By The Johnson Family (Houston, TX)

We’ve done our fair share of family tours in Europe, but this one with Sylvia Hillie through Ancient Rome was something special.

Our son is 11 and not exactly famous for his attention span — but from the moment Sylvia greeted us near the Colosseum with her warm smile and easy energy, he was hooked. She handed him a little “quiz card” with fun facts to spot during the tour (!!!) and right away, it felt like more than just sightseeing — it was an adventure. Sylvia’s storytelling is next level.
As we walked through the Colosseum, she described gladiator battles in a way that made you hear the crowd and feel the tension in the arena. When we got to the Roman Forum, she invited our son to help "rebuild" the ruins with his imagination — it was such a clever way to keep him (and, let’s be honest, us) totally engaged. She knew all the short cuts, when to slow down for a water break, when to offer shady spots to sit, and even recommended a tiny gelato shop afterward that was honestly the best we had in Rome.
What we loved most about Sylvia was how she treated our son like a real participant in the tour, not just a tag-along kid. He’s still talking about Emperor Nero and keeps asking when we’re going back. If you're a family looking for a fun, interactive, and deeply informative way to see Ancient Rome — book with Sylvia. You won't regret it!