Hello, taking the 10 day tour in September. Still wondering what is included in the tour, or where to find the info? For example, if we all get on the Vaporetto in Venice do we all buy tickets individually or has the guide already got them?
I am trying to decide if I should get the 3day pass when we arrive a day before the tour. It seems like it would make sense to use in our free time to get around.
Same question with the museums and churches. Like when it says we are going to the Vatican museum and Sistine, I assume those tickets are already bought and we could add on the underground tour on our own? That is if I knew the timing!?
I may be jumping the gun in excitement, will the tour send me a packet with all the details soon? So many questions…
Posted by
Richmond, CA
43 posts
If you are signed up for a Rick Steves Tour, the activities listed in your tour itinerary are included. Read the tour description from start to finish. Your guide will make reservations and buy the tickets for all of the listed activities. The only exception is for a "My Way" Tour. It sounds as if you are starting off your tour in Venice. I would not purchase a multi-day transit pass, since you will be there only one day before your tour starts. Once the tour starts, you probably won't need it. If you do need to buy a pass for use during your free time, your guide will tell you what you need. Take advantage of the guide's expertise, and of what is already included in the tour. Have fun!
Posted by
Washington DC
28372 posts
Vaporetto tickets are so incredibly expensive that I'd want the answer to that question ahead of time myself. With the pricing structure the way it is (20 euros for 1 day; 30 euros for 2 days; 40 euros for 3 days), it could easily make sense to buy a multi-day pass if you're arriving early. But for all we know, the tour leader may hand you a 1- or 2-day pass at the initial meeting. I'd call or email the tour office. I know it's busy right now, but you've got plenty of time to be patient about getting an answer.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32386 posts
As I recall, tickets for any museum or other guided tours with the group are provided, so that would probably include the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel.
I can't remember if transit tickets were provided in any cities. It would be prudent to budget for those in case they're not provided by the tour. If you buy the three day pass, don't forget to validate before use!
For definite information on these points, contact the tour office.
Posted by
Idaho, USA
7921 posts
When we took the 17-day Best of Italy tour, the guide had our ticket to ride the vaporetto for locations that we were doing as a group. On that tour, we didn’t receive a vaporetto pass for our free time options. We were in Venice for two nights on that tour. By the way, we have returned to Venice several times and rarely take the vaporetto; there’s so much to do just walking, and we love meandering the islands. We have taken the vaporetto over to Murano, etc. and once during each trip trip down the Grand Canal.
Any museums or activities that require a ticket that will be done with your guide will already be paid. For instance, the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Vatican tour on ours were all paid ahead of time.
We had the option to have a gondola ride as a bonus, optional activity that our guide would arrange if we wanted to pay for it. My husband & I did it and really enjoyed it. Since it was an optional extra event, that was outside the normal tour. Since he arranged it for us, we had other tour members with us in our gondola (and the musicians in ours), and the few gondolas did the same route together.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Thanks for the info, good to know you didn’t use the vaporettos a lot. I may just get the one way ticket to the hotel then, since it’s very close to the sights. And the best of includes a gondola ride, so looking forward to it!
I’ll email them for a more detailed itinerary to see where I can fit in some of the other art I’d like to see. Thanks all!