One star only because I can’t give…
One star only because I can’t give zero. Despite the name and description of the tour, this tour does not get you into the Vatican museums before opening. Once meeting with your guide, you will walk to the group tour line outside the museum entrance and will stand there until opening at 8. Once going through security, our guide immediately let the whole group go on a 15 minute bathroom break which seemed quite unnecessary and a waste of time at the beginning of the tour. Once the tour actually started (close to 8:30), many groups and individuals had gone ahead into the museums and there was already congestion forming. It felt as if our guide was purposely wasting time. For example, we spent quite a bit of time outside at the pine cone and at each exhibit. Again, our guide was taking so long at the initial exhibits that groups and individuals were easily passing us. For a tour that was supposed to prioritize the “pristine” nature of the Sistine chapel, there was no sense of urgency to get there early, as I was lead to believe with the name and description of the tour. My husband and I became so frustrated with the pacing of our tour guide that we turned in our headset and continued on ourselves. Looking back, I am quite glad we did this. When we arrived at the Sistine chapel, we were able to sit and enjoy the art uninterrupted. By the time we left 20-30 minutes later, it was quite full and much less enjoyable. Leaving the tour was the best decision we made that day. This tour was easily our biggest regret of our trip.