Rome Tourist Traps

Did you see the green periphery painted on the big maps in the metro? As there was "Riserva Naturale"Written on the side near Ponte Mammolo metro station.
I wonder what is to be preserved there... The river is polluted, streets and houses near. Maybe some km further- but you won't get your fresh air like in Castelfusano. The only worth alternative is Valle della Caffarella near Via Appia Antica. Or take the bus 85 to Rocca de Papa, on the shore of the two vulcanic lakes Albano and Nemi.
What you have from Ponte Mammolo are the buses to Tivoli- 2 Euros one way.

Unique Suggestions: There were huge stone blocks posted near an institutional building- were they once part of the legendary Mammolo bridge? An old cat in front of it's eating pot- a wild one? Some nicely brown looking animal hushing to a hole at the riverside- a mole or rather a rat?
At the lower part of Ponte Mammolo station, there were Romanian CDs sold. So much Romanians live nearby. Housing is much too expensive, and so they prefered to build huts there. I think not all of them were Gypsies. A bit further, a squat station whith transparents claiming for payable living.

Fun Alternatives: Castelfusano (see my tip)
Via Appia antica

You will see these big sized men in gladiator costume standing outside the Coliseum complete with sword and armour. You will be very tempted to ask for a photo to be taken with them. However, do note that at the time when I went in September 2009, the asking rate was 10 euros per photo.

Unique Suggestions: Whip out your telephoto lens and take a photo of them from afar. What is so grand about taking a photo WITH them anyway?

These guys have cheap rates but then charge your credit card for fictional vehicle infractions to the tune of $700. More than the rental price.

AVOID AUTO EUROPA also Sicily by Car

Fun Alternatives: AVIS
HERTZ
Legitimate rental companies

Avoid to buy food and drinks from the mobile beverage stands. These are badly overprized and I do not see a good reason to support such business and to waste travel budget.

Bring your stuff with you, eat somewhere else.

I remember the price for a small bottle of ice tea for 3.80 EUR in the city center. I monitored that price in the summer 2009.

I must admit, I have been a customer of such a stand because it was soo hot.

Fun Alternatives: People drink from the 100.000 public fountains but be advised that this is not always drinking water.

I went to Asis on a tour with this company, they have no idea of logistis, attention, care or anything.
They took us in a small bus and the driver was talking on his cell phone and discussing football with the guide using his hands while driving at 140 km/h. We were stopped by the police and they avoid to give an explanation.
The guide was smelly and terrible, he didnt know anything about the historic sites.
On our way back to Rome they picked up a friend on the way and wile delivering us to our hotels, they were honking and yelling at the women in the street.

Unique Suggestions: Go find a serious company.

Fun Alternatives: We took another tour with "Catholic Rome" they are the tour agency of the Vatican and they are good.

Taxi "ROME-SHUTTLE" from Ciampino to Civitavecchia - An experience to pass on...
Reserved a taxi for 4 adults + luggage to make a round trip from the Ciampino airport to the port of Civitavecchia (where the cruises depart) with the company ROME-SHUTTLE (negotiated 235 euros); they have a web site: http: // www.rome-shuttle.com/
They never came!!! And when we called them, the woman answered that we never reserved a taxi !!!
Unfortunately, I gave my VISA card number to make the reservation and I’m afraid that this company use my card...
What shall I do?
Other info: we easily caught a taxi from the airport, and the prices are cheaper than those practised by the taxi companies found on internet: 100 to 120 euros one way (I made 5 quotations before leaving: the prices varies from 130 to 180 euros one way).
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Taxi "ROME-SHUTTLE" Ciampino a Civitavecchia
Un'esperienza a trasmettere...
Hanno riservato un taxi per 4 adulti + bagagli per fare l'andata e ritorno dell'aeroporto di Ciampino al porto di Civitavecchia, col compagnia Rome-shuttle (a 120 euros l'andata e 115 euros il ritorno); hanno un sito internet: http://www.rome-shuttle.com /
Non sono venuti mai !!! e quando si li è chiamati, la donna ci ha risposto non avere avuto mai un taxi riservato al nostro nome !!!
Ho dato purtroppo il mio numero di Visto per bloccare questa prenotazione e ho avuto paura che questa compagnia non abusa della mia carta...
Che cosa fare ?
Altro info: si trova facilmente dei taxi all'aeroporto, ed i prezzi sono buoni meno cari di quelli praticato dalle compagnie di taxi trovato su internet: da 100 a 120 euros il tragitto (ho fatto fare 5 preventivi: i prezzi che variano di 130 a 180 euros il tragitto).
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Taxi "ROME-SHUTTLE" Ciampino à Civitavecchia
Une expérience à transmettre...
Avons réservé un taxi pour 4 adultes + bagages pour faire l'aller-retour de l'aéroport de Ciampino au port de Civitavecchia (d'où partent les croisières) avec la compagnie ROME-SHUTTLE (prix négocié à 120 euros l'aller et 115 euros le retour); ils ont un site internet : http://www.rome-shuttle.com/
Ils ne sont jamais venus !!! et lorsqu'on les a appelé, la femme nous a répondu n'avoir jamais eu un taxi réservé à notre nom !!!
J'ai malheureusement donné mon numéro de VISA pour bloquer cette réservation et ai peur que cette compagnie n'abuse de ma carte...
Que faire ?
Autre info : on trouve facilement des taxis à l'aéroport, et les prix sont bien moins chers que ceux pratiqués par les compagnies de taxi trouvés sur internet : 100 à 120 euros le trajet (j'ai fait faire 5 devis : les prix variant de 130 à 180 euros le trajet).

This area of Rome is for the shoppers amongst you, although you may have to have a large purse to afford a trinket or two from the well to do shops. The Spanis Steps as such are somewhat of a disappointment. I would liken them to standing outside Liliwhites and seeing the mass of people at Oxford Circus.

It would be better if there weren't so many people there. Why they come and sit on the steps is a mystery which I didn't get to the bottom of. If you're on a short timescale in Rome I wouldn't bother with them. Plenty of better things to do.

Cheated by a taxi driver (Mercedes cab) who was quick to turn off the fare (on the mirror) when we reached our destination. The driver insisted us to pay EUR18.00 instead of the actual fare of EUR11.80. Watch out when you are taking a taxi in Rome.

Unique Suggestions: Keep follow up on the taxi fare during your journey. Call the police if they are cheating you.

Fun Alternatives: Take metrobus or metro (subway). Unless you have no other options.