My friend I are doing the Italy "My Way for 13 days, starting in Venice. We have been looking for tours on websites however some of them seem to be extremely costly. Any suggestions or recommendations for good tour guides.
Thanks for any input from you experienced travelers.
K.B.
Posted by
Atlanta
4897 posts
Here is a cost saving suggestion. The RS Guide Book for Venice has (or did have) several walks that cover most of the high points and are very easy to do on your own. Unless I'm mistaken (it is Monday) the same info can be downloaded to your phone. Just a possibility to check out. There is one gentleman that does a cicchetti tour that many people like. Can't remember his name but perhaps someone else will provide it.
Posted by
franktown, colorado
2252 posts
Alessandro is the name you are looking for. His tours are lots of fun and definitely worth making time for. Here's a post by Angela from a while ago. Thanks for the "bookmark" feature, webmaster; Alessandro's tours are recommended frequently! Thanks to Angela for all this info.....
"That name rang a bell for me, so I checked our Italy 2007 RS guidebook.
The contact information for Alessandro Schezzini is listed in the beginning of the chapter on Venice, under TOURS - Classic Venice Bars Tour (but this might have all changed with recent book versions).
Mobile phone: 335-530-9024
Email: [email protected]
Hope the info is still current!"
Posted by
NC
218 posts
We took Alessandro's tour last Oct, the email we used (and he responded to) was: [email protected].
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
15861 posts
A good idea from TC: guided tours are not really needed to enjoy most of the places you'll be going, and you'll be able to enjoy them at your OWN pace versus someone else's. All it takes is a good guidebook or two and some research in advance...which is advised even if you DO take some tours. Along with guidebooks, look into Rick's free audioguides: can be downloaded to your own devices:
https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/audio/audio-tours
Audioguides are also available at most major museums, and we sometimes purchase a book from an attraction's bookshop, when available, to use as a guide. We've done that at the Borghese, the Uffizi, Pompeii, etc. They've made very nice souvenirs and reference materials long after the trips.
You don't mention what sorts of things you are interested in?
I will mention that there are a few attractions for which tours can be beneficial. One of them is the Vatican Museums in Rome, because it's so big. A tour will steer you to the highlights and allow direct, inside entry to St. Peter's basilica via the Sistine thus saving a wait in another security-check queue. The Vatican's regular museum/basilica tours cost only € 38.00 per adult (must be pre-booked in advance) and you can spend as much time in the basilica as you desire when the tour is over. See the range of Vatican-offered tours here:
http://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en/visita-i-musei.html
Some folks here SWEAR by options which get them into the Sistine before the mob. The Vatican offers two (both with breakfast, one with audioguide, neither with a human guide): http://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en/visita-i-musei/scegli-la-visita/musei-e-collezioni/colazione-ai-musei-vaticani.html
Walks of Italy, The Roman Guy and some other independent companies offer guided early-entrance tours which are said to be excellent albeit more pricey. They've reported to have been worth the splurge for many on this forum, however.
Colosseum: tours in English are available for just € 19.00: full entrance ticket of € 12,00 + tour € 5,00 + € 2,00 reservation fee. Your ticket also covers visits to the Forum and Palatine but no formal tour of those areas and these do not include the underground or upper rings of the arena. You must book EARLY as they go fast.
Just a start?