PLANNING > GENERAL > DO I NEED A VOUCHER?Your voucher is the Google based document we have shared with you from the moment of first contact. Please print a copy of this web-based document and bring it with you, as it contains all the information you need. Possibly check for updates even during your travels (using the given link-sting), as we may add information such as name of the guide, cell phone number, etc...
TOURS > GENERAL > CAN WE BYPASS THE LINES?The only way to by-pass the line to enter to major museums and sites is to pre-purchase your admission tickets and make a reservation. We usually pre-purchase tickets for the following sites: ROME: Colosseum, Vatican Museums and Sistine chapel, Borghese Gallery FLORENCE: Uffizi Gallery, Academia Gallery The cost of ticket with reservation is generally higher than the cost of the same tickets bought at ticket office on the site, but it grants line-free admission! For example, the cost of admission into the Vatican is EUR 15.00 (for one adult) at the ticket office; and EUR 19.00 for line-free admissions with reservation on-line. We pre-purchase your tickets from the official websites of site ticket offices using your credit card for the payment. So, you will be requested to share with us your credit card information (cc issuer, number, cc holder name - as it appears on the card, including middle name/s initial/s - expiration date and security code on the back (CCVV code, 3-4 digits) NOTE: please note that we offer booking service at no additional cost.
TOURS > GENERAL > HOW WILL I RECOGNIZE THE GUIDE?Our guide will be standing at the given meeting place and will hold a sign with "your name" written on it.
TOURS > GENERAL > TIPPING YOUR GUIDE AND DRIVERRules for tipping in Italy are different than in the US where usually a tip should be around 15-20% of the cost of the service. in ITALY we are not use to this system and it is not used. Our way of tipping is based on customer satisfaction and generosity. Some clients don't tip at all, while other over tip! We suggest a tip of EUR 10-15.00 for half day service; and tip of EUR 20-30.00 for full day service. This is only an indication and don't feel obliged to give a tip, as well don't feel limited by this suggestion if you feel you wish to tip more! Of course a tip is always welcome, but not mandatory.
TOURS > VESPA TOUR > HOW OLD DOES ONE HAS TO BE IN ORDER TO TAKE THE VESPA TOUR?Age is not the rule we use to accept passengers on the back of a Vespa, however, we would indicate 12 years of age as the minimum required: passengers need to be old enough to be able to hold tight to the driver, follow the driver's instructions and be tall enough to be able to reach the platform with their feet. In general a height of 120 cm (3.9 feet) is sufficient.
TOURS > VESPA TOUR > CAN I DRIVE THE VESPA? Honestly I would not encourage people to drive in Rome unless they are used to, especially a scooter, even less if the scooter is a classic old Vespa from the 1950s-1970s!
We will not let our clients drive scooters for several reasons: first of all is a risk: the traffic is difficult, the roads are not always in good shape, and old Vespas are not easy to operate - indeed it takes a while to get used to operating a old Vespa (pedal brake, small wheels, manual shift of gears.)
Another factor is insurance: you are insured as passengers but not as driver.
Lastly, it is really much more fun to enjoy the beautiful views of Rome from the back of a Vespa, rather than having to look straight ahead and down, be concentrated in driving trying to avoid cracks and bumps, mind cars and unpredictable drivers, watch out for pedestrians. Indeed it will be much more fun and stress-free for you to enjoy the views, the breeze, the funny reactions of the people when we ride pass, and enjoy in total relax the guidance of our expert drivers, who will also act as guides.
TOURS > VESPA TOUR > THE WEATHER SAYS IT MAY RAIN ON THAT DAY, IF IT DOES DO WE STILL DO THE TOUR?
YES, in case of rain we will still tour! We will provide disposable rain coats. However, you can change the date and time of the tour if you prefer: if you wish to make changes to your schedule, you will need to let us know (with at least 24hr notice on the day/time we have scheduled) via email to: nerone.cc@gmail.com
TOURS > BOOKING > WHAT ARE YOUR REQUIREMENTS FOR RESERVING THE TOURS AND FINALLY PAYING FOR IT?Once the planning stage is completed and you are satisfied with all the details of our proposal (your itinerary and schedule) and you are ready to finalize your booking,
we will send you an invoice via email. You can pay it by credit card OR through PayPal (if you have a PayPal account)
PS: You don't need to have a PayPal account to pay by credit card.
PAYMENT > PAYPAL > HOW DOES PAYPAL WORK? PayPal acts as a third party in payment transactions. When we send a request for payment, you will receive an email from PayPal for payment to be made to Nerone and Rome Made to Measure ( nerone.cc@gmail.com)
If you are not a member of PayPal, you will need not to open/create a PayPal account in order to pay by credit card: the email will have embedded in it a link for credit card payments!
If you have a PayPal account you can pay by using your funds in the account. Alternatively, you can change your PayPal settings to pay with a credit card!
PayPal protects both buyer and seller and in some rare cases (large amounts, non US citizen, etc…) you may be requested to go through a verification procedure. This will take 2-3 business days to complete. In other similar cases, your payment may be under review for 1-2 business days. This is normal and is part of PayPal's security procedures to protect both parties.
We have been using PayPal for many years now and we find it a very safe and convenient way to pay and to be paid. We highly recommend PayPal to anyone who uses the Internet for purchases of goods and services.
PayPal is an electronic wallet. With PayPal, your Credit Card and bank information are safe as they are not shared with any sellers!
TOURS > BOOKING > WHAT IS YOUR CANCELLATION AND REFUND POLICY?In case of cancellation we will refund your payment in total if you cancel your booking 8 weeks (56 days) prior the date of your booked tour/service with us. After that date there is a cancellation fee to pay:
55-22 days before day of service = refund of 75% of the total cost of the service
21-15 days before day of service = refund of 50% of the total cost of the service
14-8 days before day of service = refund of 25% of the total cost of the service
7 days or less before day of service = no refund
For cancellation the on day before the tour or on the day of the tour, the client is charged for the full cost of the service booked.
In case of bad weather we can try to change the schedule of the tour/services to adjust it to the weather. If you wish to make changes to the agreed schedule you need to let us know of your intentions of changing the schedule via email to nerone.cc@gmail.com with a notice of at least 24H before the time in which the tour/service you wish to change is scheduled. It is not always possible to make changes to the agreed schedule, but we always do our best to accommodate your wishes and needs.
If you happen to need to cancel a tour/service, alternatively to asking for a refund you can keep your credit with us for a future tour! You can book a new tour for a future date or gift your credit to someone. Your credit will be valid any time for a period of 2 years, so you will need to use it or gift it within 2 years from the date of cancellation. You will need to book the new tour with a notice of at least 4 weeks.
After 2 years from the date of cancellation you will loose your credit.
Details of our cancellation and refund policy are also embedded in our proposal (your itinerary)
TOURS > BOOKING > WHY DOES YOUR QUOTE HAS A EXPIRING DATE? We always give a limited time validity to our offers/quote (2 weeks) as the cost of our services can change. Indeed costs of guide and transportation services can change, as our collaborators may change their tariffs. After 2 weeks from the date of its presentation to the client, our proposal/quote expires and the prices will eventually need to be re-confirmed!
TOURS > BOOKING > WHAT IS THE ADVANTAGE OF BOOKING A TOUR LONG TIME AHEAD?
Aside of the advantage for our office to plan your tour activities and services with no pressure, which results in a better planning (!) there is a financial advantage for the client:
When a client books a tour by finalizing the payment, the booked services are protected by any possible change of price - once confirmed, booked services are covered in full even in case of change of price.
In other words when you confirm a service by booking, you lock the price of the services you have purchased to the price at time of booking and protect your purchase from any possible future rising of our tariffs.
TOURS > BOOKING > WHY DO YOU REQUEST PRE-PAYMENT IN FULL?There are several reasons why we request full payment in advance:
1. we offer a early booking discount: 1% per each week early booking, up to max 12 weeks/12% (we can not afford to give a discount of more than 12%); so, if a client wishes to take advantage of this offer, let's say 8 weeks early booking, the client needs to send the full payment at time of booking in order to get the 8% discount.
2. we add a tour to our calendar only when the tour is paid in full: the client send the payment, we add the tour to our calendar. If we had to setup a booking procedure with a deposit and then a payment we would have the need of creating a new database which will make our procedure more complex. However, we do have a cancellation and refund policy which protects the clients from loosing money in case of cancellation. Please see details at:
3. we need payment in full before the tour because we need to be able to pay the driver-guides also in case the client does no show. Indeed our drivers get paid for their availability, as they commit half day of their time for the tour. If the client does no show up, or cancels last minute, we need to have funds to pay the drivers, regardless if the provide the tour or not.
NOTE: If you wish you can send a payment much closer to the date of the tour, that is totally okay with us and with our procedure. You do not need to pay long time in advance. In that case we will apply a discount according with our table of discounts, which you can find at the following address:
TOURS > TOUR GUIDES > WHO IS A TOUR GUIDE?A tour guide (or tourist guide) provides assistance, information and cultural, historical and contemporary heritage interpretation to people on organized tours, individual clients, educational establishments, at religious and historical sites, museums, and at venues of other significant interest. They (normally) have a recognized national or regional tourist guide qualification.
The CEN (European Committee for Standardization) definition for "tourist guide" (part of the work by CEN on definitions for terminology within the tourism industry) is:
Tourist guide = person who guides visitors in the language of their choice and interprets the cultural and natural heritage of an area, which person normally possesses an area-specific qualification usually issued and/or recognized by the appropriate authority.
CEN also produced a definition for "tour manager":
Tour manager = person who manages and supervises the itinerary on behalf of the tour operator, ensuring the programme is carried out as described in the tour operator's literature and sold to the traveller/consumer and who gives local practical information.
In Europe, tourist guides (tour guide being initially a term primarily used in the US market) are represented by FEG, the European Federation of Tourist Guide Associations and outside Europe by WFTGA.
The tourist guiding qualification is specific to each and every country; in some cases the qualification is national, in some cases it is broken up into regions. In all cases it is embedded in the educational and training ethic of that country. The Art of Guiding is a skill; it is the skill of selecting information and varying it for different audiences; it is the skill of presenting it in a simple and precise way; it is the skill of allowing the visitor to see and to understand; it is a skill which, if well performed, is invisible.
TOURS > TOUR STARTING TIMES QUESTION: It says in your website that we can choose our own time but you recommend 9am and 2pm. Is it possible to request other time like say, 10am?
ANSWER: Consider that our guides work morning and afternoon shifts. A morning shift has to end by 1:30PM; the afternoon shifts start after 2PM. So, for example, you can start a morning tour of 3 hours at 10:30 AM, at the latest. An afternoon tour can start any time after 2 P.M. Therefore, unless you book a full day tour (6-8 hours), you will have to choose between a morning or afternoon tour. Exceptions: if you wish, you can request a tour, for example, from 10 A.M. to 3 P.M. (5 hours). In this case, since this tour schedule will commit the guide for part of the morning and part of the afternoon, the cost of the tour will be equal to the minimum full-day tour, 6 hours.
TOURS > TOURING THE VATICAN WITH CHILDREN QUESTION: I see that the Vatican tour takes 4 hours. Due to limited attention span of children, would it be possible to make it a 3 hour tour instead of 4 hours? Can all the tour highlights be compressed yet explained fully in just 3 hours?
ANSWER: The Vatican collection is hosted in a series of galleries, one connected to the other. Visitors walk through the collection as if they were walking long corridors, with no possibility of an exit. The only exit is at the end of the itinerary; it is like walking through a tunnel. The only exception to this is a door in the Sistine Chapel, which access opens to a stairway connecting the Sistine Chapel to St. Peter’s Basilica (we take that exit in order to enter the Basilica without having to go through security again!) Once in the Vatican Museums, it is very difficult to walk fast and pass through the crowds. But, if you wish to tour in 3 hours, that is doable. Please consider though that we will have to skip many of the highlights on this tour.
QUESTION: In your website, I see that tour cost is usually based on max of 8 pax. We are not really very particular with having a really private tour, just our family, and we don’t mind joining a couple of other people. I’m just wondering if there is a way by which you can “combine” us with other people to reach the maximum of 8? This way, cost can be pro-rated or divided therefore making the cost lower for our family.
ANSWER: We only provide private tours; we never group people together. The reason there is a note on our website regarding published prices being valid for a maximum of 8 people is that, if a private party exceeds 8 people (9 people or more), there is an additional charge. The reason we never group people together is that it is rarely the case that we have two tours, of the same itinerary, on the same day/same time. Another reason is that our clients usually prefer private tours, so, we never really worked on a proposal for grouping people together.
GENERAL > TIPPINGItalians don't tip. Only tourists do.
However, if you wish to tip your driver, anything from €10 up would be appreciated.
You don't tip at restaurants, waiting is a profession in Italy and waiters are paid very well.
Private guides are also paid extremely well. Although receiving a tip is always nice, leaving a tip is not necessary. |
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