Rome Tourist Traps

When first in Rome, it is not out of the ordinary for gelati or ice cream lovers like me, to have a gelati from the first vendor they see. BEWARE! Do not be tempted to buy your gelati from one of the vendors selling from a trailer along the road. You will pay anything up to three times the price of the same gelati in one of the little shops that you will find at regular intervals along your way. In 2002, I paid 5 Euro for a one scoop cone from a trailer and later that day from a little shop in the Trevi fountain area had exactly the same for 1.5 Euro. Bottled water bought from the trailers is another trap. You can get your bottled water at any of the many supermarkets around Rome for a lot less. The trailers around the Collosseum area are particularly expensive.

Unique Suggestions: If you absolutely MUST have gelati and there is only a trailer in view, then at least ask first how much it will cost. I believe that sometimes they will simply take whatever money you hand them and not give change, whereas if you ask first, then they have to give you a price which you are at liberty to accept or reject.

Fun Alternatives: Forewarned is forearmed - look for the little shops first.

...It's not worth the 9 euro charge. The fee includes an audio guide in English, which you'll need if you don't read Italian. You'll see what wheat looks like on the stalk, what it looks like harvested and ground. You'll see some huge pasta-making machines and dozen of photos of Italian celebreties eating spaghetti. Pretty mundane.

I was wondering how they could afford to keep the place open when I finally realized that it was the pasta industry that was obviously fronting the place. The exhibits included "documentation," suggesting that pasta could solve world food problems.

Unique Suggestions: If you're still interested anyway, the Museum is located near the Trevi Fountain. As you're facing the fountain, turn right and walk down Via Lavatore, take the first right toward Piazza Scanderbeg, the museum is on the left. One bonus is, kids, accompanied by both parents are only 1 euro. Gee, that makes it (only) 19 euros for 3 people!

Fun Alternatives: Why not walk down Via del Governo Vecchio and nearby streets and poke your head into the various shops. Much more fun and doesn't cost anything! Or take the kids to the Villa Borghese and let 'em run around for an hour or two.

Tourist traps may or may not be really tourist traps.

Unique Suggestions: I fail to understand the outrage over giving a costumed gladiator two euros to have your photo taken with him. The guy goes to all this trouble to enhance your visit and you want him to pose for free? And how about paying extra at a restaurant to dine out on the sidewalk gazing at some incredible Roman sight, probably floodlit? You can't duplicate this experience anywhere. Isn't it worth a few more euros for this kind of special thing? I wish people would stop and think, learn some local customs and language, before spouting off about these terrible ripoffs.

I've been the potential victim of severe over-charging several times in my travels. They never get away with it, as I always ask the price ahead of time and have no problem putting down the amount of cash that's required and WALKING AWAY. It's important to know what you're doing, no matter where you are.

Eating outside is always more expensive in Italy: that's not a tourist trap, it's just a fact.

Equally, prices will be higher near tourist attractions, of course. One expects that.

But do watch out for those who deliberately inflate. I was caught like this in Piazza S.M. in Trastevere.

I'd been to the cafe in the photo four years ago and eaten inside: that was fine. This time we sat outside (and yes, I knew it would be more expensive). When I asked for the bill, we didn't get a written one (which I believe is illegal anyway) and it was substantially higher than I expected (by about 3 euros).

When I queried the amount, the waiter just said 'service'. I'm pretty sure it was too much (the lack of a written bill is the give-away) but my Italian isn't up to an argument.

I shan't be going there again though.

Unique Suggestions: Limit what you order to drinks (coffee/chocolate/beer). Order anything else and you can expect prices to be inflated.

Fun Alternatives: Find somewhere else to eat: the side-streets are full of good cafes/bars/pizzeria etc.

In my case, this experience underlined what I already knew, so more fool me for doing it!

You probably about the 'gladiators' outside the Colosseum and the fact that having your photo taken with them won't be cheap.

But actually it's quite fun to sit and watch their antics from a safe distance.

I was very impressed by the 'emperor' who posed with his 'gladiators', particularly the way he hid his cigarette when necessary.

I like the way they all wear ladies' tights in the winter; don't think the real ancient Romans did!

I was also tickled by the gladiator in the photo: somehow, I don't think real gladiators ate salad out of plastic boxes for their lunch! :-)

Unique Suggestions: Keep well away from the 'gladiators' unless you want to pay their price for a photo (which you might..plenty of people seem happy enough to do so).

Fun Alternatives: If you're mean, like me, just use your zoom lens!

What a tourist should do in Rome in a late afternoon on December 31st if his hotel isn't located right in the center of the town? I found myself around Piazza Argentina, it was 5pm and I wanted to get my hotel fastest it possible. The taxi post was overcrowded by very nervous people and no cars around. I moved to the opposite side of the square trying to catch the taxi while passing by, but it was like mission impossible. My next atempt was to call the radio taxi waiting more than five minutes to get connected and each time I was promiced a car number which is supposed to pick me up. No need to tell that it never happened.

When you arrive at Roma Termini ( The trainstation in Rome), never take the taxi queue at Via Giolitti. Via Giolitti is the side road to the left when you exit the trainstation. They wait for the tourist, so they can overcharge you!! Make sure to take the taxi queue right infront of you when you exit, even if it's longer then the other one. It's easy to think that since they are from the same company, they are safe. But it doesn't work this way in Italy..

A usefull tip to remember is that the real taxi drivers don't shout: Taxi, taxi! They are not allowed to..so don't get fooled!

Perhaps if the Trinita dei Monti weren’t undergoing renovation I might have seen the draw, but I saw very little to recommend with regard to the Spanish Steps. The area is heaving with tourists and touts and is neither particularly impressive nor memorable.