Is it worth prebooking tickets to the Vatican?

In my opinion - yes, yes, and yes!

I debated doing this.  Just by chance, we happened to be in Rome during the last Sunday of the month which is a free day for the Vatican.  I love to save money and initially thought "what a great idea".  Upon reading into it more, I decided the crowds and waiting just might not be worth the small savings.  If you're really, really going on a tight budget and are young and/or have good stamina, the free day might be worth it.

I am middle aged (kind of pains me to say that) and my travel companion was my mother, so fighting the crowds during the one free day a month didn't feel like a wise idea.  So free day was out, and now I had to make a decision - to stand in line and pay for tickets on a regular admission day and leave our schedule in Rome more open, or pre-book tickets.  I went into planning our trip thinking I didn't want to pre-book too many activities because, after all, it is vacation and I don't want to be under a set schedule.  Also, there is an additional fee for pre-booking tickets through the website and that goes against my other travel philosophy of saving money where I can.

In the end, after reading many articles about lines I went ahead and pre-booked our tickets.  I also decided to book the guided tour since I knew our stamina would run out as it is such a large place and I wanted to be sure to hit the highlights.

The tickets were purchased directly through the Vatican website.  There are multiple guided tours with other companies that I will discuss in a moment.  I chose this option because it was the least expensive and felt official.  The website has many options, but it is pretty straightforward to book your choice.

For a guided tour, including earphone charge, reservation fee, guide and full ticket price was 74 euros for two people.  This is about the price of one guided tour with other companies. 

A small sample of the crowds, most places were so crowded I didn't even get out my camera and just enjoyed the moment.

Our tickets were for a Thursday at 9:30 am.  I thought that was early enough, but I thought wrong.  It was extremely crowded.  Was I happy I pre-booked tickets?  I cannot tell you how trilled I was.  The lines at Disneyland on the most crowded summer day for the most popular attraction do not rival the line going around the Vatican with people waiting to purchase their tickets.   We were escorted to the right side of the rope since we had tickets and walked past everyone.  (That pre-booking fee of 4 euros per person seems very worth it at that moment).  We had a short delay going in with the masses (no pun intended) through security, but nothing as long as airport security and since we had a guided tour, we went to the left, up a short staircase and presented our tickets and waited with about a hundred people (more then one group) while hoards of people filtered through the downstairs area. 

Now, was the guided tour worth it?  I think so because I wanted to catch the highlights.  It would be great to think I had a whole day there to wander, in the middle of January when the crowds were slimmer and really see things, but we wanted the better weather (and could not have gotten any better weather) so we went at the end of April to beginning of May, so you're going to have to deal with the crowds. 

I'm sure each Vatican guide could be rated individually with some better than others.  Ours did not hold her microphone the proper way so there was issues with her voice cutting out sometimes.  Additionally, she had a bit of an accent, though spoke perfect English.  I had no problems with this, but my mother had trouble understanding her sometimes.  Our only other critique of our guide was she was short, and did not carry a flag like many of the other guides we saw.  She held up her water bottle for us to find her.  Really?  The crowds there were the most intense I had ever seen.  A few people got from our group got lost and it is easy to see why. 

Additional tour companies offer the same guide for about 71 US dollars per person, so about twice the price.  In hindsight, I'd say it was a decent way to get the tour without the additional fees, but if I were to do it again I would try another (perhaps my favorite - City Wonders) tour as I found the tour guides to be more informative, entertaining, and with accents that my mom doesn't have to decipher. 

Either way, pre-booking is a necessity in my opinion.  I don't want to spend my vacation standing in a line for hours.  I wish I had taken a photo of the lines, but unless I had a drone you cannot get a sense of the length of them.  There was also a very long wait to get in St. Peter's Basilica, which we bypassed since we were on a guided tour, saving even more time. 

Don't let these photos fool you, while outside areas may seem rather spacious, inside you will be packed in very tightly.

If the Vatican is on your must see list while in Rome (and if it isn't, you should rethink that list of yours) I would recommend pre-booking your tickets.  There are many options of tours, some are even semi-private or done in off hours to avoid the crowds, but of course these come at a higher cost.

Breakfast in Rome

Everything you may want to know before a trip to Rome....
      Sure, it is fun to wing it and go on your own, but if you can pick up a bit of information before you go, your trip will be smoother.   I have many topics to explore having just come from my Rome trip and I hope you can glean a bit of knowledge before your trip.  So be sure to check out my other blogs for more information.

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I had read, and found it quite true that breakfast in Rome is very different then what we experience in the United States.  Rome breakfast generally consists of a pastry (very tasty) and espresso or other type of coffee drink.  Since we were on vacation, sleeping in was our normal mode and we easily slipped into the Roman way of doing breakfast.

About six days in, we thought an "American style" breakfast sounded good.  Despite warnings that these are hard to find, we saw them quite often advertised in our walks around the city.  They all appeared to offer the same things. We went around the corner from our hotel, picked a place and went in (the only time we didn't eat outdoors).  There were two choices and we picked one.  Choice A.

Eggs - no choice in how they are cooked.  It ended up being scrambled.

Bacon - Italian style, something similar to ours but not so delicious

Toast - no choice in type of bread and no butter

Salad - yep, you read that correctly.  Lettuce and tomato.  No dressing (typical in Rome)

No salt or pepper for your eggs - again, typical in Rome

A much more typical breakfast in Rome. 

It  is difficult sometimes to go many days without the feeling of home, so if you're tempted to get the American style breakfast, don't - Or do so with caution.  There is really very little like home about it.  We never did walk into a McDonalds, but perhaps they have Egg McMuffins, but I wouldn't count on it.  Enjoy the pastry and espresso on a sidewalk restaurant and savor being in Rome.

Hailing a taxi in Rome

Everything you may want to know before a trip to Rome....

      Sure, it is fun to wing it and go on your own, but if you can pick up a bit of information before you go, your trip will be smoother.   I have many topics to explore having just come from my Rome trip and I hope you can glean a bit of knowledge before your trip.  So be sure to check out my other blogs for more information.

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Taxis.  For those of us who don't live in a city where their use is common they can be a bit intimidating.  I've managed to live my entire life and never hail a taxi, though oddly it was on my bucket list.  Such a trival thing I know, but it sort of fills you with power.  I picture myself hanging with SJP in NYC on Sex and the City and dressed oh so stylish and hailing my own taxi.

I always envisioned it being so much more fun than going to my garage and climbing in my SUV and heading to the local grocery store.  No, jumping in a taxi and asking them to take you to your hotel is so much...sexier.  I guess that is why that particular show comes to mind.

In the interest of full disclosure, it is not that I have not rode in a taxi.  I have, but I've never actually hailed one.

After a few days in Rome, and riding the Metro several times, it was time to step out of our comfort zone and take a taxi.  The Metro is great, and cheap, but it doesn't hit the center of the city and we were beginning to get a little tired of walking (though still one of my favorite things to do in Rome).  Getting the taxi was easy.  We went to our front desk at the hotel and asked if they could get us one.  They pushed a "magic button", we sat in the lobby and two minutes later, they told us our taxi was there.  Nice!  And easier than Las Vegas for sure where I have waiting in line for one.

I had read some pretty scary stories about Rome's taxi drivers.  Rudeness, taking the long way around to run up your fare, and short changing you (my friend gave 50 euros and taxi driver claimed it was 20 euros and refused to acknowledge the difference) were some of the complaints I had heard.  So I was a bit nervous.  My fears were completely unfounded.

I found the drivers pleasant, honest and the cars were so much better than taxis I've taken in the states.  One was a Mercedes.  It helped that by the time I was there a few days and took the taxi, I felt I knew my way around the main streets (that and studying the map for a few months before I left - which is great, but really helps once you get there and walk them), so I didn't feel we were taken for any extra rides.  Fares were decent and displayed and while not huge conversationalist, the drivers were pleasant and spoke a bit of English. 

Once out there and away from the hotel, I knew I would have to do that thing on my bucket list...raise my hand and hail a taxi.  We were leaving the Trevi Fountain and I rounded the corner, saw the taxi and did just that.  Climbing in, we gave the name of our hotel and for one euro more than the Metro, we were delivered to our hotel front door. 

I don't know why this was so fun to me.  I've been in taxis, but I've just never hailed one before and it just added to the ambiance of being in the city and I am so glad we decided to face our fears of Roman taxi's and go for it.  We took a few other Taxi rides during our trip, and found them equally pleasant.

So, don't be afraid of taxi's in Rome.  Be smart. If you hand them 50 euros (which we did), I made sure I announced it was a fifty.  If you've never been there before, the streets are crazy and nothing is square, so it may feel like your driver is going in circles, but likely is not. 

Trevi Fountain, where I hailed my first taxi

Some fine points:

• There are signs everywhere saying "take only official taxis".  I am not sure I saw an unofficial taxi.
• I also saw a sign stating that UBER is illegal in Rome and there is a huge fine for the passenger (not the driver)
• Tipping - as in other areas of Rome it isn't like the U.S.  We tipped sometimes, and other times didn't due to currency we had on hand (cannot tip 5 euros on a 6 euro ride when that is the smallest denomination you have...however, in the US that would be expected).  Not a word or even a frown from the driver with no tip on that ride - how refreshing!
• All the taxi's look similar style, but car makes are from Mercedes, to Fords and Nissan. I did see a few that looked larger for groups, but we had no need to use this so I cannot offer any advice on how to hail one of these.
• The taxis were so much cleaner than what you usually find in the US.  In my state, my last taxi I took had cigarette butts and reeked of smoke so you have to hold your breath the whole ride.(though it is illegal to smoke in buildings, so that is mind boggling)
• I have no idea if all hotels have that "magic button" to summons a taxi.  Hotels are rated for services by stars.  We stayed at a four star hotel.  Perhaps lower starred hotels do not have this service.

Ice in Rome, or lack thereof

Everything you may want to know before a trip to Rome....

      Sure, it is fun to wing it and go on your own, but if you can pick up a bit of information before you go, your trip will be smoother.   I have many topics to explore having just come from my Rome trip and I hope you can glean a bit of knowledge before your trip.  So be sure to check out my other blogs for more information.

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With 8 full days in Rome, eating at minimum of two different places each day I feel I can say this with some authority.  Don't expect ice.

Or straws for that matter....of course, without ice, are straws even necessary?  I always use a straw when dining out in my normal daily life in the US.  I didn't really need them in Rome, because there is none of that annoying ice to get in your way while drinking.  

If you really like ice, you will be missing this when in Rome.  I didn't even see an ice machine in the hotel as are standard fare in the U.S. at all class of hotels/motels.

It isn't that Rome has no ice, as I did have it in a cocktail so I know it is possible to get it and I am sure if you really must have it, you can ask for it perhaps.  However, my philosophy when traveling is to experience things as locals, as much as possible,  which in this case means no ice. 

Our table after a typical meal in Rome. Wine and espresso along with water glasses (on right) with no ice.

In the United States, many times water comes to the table (with ice) before you have even ordered your drinks or dinner.  I am used to always getting water, even if I ordered a glass of wine.  This is very different in Rome, as they will sometimes ask you if you want water (mineral or fizzy, or gas or no gas) and there is always a charge. It is usually just a couple euros.  While I don't relish paying for water, as I am accustomed to getting it for free, I didn't mind it too much as the prices quoted for food is the price you pay and not added onto by taxes and tips.  If your pasta is 6 euros, that is what your check says (when you ask for it, and you will always have to ask).  If you have your own water bottle and take a table on the sidewalk at a café (which it is not really called a café there, but is what it reminds me of) for lunch you can drink from that bottle and nobody will say anything. 

While I've heard you can ask for tap water, to avoid the charge, I felt the unspoken nudge from waiters that made me a bit uncomfortable doing so.  So I didn't.  Bring your own and unless you're eating at a high end restaurant I don't feel like you'd feel uncomfortable at all drinking it.  Save your euros for some wine and espresso.