FAQ: what you need to know
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Click on the questions below to read the responses UNDER CONSTRUCTION, PLEASE USE SCROLL BAR
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About Our Tours
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5.The small group tour is free for children ages 0 to 9, do I still need to purchase an entrance fee?
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Booking & Payment
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Making the most of your visit to Rome
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19.What’s happening in Rome this week and how can I find out?
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About Our Tours
1. How long are the itineraries?
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Many travelers hear about our group itineraries advertised as 2.5 hour, but lasting for 3 hours. We want you to know that your time with us in Rome will be authentic and inspiring. We do not offer “template tours.” We suggest contacting a tour bus company if this is the type of experience you are seeking.
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There are many variables that can affect our guests and the length of each itinerary, (for example: weather conditions, the crowds inside a location, availability of certain galleries, or monuments, and the security check lines, etc.)
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Whether it is a group, or private itinerary, we don’t like to be strict clock-watchers while telling stories and answering questions. And we don’t consider waiting in security lines, or the sign-up as part of the promised time like many other companies do.
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2. How many guests are in the small group tours?
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Rome has become a remarkably popular destination in the past years. As a result, we have added scholars to our staff to guarantee small group sizes. Our Semi-private service tours have a maximum limit of 10 paying guests. Our Vatican tour has a maximum limit of 10 paying guests (adults or students) per group, or there is an economy option for a group with a maximum of 20 guests.
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If you wish to have fewer guests in your group, please look at your ICON Gold service level. These are affordable private itineraries that can be customized specifically for your family, or party.
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3. Do you skip the lines at the sites in Rome?
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Yes! VIP entrance is available for both our Group and Privately Guided Vatican City Tours. Using the VIP entrance our guests go directly to the priority entrance and skip the long ticket queues.
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4. Are entrance fees included in the tour rate?
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Entrance fees are NOT included in the tour rate. Entrance fees can be paid directly at tour time in cash (Euros only). The small group tour is free for children ages 0 to 9. Some sites require an entrance fee for children. Please read below for the specific cases. Some private itineraries require an entrance fee for guides, which will be paid by the client at tour time, along with the other fees. Please contact us in advance if this is a concern.
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5.The small group tour is free for children ages 0 to 9, do I still need to purchase an entrance fee?
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Vatican Museums entrance fees and reduced rates for children & students.
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The Vatican Museums offers reduced rates for children and students, regardless of nationality.
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Children ages 0 to 6: no entrance fee. Must have valid photo ID with proof of age.
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Children and students aged between 6 and 18 years can benefit of the reduced rate. Must have valid photo ID with proof of age.
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Students aged not more than 26 years can benefit of reduced rates on presentation of a valid International Student Card, a student identity document or other documentation stating their registration to a university or institution of higher education.
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Very important: in absence of a valid student ID or proof-of-age document, the Vatican staff can invalidate the student / child ticket and visitors will be asked to purchase a NEW FULL-PRICED ticket.
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6. Colosseum, Roman Forum and Museums belonging to Rome City circuit entrance fees & reduced rates.
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Most sites in Rome apply reduced rates for EU citizens only. Entrance is free for EU citizens below the age of 18 or above the age of 65. Reduced entrance fees are available for EU students between the ages of 18-26, with a valid student ID.
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7. Do guides make commissions by recommending merchants?
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As a matter of fair practice, ICON has a very strict policy of not allowing our scholars to engage in accepting commissions from restaurants and shops. We will never divert our guests into a souvenir shop, or restaurant where they feel obligated to buy something.
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We believe tips should not be considered a mandatory added tax but they should reflect your satisfaction with the service provided. You are welcome to tip your ICON scholar at the end of your itinerary, provided you are happy with the tour! Many of them are still in school and appreciate the assistance and encouragement.
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9. Where do we meet our Icon Scholar?
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Once you have completed your booking you will receive an e-mail confirmation with all the information, directions and maps to help you meet your Icon Guide on the day of your tour.
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Booking & Payment
10. How can I pay for the tours?
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When proceeding to check-out you will be able to choose your preferred payment method. Guests can pay a deposit for the tours in advance, via their preferred credit, or PayPal. The balance due is paid directly to the guide in cash on the day of the tour.
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11. I want to pay in cash directly on the day of the tour, why am I being asked for my credit card details?
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We require a deposit to guarantee the reservation in the event of a late cancellation or no show. Your credit card will only be charged the security deposit amount.
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Important:
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Credit card payment are NOT accepted at tour time, but must be completed in cash Euros directly to the guide at the scheduled tour departure time.
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12. Is my booking secure?
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Your credit card information is sent to us through a secure server. We use the latest, most secure technology available, which encrypts all your personal and credit card details. The encryption method used is the industry standard "Secure Socket Layer" (SSL) technology.
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13. ICON has not returned my emails!
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We check our email Monday to Friday, and usually over the weekends too. Please be aware that AOL users can sometimes encounter email delivery problems, or experience problems viewing our website. If you don’t receive an response, it is likely that your email provider has technical issues communicating with our host. If this happens please contact us using a different email account, or call us directly.
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How to reach us by phone from the USA:
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Make sure you are calling during our business hours in Italy, (Monday to Saturday: 8:30am to 7:30pm.)
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Italy is six hours later than the US East coast time. For example, at midnight in New York City, it is 6:00am in Rome.
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1)Dial our US message line at: 304.825.3684
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2)Leave your name, city and questions and the best time to reach you, and we will call you back as soon as possible.
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3)You can also try to send us an email message from a different email account.
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Making the most of your visit to Rome
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14. Transportation- How do I keep from getting ripped-off?
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There are unofficial taxi drivers hustling for business as soon as you step out of the airport or train. We do NOT suggest using these drivers. Registered taxis are available at the designated Taxi Stands around the city and at the airport. Look for the white cars with the "Comune di Roma" sticker on the side.
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When you get into the cab, simply look at the meter, it should read around 2.40 EUR, or 3.50 EUR if it is a Sunday or a Holiday. A tariff of 1. EUR may be applied to each suitcase the driver must load into the trunk, and a 0.10 percent tip is expected.
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Using city buses and the underground metro will require a fair amount of studying upon arrival. Metro/bus tickets can be purchased at nearly every Tobacco (Tabacchi) shop. Daily, hourly or weekly passes are available. The pass is validated the first time you use it by inserting it into the yellow validation box, which is located on the bus or metro turnstile. The pass does not need to be stamped again, and may be used as many times as you like within the day, week, or hour.
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Getting around Rome by foot can also be a great way to see the city and its charming side streets. Sometimes getting lost brings the most wonderful discoveries. Except for around the train station at night, there are not really any dangerous neighborhoods to avoid in the city center.
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15. Should I buy the Roma Pass?
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The Roma Pass Cards offer you transport and two museums free of charge, as well as reductions for all other museums and major events in Rome. Please note you will not be able to use the Roma Pass at the Vatican Museums as these are not part of the ‘Comune Di Roma’.
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16. Water water everywhere!
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When you're short on time you might be tempted to have a quick snack from one of the many vans or street vendors scattered around the City. DO NOT.
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A bottle of water from a supermarket can cost from 15 cents to 1 Euro. Street carts charge up to €5 for the same bottle, so stock up from the supermarket if you can.
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Rome is also rich in fountains, the water is cold, clean, pure and perfectly OK to drink. Carry an empty bottle with you and refill it at the fountains when you run out.
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17. Is crime a problem in Rome?
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In contrast to the multitude of warnings by guidebook publishers, in our opinion Rome is a safe place... and we live here. Like any city, there is a criminal element, but that is mostly pick pocketing, (especially on the 64 bus.) It is very rare to hear of muggings, and violent crimes right in the historic city center where most visitors stay. The area around the Termini Train Station is where we suggest avoiding after midnight. Just remember to use your common sense, money belt, and to keep your bag in front of you at all times.
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18. Do I need to have my ID with me at all times?
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It is important to know that by Italian law all citizens and visitors must be in possession of a valid form of ID and should carry it with them at all times. Also, many sites require a valid ID, especially when purchasing a reduced entrance fee. To be safe, you can leave your ‘originals’ in the safety of your Hotel, and carry a photocopy of your Passport to with you in case of need.
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19. What’s happening in Rome this week and how can I find out?
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Rome is an extremely busy city, there are several sites dedicated where you can find news about upcoming concerts, exhibits and other events. We recommend:
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In Rome Now: http://www.inromenow.com/site%20templates/index.htm
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Wanted in Rome: http://www.wantedinrome.com/events/browse_cat_events.php?keyword=&id_city=22&submit=Go%21&parent=
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20. Are all the posts on the travel forums real?
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Unfortunately many travel and tourism services in Rome abuse travel forums by creating extensive on-line profiles with a diverse history of fake posts to mask their true identity. This allows them to pose as lay travel experts, initiating threads which praise their services, or subtle smear campaigns against competitors.
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Independent studies, and an article in the International Herald Tribune, (March 2006) suggests that up to 50 percent of the profiles and comments left on the most popular travel message forums are fake, in what is being termed, “ballot box stuffing.”
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Some travel forums review each post individually before uploading it, but monitoring these forums is an overwhelming task. ICON respects the integrity of these free forums for travelers which allow the exchange of ideas and comments about their experiences. Real customers who’ve used our services have placed the positive posts appearing about ICON. (This is why you will only find occasional threads about ICON in travel forums.) We are truly grateful for the world travelers, and frequent contributors in travel forums, who actually take the time to spread the word about what we are doing.
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Upon request, we are happy to provide contact information for certified travel agents who use ICON for all of their clients planning vacations to Rome. We also encourage our guests to call, or email us immediately if they are dissatisfied with any aspect of their experience with ICON. We are dedicated to providing absolute customer satisfaction, and we value your suggestions for creating a better experience for guests in the future.
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21. How affordable is an Italian Opera?
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Even if you don’t understand Opera, it is a wonderful part of Italian culture which should not be missed. The concerts of famous Aria’s performed throughout the city’s grand churches are a great treat for those who would like the “Best of Opera” without all of the pomp and circumstance. The dress is casual, (shoulders and knees must be covered in churches,) and your senses will be fed at a very reasonable price, usually between 15. and 30. EUR.
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22. What do A.D. and B.C. mean?
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While in Rome you will hear your ICON scholar mention date abbreviations as A.D. or B.C., and many ask, "What does this really mean?"
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The abbreviation A.D. defines an epoch based on the traditionally accepted year of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, or Anno Domini (Latin: "In the Year of the Lord.") The exact date of Christ's birth is not clearly known to historians. The first mention of the observance of Christ's birthday appears about A.D. 200, and a variety of different dates were used throughout the ages. December 25 was first mentioned in A.D., 336."
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The use of B.C. is not Latin, but English for defining an epoch "before Christ," this was started in the 17th C. by the French Jesuit astronomer Denis Petau.
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Presently, A.D. and B.C. is the common international standard, recognized by international institutions like the United Nations and the Universal Postal Union. This is due both to tradition, and to the fact that the solar Gregorian calendar has for a long time been mistaken as astronomically correct. In English, we place the abbreviation before the year number for A.D., but after the year number for B.C.; for example: 64 B.C., but A.D. 2006.
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Today some historians preferring a more culturally inclusive approach to historical dating, and will use "CE," and “BCE,” this means "Common Era" and “Before Common Era.” The use of CE refers to the same dates as "AD" or "Anno Domini.” (Except that "AD" goes before the year number and "CE" goes after it: e.g. "AD 2006" is the same year as "2006 CE".)
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23. How can I exchange money once I am in Rome?
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Exchange rates and commission fees in Rome can range from reasonable to absurd between banks and exchange shops within a few feet of each other. There is no rhyme, or reason and everyone seems to have their favorite strategy for exchanging money.
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There are a few places outside of the Termini train station that will exchange cash for Euros without charging a commission. Their exchange rates are not always the best, but if you need Euros as soon as you arrive, just look for the “Exchange” signs near the Termini Station.
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In the lobby of the entrance to the Vatican Museum there is also an exchange window. The Vatican will exchange cash and traveler checks without charging a commission fee, again the exchange rate is not the best, but it is a safe and reliable location you can visit quickly if you are on our Divine Inspiration itinerary.
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A debit card that looks like a credit card is the most versatile, giving you access to your money at both ATM machines and inside banks, without the finance charges associated with the use of a credit card. Some of the ATM or BancoMat machines in Rome have withdrawal limits, usually around 150. to 200. EUR. There is no way of knowing what the limit is at any machine until you try requesting a few different amounts, and eventually you get an amount that works. You should also check with your bank at home that issued the card to make sure you are approved for International transactions, and ask if there is a withdraw limit on your card.
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24. Is there a dress code at the sites in Rome?
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Strict dress codes can be enforced when visiting Churches and Basilicas in Rome. Shoulders and knees must be covered, this means no tank tops, no sleeveless dresses, no shorts, mini-skirts.
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Ladies! We recommend carrying a large and light scarf with you when walking around the city. A scarf can easily be draped around your shoulders and provide the extra-covering if you wish to have a peek in a Church and are not dressed appropriately.
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