Prepay private tour of Rome?

Our experience with Angel Tours is that they are extremely reliable. They have been around a long time. I would not worry about being ripped off by them. They also worry about you ripping them off. It goes both ways. Four years ago we were on an public Angle tour when the fee was collected at the end. One couple convenient got lost just prior to the end of the tour. We tried to help the guide to find them but were unsuccessful. By chance two days later we saw the couple. Their excuse was that they didn't think the guide was doing a good job so they just left. Of course, they had waited to the very end to leave. Remember there are dishonest tourist that make it tough for the good guys. They could have different payment policies for private and public/group tours. If you don't want to do it, go someplace else.

You may want to research their refund policy if, by some chance, you are unable to participate in the tour. I know that some, even though highly respected, companies will not refund the full amount if the tour is a "special"or "exclusive" tour.

I think what I might do is cancel them for now -- or just not pay yet, which will probably be the same as cancelling -- and see what I can find out about other ways to see Rome at the Spring Travel festival in Edmonds next Saturday.

Isn't planning the trip supposed to be half the fun? HA!

Hi Louise. I booked several tours in Rome for our trip last September (some private tours and some group tours). Some companies required us to pre-pay but some did not. (We experienced the same thing with the accommodations that we booked. Our apartment in Rome required that we pre-pay while others did not.)

I believe that Angel Tours is a reputable company and I would not be put off by their request to pre-pay for the tour. All tour companies limit the number of people allowed on each tour and from their standpoint, they probably get tired of people reserving a spot only to no show and the tour company loses out. In your case, since you are booking a private tour, you are asking a tour guide to blook out a period of time just for you and if you don't show, they have lost the opportunity to make money for that period of time. As another poster suggested, find out what their cancellation/refund policy is in the event that you are not able to take the tour.

Angel Tours conducts a free nightly tour of the Pantheon and we happened to be there one night at the time of the tour. We listened to most of the tour and were impressed with the tour guide & his knowledge. While I did not book any of my other tours with Angel Tours, I definitely felt that they were a reputable company. They seem to be pretty popular. Have a wonderful trip.

We booked an Underground Rome tour with Context Tours for May. We did pay in advance.

Did they send you an email from PayPal asking for payment?

Hi Louise. The tour company that I pre-booked with charged my credit card however the apartment that I reserved in Rome sent me the request via Paypal and that's how I paid. I like using PayPal because then my credit card information is not floating around out there.

Update:

A travel guide in Rick's office suggested that I call AngelTours office in Rome to confirm before I submitted the PayPal. This morning I called and talked to Sean. We had a terrific conversation and now I am looking forward -- so much -- to the tour. Thank you all for helping me, such a travel newbie.

Louise