First Time Tour Booked!! - Best of Rome Feb 2027

Posted by Milo on 05/03/26 01:09 AM

Just booked a Feb 2027 Best of Rome tour for my mom and myself. This will be the first Rick Steves tour for the both of us. Mom has never been to Italy (or any other European country) before whilst I have travelled significantly in Italy and elsewhere. I am excited about not having to be the planner and just enjoy the travelling with her. I have always been fond of Rick Steves, so now its time to see if they live up to the hype. I am excited to get back to some of my favourite places in Rome and also get to see mom experience them for the first time. Yay!

She has always wanted to go to Italy, so I think this will be an exciting opportunity for the both of us. Perhaps we'll get to meet a few of you all, too!

Folks who've been on Best of Rome before - drop a line and let me know what I need to know about the tour itself from your perspective. Thanks, and happy travels!

Cheers ~Milo

Posted by joe32F

Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂

05/03/26 01:29 AM

13504 posts

Are you planning any extra days before/after the tour?

Posted by mbh

05/03/26 01:32 AM

64 posts

Best of Rome (March '26) was my first "tour." The guides and sites were fantastic.

Posted by Milo OP

05/03/26 01:34 AM

74 posts

I think we will fly in a few days ahead so as to have at least two full days prior to beginning the tour!

Posted by Milo OP

05/03/26 01:36 AM

74 posts

Thanks, mbh, glad to hear it. I am glad to hear you say that about the guides and sites visited. It seems like a great "first" tour!

Posted by jules m

Twin Cities of MN

05/03/26 01:56 AM

8155 posts

We have done one RS tour, it was the Best of Rome. We really enjoyed it. We do a lot of independent travel. It was lovely to sit back and not have to worry about logistics and tickets. There was a woman on our tour who was likely late 70s/early 80s and she did just fine.

Can I ask your mother's age? I'm planning a trip for my 89 year old mother, and I keep asking myself if I'm crazy. . .

Posted by gtjackets8083

Atlanta, GA

05/03/26 11:59 AM

133 posts

The Best of Rome was our very first Rick Steves tour. Now we are ten tours in! It was a wonderful tour and it will not disappoint. We learned our first important lesson, arrive at least one day in advance. We had a one-stop flight, so navigating the airports and train into the city, got us to the hotel 15 minutes after the group started their orientation tour. We quickly dropped our bags in our room and the receptionist pointed us in the direction they took and we were able to find the group easily. Read the RS guide and read and watch some of their book and video recommendations. Have a wonderful first Rick Steves' tour! We tacked on three days in Paris afterwards.

Posted by Theresa

Seattle

05/03/26 01:51 PM

288 posts

I was on the Best of Rome tour February 2025, my 9th RST. Once I received hotel info, I promptly reserved nights both before and after tour dates. I used the hotel's vendor for airport transfer, Michs Ride Rome and was met in the terminal, the driver handled my bag for me (I was his only passenger) and gave me a bottle of water for the ride. I arranged a private guide tour of the Baths of Caracalla before the tour started and it was fabulous. I brought an AirFly Bluetooth transmitter so I could use my wireless earbuds with the audio whisper system and appreciated that I didn't have to hang the receiver around my neck. I like to get on Google maps street view and 'walk' around the neighborhood I'm staying in as well as around the city in general to familiarize myself with locations. I read and reread the guidebook and bring it along on my trip. If posted by our guide, I take a photo of the day's agenda and always have the hotel's business card on me. I like to check out the member reviews of the tour on this website as I can get some good intel regarding guides, hotels and activities. Have a great trip.