Getting confused about the differences between taking the 'beat the line tours' and just buying the tickets ahead of time and getting to the Museum etc early. Thinking we will definitely do the Pristine Sistene tour but am uncertain as to the others. Advice?
Thanks
Second Francesca as a guide for the Borghese (and other sites in Rome if you can get her). She obviously loved the Bernini's in the Borghese and was able to pass her enthusiasm on to us.
I did an early morning tour of the Vatican museums with Through Eternity tours, our guide had a doctorate in archeology. Their group size is limited to fewer than twelve (our group had six). True, you miss parts of the museums, but being in the Sistine chapel with fewer than 100 people is worth it (rather than being there with as many as can be jammed in).
With the Vatican-their own English guided tour was not worth it.
Maybe she was having a bad day , impossible to hear what she was saying, would not move her mic to her mouth, so we had to endure unneeded background noise. Very boring first 20 minutes with a lecture.
We had an early morning tour of the Vatican Museum with "Walks of Italy". Never had a problem hearing the guide (they provided ear phones). True, you missed a lot of the museum, but including the Sistene Chapel and St Peters, the tour was over 4 hours long. Enough is enough. If I want to see more I will come back sometime in the future.
I would make all the reservations ahead of time. That way you can get in the reservation line. I have been to all the above numerous times. Mainly with guides but also on my own. If I was to do it again- I would make reservations and then I would download Rick's free audio tours for the museums. Its like a guided tour but you can go at your own pace and spend as much time as you want. Plus, you save a lot of money. You can also rent headsets but why if you can download a walking tour through Rick instead for free. All you need is an ipad, iphone, etc or a Droid.
