Rome Tourist Traps

This is starting to be a really common tourist trap. It begins when you go to an ATM machine, usually after the banks are closed for the night. You put your card into the slot and enter your pin...nothing happens. You try it again and nothing happens. At this point you try to cancel the transaction only to find that the machine has "eaten" your ATM card. More than likely, what has really happened is that theives have put a plastic "capture sleeve" into the card slot. This sleeve takes your card and won't give it back. Someone else is watching with binoculars or a telephoto lens to get your pin number. When you leave they come back and retrieve your card.

Unique Suggestions: One of the main ways to avoid this happening to you is to use the ATM's only when the bank is open. If your card gets stuck have someone go inside to get help while someone stays with the machine. Try not to leave the machine alone if your card is stuck, that way no one can come by and take your card. Also, when typing in your pin number, make sure you hide the keypad from view as much as you can. If you have someone else with you have them help you shield the keypad. The more vigilant you are at hiding the keypad the less chance you have of someone seeing it. If you must use your card at night, after bank hours, make sure you have your bank phone number available to you. Before you insert your card check the card insert slot. I am told if you look for it you can usually spot it. If your card gets stuck, immediately contact your bank and cancel your card.

This scam is starting to be very common, so protect your pin number and use caution when using the ATM after hours.

They look very photogenic in their mock bronze or leather breast plates and their head gear - and even the fake sun-tanned legs add to the impression of "real" gladiators from the days of the Roman Empire, BUT beware: A photo costs 5 Euro for each gladiator in the scene - and that's using YOUR camera. Maybe use a telephoto lens to snap off a few of them trying to hustle other tourists, or try as I did.

The two gladiators in the photo were enjoying their afternoon beer and smoke when I happened along in my Australian bush hat. We joked about Crocodile Dundee and I managed to do a swap - a Crocodile Dundee story in exchange for a photo. See horse trading does exist even in Rome - ciao

If you are an American Senior and 65+ you will pay more than do Italian and other European Seniors to visit Italilan tourist sites, e.g. Colosseum in Rome, DaVinci's "Last Supper" in Milan, Doge's Palace in Venice, Uffizi gallery in Florence and others.

For example, a ticket to the Colosseum costs €4.50 ($6.30) for a European Senior but €16.00 ($22.40) for an American Senior! Similar price disparities exist between what American Seniors and Italiand and other European Seniors pay for admission to the other sites listed above as well as the Borghese Gallery in Rome and the Academia in Venice, and more. Multiply that by all the sites you will want to visit, not to mention the poor Dollar-Euro exchange rate, and it adds up.

This biased pricing policy once applied to European Seniors who were non-Italian, but several years ago the European Court of Justice forced Italy not to discriminate against other European Seniors. Yet they still do against Americans and other non-Europeans.

Perhaps we should charge entrance fees only to Italians who visit our wonderful Smithsonian Museums in Washington, D.C. Please write a letter of complaint (stressing the need for fairness) to Italian Ambassador Giovanni Castellaneta, Embassy of Italy, 3000 Whitehaven Street N.W. Washington, D.C. 20008.

Unique Suggestions: I wish there were a way to eliminate the discrimination in the Italian admission pricing policy, but short of marrying a European (which I did 40 years ago) I am at a loss to give advice on how to "level the playing field." At least I had to pay the high prices only for myself (the American Senior).

We had visited the magnificent Santa Maria Maggiore and felt a little peckish and needed a loo visit, so went to the cafe of "The Old Station" pub and cafe. We're too old for the disco and just wanted a sandwich and a cold drink each.

The loo at the cafe was disgusting and didn't have any toilet paper or hand drying facilities.

We went inside and looked at the choices, gave an order for 3 rounds of sandwiches and 2 cold drinks and checked the price - about 2 Euro for each sandwich and about 2 Euro for each drink. We went outside and the waiter followed us with our tray load.

After we finished we asked for the bill. The waiter had to ask us what we had consumed as he had no idea and then gave us the bill - 21.40 Euro. I got angry that I had been so overcharged and then they pointed out the almost illegible sign on the wall listing the prices for stand up inside and/or take away and the separate price for eating at the tables on the footpath. I refused to pay the total bill and would have given 15 Euro and walked away, but didn't have a 5 Euro note, so I left 20 Euro, yelled that they are robbers and succeeded in getting at least one group to avoid their overcharging and left.

The waiter chased after us and demanded the remaining 1.40 Euro - needless to say I refused. We both yelled at each other and he actually tried to assault me (another staff member restrained him).

PLEASE AVOID OLD STATION CAFE.

Unique Suggestions: Eat in the side streets where the service and food are much better and the prices at least half what you'll pay in the piazzas.

At popular tourist spots, there exist many people waiting for a quick buck. Two friendly looking guys approached me and my friend and told us he could do some magic if we lend him our hands (literally). Before we could react further, each grabbed one wrist and started weaving "friendship bands" around our wrist. Goodness! No where to run! I must say that they are really skillful. Completed the job within a min! Its a pretty band but they asked for us$50 each!

They turned hostile when we rejected their handicraft by attempting to untie the knot. Thank god we kept our cool and renegotiated by us$10 for 2 pieces. Its still a crazy price to pay but we could at least get rid of them!!

You look for a travel package with a tour company such as...Trafalgar, Fodor, Rick Steves...the possibilities are endless. You look over the itinerary and fall in love. I'm telling you, please!!!, ask questions. When it says you'll tour Circus Maximus or the Colleseum really investigate what that means. Do they drop you off for an hour? Do they pay for the entrace fees? I was really disappointed not to walk around Circus Maximus and REALLY disappointed I could not take the tour inside the Colleseum because we didn't have enough time. Even though some people don't think those are worthy things to do I WANTED TO! And when you're paying that much money it should be your dream vacation.

Unique Suggestions: So, just do your research! Ask questions before purchasing a package.

Fun Alternatives: It's not that I didn't enjoy my trip. You can always add a day or two to your trip at the beginning or end to go explore the things you didn't get to do. You could also do it at the leisure times they might afford you in the evening or afternoon.

The promise is great - 12 or thirteen different stops around the "must see" areas of Rome just 20 Euro for two days of travel. Get off and enjoy the sights then get on for the next stop. Well they are drastically short of buses and you will find the first time you get off you will NOT be able to get back on. The system seems to be that you buy your ticket a the Terminus, queue for a while then get on a bus which then empties out at various stops, refusing to let on the waiting passengers then heads back to the terminus for another load. It does not matter if it is wet or fine, the answer from the Conductor to waiting passengers is "no, wait for the next bus" We tried for the two days of the pass and gave up and used the underground Metro. A few days later we used a similar system in Barcelona. What a contrast! At each stop there would normally be two or even three buses setting down and picking up passengers . The system really works there

Unique Suggestions: I understand the Blue Bus line works much better but the Underground Metro is quick and covers a lot of the City. there is more walking involved but then you see more ot the sights.

Along the streets of Rome are lemon trees. Now, they don't exist because they are so delicious. They exist because they are disgusting! If you think you want to be cute or funny and taste one....go for it but don't say I didn't warn you! I cannot remember if they make you sick or not but better safe than sorry...

Unique Suggestions: They are beautiful and it is neat to see fruit trees line the streets in one of the world's most popular cities. So enjoy them for their appearence and avoid any intestinal disasters :)

Fun Alternatives: There is food everywhere! Enjoy the produce and food that is sold...