Rome Tourist Traps

Ok so we went to the Colliseum this morning nice and early, and it was just incredible. But on our way out we had a gelato cone...(didn't bother me that part) and as we were sitting, the gladiators came over and we quickly realised that we were sitting on there stone they use... I didnt even blink when they offered to take our pictures because not 5 minutes before, we had a cleaner in the colliseum very kindly offer to take some pictures of us. So stupid me thought that these guys must work at the colliseum or something and they were clicking away...

"€50 each..."

2 people - 6 photos - €100...

I walk away feeling incredibly stupid and ripped off (well actually thats a lie, the lads were a good laugh and if im honest, I really enjoyed it. But €100 is definately over the top)

Ok so that was a bad start! nevermind, chin up and let's move on... Circo Massimo!

Off the metro and crossed the street, and a car stops beside us just after my girlfriend takes a photo. I hear a voice from the car shouting "scuse?", inside the car is a very well dressed man asking if we spoke english and we knew where the colliseum was?

So we're talking away and I really did think it was a legit conversation, "Where you two from..." "Ahhhhh! Scotland, my wife is from edinbourg"

At this point I'm starting to get a little suspicious, the man is claiming he is a big big fashion designer and lives in paris.

To thank us for the directions he hands us a bag with two jackets in it, how nice of him! until I look in the back and see he has another 4-5 bags there... at that point I clicked what was happening but while this was going on in my head, the man had asked for some petrol money and my girlfriend had her purse out.

She gave the man €50 euros and he was demanding more, at first quite gently but by this point I was shouting under my breath (as you do), she gave the man 5 more euros and claimed it was all she had, and eventually the man conceeded and drove off.

Unique Suggestions: Ok some definate rules for Rome.

1) Unless you see something you specifically want or you are in a shop/legit place, you DO not understand english or italian, speak some obscure language or even make it up! that way if they have you in a conversation, just look at them blankly and mumble gibberish.

2) If you need supplies, for god sakes get them at a supermarket (supermercat) we were easily spending €2-3 on bottles and cans of juice until we got a 1.5l bottle at the supermarket for €1.60, easily enough to cart about with you during a day...

3) DO NOT ACCEPT ANYTHING FROM ANYONE UNLESS YOU HAVE ASKED FOR IT, the polizei really dont seem interested in people offering services without specifically expressing that it comes at a cost, for an EU country I really really didn't expect this sort of draconian hijinx.

4) Internet Cafe - This is something I thought I'd share with you, you can't always guarantee the safety of these places so dont use them for checking your bank accounts or important details.

Fun Alternatives: here's some of the good tips i've found.

1) Supermercat - SIR - Piazza Independenza - Stock up on water, juice, whatever here.

2) Computer Discount (Just beside SIR) - Cheap SD cards - €25 for 2gb, friendly staff.

3) Colliseum - If you brave the metro about 8:30, you'll find no queues at the colliseum

4) Souvineirs - Most are cheap and tacky, but I got a brilliant bronze gladiator out the colliseum souvineir shop for €35, definately cheered me up, get something that looks unique and will remind you and others of your trip, remember it doesnt have to say Rome on it to be from Rome!

5) Eating - look around properly, don't just go for the first place you find. There are some beautiful little ristorantes in Rome... and as much as I hate McDonalds, the restaraunt in the Termini was a godsend after hours of travelling through Rome. Use it if your really hungry! grab a big mac or whatever and it will stop you making any rash decisions for where to eat.

6) Enjoy Rome on your own! God tourist parties annoy me! We live in the 21st century so get on sites like this and research places that aren't in the tourist books, or get a map photocopied and just wander round the streets, we didn't find in any of the tourist books that there are orange and lemons trees right in the pavement of a certain street. Go find it !

7) Go buy a gladiator costume and stand outside the colliseum, watch the money pour in!

You think exchanging money at Foreign exchange businesses IN ITALY is safe business? Think again!
From experience here in Italy, you may be robbed and not even know it.
We went to Maccorp Italiana S.P.A (Roma Ottaviano – C.F. e P.I. 12951210157) to exchange USD $ 300 (the rate for the time was 1.55978).
Commission (their servizio) was 17.90 % (+) a EURO 3.90 (servizzio fisso) fee.
In conclusion, we were charged over USD $ 50 worth of fees and walked out with only EURO 154.00.
At an honest place for money exchange in Italy, we would have walked away with at least EURO 189.00 (after all fees).
We asked the rude guy why he was charging so much and informed him we would like our USD back (as he was protected behind a bullet proof glass shield).
Yet unfortunately he did not cooperate and we walked away to avoid issues with him.

Unique Suggestions: AVOID GOING TO:
Maccorp Italiana S.P.A (Roma Ottaviano – C.F. e P.I. 12951210157)

Fun Alternatives: Go to banks, it is far safer and you get better rates.
Also, before handing over your money, ask exactly what they service fees consist of and how much you are getting in return after all their fees.

On our last day, me and my sister decided to have breakfast in a cafe on Piazza Navona. We had a table in the sun near one of the fountains and the weather was gorgeous. We decided to go for their breakfast buffet, which seemed reasonable €7,50 a head. I think we probably thought that hot drinks would be included and when they finally brought us the bill, we realised hot drinks weren't included and we ended up paying 14.50 each for the breakfast buffet and a latte.

The price of the latte was therefore €7!!! ;-) That is the most expensive coffee I have ever had in my life, since I only paid €5 in Bruges, Belgium!! Ha ha! That's what you get when you don't check the prices before ordering. Never mind. It was worth it. We only spent about €10 per head on our lunches and dinners normally and it was our last day, the setting was very nice and all. No regrets..

Unique Suggestions: Check the price before hand

Fun Alternatives: Go a bit further away from the square and you find many more economical options

Regarding evening tours like "Illuminated Rome" inquire about the type of bus you'll be traveling in. I took this tour on October 19th, 2007. The bus had high seats. The only view out the window was between your seat and the seat in front of you.

Unique Suggestions: Ask about the type of bus you'll be traveling in. Is the view blocked by seats? Will you be able to see anything? When you get to the office ask which bus you'll be on before you pay. If you think the view won't be good, skip the tour.

Fun Alternatives: Take note of which tour busses you pass on the street that have good viewing. When you get to your hotel you can check them out online or ask the desk clerk.

the vendors, mostly from India, will hand the ladies a long stem red rose and claim it's free just because you are so beautiful. they will watch you and later demand $20 us dollars...don't take the rose unless you want to pay

This one the jewels of the Rome - my mum new and she also new that it is famous for pickpockets. Due to this we were very carefull although mobile phone dissapered out of the purse

Unique Suggestions: Hide walts and purses

This tourist bus line is probably one of the worst. The buses are few, the stops very far apart and on the day I rode with them the last two scheduled buses never showed up at all, forcing us to run to the nearest metro station in order to catch our train.

If you're taking a train or bus, you have to have your ticket stamped/validated. For trains, the stamping machines are bright yellow and on the platforms at the station. On buses, the machines are on the bus itself. Just slip in your ticket and it gets stamped automatically. It's not difficult and if you don't do this, you'll have to pay a fine if your ticket gets checked.