Conbinations of tours and transfers.

Conbinations of tours and transfers.6

Introduction

Frequently my clients ask me to meet them at Rome’s airport, take them to their hotel just to drop their luggage and go on a tour of Rome right away. Frequent flyers say that if you yield to tiredness, jetlag, and go to sleep, you have a harder time catching up with the time change. Instead you synchronize faster and stay up until night comes, then go to bed like you do at home. This is also a very good way for a tourist to make the best use his time, always very limited! I actually recommend going on a tour the day you arrive, but the tour should not be too exacting or it could have devastating effects! I am against a tour of a tour of the Vatican Museums right after landing in Rome (do you know of Stendhal's syndrome) and I am instead in favor of a light introductory tour, which would also help the tourist a lot for the rest of his stay.

My Mercedes "Vito" parked on the pier, waitng for my clients at Civivecchia

My Mercedes "E Class" leaving the pier, after I dropped my clients at Civivecchia

Another consideration to make is that, arriving early in the morning, the room might not be ready yet and one would have to wait in the lobby getting bored. Certainly not the best way to start a vacation! Many of my clients start their ship cruise from Rome, I meet them at the airport and take them on an orientation tour of the city before I transfer them to the port. Others arrive to Rome the day before their cruise starts and spend one night in a hotel. In this case, they ask for a transfer from the airport and a half-day tour the first day plus a half-day tour and transfer to the port the following day. Amongst those who hire me, numerous people are already familiar with the city of Rome, so instead of the usual introductory tour, I take them to areas unfortunately neglected by most tourists, like Ostia Antica and the Etruscan area north of Rome, or better-known places like Tivoli and the Roman Castles.

A transfer can also turn to be a great tour. The countryside between Rome and Florence is one of the most beautiful in the world and you can surely enjoy it doing the trip by private car. Tourists often forget they come all the way here to enjoy this place and for many people “fast is best”, they say - It only takes a couple of hour to go to Florence from Rome by train. – Not considering that they have be at the train station at least half an hour prior to train’s departure and that, once arrived they have to find a taxi to take them to their hotel. By car, we cover that distance in three hours but a common objection is that I charge more than the train. I agree, for two or three people it would be a lot more expensive, but how about a larger group of people?

It is very common for me to have a group of six people: families with the grandparents, three couples etcetera, and I do not think the trip by train would be any cheaper for them. Considering the taxis in both cities (often you can't find a taxi big enough for six and you have to use two taxis) and first-class train tickets (you don’t want to travel second class) I think I’m pretty competitive. This could be a point, but it is not the point. The point is that you could make of a transfer day a tour day! You travel to Florence by train, but during your stay you'll certainly want to spend one of the days of your stay to see the famous countryside, say visiting Sienna and San Gimignano. You can venture on your own in a rented car, take a bus tour, or hire a local driving guide, right?

Well, you can save a day of your time and the money of the excursion by driving to Florence and sightseeing the countryside on the way there: for example visiting Sienna and San Gimignano! There are many beautiful places you could stop to see on the way to Florence: you could make just a short stop in Orvieto, which is just off the motorway, visit its incredible Cathedral, walk its quaint narrow streets and eventually have lunch in a typical restaurant or you could extend the trip to include the equally interesting Todi and Assisi. If you end your cruise in Civitavecchia, the port of Rome, you can add to your transfer a half or full day sightseeing tour in the countryside visiting places that are way off the usual route of the common tourist and enjoy the day as a Roman would in one of his "gite fuori porta" literally that translates into "a day outside the city gates" a day trip in the country which obviously includes a great lunch in a country "trattoria" (family style restaurant) or picnic. And naturally the local wines add taste to the day!

Todi - The church of Santa Maria Della Consolazione by Bramante

Standard - Arrival transfer and half-day tour

The typical is transfer-hotel-check in-half-day tour. Some people can sleep on the plane and after they arrive they still have enough energy to go on a tour and others, even if they can’t sleep on the plane, they still want to go on a tour anyway to stay awake until night so to catch up with the time change faster. This tour is for both of them. Of course in neither of the two cases I would suggest a tour that would include St. Peter's Basilica or the Vatican Museums but rather a light tour that would introduce the person who visits here for the first time to this complicated city. A tour that can keep one awake and interested and that wouldn't be too tiring. A little driving and a little walking the expected, like the Trevi Fountain, and the unexpected like the "Key Hole".

Most flights from the US come in early in the morning and generally the hotels don't have their rooms ready until 2:00 pm, but one can still check in, drop the luggage and freshen up using the restrooms in the lobby. Supposing you flight comes in around 8:00 am, between the time spent for custom formalities and collecting your luggage you leave the airport around 8:45 am and arrive at your hotel at approximately 9:30 am. Normally we start

the tour about one hour after arrived at the hotel. Even if often my clients said they needed less then one hour, I never waited any less than that. Generally in this case I let one of my collaborators take care of the transfer part and meet my clients at the hotel around 10:30 am directly and go on the tour which usually includes: Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Pincio Terrace, Piazza Venezia, Marcello's theatre, Aventine Hill and Circus Maximus, "Key Hole", Colosseum, Pantheon and more...

Rates per vehicle for this tour:
sedan (1/3 persons) 310 €;
minivan (4 persons) 350 €.
minivan (5/6 persons) 380 €;
minivan (7/8 persons) 450 €.

Extensions, per hour,

sedan (1/3 persons) 58 €;
minivan (4 persons) 60 €.
minivan (5/6 persons) 68 €;
minivan (7/8 persons) 75 €.

Times:
airport check out: 45 '

transfer to Rome: 45 '

hotel check in: 1 hr

City tour: 4 hr

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Connoisseurs - Arrival transfer and half-day tour.

Same as above for the first transfer-hotel-check in-half-day tour part. But if you already have visited Rome and still want to tour Rome avoiding the usual St. Peter's-Trevi Fountain-Colosseum tour, I have something for you. I still would suggest not go on an exacting tour to the Vatican or Borghese Museums, I would propose a fairly light tour, partly driving and partly walking, which might also be a theme tour. Focused on Bernini for example, discovering out-of-the-way masterpieces hidden in little churches like St. Theresa's Ecstasy, Beata Ludovica and St. Bibiana?. A tour to keep one awake and interested, but at the same time quite relaxed. By the way, the picture on the right shows the famous statue of St. Theresa which is one of Bernini's works mentioned in Dan Brown's book "Angels and Demons" so that could be a possible half-day tour also: visit to all the places mentioned in the book. As many probably know, Rome is a city built on layers: the Ancient Romans themselves built their new buildings on top of the ruins of the pre-existing artifacts, the Christians in the Middle Ages built their churches from the ruins of the Roman temples and so on... Most of the Ruins of the Roman Empire are visible today because of the diggings that where done in Mussolini's era, but after World War II the Italian Government has continued to dig ruins out and so there's always something new to see in Rome.

Rates per vehicle for this tour:
sedan (1/3 persons) 310 €;
minivan (4 persons) 350 €.
minivan (5/6 persons) 380 €;
minivan (7/8 persons) 450 €.

Extensions, per hour,

sedan (1/3 persons) 58 €;
minivan (4 persons) 60 €.
minivan (5/6 persons) 68 €;
minivan (7/8 persons) 75 €.

Times:
airport check out: 45 '

transfer to Rome: 45 '

hotel check in: 1 hr

City tour: 4 hr

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Cruisers - Half-day Vatican tour and transfer to Civitavecchia.

Normally cruise lines don't let you board the ship any earlier than 3:00 pm, the hotels want their guests out of the rooms by 12:00 noon the latest and it only takes one hour to get there from Rome. I'm sure a lot of ladies will want to use that morning time visiting the shops on Via Condotti, but otherwise the time can be spent visiting more of Rome. There's so much to see in this city that we proverbially say a lifetime is not enough! As I said before a lot of tourists think they can't leave Rome without visiting the Sistine Chapel. Well supposing you'll have seen all you wanted to see during your stay in Rome, this would be a good opportunity to visit the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. One of my collaborators, or I, would meet you at the hotel at 9:00 am, load your luggage in the car and drive to the Vatican eventually stopping on the way there visit some place that you wanted to see but you couldn't be include in the itineraries of the previous days. Neither my collaborators or I will be able to guide you through the Vatican.

We will have your luggage in the car and it would be too risky to park it on the street and accompany you in your tour. Also, it is notorious that it is pretty difficult to get in the Vatican Museums because of the long lines. The best I can do for you to make sure you get a good tour of the Vatican and avoid the line is to book you with an official guided tour. The Vatican has its own guided tours through the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel and those who are booked with those tours have privileged access so they go in through the exit and do not have to stand in line. They accept a maximum of 20 participants for each tour, who are given earpieces by which they hear the commentary of the guide who speaks to them into a microphone. Because of the fact that the groups are small and they only have guided tours three times a day the tour will have to be booked well in advance. The cost of this tour, separate from the driving guide service, is 25 Euros per person and it includes entrance fee, guide and earpiece. An alternative would be to use a private guide.

I would organize for you to be met at the entrance of the Vatican Museums by one of the guides who collaborate with me and you would do your own private tour. In this case the tour could include the Basilica of St. Peter's, the most important place to visit in the Vatican, in case you wouldn't have had the time to visit it aforetime. The cost for the private guide is 150 € for three hours, separate from the driving guide service. You would then be arriving at your ship, at the port of Civitavecchia, around 2:00/2:30 pm. At the end of the tour you may want to stop for lunch on the way to the port. Obviously you could get a sandwich somewhere near the Vatican Museums, but how about the pleasure of a nice authentic Italian lunch in a country "trattoria"? About half-way between Rome and Civitavecchia is

this lovely little town called Ceri where they have two great restaurants that serve really good, genuine and traditional Roman foods. The stop for lunch in Ceri will be considered a one-hour extension.

Rates per vehicle for this tour:
sedan (1/3 persons) 410 €;
minivan (4 persons) 470 €.
minivan (5/6 persons) 500 €;
minivan (7/8 persons) 580 €.

Extensions, per hour,

sedan (1/3 persons) 58 €;
minivan (4 persons) 60 €.
minivan (5/6 persons) 68 €;
minivan (7/8 persons) 75 €.

Times:
City tour: 4 hr

Transfer to Civitavecchia: 1hr

Lunch in Ceri (optional): 1hr

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Cruisers - Half-day Rome tour and transfer to Civitavecchia.

Normally cruise lines don't let you board the ship any earlier than 3:00 pm, the hotels want their guests out of the rooms by 12:00 noon the latest and it only takes one hour to get there from Rome. I'm sure a lot of ladies will want to use that morning time visiting the shops on Via Condotti, but otherwise the time can be spent visiting more of Rome. There's so much to see in this city that we proverbially say a lifetime is not enough! In case you'll have arrived the day before and you did the light introductory tour with me, this morning you might want to get serious and visit St. Peters Basilica, the biggest Catholic church in the world. A lot of the tourists that I have met didn't think the wanted to visit it. They were obviously just considering the religious aspect of the building without thinking of the innumerable masterpieces it shrouds.

Rome - The Theatre of Marcello - 1st Cenury B.C.

Opposite to what many tourists think, that the thing to see at the Vatican is the Sistine Chapel, I believe that one should not leave Rome without seeing the inside of St. Peter's church which contains, among other masterpieces one of Michelangelo most famous statues: the Pietà.

Another place that deserves a visit is the Janicolum Hill. It's right next to St. Peter's and from the top of the hill see a gorgeous view of the city. If you happen to be there at 12:00 you can assist to the firing of the cannon which is being repeated since 1849. Talking about Michelangelo we should not forget his Piazza del Campidoglio, the square on top of the Capitol hill, a wonder in the Renaissance architecture.

From the top of the Capitol hill, you can also enjoy the view of the Roman Forum, the ancient center of Imperial Rome. After visiting the Capitol hill, on the way to Civitavecchia, we have the opportunity to drive on the Old Appian Way the first of Roman Highways. The places mentioned will not be necessarily visited in the same order as they are listed. If for example, you would be interested in visiting the Catacombs, which close at 12.00 noon, that would have to be the first stop and St. Peter's would be left for last. At the end of the tour you may want to stop for lunch on the way to the port. Obviously you could get a sandwich somewhere near the last one of the places visited, but how about the pleasure of a nice authentic Italian lunch in a country "trattoria"? About half-way between Rome

and Civitavecchia is this lovely little town called Ceri where they have two great restaurants that serve really good, genuine and traditional Roman foods. The stop for lunch in Ceri will be considered a one-hour extension.

Rates per vehicle for this tour:
sedan (1/3 persons) 410 €;
minivan (4 persons) 470 €.
minivan (5/6 persons) 500 €;
minivan (7/8 persons) 580 €.

Extensions, per hour,

sedan (1/3 persons) 58 €;
minivan (4 persons) 60 €.
minivan (5/6 persons) 68 €;
minivan (7/8 persons) 75 €.

Times:
City tour: 4 hr

Transfer to Civitavecchia: 1hr

Lunch in Ceri (optional): 1hr

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Transfer from Rome to Florence.
Stopping in Orvieto

Of course I keep repeating myself, but it's hard not to do that when you talk about the same things! As I started to say in the introduction frame, traveling from Rome to Florence by car is a lot better for a tourist then by train. He can save time and money seeing the beautiful countryside while traveling between the two cities instead of doing it on a separate trip. Places like Orvieto, Cortona, Assisi, Perugia, Spoleto, Sienna and San Gimignano, just to mention the most famous, can be visited during the transfer From Rome to Florence or vice versa. If you just need to cover the distance between the two cities, then you might as well go by train, but if you want to do some sightseeing, then this transfer is a good opportunity. You might choose to make just one stop on your way to Florence and the easiest would be Orvieto.

Orvieto is a lovely medieval town famous for its Cathedral with the gold mosaic facade, its quaint atmosphere, food and wine. It's located in Umbria, one of the most beautiful regions of Italy, and it's just a few miles off the motorway that links Rome and Florence. That's makes and easy, but yet unforgettable, stop. You can start from your hotel any time between 9:00 and 10:00 and reach Orvieto about one hour later. Once there you can visit the Cathedral, and my friends, the Foresi family will be happy to show you their cellar, dug in the Tufo stone underneath their shop in the 14th Century. You can stroll through the street of Orvieto until 1:00 pm when the shops close and have some lunch before getting back in the car to head for Florence. Lunch can be in the square itself, you can sit outside and have a light lunch based on prosciutto, salame, cheese and Orvieto wine.

Otherwise, you might want to enjoy a typical Umbrian lunch in one the best restaurants in the area: Le Grotte del Funaro". What is really typical in Orvieto is that its inhabitants built their homes quarrying the Tufo stone from the very same place where they were building and so underneath Orvieto there's another city: the underground Orvieto! Under every building there are huge rooms that in the past have been used for all kinds of different purposes. Some where used as cellars but others, especially those that could have windows because they were at the edges of the city housed small industries. This is the case of the "Grotte del Funaro", before it was made into a restaurant they used to make ropes there. The place is really evocative, they still have some of the old machine they used to make ropes!

Orvieto - the restaurant "Le Grotte del Funaro"

Rates per vehicle for this tour:
sedan (1/3 persons) 670 €;
minivan (4 persons) 720 €.
minivan (5/6 persons) 770 €;
minivan (7/8 persons) 830 €.

Extensions, per hour,

sedan (1/3 persons) 58 €;
minivan (4 persons) 60 €.
minivan (5/6 persons) 68 €;
minivan (7/8 persons) 75 €.

Times:
Rome / Orvieto: 1 hr 20 '

Orvieto / Florence: 1hr 40'

Transfer from Rome to Florence.
Stopping in Siena and San Gimignano

It would be ideal to leave at 8:00 am, but if you don't like to get up early when you're on vacation 9:00 am is fine too. We head for Sienna and should get there in less than 2.5 hr. Once arrived we tour the city. Mainly we will see the famous Duomo, the Cathedral, and the Piazza Il Campo, famous for housing the "Palio" horse race, held twice a year on July 2 and August 16, since year 1147. Leaving Sienna, heading for San Gimignano, we can make stop in Monteriggioni which is a small town, or rather a big castle, located just a couple of miles off the main highway. This is one of those places in Italy where time appears to stopped in the Middle Ages. The town is still surrounded by the original walls that were built around the year 1000 and, until a few years ago, there was only one restaurant inside.

Siena - cerimony before the "Pailo" race.

Today there are at least half a dozen restaurants and there are also wine shops where you can taste, and eventually purchase, some of the best Tuscan wine and olive oil. In Monteriggioni there are two very good restaurants that serve very good Tuscan food, but if you don't want to spend your time in a restaurant we can go to a nice little roadside place were we can snack with the local salame, cheeses and prosciutto and have some of the famous Chianti wine.

From Monteriggioni it's a pleasant drive though the beautiful Tuscan rolling hills to San Gimignano. We will visit this incredibly preserved medieval town and, if you'll still have enough energy left, you can climb one of its famous towers. The drive to Florence will take less than one hour. Arriving to this beautiful city you'll be briefly introduced to it and, while driving toward your hotel, you will start to familiarize with the place. If there will be some time left we'll stop in Piazzale Michelangelo which is a square just outside the city from were you get an incredible bird-eye view of it. Just seeing the city like that will make want to immerge in it and become part of it.

By the way, do you still think taking the train to Florence is a good idea?

Rates per vehicle for this tour:
sedan (1/3 persons) 720 €;
minivan (4 persons) 750 €.
minivan (5/6 persons) 790 €;
minivan (7/8 persons) 850 €.

Extensions, per hour,

sedan (1/3 persons) 58 €;
minivan (4 persons) 60 €.
minivan (5/6 persons) 68 €;
minivan (7/8 persons) 75 €.

Times:
Rome / Sienna: 2 hr 30'

Sienna / Monteriggioni: 20'

Monteriggioni / San Gimignano: 40'

San Gimignano / Florence: 1hr