Tour guides or Rick's audio download?

I would take a professional tour for the Vatican/Sistine Chapel. The Colosseum, Forum and Palatine Hill could be toured on your own with an audio tour and book. Also, don't miss the Pantheon. It is an amazing building.

These are the two sites where we spurlged for tours and encouraged out guests )when we lived there= to do as well.

The reason for a tour at the Vatican is to A) get in early, and B) have someone show you the highlights so you don't get lost in the miles of exhibits. We loved Walks of Italy's "Pristine Sistine" tour.

For the Colosseo, Palatino, and Foro Romano I like to use a private guide who can tailor the tour to your interests. This is a very confusing area and I have tried Rick Steves' audio guide but got rather confused on the Palatino. Sonia Tavoletta has never disappointed. [email protected].

Edited to correct Sonia’s email.

Laurel,

Is Sonia's e-mail address current? I sent her an e-mail a few days ago asking about her availability this June but haven't heard back. In case she is not available, have you used another guide in Rome that you like? Thank you.

Mei

Update: Sonia has gotten back to me (my e-mail ended up in her spam mail box). Thank you!

We were fine with just Rick for the Colosseum, but found the Forum and Palatine Hill very confusing and would have benefited from a guide there.

And I second the recommendation for the Pristine Sistine tour with Walks of Italy. Their Welcome to Rome tour is also excellent and is a good intro on your first day.

Are tour guides allowed in the Sistine Chapel now?
Seems when I was there, they were not.
We used the RS audio for/in the Chapel but had a live guide for the museum part, up to, but not in, the Chapel.

Thought the RS audio for the Sistine was well done.

Did Colosseum etc as part of an RS tour so had live guide for that, so have no info on the RS audio for that area.

Tour guides can (and do) take their groups into the Sistine Chapel but are not allowed to talk to their groups while in there.

Thank you all for your helpful replies. Your recommendations are helping us make our plans.