. Your guide won’t share roster info. So the only way you’ll get someone’s contact info is if while on the tour, an individual interested in sharing their personal contact info shares it with you.
On one of our tours a tour mate wanted to set up a private Facebook page so we could all share photos and he passed around a paper for people who were interested to share their info. Our guide was clear that it was an individuals choice to choose to participate and made clear it had nothing to do with him or Rick Steve’s tours.
The roster is really just a way to kind of have some first names in your head when you arrive. Or maybe see who might also be traveling solo.
You’ll have time to share your interest in a couple of people joining you for the Vatican tour at the intro meeting on day 1. Enjoy your trip!
Posted by
SE Pennsylvania
2695 posts
I've found that not many tour participants read or post on the forum, unfortunately.
It can be surprising cold in the mountains even in summer. I always pack lightweight gloves on a trip. Sometimes I wear them on the overnight flight to Europe.
Enjoy your tour!
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
14831 posts
My vote is with Liz....I always pack gloves for mountain areas! Do you have some glove liners? That is the weight of glove that I always stick in, even if my trip is to cities if it's a transitional season. I also sometimes take a puffy vest and always take a waterproof rain jacket with a hood. For my October trip I did not take the puffy vest but looking at the current weather, I might put one if if you've got one. The 10-day forecast for Kastelruth/Castlerotto in the Dolomites shows highs in the mid-50's and lows in the mid-30's. The Alpi di Siusi is higher than Castlerotto.
This is a wonderful trip! I did it in 2022. Here is a link to my TR in case it gives you any information you might not already have.
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/best-of-italy-sept-30-october-16-2022
Hopefully you'll be arriving a day or so ahead of the tour?
BTW, this tour was great as a solo traveler. There is so much to see and do! (Well, all Rick's tours are great for solos!)
Posted by
Lynnwood, Washington
8913 posts
Happy Travels. I know you will have a great time!
Posted by
Salem, Oregon, USA
2761 posts
As noted, you probably are unlikely to connect with tourmates in the forum. Depending on the tour, the guide might help coordinate collecting personal contact information but usually you can opt out. The only exception I would note after 5 tours is that our Turkey guide did a photo guide of tour participants and included contact info; I was ok with that but not sure everyone was. You can mention the tour to fellow travelers at the welcome meeting and may be able to fill up your roster then.
I went on this trip in late May and it snowed in the Dolomites. Here's a historic weather chart for Alpe di Suisi and it shows average temps in mid April are below 40 F. You could get lucky but I'd make sure to pack layers: https://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/AlpeDiSiusiSeiserAlm/history