It seems to me that when we visited the Vatican Museums last April, we got Audio Guides. I recall that there was a charge for earphones, but we had those with us, so we didn't have to buy them? However, I don't recall listening to the Audio Guides, but I do recall returning them. So strange. I think we decided to make a beeline for the Sistine Chapel, but we didn't get to it for a long time, passing through other chapels we mistakenly thought were the Sistine Chapel. I've been reading, though, that the Vatican requires you to leave a piece of photo ID with them to get the Audio Guides, and I know that we did not have to do that, so I'm wondering whether that rule is still in place, or whether they just forgot to ask for our photo ID? I don't remember where we returned the audio guides. It seems like it might have been near the spiral steps. I think we did backtrack from the Sistine back into the other areas of the museum, before returning the audio guides. Is it possible to go directly from the Sistine Chapel into St. Peter's, even if you aren't a part of a tour group, using the door that says "Tour Groups Only?" that I have read about. Is it still necessary to go back to the beginning of the Vatican museums to return the audio guides and pick up your photo ID, or has the photo ID rule been done away with, and can you return the audio guides near the Sistine Chapel?
Posted by
OP
365 posts
And are the audio guides good, or boring? I've read mixed reviews...
Posted by
Waterville, Ireland
409 posts
hmmmm
Did you know that Rick Steves' podcast on visiting the Vatican Museum is FREE and is fantastic!? I've used it more than once; I've gotten fantastic tips on his app, as well - like how to buy tickets to not wait in line, etc. He made my Vatican experience leaps and bounds better than many of the tourists I met visiting that same time frame.... If memory serves, his app had quite a few segments on Italy.....
Susan
Expat in Ireland
Posted by
OP
365 posts
Thanks for the great info, Susan. That would be ideal. Then we wouldn't have to pay extra for the audio guides ($7 each!), or have to worry about giving out our IDs or having to backtrack to return them!
The problem is, I am old-fashioned. I still write snail mail letters through the U.S. Postal Service. I don't have devices, except for 2 Kiindle Fires I took with me to Europe last April. I don't have an Ipod or an Ipad or a cell phone (well, I bought a smart phone travel phone Vodaphone type thing for Europe last April, but it's smarter than I am, and I couldn't figure out how to even answer it when it rang, so I need to read its 52-page manual and figure it all out, which I keep putting off...). I don't know much about modern technology.
So, could I load Rick Steves' podcast onto my Kindle; do you know? Or should I buy a better device to put it on and try to figure it all out before we leave next month? I HAVE heard his podcast is quite good!
Thanks for your help in this matter. I am old-fashioned, and I don't even use credit cards if I can avoid it, or any type of plastic cards, except for gift cards. I still write paper checks.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
34267 posts
The audio guide would be cheaper than a new device. If you haven't learned the phone since Spring is it actually likely that you would buy and learn another device before traveling soon?
Posted by
OP
365 posts
I haven't had a need to use the new phone since Spring, Nigel, as I am not a phone person. So I haven't practiced. I put it away when I got home from my trip. It is an emergency phone only, as the minute rate is too expensive to use as a main phone. But you are probably right. I'd worry about losing a new device in Italy.