If You’re Already There, It’s Always Worth It

I didn’t want to book tickets to the Roman Colosseum or the Vatican Museums because they cost $25 each last minute online.

 

I’d already walked around the Colosseum, and through St. Peters Square, so I wasn’t sure it was really worth the time to go back for these tours inside the buildings.

 

Time and Money – The Two Reasons To Never Do Anything

 

I paused to ask myself “Is this worth it?”

 

I wrote out the costs of the trips, and the time required:

 

• Colosseum – $25 – 4 Hours

• Vatican City – $25 – 4 Hours

 

But re-visiting these numbers, I realized I was not including the true costs of these visits to these sites. $25 and 4 hours is not the correct estimate of the investment.

 

Other costs which I was not including were:

 

1. Visiting Europe: Flights alone are $1,000 round-trip.

2. This journey to Rome, if taken uncomfortably quickly, would take 1 jet-lagged week. If I am visiting Europe, I would probably want at least 1 month.

3. Simply living, I will spend at least $25/day on food and housing.

 

A more accurate ‘Cost Evaluation’ Is…

 

• No Colosseum, No Vatican City: $2,000 + 30 Days In Europe

• Colosseum + Vatican Tour: $2,050 + 31 Days In Europe

 

A 2.5% change in ‘trip cost’ and 1 day in a month spent visiting these sites…

 

The other 97.5% of my time and money… I am already committed to spending, whether I visit these historic sites or not.

 

Also, I realized I may never again have the chance to tour these sites.

 

1. I may never return to Rome.

2. I could break my neck (as I almost did!) and never be able to walk again.

3. I could start a family, perhaps with someone who doesn’t like to travel.

4. I may not have the energy or interest to return at 40+ years old.

5. If my business grows, increased responsibilities may make sporadic travel irresponsible.

6. If my business dies, I may not have the money or freedom to travel as I do today.

 

With all this in mind, I booked the touristy tourist tours to see the Colosseum and Vatican City Museums.

 

As if on cue, after visiting these sites the night poured rain, lightning crashed and thunder rumbled. My last days in Rome are wet, windy and cloudy.

 

Staring out the window at the billowing rain, I am so glad I bought the $50 tours while I was in Rome, while I had the time, while I had the money, while I had the freedom, while I had the energy, and while the sun was shining.

 

If you’re there and if you’re ready, ‘it’ is almost always worth doing.