Vatican Tour

We're in serious planning/reservation mode. We've started with Rome (first stop).



In order to reserve a tour of the Vatican with an actual Vatican tour guide (as opposed to other third-party guide services), you have to fax a request to the Vatican within 1 month of your tour. They will then confirm via fax the date and time of your tour. Your request should state: number in your party, names, language you prefer for the tour, and contact information so they can fax your confirmation (silence means you didn't get a tour spot). They often don't respond via fax until 1-2 days before the tour so be sure and put your hotel's fax number in Rome.



I followed all of these instructions and was intent on getting it faxed yesterday (with the help of my trusty friend, M)---exactly one month before the date we're requesting. The Vatican posts their fax number as 06/69885100. Now...as for calling from the U.S., I've read where the following numbers have worked for people:

1. 011390669885100 (011 for international calls; 39 for Italy)

2. 0039066885100



I tried both numbers starting at about 4pm CST yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon. I tried until 6:30pm and got all kinds of error messages: (number is busy, no answer, this number is not a fax number). I kept trying and trying after reading many posts of others with similar experiences. I gave up last night totally discouraged! I read somewhere to try in the morning so I tried again (rather trusty M tried again) this morning, and...SUCCESS! The succesful fax was sent at 8:05am CST (and again at 8:25am and 8:34am, but that's another story)! The number that worked for us is: 011390669885100.



Now, whether or not we'll actually get a reserved spot...I'm leaving that worry for another day! As for today, I'll just enjoy this small victory...I got a fax through to the Vatican! Hurray!

A little over a month out!

We've talked for several years about going to Europe before we had kids. Things kept getting in the way (namely finances and me going back to school). We decided a year ago that we'd go in the Fall of 2007 since that would be right between our 30th birthdays (his, May, mine, January). With me out of school, life pretty settled, and enough disposable income to go, we figured now would be a great time. Problem? Shortage of vacation days! We managed to squeeze out 10 for the trip. The planning started months ago and is now in the final, all important stages of narrowing down what we'll take and our itinerary. Thought I'd post so others can use as a resource for planning their own trips, to keep records for planning a return trip, and to allow our friends and family to follow along ~ enjoy!

Background to help you follow along:

Him-30, Estimator, laid back, not a planner, happy to be along for the ride

Me-29, Attorney, not laid back, deluxe planner, happy to be directing the ride

Us-married 7 years in October