VIP Key Master's Tour: Open The Sistine Chapel

The review is not a reflection of our tour guide, Rose, who was excellent - very knowledgeable, amenable and clearly loves her job and the museums that she guides you round. A 5* guide. The positives - getting to see the museums with no crowds and areas that are normally not open to the public and being in the Sistine Chapel with so few other visitors and being able to take it all in. The two hours of the tour flies by, there is just so much to see and take in (but see the negative below). Rose's knowledge of the Vatican, the museums and the history is a real asset. The negatives - we booked this once in lifetime tour in January for a visit in June when at the time of booking the website stated that there would be a maximum of 20 people on the tour. Since our booking the company has doubled the number to 2 tours of 20 people, which means it loses its exclusivity and rather smacks of cashing in. The two groups had to keep swapping places which took the shine off the experience and meant that it all felt a little rushed. With the two groups and with guides having to talk over each other it wasn't as intimate as it should have been and not everyone was able to open a door as a result of the increase in numbers. We had the impression that other members of our tour party and the other group felt the same way about the increase in numbers and its impact on their experience. It was certainly an experience and the sights will live long in the memory, but would we book now at the price we paid, knowing that there will be 40 people on the two tours - definitely not. It's a pity as the initial premise of our booking was the exclusivity, which seemingly has been watered down in pursuit of profit. Walks are investigating, but we've had no feedback since our return