Just saw that Lorie is asking about the colesseum underground tour - I have been trying to find a tour for this when we are in Rome on May 11. Viator shows one but after reading reviews and comments from Ron in Rome, I am reluctant to sign on for this tour. Does anyone have any input regarding a tour guide (company) for this once in a life time adventure? I guess I would like to have a private tour guide, but need to watch our expenses. Nancy
Posted by
WPB, FL & Firenze
3112 posts
You can book the underground tour through the Colosseum booking office (contact information is in Rick's guidebook). All underground tours are guided, so no need to book through an agency to get a guide. I took the tour last November and my guide was an archeologist who worked on the excavations. She was very good, and I enjoyed the tour immensely.
Posted by
Pa and Italy
4152 posts
Just book through the official site. The phone number is: +39 0639967700 You can get an operator who speaks English to help make the reservation. Donna
Posted by
Joseph, Oregon, USA
46 posts
I finally connected with that number via Skype last week, and was put on hold for four or five minutes.and finally someone answered saying, "Pronto, Pronto" I tried to ask "Parle l'inglise" several times, but it was like he couldn't hear me, and hung up. I tried again, and it happened again, except I spent hardly anytime on hold. I tested my microphone and it was working. Anyway, I'm trying to get my nerve up to try again tomorrow morning. Maybe they just didn't have an English speaker there at that time.
The good part was that I started with $10 Skype credit, and still have $9.40 left!
Posted by
Los Angeles, CA, USA
1003 posts
Nancy, it's my understanding that the only way to get to these parts right now is through the official system discussed above, at least, I can't imagine why you'd pay through the nose for a private tour when an official one is available for 9.50 euros. Anyway regarding the phone number referenced, i did this last week and made a reservation for a tour on May 12 with no problem. I bought a "worldwide" phone card in Target for $10 and it told me I had over 600 minutes available for my call to Italy LOL! Anyway when I said "parla inglese?" she immediately switched to English and I had no problem. Note that you do have to pre-pay by CC over the phone, then i gave her my email address and I received an email confirmation a few minutes later. Also note that if you plan on using the RomaPass make sure you tell them at the beginning. Otherwise they will charge you for the whole thing. I didn't realize that and I told her near the end of the process and she had to re-do the reservation so that I was only charged for the underground part.