Barbara
Unfriendly Guide
I was unsure whether I was at the correct meeting spot so I approached 2 people at a table who looked like tour guides to inquire. They were chatting & laughing. There was no one else nearby, but they did not acknowledge me until I finally spoke up. The lady was clearly irritated that I interrupted their chat, & said “ Your’re early. We’re not starting yet. Go stand over there.” She was impolite & didn’t even make eye contact. I had arrived 15-20 minutes prior to the stated time. It turned out she was our guide for the Vatican tour. During the tour, she also got irritated at other random tourists inside the Vatican & even got into a verbal spat with one . Although she was knowledgeable , I could not fully enjoy the experience after all those negative experiences. Needless to say, I did not tip her at the end.
Response from Walks of ItalyJan 9, 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are very sorry to hear about your experience at the meeting point and during your Vatican tour. This is not the level of service we expect from our guides, and we sincerely apologize that the interactions you described affected your enjoyment of the tour. We appreciate you acknowledging the guide’s knowledge, but your experience highlights areas where we need to improve communication, professionalism, and guest engagement. Please know that your comments have been shared with our team to ensure this does not happen again. We value your feedback and hope that despite this experience, you might consider giving us another opportunity to provide the high-quality tour experience we strive for. Kind Regards Walks and Devour Feedback Team