What Will You Do There?

After years of dreaming about Rome, watching every kind of movie from "Three Coins In the Fountain" to "Gladiator" to "Angels and Demons," anything to catch a glimpse of the Eternal City, you finally will walk the streets of  your dreams.


You will see for yourself where Senators stabbed Julius Caesar and where Mary Kate and Ashley learned what to do "When in Rome."

You'll see where the history of Western Civilization unfolded, and where inexpensive pasta and pizza with Chianti really can be consumed at sidewalk cafes with red and white checkered table cloths.

You'll see where Peter fulfilled the prophecy of Jesus, "Upon this rock I will build my church," and even though you may already know that when Jesus told the fisherman Simon that He would call him Petros (Peter) that it was because Petros meant rock, you will be overwhelmed by the vast scope and grandeur of St. Peter's Basilica. 

However, you might stand in line a few hours to enter, and then be pushed along with throngs of visitors without understanding exactly where to go.

There is much to experience on your own, but is there a better way?


Yes. 

You can purchase "skip the line" tours to highlights of the Vatican before you leave home, so that you don't waste your precious time in Rome. 

You can have an experienced guide take you to the Colosseum and Forum to describe exactly what you are seeing and learn about the history that unfolded there.

In any case, you will be amazed by this city of wonders, but the ancient walls have much deeper stories to tell than what you see on the surface. 

You should try to get the most out of your time there, particularly if you only plan to go once.

For booking most a la carte excursions, I use a company called Travel Bound, which can also add hotels and transfers, but certainly American Express Vacations does a great job too, should you choose to go with an upscale hotel I can book through AEV for you.  There are other tour companies, too, including those like Globus and Contiki, which include guides, hotels, transportation and tours on extended trips through entire regions.

If rather than an extensive land trip you will be in Rome to start or finish a cruise, you should add a minimum of one to three nights of hotels and excursions, unless your only interest in visiting Rome is to be able to say that you did it.


Why not do it right?  You can select exactly what interests you.

Take the Angels and Demons tour based on Dan Brown's blockbuster, or alternatively focus on "Christian Rome."  Learn about preparing Italian dishes, go to the countryside to learn about wine, or even take an extended tour to Florence or Pompei.  There are choices for whatever may interest you. 

Once you're in Rome, you'll be tempted by tours with similar descriptions, but wouldn't you rather have made your selections in US dollars through a company you trust so that you know exactly what to do when you get there?

Plus, dreaming about your vacation essentially brings the experience closer to you in the present, while you are still preparing for your trip, and, of course, the memories of a great vacation will live with you long after the small marginal cost of your excursions has been forgotten.

By the way, while Rome is one of the most popular cities to explore in depth, we have fascinating excursions available in most major cities throughout the world at modest prices.

Better service leads to better trips!


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