Nancy Williams
United StatesTOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Thanks Nancy and Elizabeth!
Nancy Williams
United StatesTOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Thanks Nancy and Elizabeth!
Ruth Fox
United KingdomWe would thoroughly recommend this tour to anyone who is interested in the history of Rome. We had visited Rome several times but never previously been to Ostia, which is an amazing place. Simona is clearly very knowledgable, and was an excellent and entertaining companion for our excursion.
TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Thanks Ruth and Peter. It was really a beautiful day. I also love Ostia as you. If you will come to Rome again, there is more to visit around Ostia. Ciao! Simona
Ruth Fox
United KingdomA really enjoyable and informative tour. Simona is clearly very knowledgable and passionate about her subject. She gave us an excellent understanding of the place and its history.
TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Hi Ruth and Peter! Thanks for your review. I hope to see you again in Rome..... Ciao Simona
Carol P.
CanadaTOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Thank you Carol! Simona
Jerry Brand
United StatesWe enjoyed The Sistine Chapel and Vatican tour with Simona. She was very knowledgeable and a great tour guide. The tour itself is WAY TOO CROWDED. Schedule it early in the morning to reduce this problem. That said Simona was great. I recommend her tours. She is flexible too.
TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Thanks Jerry! It was nice to be with you, Grace and Virginia.....I really hope to see you again.... Ciao! Simona
Jerry Brand
United StatesI am a civil engineer and a builder (retired) and had high expectations to learn much about the construction of the Coliseum. Simona had actually dug areas of the Coliseum and was a wealth of detailed info for me while still keeping my wife and sister engaged. She is an Archaeologist and is detailed, clear and pleasant to learn from all at the same time. My wife, sister and I recommend her highly!
TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Jerry, thanks. It was nice also for me to share informations with you, an engineer. We have been very well together yesterday and today! I'm waiting for you to visit Ostia next year..... Ciao Simona
Jerry Brand
United StatesTOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Thanks Jerry!
Susan Mcconnell
United StatesIf possible we would give Simona a dozen stars! She was hugely informative yet very entertaining. We really enjoyed our tour and would go again with Simona anytime!
TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Hi Susan, thanks again! We had great time together and it was a pleasure to tour you. Enjoy yourself in the Amalfi Coast! Ciao
Susan Mcconnell
United StatesSimona was great! She is very knowledgeable about the iconic sights and is very entertaining. She was very helpful and informative and fun!
TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Susan and Jeff thanks again! You are really a nice couple: it's nice to spend time with you. I hope to see you again..... Simona
David Roberts
CanadaOur tour of the Coliseum with Simona was excellent. She is very knowledgeable, and was accommodating to to some late changes we needed to make with our time with one of our group arriving on a later plane. We learned so much about the Romans and everything we we were looking at at the Colosseum, Underground area, and Palatine and Forum area. Highly recommend.
TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Hi David, It was a pleasure to tour you and your family. Thanks for the review! Ciao Simona
Sandra Chiang
United StatesSimona is the BEST! Her English is very good so no issues understanding her. Her knowledge of what she is describing is beyond belief! We learned SO much from her. She was very accommodating in adjusting to an earlier meeting time which was extremely helpful. In fact, we highly recommend going as early as you can! Simona even helped us getting a cab back to our hotel. We would highly recommend her and would definitely book another tour with her in the future.
TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Hi Sandra and Julius! Thanks for the great review! Yours happiness is also my happiness: that's why I also like this job! I'm waiting for see you again! Ciao Simona
Carol Miller
United StatesSimona was a pleasure. She is very knowledgeable We truly enjoyed our tour.
TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Many thanks Carol, I also liked to be with you! Ciao Simona
Candace Martin
United StatesBeing that this was my first time traveling from the U.S. internationally, I was nervous about booking with Tours By Locals, because there are not many reviews on the site. After reading Simona's Bio, we decided to just take the risk. If you are visiting Rome, you MUST book a tour with Simona. Not only was she friendly...she was smart, funny, and had a huge wealth of knowledge. We spent 6 hours with her in the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill and felt we were leaving with another family member!
TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: I Candace, It's so important to me to hear that! My goal is to give you nice memories you can keep with you forever. Thanks for the invitation: I'm also waiting for you again! Ciao! Simona
Wende Schuster
United StatesSimona was an excellent tour guide. She was extremely knowledgeable about the history of the sites that we visited. She was very descriptive in her explanations and made the tour very interesting. She was always happy to answer questions. We thoroughly enjoyed our tour with Simona.
TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Hi Wende, many thanks for your nice review! It was a pleasure to tour all of you. I hope to see you again! Ciao! Simona
Merideth Dolan
United StatesWow! Simona was so knowledgeable, so organized, and so enthusiastic about the Colosseum. She didn't just tell us things, she made us see for ourselves the little details that could tell you about the construction of the Colosseum, the history of Rome, the layers upon layers of history surrounding the Palantine, and how lucky we were to tour the underground layer of the Colosseum. She is marvelous- this was a fabulous tour of the Colloseum and its surroundings. Highly recommended And much appreciated.
TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Hi Marideth! It was a pleasure to be with you and your family. Happy people are my fuel, my energy: that's why I love also this second job. One of my three kids is driving, so I can answer to you. I really hope to meet you again: there is so much to visit in Rome and close to it. Please say "Happy Birthday" to Charlotte for tomorrow! Ciao Simona
Charles LaMotte
United StatesSimona is a WOW!!! She is so knowledgeable, thoughtful and easily understood. She was so generous with her time, spending more than we expected. Because of her archaeological education and background (actually participating in digs at Palatine Hill), she provides a unique perspective and expertise of the Colosseum and Roman Forum & Palatine Hill. She loves questions and answers with great clarity. She is also just plain sweet and considerate. She is EXCEPTIONAL!!!
TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Hi Chuck, Ann, Tom and Nancy, it was really nice spending time with all of you and I also enjoyed a lot. I hope to see you again in the future. Thanks for the great review! Simona
Mateo Levine Ledezma
Los Angeles, CA, United StatesTOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Thanks Mateo!
Susan Poole Negron
United StatesWe absolutely & unequivocally ADORE Simona! Pre-trip, she very quickly answered my many questions & came up w/ the best schedule for us. In addition to being VERY knowledgable/professional, etc.(please read her impressive bio), she is lovely to be w/. We went on 4 of her tours & left feeling like we have a friend in Rome. Not only were her tours fun & informative but she also helped us by making multiple dinner reservations for us in Rome & beyond-all were amazing. THANK YOU for everything Simona!!!!
TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: It was really a pleasure to be your guide! Simona
John Joseph
United StatesSimona's knowledge was outstanding and her passion for this tour was contagious. Exceptional guide!
TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Hi John, thank you for your nice review! It's always a pleasure to be a guide for so interested people. Have a nice trip back to USA! Ciao! Simona
Susan Poole Negron
United StatesWe absolutely & unequivocally ADORE Simona! Pre-trip, she very quickly answered my many questions & came up w/ the best schedule for us. In addition to being VERY knowledgable/professional, etc.(please read her impressive bio), she is lovely to be w/. We went on 4 of her tours & left feeling like we have a friend in Rome. Not only were her tours fun & informative but she also helped us by making multiple dinner reservations for us in Rome & beyond-all were amazing. THANK YOU for everything Simona!!!!
TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Hi Susan, we liked each other since the beginning and it was really nice to be your tour guide! Simona
Susan Poole Negron
United StatesWe absolutely & unequivocally ADORE Simona! Pre-trip, she very quickly answered my many questions & came up w/ the best schedule for us. In addition to being VERY knowledgable/professional, etc.(please read her impressive bio), she is lovely to be w/. We went on 4 of her tours & left feeling like we have a friend in Rome. Not only were her tours fun & informative but she also helped us by making multiple dinner reservations for us in Rome & beyond-all were amazing. THANK YOU for everything Simona!!!!
TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Hi Susan, what a pleasure to be with all of you! I also enjoyed myself a lot. I hope to see you again! Simona
Susan Poole Negron
United StatesWe absolutely & unequivocally ADORE Simona! Pre-trip, she very quickly answered my many questions & came up w/ the best schedule for us. In addition to being VERY knowledgable/professional, etc.(please read her impressive bio), she is lovely to be w/. We went on 4 of her tours & left feeling like we have a friend in Rome. Not only were her tours fun & informative but she also helped us by making multiple dinner reservations for us in Rome & beyond-all were amazing. THANK YOU for everything Simona!!!!
TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Susanne, I really spent nice time with all of you! I hope to see you again in Rome: there is a lot to see...... Simona
Jim Jarmuth
United StatesSimon a was a great guide for our tour. She was well versed with the history. I would recommend she to anyone. Thanks for making our trip a success.
TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Hi Jim, I'm always very happy to be able to leave you some knowledge and good memories. So, many thanks also to you! Simona
Burke Perry
CanadaTOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Hi Burke, thanks for the review.... I'm only wondering why you didn't give me 5 stairs if I was so good.....Sorry.... Simona
Donald Ward
United StatesSimona was excellent and thoughtful and very knowledgeable. Fluent in English.
TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Hi Donald, glad you liked the tour even if it was a rainy tour! Please, say hello to Robert.... Ciao Simona
Hans Linder
SwedenTOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Hello Hans, thank you for this review! It was also for me a nice experience.... I hope to see you again for visiting the Domus Aurea and Ostia..... Please say hello by me to Ulrika and all your big family! Ciao Simona
Victor Lazzaro
Denver, COLORADO, United StatesSimona was extremely knowledgeable⁹ and brought the ancient Colosseum to life. She is an archeologist by training and that background comes out in her descriptions. Also, Simona's English is excellent.
TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Thank you Victor for your nice review! It was a pleasure to be with you and Ann. You were so interested..... I hope to see you again.... Ciao! Simona
Darlene Martinuzzi
United StatesSimone was the ultimate guide-an archeologist herself! She started by giving us an concise overview of the history of the Roman Empire, allowing a better understanding of all we saw that day. The new underground tour of the Coliseum was worth the price & time & was fascinating. Seeing it w/a small private tour was the best!! Skipping the lines & having our own guide-not sharing w/30 others(!) was SO worth it! She blended historical & local knowledge, humor and storytelling. Simply not to be missed!!
TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Hello Darlene, thanks again for your nice review! I hope to see you and your friends again... Simona
Darlene Martinuzzi
United StatesSimone was the ultimate tour guide. An archeologist herself, her knowledge & ability to convey the key aspects of history & relate it to what we were seeing was priceless. She set us up for the day beautifully by giving us a concise history of the Roman Empire allowing us to understand the timing of the many sites we saw. Her preview of the catacombs greatly heightened our enjoyment & understanding of what we saw. The catacombs have some hidden gems like the earliest known representation of the Madonna!
TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Hi! It was really nice to be with you and your friends: an interesting women group! And it was easy to be your guide because you were all very interested.... I hope to see you again..... Ciao Simona