I am considering taking two tours in succession:
1) 10 days in Venice, Florence and Rome (ending in Rome)
2) 7 days in Rome
3) A few days in-between to explore surrounding areas away from Rome
Would this plan be too much time in Rome?
Thinking there would be enough to see in Rome to fill roughly 7 to 9 days without it becoming boring?
Any advice?
Don't. Go exploring by yourself. I love Rome, but your itinerary leans too much on the big 3. Italy is so, so much more than that. Go to Umbria, or Emilia-Romagna. Explore cities like Bologna, Perugia, Modena, Spoleto. If you drive, wander around and check out the small in-between places. You'll find less cynical hotel owners and restaurateurs and people to talk to. Be like Rick and get out of the usual places. I've been reading this message board regularly, and it depresses me that people don't go off by themselves and explore. I thought that's what RS's PBS programs were all about.
I'd suggest doing the 7 Days in Rome tour first as it provides you with a lot of useful info about getting around the city (using the metro and buses etc.). There is some overlap between the two tours but you can decide which activities in the VFR tour you could give a miss and which you want to do again. RS guide to Rome provides suggestions for walks and places to visit over and above what is included in the tours (for example, a food tour of Testaccio area or a visit out to Hadrian's villa or the Villa d'Este both at Tivoli).
Certainly plenty to do in Rome with little chance of boredom setting in!
Four days of the 7 Days in Rome tour practically overlap the final 4 days of the 10 day tour. Unless you really like repeating sites so close to the first time you see them, this doesn't sound like a good use of time and money. I would say go ahead with the 10 day and then spend the 7 days in Rome time either continuing to see the sights in Rome on your own or travel to some of the surrounding sights.
Been to Rome a number of times and still haven't done or seen it all. So it doesn't appear to me to be too much time. And I really don't think it would become boring. If Rome becomes overwhelming, you can get away from the hustle and bustle of Rome itself by taking a day trip to Ostia Antica. Easy to get to using public transit and inexpensive to boot.
I think you have a wonderful plan. I went on the 17 Days Best of Italy tour which ends in Rome for 2 days. Then, the following spring, I went back to Rome and did the 7 Days Best of Rome tour and it did not matter at all that the Colosseum and Forum were repeats. It was so fascinating to me. So, do what you like and realize we are only scratching the surface in Rome with these tours. If you want to opt out of an activity, merely tell your tour guide and they will be glad to give you other ideas for your time away from the group.
The 7 Days in Rome tour includes a day trip to Ostia Antica, which is fascinating.
Enjoy!
Back to back tours, yes. We just did our first, Portugal and London and had a blast. But these two, no. You have one day that is exactly the same-The Vatican. Now, I've been there and would love to go back, but same visit within 3 weeks would be a waste. Don't forget, you are paying for those days, the local guide, fees etc. We loved our first city tour and we are thinking about Rome for 2018. But, if we did back to backs we'd prefer Sicily or another tour with no overlap.
You can't get bored of Rome, but you can get pretty tired of walking on cobblestone! I'd rent a car and drive around Tuscany/Umbria for 4 days or so. Stay the night in Siena. Stay two nights in Siena. Try Alma Domus, a monastery-run hotel and request a view of the Duomo (although most rooms come with the view!) You'll be right in Siena, with a great view, and a great breakfast!
That is a fair amount of overlap between those two tours. Nothing wrong with doing them back to back if you don't mind the replication. Perhaps a longer tour like village Italy or the southern Italy would work better? Or even Rome and best of Sicily?
I was on a fantastic VFR tour in June. I am returning on my own to Rome for 6 days later this year (lots more to see!). I recommend against doing back to back VFR & 7 days in Rome due to the overlap of things seen in Rome on the 2 tours. Instead, I would either:
1. Do VFR tour and stay longer in Rome on your own (not on a tour)
OR
2. Do VFR tour + other sites in Italy on your own.
I would highly recommend doing the Best of Italy tour instead. You're looking at 10+7 days of touring, and the Best of Italy is 17 days. You will see more locations, plus it includes the ones you're suggesting. Since each tour's first and last day are very minimal, you will actually end up with two additional "full" days in the Best of Italy tour, also. Every location in that tour was a "wow" location; we loved it!
Since you have some days in between, are you looking at 21-22 nights total? If so, I would do a longer tour and spend more time in a city you want to spend time in at the end. By then you will have acquired local travel skills, and won't backtrack to the same sights on similar tours.
I agree with Jean. I would do the 17 Day Best of Italy tour. You will see so much of Italy and it's history. If you go to my profile, I have links to two 10 minute videos of our tour. I was most impressed that the tour covered cities, mountains, countryside, small towns and more. You will not go wrong if you have 17 days to spend in Italy.
Four days of the 7 Days in Rome tour practically overlap the final 4
days of the 10 day tour. Unless you really like repeating sites so
close to the first time you see them, this doesn't sound like a good
use of time and money. I would say go ahead with the 10 day and then
spend the 7 days in Rome time either continuing to see the sights in
Rome on your own.
That's sort of where i'm at too. I'd take what you learned on your 10-day tour and apply it to exploring Rome independently on your own for a week. Having been there for a short time (2 days) on your escorted tour, you will have an idea of how the city is organized and how to get around, plus have some biggie attractions crossed off the list. Bored? I've spent a total of several weeks in Rome without running out things to see: my must-do list is still very long!
A week will also provide opportunity for a couple of (easy) day trips further afield, like Ostia Antica and Orvieto.
Spend some time with a lovely pile of guidebooks and you won't need a tack-on tour for Rome unless you're wanting the companionship/social piece a tour provides. It's an easy city to see on one's own, and doing so allows you to spend as much - or as little - time doing exactly what you want to on your own schedule.
