Viva Rome!

For savvy travelers, like my readers, the normal everyday routine is not enough. Nor should it be as the normal routine is usually followed by sheep who are too scared to try something different. In seeing Rome there are many standard ways to go about touring the city. This is about trying something just ever so slightly off kilter and different so that a unique experience can be created.

For many true travelers photography is a passion. And this is for good reason as you want to capture your memories on film or digital media so that they can be preserved for later posterity. For these wanderlusters I would recommend a photography tour in Rome by a famous National Geographic photographer. If you ever wanted to learn the ins and outs of taking really spectacular pictures then a tour with Anthony Boccaccio. Anthony has a company called Imaging in Italy and the recommendations speak for themselves.

If you want to splurge a bit then the next alternative I would recommend would be to hire a driver in Italy. This is well worth it as my family experienced this firsthand. Run by an American who moved back to Italy this company caters to the North American market and has some really good English speaking drivers who will give you a private tour of the city. These drivers are full service meaning that they will help you get into the attractions such as the Coliseum and the Forum without you having to wait in line. That alone is worth the price itself. Plus since many of these drivers grew up in the city they know all of the best local places to eat. The advice they give is priceless and can really save you a bundle.

Of course you can take advantage ot the various “hop on hop off” tour buses that travel all through the city. This is the best option if you just want to see a portion of the city and do this at your own pace. Moving at your own pace is really great for the newlyweds and also the older generation as they have more of an ability to catch their breath or to just absorb the city like a local.

 Group tours would be the last and worst option as these move at a glacial pace and you view many things that perhaps to you do not seem important. For me I am sick to death of the group tour unless it is a very small group that is geared towards a specific topic. I like to be focused on my travels so that I can get into some depth and not just gloss over something I consider really important.

One option that may be available to some is to contact your local University and see what travel options they have. Since many of the anthropology and archeology programs are not the best funded programs they usually put together a more unique experience then the average tour company. You want to make sure you are trying something different and new here as this is the only way to grow as a person.