Tips & Fares

I WISH I’D KNOWN…

  • Romans/Italians like to drive fast! Both pedestrians and car-hirers need to take extra care as roads can be both hair-raising and heavy with traffic.
  • Tap water in Rome, unless differently specified, is drinkable, fresh & for free! Just buy your first bottle of water, then don’t hesitate to refilling it in one of the several public fountains, especially on hot summer days. Their name is ‘nosy’(nasoni) and you can easily meet them all over the city.
  • RomaPass is a combo ticket for two sights (Archaeological Area and Borghese Gallery are included, the Vatican Museums are not), in addition to a 3-day public transit pass. Unless you plan to visit a consistent number of museums and extensively use public transport, I would not find it to be a convenient option. If you have a second thought, please remind that it’s easy to buy a Roma Pass Card when in Rome. For further information please visit the following: www.romapass.it
  • Rome is quite a safe city, day and night, but watch out for pickpockets who are real masters at theft! In order to avoid any possible unpleasant inconvenience the following is suggested:
    • do not carry original documents. A photocopy of the passport is perfectly convenient.
    • always watch your personal belongings, especially if taken in backpacks.
    • watch your personal belongings when touring the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Cathedral.
    • watch your personal belongings when taking public transportation.
  • It is recommended to always take an ID card, especially for those who are eligible for discounts/free passes: children/students/seniors.
  • A hat and a comfortable pair of shoes are recommended.
  • It is suggested to carry with you some water and snacks.
  • Sun block is recommended, especially for children.

HOLY PLACES

  • When visiting churches and/or catacombs a DRESS CODE is required: Visitors wearing trunks or shorts are NOT admitted. trousers or skirts must be BELOW the knee. A scarf covering the legs, or extra coverings to put them on before the entrance is sufficient.

MOBILITY-CHALLENGED INDIVIDUALS

  • Wheelchairs can be rented at the Vatican Museums directly.
  • For those in wheelchairs, strollers or with difficulty walking, Rome’s historic center can be difficult to navigate. The Archaeological Area – Coliseum included – is part of a large park with many uneven walkways and steep climbs.
  • People who feel uncomfortable in confined areas should please inform me.
  • Please inform me of anything you feel I should know to better plan your personalized itinerary . I’ll do my very best to remake the tour itinerary to accommodate your needs.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL AREA

Summer Season

  • A hat and a comfortable pair of shoes are recommended.
  • It is recommended to carry with you some water and snacks.
  • Sun block is recommended, especially for children.

Winter Season

  • The Archaeological Area may be chilly, windy and humid even at noon. Hats, gloves and a scarf can be very useful.
  • The area can be difficult for infants and kids on strollers. It is suggested to dress them accordingly. Please check weather forecasts or ask me for some advice.

VATICAN MUSEUMS

  • A DRESS CODE is required when visiting the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Cathedral: VISITORS WEARING TRUNKS OR SHORTS ARE NOT ADMITTED. TROUSERS OR SKIRTS MUST BE BELOW THE KNEE.
  • Works of art and surroundings may be photographed.
  • FLASHLIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY INSIDE THE MUSEUMS IS FORBIDDEN.
  • NO PHOTOGRAPHY OR FILMING IS PERMITTED IN THE SISTINE CHAPEL.
  • For any further information, please refer to the Vatican Museums’ official web site: Vatican Museum.
  • Always carry with you some water and snacks.
  • Carrying big backpacks is discouraged. Guards will ask to check them at the main entrance of the Museums, while we exit at St Peter’s Piazza.

TAXI SERVICE

Taxis are ruled by public companies: cars are white in color with a number stamped on the flank doors (such as 3570 or 6645). These numbers correspond to the phone number of the public company to be used to ask for a service (i.e. 06-3570 ; 06-6645).
In order to avoid any possible inconvenience while taking a taxi drive, please read the following:

  1. Check the meter: it must start running from the moment one gets in.
  2. Prepare in advance the correct amount of money, on display in the meter.
  3. Avoid big banknotes that can be confusing.
  4. Never hand the money in to the driver unless one is confident of the required amount of cash.
  5. AT THE END OF THE RIDE ALWAYS ASK FOR THE RECEIPT.

Any taxi has an official operational name. If something wrong happens, just notify taxi’s name either to the company (i.e. 3570, 6645, …) or at the hotel.
Do not accept any proposal different from the one asked by public companies.
Tips are not required; just round the fare.

OFFICIAL TAXI RATES

  • FLAT RATE: From/to International Airport Leonardo da Vinci € 40,00 euro – Luggage is included.
  • FLAT RATE: From/to Ciampino Airport – € 30,00 euro – Luggage is included.

When departing from the taxi-stand the meter must be ON and sign:

– € 3,00 euro – Week-days (7 am-10 pm)
– € 4,00 euro – Sundays and (public) holidays (7 am-10 pm)
– € 6,00 euro – At night (10 pm-7 am)
– € 24,00 euro – Service per hour

Fares

FEES AND CONDITIONS

  • My fare is € 95,00 euro per hour (up to 6 people).
  • Rates are hourly, not per person. We have a 3 hour minimum.
  • Subway, taxi fares, private vehicle, headset system and food are additional at direct cost.
  • The guide is responsible for her own transport, entrance fees, food.
  • For a quote of your tour and for further details please feel free to contact me.

CANCELLATION POLICIES

  • If you decide to cancel for any reason, you’re kindly asked to do that with a minimum of 72 hours prior notice of tour time.
  • Cancellations made within a week until 72 hours before the starting time of the tour will be refunded for 90%. Cancellations made within 72 hours before the starting time of the tour will be refunded for 50%. No refunds for cancellations made within 72 hours and no shows.The costs for the tickets and any other booked service, such as headsets and private driver – different from the guided tour -, are not refundable.
    For events not depending on us and due to force majeure, including strikes or other unexpected closures, we’ll do our very best to reschedule the tour or change the itinerary, if only one part of the tour is not available for the visit.
  • Reserved tickets are not refundable.

HOW TO PROCEED

  • Please let me know your tour wishes.
  • You will receive an email promptly.
  • If you don’t like any of the offered listed tours, just ask for a super-individual one! That’s why I’m here: ready to do my very best to make you happy.
  • When the final tour is approved, you’ll receive a “voucher” with all the details of the tour.
  • If you’re running late for your meeting, please inform me by cell-phone or send a text message to the provided contact number.
  • TOURS ARE HELD RAIN OR SHINE.
  • Our tours are specifically designed for private parties and are not scheduled tours for mixed groups.
  • At tour’s end, I will kindly ask you to sign the receipt of the provided service to be used for my own tax purposes.
  • In order to avoid unpleasant long queues, I highly recommend pre-purchasing a ‘skip the line‘ ticket to the Vatican Museums at the following: Vatican Museums Online Ticket Office.
  • In order to avoid unpleasant long queues, I highly recommend pre-purchasing a ‘skip the line‘ ticket to the Archaeological Area at the following: Colosseum/Forum/Palatine Hill (all combined under one ticket).
  • Reservation to the Borghese Gallery is mandatory. Radio transmitter/receiver headsets are mandatory for groups over 4 persons. Due to the limited number of available slots per day, it is recommended to plan this tour in advance. For reservations, please visit the following: Borghese Gallery.
  • As for the restricted areas of the Coliseum, Underground Level & Top Tier, these can be booked upon request. An extra fee is charged by the Superintendency for the Archaeological Heritage of Rome. Due to the limited number of available slots per day, it is recommended to plan this tour in advance.
  • At the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill only small backpacks and regular-size handbags are allowed inside. Entrance is forbidden to customers with larger bags, while no check rooms are available. All visitors are required to pass through a security check.
  • The use of a transmitter/receiver headset system for groups over 6 is required. Each person would have a receiver and earpiece to hear the voice of the guide who speaks into the microphone transmitter. The cost is usually around 2 euro per person for a half day.
  • The guide is available at any time to plan further walking tours around the city – to do on your own – to suggest appropriate places where to eat or to shop.
  • Under Italian Tourist Law, licensed tourist guides are forbidden from receiving commissions from any shop or restaurant. I do abide to the mentioned rule. When my guests ask me for some recommendations, they can be sure that the places are truly local favorites, not tourist joints.
  • I’m proud being a Licensed Tourist Guide of Rome and its Province. I’m required to always display my license while working. When touring in Italy, I would recommend you using Licensed Tourist Guides only.