We are heading to Rome (with older kids), and our 20 year old son loves Roman history and wants to do a good tour of the Colosseum. How are Coopculture tours vs. other (more expensive) tour companies? Coopculture is certainly cheap, but their tours are relatively short and their website is kind of confusing. Other tour companies (which ones are good?) have longer tours, but if they aren't good, not worth the extra $. I don't want to pay too much, so probably not a private tour. Suggestions are appreciated! Thanks.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23713 posts
It is hard to recommend a specific touring company simply because no one takes the same tour from two different company for comparison. We have used Angel Tours a couple with excellent results -- very interesting guides, perfect English, and we were pleased with the price for what we received. Have no idea how they compare to Coopculture. IMO, you go to all the expense to get here and want to go cheap on a tour guide. For us that doesn't compute.
Posted by
OP
13 posts
Don't necessarily want to go on the cheap; just want value for my money. Would rather take a tour that someone recommends here, than pick something based on a google search... I'll look into Angel Tours. Thanks.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11880 posts
Check the size of the group. I think. Coopculture runs big groups which means no individual attention, few questions answered. Walks of Italy is excellent, only 12 people in each group and very knowledgeable guides, usually American and very engaging.
Another idea is a private guide. Sometimes it is as economical - or at least costs no more - than 3 or 4 tickets on a tour. Plan about €200-250 for 4 hours for just your family group. LMK if you need a recommendation.
Posted by
Kentucky - USA
118 posts
We used a private guide for a group of 5 back in 2016 and it worked very well. 60 Euro an hour for a 3 hour minimum and you can have as many or as few people as you like on the tour for that price. In fact our next trip to Rome is in June and we will be using the same guide for our Colosseum tour.
Posted by
OP
13 posts
Recommendations of reasonably priced private tour guides would be appreciated! Thanks.
Posted by
Charlotte, NC
238 posts
Coopculture is the official archeological website for the Colosseum/Palatine Hill/Roman Forum and they have 3-hour guided tours that are substantially cheaper than third party tour operators.
We used Walks of Italy when we visited last month and paid over twice as much for the tour but pretty sure the advantage was that we were in a smaller group (12 people). Most tour operators run 3-hour tours.....
Posted by
1 posts
I just booked an Underground Colosseum + Forum & Pal Hill through Walks Of Italy for myself & my husband for our trip in early October. We are particularly interested in doing an underground tour and other than going though what I understand is a crazy booking system for this on their direct site, I was glad to "pay up' for a small group tour. Note, this is only if you want to do the Underground; my understanding is that the regular Colosseum tickets are easier to obtain through the site. I am in the process of deciding if I should go with an outside group for a Vatican friday night tour, or do it on our own through that site.
Posted by
21 posts
We picked two highly recommended tour group companies for June-- Walks of Italy for the Vatican Museum which will get you in before it opens to the public and Roman Guy for the Colosseum( Walks.. got filled right away in early April) . If you have Rick Steve's book on Italy, there is a code there that you can use for a 10% discount. Hope this helps.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11880 posts
Sonia Tavoletta is my recommendation for a private guide. We have toured with her and many friends and family have as well on my rec. Contact her at [email protected].