Our family of 4 adults will be in Rome, Florence and only 1 night in Venice where we will fly out the next day. I know it is not much time to experience Venice, but any suggestions on hotel or area to stay for the night (in August 2013)? Also, I am making reservations for the Vatican for a Monday. Any recommendations on what time is best; should we see the Vatican first and then St. Peter's? I heard the Rick Steves' tip on the shortcut doesn't work anymore due to security. Would that make any difference in whether seeing the Vatican or St. Peter's first? Am planning on using Eurobuzz phone just for "keeping up" with each other during trip, not calling home or anything. Does that sound good? Thanks for your help!
Posted by
Tampa, FL, USA
1054 posts
I've had a similar question about the vatican and asked some questions here. I'm going in September and booked my time for the museum early in the morning. I did the museum tour off their site and it also includes the basilica for 31 euro's. I figured this would be better for us to have the vatican guide and not reading the books all the time. When is your flight out of venice? I contacted several hotels from Rick's book in Venice for my September dates and they were filled up. You might not get your first choice of hotel for next month.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11851 posts
Use a guide at the Vatican and enjoy the tour. The place is overwhelming on your own! I have used Walks of Italy with great success. No idea about the Vatican led tours except they are quite large groups. Note that the tours do let you proceed from the museums to the basilica. I like to use Booking.com when I have trouble finding a room in a place. The reservations are (usually) cancelable and you will know right away what is available. Never had a bad experience with them.
Posted by
Pa and Italy
4152 posts
I would book directly with the Vatican museums for a tour. The tour groups are not that large and you wear the headsets in order to hear the guide. There are three tours, all of which include the museums and chapel but two also include the basilica. The tours which include the basilica fill up quickly so if you're interested you should book those quickly. Any tour offered by the official site allows you to bypass the outside lines and use the "tour door" into the basilica. http://biglietteriamusei.vatican.va/musei/tickets/do?weblang=en&do As for hotels, I would find something today if you can. August is still high season and I don't know what you'll find this late in the game. Donna