Private vs Group-Guided vs. Self-Guided Tours

My first choice has always been small group tours. You lose some of the freedom of having a private guide, but it's usually much less costly. I've never been a fan of the RS self guided tours, I find the narrative a bit dull. Also, the one time we tried it we got hopelessly turned around and couldn't find the sites he was talking about.

I haven't been to Ostia Antica but in a site like that or the Colosseum/Forum I'd recommend a tour or you may find yourself looking at piles of rubble and wondering what it is. Same with art galleries. The significance of what I was looking at would have been lost without someone talking to me about it.

Check out Through Eternity Tours https://www.througheternity.com/, it's by far been the best small group tour company I've used anywhere.

Many guidebooks, in addition to Rick's, include self-guided walking tours, and he's provided some audio tours which can be dowloaded for free:

https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/audio/audio-tours

in Rome, you might consider a tour which covers the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine. While the Colosseum is pretty easily understood with just a little advance reading or an audioguide, the other two are much more complex. Most combo tours last around 3 hours or so. I'll say the same for the Vatican Museums as they are VAST and can benefit from the direction of an experienced guide. If they have resumed them at the time of your trip (there's some confusion around whether this itinerary is currently available or not) I'd recommend a tour which includes early entrance to the museums + St Peter's basilica.

Recommendations from RS posters over the years:

Walks of Italy:
https://www.walksofitaly.com

The Roman Guy:
https://theromanguy.com/tours/italy

Context:
https://www.contexttravel.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxb_BrY6O8gIVKW5vBB32tQ7fEAAYAiAAEgJDlfD_BwE

Through Eternity:
https://www.througheternity.com/#

The Vatican offers its own tours of the museums: options and tickets here:
https://tickets.museivaticani.va/home/fromtag/2/1629349200000/VG-Musei

You'd likely want the "Guided Tours for Individuals - Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel". They don't offer one which includes the basilica at this time.

I don't personally think there's anything in Florence which needs a human guide, although advance reading is highly recommended. Ostia Antica: it's possible they'll resume guide services at the site by the time you go but here's printed guide you can download in advance for seeing the site on your own, if interested:

https://www.ostia-antica.org/touristguide.pdf

I would refer to the website Christine provided in one of your earlier posts for any visiting news updates.
Just a start !!!

Rick covers Ostia Antica in the Rome city book, so that’s the basis for his audio tour and map downloadable at https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/audio/audio-tours/italy or on the Audio Europe app.

Allan, thanks for the recommendation for Through Eternity Tours. I have seen them mentioned but not looked into them yet. I'll do that. I am definitely one like you describe where the significance is lost if I don't have someone telling me about it. I get MUCH more out of tours with that than just looking at something on my own.

Kathy, thank you for those links! Very helpful. I have spent some time on the Points Guy site but it wasn't about tours so far. And that info on Rome is helpful. I wasn't sure if grouping the sites together like that would be good, so that advice is helpful. Thanks!

Laura, I just went to our library site and reserved the Rome book. I'm not sure I need to buy it, but can decide once I've seen it. I can at least see the Ostia Antica pages. Thanks!

Some great suggestions above. We have used a variety of guides in our travels: Group Walking Tours (some free), private guides, & RS self guided walks. I think RS guidebook for Ostia Antica as suggested would be great. We used Walks of Italy for the Colosseum, Palatine and forum. The guide was knowledgeable and engaging. Most of our historical tours were private guides or small group tours. I’ve never regretted hiring a guide.

In Venice I used Frommer’s “24 Great walks in Venice.” It takes you through the neighborhoods from famous places to lesser known gems.

I included a website for one of my favorite blogs that discusses the pros for hiring a guide.
https://sunsetsandrollercoasters.com/

In Florence, we love "WalkAboutFlorence" -- we did 2 of their tours - the BEST OF TUSCANY TOUR and the CHIANTI WINE & FOOD SAFARI TOUR. Check out their website - the BEST OF TUSCANY does go to Siena.

Janis, I'll look into the Frommer's guide for Venice, thanks! And I'll read through the blog.

When in Spain, we hired a private guide (RS recommended) for the Alhambra and it was one of the highlights of our trip. But we also did a few group tours that were very good. I think if there is one particular site I know my family will especially love it is worth getting a private tour, but otherwise group ones or doing it on our own are fine. I'm finding it hard to know where which type would be most beneficial in Rome, though!

chinalake67, thanks for the tour recommendations. I'll look at those!

mhsrmoore2. I think the companies we've linked largely specialize in smaller-group tours, although Context offers many private tours too. The exception is the tour offered by the Vatican, which can be as large as 25.

I'd definitely group the Colosseum, Forum and Palatine together as they are in the same area. In fact, the Forum and Palatine are connected inside shared security borders. The Colosseum is just a short walk away. I'm so jealous; you're going to have such a good time! :O)

Used the RS audio when we did Ostia Antica. Had no sense that I had 'missed out', by not having a live guide.

This vendor-- https://www.thriftbooks.com/browse/?b.search=Rick%20Steves#b.s=mostPopular-desc&b.p=1&b.pp=30&b.oos&b.tile --- has many RS books at a discounted price. Obviously not the newest edition, but where and what things are hasn't changed much. A $10 order gets free shipping. Some of the books I have gotten looked unused.

We've hired private guides more and more in Europe, including Paris, Iceland, Brittany, and Ireland, as well as for Morocco. These were mostly for art, and/or backcountry adventure activities.

Group guides in London and upcoming (2022) Africa safari trip. Cheaper and/or safer than private, or on our own!

For Ostia Antica, Rick's book was fabulous -- i don't think we would've understood the communal toilet without his insight!

For Venice, the Venicescapes Historical Society private tours run by long-time Venice resident, Michael, an American, are the way to go. His itineraries are almost all history, although he does have one focused on the sublime art. His are a bit like taking a Venice History class taught by an expert, and you can get an exclusive visit inside a private palazzo, plus a souvenir/reference book with the fascinating tour. http://venicescapes.org/guided_walking_tours_of_Venice.htm

Kathy, thanks for your advice and sharing my excitement! I'm plowing ahead with planning under the assumption everything will be okay for travel in October.

joe32F, thank you for that link! I'll look for the RS Rome book there!

Cyn, that tour guide sounds perfect for us. Thank you for sharing that info!

We're crossing fingers for you that your trip goes off without a hitch! 🤞