Private tours: Rome and Pisa/Florence

[dedhedcubfan]

I'd really like some info, as I wanted to book private tours. Rome and Pisa/Florence.

Don't know how much you can "hype" a tour company here on the message boards, so if you need to email me: dedhedcubfan@yahoo.com.

Also, in trying to budget these excursions, what is the usual gratuity on a €500-550 excursion?

[Host Karen]

Originally Posted by dedhedcubfan

I'd really like some info, as I wanted to book private tours. Rome and Pisa/Florence.

Don't know how much you can "hype" a tour company here on the message boards, so if you need to email me: dedhedcubfan@yahoo.com.

Also, in trying to budget these excursions, what is the usual gratuity on a €500-550 excursion?

When you ask members for advice on guides, they can give you the information you request. Cruise Critic prefers that this information is shared on the boards rather than through private e-mails so that everyone can benefit.

Hope this helps and good luck in planning your cruise.

Karen
HostKaren@CruiseCritic.com

[texancruzer]

We had an amazing day with Angel Tours in Rome. We flew in late one day....had one full day to tour.....then headed to the ship the next morning. We wanted to make the most of our 1 day in Rome. We booked a private tour of both the Vatican museums/Sistine Chapel/St. Peters and the Coliseum/Forum/Palatine Hill with a guide. Eileen was our guide. Just her, dh and myself. We did the Vatican in the morning......went for a wonderful pizza lunch at a little "hole-in-the-wall" place (personal pizza, desert and a drink for 5 euros each) then took a taxi to the Coliseum etc. in the afternoon. We paid 90 euros per person (180 euros) for each tour. Total 360 euros. We had her all to ourselves......all day. She was very knowledgable and entertaining too. She answered a never ending stream of my questions - all with a smile.

I know they can also arrange other sites and transportation too. We had the opportunity to walk in the evenings..... Spanish steps, Trevi on our own.....but they can customize whatever you want. I would use them again and have no hesitation in recommending them to others. There have been many excellent reviews and comments about them on these boards.

Have fun with your planning......have a great trip !

[latebloomercruiser]

dedhedcubfan, for Florence, we used Giovanni Sirabella of Sunflower-Tours, and he was absolutely fantastic, and charged a total of $350 eruos for our group of five. (His comfortable van will hold eight plus himself actually.) The five of us, from three different households, and all very experienced travellers found him the best guide we had ever had anywhere. He is personable, so knowledgeable, flexible, and speaks excellent clear English. We chose a full day tour of the Tuscany countryside, which was the very best day of our 15 day trip. However, he offers any option you want. If you want to reach him by email, it is giovanni.sirabel9bud@alice.it If you want to see his website, it is www.sunflower-tours.com

For our full day tour, he threw in a couple of extra hours free of charge just because he loves what he does and wanted to show us the maximum. HOpe this information helps you.

I am editing because I reread your post, and saw that you wanted to know the usual gratuity. We had planned on 5 eros per person, because in May of this year, the exchange rate was so bad, and we simply thought we could not handle more. Because he was so super, and threw in the extra time, as I remember, we gave at least 10 euros per person, and he was very warm and grateful for that. I am not sure at all what is "customary".
Ellie

[chipmaster]

Originally Posted by dedhedcubfan

I'd really like some info, as I wanted to book private tours. Rome and Pisa/Florence.

Don't know how much you can "hype" a tour company here on the message boards, so if you need to email me: dedhedcubfan@yahoo.com.

Also, in trying to budget these excursions, what is the usual gratuity on a €500-550 excursion?

We used Romeinlimo and we really enjoyed their service in Rome, Florence/Pisa and Naples. There is a lot of postive feedback from many here, and even some threads dedicated to them alone. If I was to go back again I would use them again in a heartbeat!

We got two minvans ( for about double what you quoted ). Each mini van can seat 6-7 very confortably. Tipping is at your discretion and we enjoyed all our drivers in all the cities so much we were probably too generious.

They are flexible and will work with you if there is something unique you want to see, but they also have a very well thought out tour route and in the end we went with their standard package and it worked out wonderful. They also secured us reservations at the Academia and Vatican and the waits to get in were less then 5'. Their guide at the Vatican was great as well!

Enjoy your cruise and these wonderful cities

[bermudabob]

This past June we used Paolo from unforgettabletuscany.com and he was outstanding. He prearranged tickets for the Academia museum and took us to the most delightful Trattoria for lunch in Florence. His passion for Tuscany made our tour quite special; it was by far the best of our tours on our 12 day cruise.

[prophotogirl]

Originally Posted by bermudabob

This past June we used Paolo from unforgettabletuscany.com and he was outstanding. He prearranged tickets for the Academia museum and took us to the most delightful Trattoria for lunch in Florence. His passion for Tuscany made our tour quite special; it was by far the best of our tours on our 12 day cruise.

I used them too. BUT Paolo subcontracted out my group. Which I didn't care about that. The guy he contracted for us WAS REALLY REALLY Good! I got his card.

Maurizio Mancini of
http://www.tuscanytastetour.com/

[prophotogirl]

For Rome we used: http://www.rome-tours.org/index.html

Calos was our driver and was GREAT!

[betonic]

I've toured the last 3 years with Fabrizio from allarounditaly.net. He works in Rome and Florence and will give you a better price if you book more than one tour with him. You can't go wrong....

[rctstan]

Originally Posted by dedhedcubfan

I'd really like some info, as I wanted to book private tours. Rome and Pisa/Florence.

Don't know how much you can "hype" a tour company here on the message boards, so if you need to email me: dedhedcubfan@yahoo.com.

Also, in trying to budget these excursions, what is the usual gratuity on a €500-550 excursion?

Just returned from Emarld Princess Barcelona-Venice 8/27 to9/9 used Rome-In-Limo for all three cities w Private guides for Florence museums, Vatican & Pompei. Best $$ I spent. We got to see so much more of each city and the drivers and guides were spectacular,really they made the trip! Private Mercedes was E450 tipped 10%.

[smith566]

prophotogirl - do you remember how much it was for your tours?

Anyone else have any tour prices?
I don't want to waste any of my fun money unnecessarily.
We are going in Oct. and will be in Rome for 1 day before the cruise.
I am SOOOOO confused. LOL
HELP!!!!

[FloatYourBoatSince2003]

Originally Posted by smith566

prophotogirl - do you remember how much it was for your tours?

Anyone else have any tour prices?
I don't want to waste any of my fun money unnecessarily.
We are going in Oct. and will be in Rome for 1 day before the cruise.
I am SOOOOO confused. LOL
HELP!!!!

We're booked with Paola of Tuscany Tours by Paola & Giuseppe for this October.

For your reference - driver without guide was
- 480 euros from 1 to 4 people
- 550 euros from 5 to 6 people
- 600 euros from 7 to 8 people

We have 8 people and are opting to pay 780 euros to get Paola to be our licensed guide for the entire day (inside museums as well, for example).

There is a difference between driver only, and guide - so try to determine what you want there. Often "drivers" are very entertaining and make for an amazing day (as discussed in previous posts). Or..do you want the art historian ?....

I think there are many great options - and that is why you are so confused. Pick a few with good recommendations that suit what you are looking for - check them out on TripAdvisor - then email them for availability and quotes. There is more than one good answer, so I'm sure you'll do ok. Of course we haven't gone yet, so take my "advice" with a grain of salt because I could be totally off base ... but I'm not stressing over it anymore. That's no fun!

Good luck!

[texancruzer]

Another thing to remember (other than a driver and guide are usually two different things) is the cost will be more for Rome when you are in port for the day as they have to come out and pick you up (1 hr 15 min drive)- tour - then take you back to the ship (another 1 hr 15 min drive).

If staying in Rome precruise or post cruise....this is not the case and the price should reflect that they will be picking you up and dropping you off at your hotel.

[CJcruzer]

We are docked 2 days in Livorno and are booked day 1 - with TuscanybyTaxi for Florence only - the company has gotten our reservation for Pitti Palace and Accademia -- we didn't want such a structured day so we went with this company - little less money.

Day 2 we are with Paolo of Unforgettable Tuscany- Pisa, Villa Torrigiani, and Lucca - and whatever Tuscan countryside we see along the way.

We have a group of 8 from our roll call going on each of these tours.

[prophotogirl]

Originally Posted by smith566

prophotogirl - do you remember how much it was for your tours?

Anyone else have any tour prices?
I don't want to waste any of my fun money unnecessarily.
We are going in Oct. and will be in Rome for 1 day before the cruise.
I am SOOOOO confused. LOL
HELP!!!!

Pisa/Florence - 5 Adults was $480 or 7 Adults was $520 (or $540 forgot which)
Rome for $480 for 6 adults and 2 kids (kids free)

[CJcruzer]

for our 8 hour day to Pisa, Lucca and Tuscan countryside: 450Euros for 8 people.

for 9 hour Florence with tuscany by taxi: 9 hours for 400 Euros for 8 people.

Hope this helps - we will have more independent time in Florence, so while being a longer tour, we will have some hours to ourselves that are not as structured.

Prices do not include any meals or entrance to sites (museums, galleries, etc)

[Sunshinecrew]

Just returned 9-18-08 and another vote for Rome in Limo. We used them for three ports for tours of Florence, Rome and Sicily. They were fantastic.

[marci22]

We had Paolo from Unforgettable Tuscany. Price was 480 eu for 5 people. He was very pleasant and informative.

In Rome, we used Romecabs, 500 eu for 5 people. We saw a lot that day.

My advice for dealing with private drivers: Know what you want to see, and actually go into (not 'drive by'), before you leave. Do some research. Know what type of meal you would like, quick or long, general price. Ask what policies are in place in case your requested driver is 'substituted'. Address this all in email, print out, and bring with you.

Do these things for optimum success with your private tour.

You can do none of these things, and may be very happy, or you could be very disappointed. We saw both among our fellow travelers.

[burrma]

Originally Posted by marci22

We had Paolo from Unforgettable Tuscany. Price was 480 eu for 5 people. He was very pleasant and informative.

In Rome, we used Romecabs, 500 eu for 5 people. We saw a lot that day.

My advice for dealing with private drivers: Know what you want to see, and actually go into (not 'drive by'), before you leave. Do some research. Know what type of meal you would like, quick or long, general price. Ask what policies are in place in case your requested driver is 'substituted'. Address this all in email, print out, and bring with you.

Do these things for optimum success with your private tour.

You can do none of these things, and may be very happy, or you could be very disappointed. We saw both among our fellow travelers.

We paid A LOT less and did all four tours with Angel Tours: Vatican, Colosseum and Roman Forum, Heart of Rome, Panteon and I can't imagine anything being better.

[marci22]

Originally Posted by burrma

We paid A LOT less and did all four tours with Angel Tours: Vatican, Colosseum and Roman Forum, Heart of Rome, Panteon and I can't imagine anything being better.

I'll know for next time!