Rom: Kolosseum, Arena, Palatin und Forum – Etappentour der Gladiatoren

Patricia was great, highly recommend. Very knowledgeable and relaxed. Had about 24 people on the tour, couples, families and singles.

I was very disappointed with this well reviewed tour. It was very expensive but I did it to avoid the long lines in the heat and to get cultural and historical perspective onsite. I would have been disappointed even if I had notpaid a lot (and people should realize that entrance fees are in fact minimal...you are paying a lot for the experience (fast entry, guided commentary). First, we arrived to be told that the tour had to wait, which obviated a primary reason for paying so much forthe tour. We spent as much time waiting, in fact, as we would have on a regular line. and it was hot....the delay pushed the latter half of the tour wanderingthe FOrum in 100 degree heat at height of the morning sun. Then the guide....she spoke English but her heavy accent and speaking manner meant she was almost impossible to understand. Others in the group were also so frustrated. In addition to how difficult it was to understand her, the commentary was very lightweight and rote and she seemed to just want to go through the script. There were several small children on the tour, and she did nothing to make the tour interesting for them (we were all adults but would have appreciated something individualized). She also she did not ensure we were all following her pace, creating issues withthe head sets and audibility as the farther away you got the reception suffered. At two points, we got to a crossraod and had to guess where she had gone. We blew past the gift shop, which was so far from the end of the tour no one opted to return which also disappointed me as I was hoping to pick up a souvenir or book. If the tour had not been so pricey perhaps the disappointment would not be so keen. But it was also that I am probably not likely to return, and if i had gone on my own I would have seen more, and read more in a guidebook or online to get a richer history at this simply amazing site. In fact, my son discovered tht Wikipedia was muchmore informative, and simply turned off his headset entirely. Perhaps we should have done the same.

The tour group was ultra professional. There was a time change to 30 mins later, and they whatsapped me the message along with an exact google location of where to meet up. The tour guide was really friendly and knowledgeable and he enthusiastically took us throughout the full tour, only slight criticism was that it was slightly rushed but that maybe because it was 37 degrees and he didn't want us to burn in the sun, but overall a definite recommended experience and tour group