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Pickpockets and Purse-Snatchers Rome
171 Reviews It didnt happen to me yet however i heard my dad saying on our trip on bus 64 that goes from the vatican to termini that on this bus there are many pickpockets.I also overheard once that the airport...
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Acqua Alta Venice
37 Reviews Venetians are used to carrying on their lives during times of Aqua Alta (High Water). Although most common between October and early March, It isn't unknown for it to occur at other times. Raised...
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Pickpockets Florence
53 Reviews Pickpockets are everywhere, especially where tourists like to hang out – so take common sense precautions as you travel in Florence. - Don’t flash your valuables around – expensive camera equipment,...
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Central Station Milan
16 Reviews Having read so many horror stories about Stazione Centrale Milan I think it's a good idea to make a tip about it. Context: I am a solo middle-aged female traveller. I am European. Milan Centrale is...
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Other Verona
14 Reviews Most attractions and other buildings, some shops etc will be closed on a Monday But don't worry, there's still plenty to see and do, especially a lazy walk between the piazzas or some people watching...
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The dogs Pompeii
12 Reviews While we were there in April 2010 the signs around Pompeii were quite clear. The dogs have started out as strays but have been 'adopted' by Pompeii which has been establlished as a dog sanctuary. All...
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The Tower Pisa
18 Reviews I have never felt the need to climb the Tower, but you may. You will certainly need to book your ticket online in advance. Tower tickets are strictly limited per day, and are frequently block-booked...
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Historic Centre: not always a safe place! Genoa
8 Reviews I lived in Genoa for 6 months on a yacht that was being refitted in Amico yard. There were 8 yachts where the crews were friendly - a total of about 50 crew members all from Aus, NZ, SA, Brits and all...
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Beggars and Cons Rome
95 Reviews Types you'd least expect to rob you blind will in the Rome train station - and the cops now it well, so beware - nobody official cares. There's a con where a seemingly nice young man offers to help...
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Pickpockets, etc Venice
25 Reviews I strongly advise against carrying pepper spray and similar. Only very low doses (10%) are currently legal in Italy and they are more likely to enrage a thief that disable him (or her). Furthermore,...
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Shopping Florence
14 Reviews I don't really know what happened; my Italian isn't good enough, and the shopkeeper couldn't/wouldn't speak English. But is was a most unpleasant experience, and possibly worth relating as a...
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Pick Pockets Milan
25 Reviews Mugging is rare in Italy but pickpockets are common and extremely skilled, especially in Naples, Rome and Milan, with Florence close behind. Organise your valuables so that pickpockets can't get at...
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Pick Pockets Verona
5 Reviews This is Portoni della Bra, the City Gate - entrance into the Centro Storico of Verona. This part of the town is very crowded with thousands of tourists, also it is crowded with pickpockets too. Be...
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Pickpokets Pisa
16 Reviews A trip to Tuscany was spoiled yesterday when my girlfriend's purse was stolen on the bus back to the airport. It's not as if we weren't aware of the dangers and what to look out for, but she realised...
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Train Stations Rome
26 Reviews Many stairs to negotiate. As an elderly single lady traveling alone with relatively heavy baggage I was helped by a young Brit traveling with his girl friend. I suggest to elderly travelers, arrive or...
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Pigeons Venice
46 Reviews Many tourists seem to delight in feeding the local pidgeons. Some even lie flat on the ground in St Mark's square and somewhat bizzarely cover themeselves in crumbs. Well, each to their own but...
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Traffic Florence
18 Reviews They are like bees buzzing around Florence. The drivers of these mopeds think they are immune to the law, so it is not unusual for them to drive up the street in the wrong direction. So, if you should...
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Traffic Milan
12 Reviews Driving car in Milan might be adventure (a nightmare) for you because of a very huge traffic. However, if you want to test your nerves and courage you are welcom in the club. The best entrance in the...
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Traffic Verona
2 Reviews Do not drive all around the arena, since you may get ticketed. There are unidentified places where it is tourist-pedestrian only, and no vehicles allowed, but the markings would not show that for you...
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Prices Pisa
8 Reviews On our way home from a trip to Florence we visited Pisa and wandered up the street away from the cathedral looking for somewher for lunch. We went into a modern, nice looking restaurant with friendly...
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Proper dress Rome
12 Reviews There is a dress code if you are to visit St. Peter's Basilica. Shorts are not allowed for men or women, Tank tops, bare shoulders or short skirts are not permitted. Dress appropriately or they will...
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Taxis Florence
3 Reviews Even with the taxis using meters I got ripped off three times. Once was by not being familiar with the city and I took a taxi from the train station to the Hotel--which was 5 blocks away! It still...
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Lockers Pisa
1 Review There is a place at the trainstation to store the luggage, B U T : it is OUT OF ORDER due to the attacks of Sept. 11th. Recently at least the counter was reopened again, where you may hand over your...
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Traffic Rome
59 Reviews Crossing the road in Rome can be quite a terrifying experience for those of us who come from places where driving is a little less...chaotic and aggressive, let us say. There is a technique to doing...
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Police Behavior Rome
13 Reviews Yes, DON'T! I have to say it the other way around, "Don't Do What the Roman's Don't!" You can see Odessa standing on the steps of the King Vittorio Emanuel II monument. You will be able to see Mother...
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Europeans book 1 year in advance. I recommend you begin your hotel search now and the best deals are the hotels which include breakfast and dinner. If you eat at restaurants take a large amount of money with you for Italy and make sure you sew it into your clothes! Good luck. Unfortunately, tourists are a red light to local criminals who are very professional at pickpocketing!
It can be an enormous disappointment to finally get to Italy and find that "must see" building, painting, fountain or other piece of antiquity covered in scaffolding, shrouded in plastic or missing entirely. Light, pollution, weather and crowds take a costly toll on these things and they all need the occasional sprucing up and/or inspection for damage. Sometimes they become too fragile altogether to be on display for very long. Fortunately, careful attention will keep these treasures intact for many centuries to come and, sad as it is to miss out on them, there's thousands of other fascinating things to see! More annoying can be the temporary events that obstruct/disrupt historic sites with staging, very large pieces of amusement equipment, noise, etc. A little bit of humor here - the Victor Emmanuel Monument, shown here covered in tarps and scaffolding, is not old (by Rome's standards)...
What IS it about many tour groups that makes them think they don't have to mind their manners or follow the same rules as everyone else? Being constantly run over by large, noisy, pushy tour groups was the single complaint of our entire trip. And if they weren't literally breathing down our necks and crowding us out of vantage spots, they were taking flash pictures and talking loudly in places where you'd been specifically asked NOT to. I guess it's not the tourists' fault that the groups they've signed up for are WAY too large and/or on a schedule WAY too tight to politely wait for others to finish their turns before mowing them down? OK. But I do wonder if they yell in the churches and museums at home? I recommend starting your sightseeing EARLY and allowing a little quiet time every day to escape the insanity. Wander a few tiny side streets or beautiful parks. Take a coffee, gelato or...
There are few things for travellers to be aware when in Italy:1. language: no English at most of the place, incl. train station. Get a dictionary to read some signboards. 2. Print out email or write in paper to buy a train ticket3. Local ppls: they are quite rude with foreigner, especially when travellers speak English. FOr asian or african, get prepared to get bad service from local ppls.4. When talk with local ppls, they like to shout to you. SOme, because of they are emotional to say something, some because of habits and some of them, they angry with you.5. Try to managed everything by yourself, before you decided to ask ppls. They not really friendly.6. When buy something, always check a balance. I always have this exp when they like to cheating you with return less balance. Even old women will do a same things. Always happen in train station.7. Be careful with young guys or kids,...
Traffic and strikes.These two are probably the main dangers you may encounter while travelling in Italy.The two are also connected as traffic will be a hell if there is a public transpot strike and that is not so rare.Specially in big cities do not expect drivers letting you walk on only because you are on white lines, behave like if you are crossing somewhere you should not.
Pappagalli (pappagallo: singular), literally parrots, are Italian men that prey on female tourists. In Rome, these pathetic loverboys can be found in the historical district. Sites like the Colosseum, Trevi fountain, etc. Here are a few easy ways to spot them: 1.) They don't dress like your typical tourist. Usually no shorts. They look like they're going to a dinner date. 2.) They don't act like tourists. By that I mean, they don't carry picture cameras, and they never look at the tourist sites, istead they stare at our women.3.) They usually work in groups. So, if you are a woman or young girl, going to italy, I'm just warning you. However if you want to give these "men" the time of day, that's a whole different story.
Unfortunately, at many popular tourist sights in Italy you will get bombarded by men trying to sell you roses. They will even try to put them in your hands and say they are "free." They are not free and you will get hassled for money. In Venice we were eating at an outdoor cafe and were asked to buy a rose by at least 5 different men. It got very annoying and I am surprised the restaurant doesn't crack down on that more. Anyhow, just be firm and say, "no, grazie," and keep walking.
NUT ALLERGY INFO - OLIVE OIL - I got allergic to the Olive Oil in Italy - so beware - i read somewhere that in local Olive Oils Pecan nuts can be added - so if you have allergy to certain nuts - also be careful with Olive Oil because it can contain nuts.I became the most ill i have ever been in my life - i had to stop eating because olive oil was in everything - you couldn't tell a restaurant not to put it in - so in Tuscany i just had Apple and bread. I have been ill with cooking oils before however - but i always thought it was the oil - but after research they said its rare - so nuts may be in some cooking oils in uk - i dont knowHEAT - normal precautions with heat Be careful with the heat in summer - get youreslf a nice big hat to keep sun off if possible - take plenty of water with you - eat fruit.Be careful of motorbikes in city centres - they can be a bit crazy - if you are...
I have visited Italy in January 2007 and rented a car form Italy by Car in Taormina Giardini. I had to pay a 300 euro deposit because I didn't have a credit card, only an ATM/debit card with no embossed numbers on it. I dropped off the car on January 15 in Napoli and filled in a deposit refund form giving my IBAN bank code and SWIFT code. I have not received any payment till now, though I contacted the Palermo center of Italy by car several times by phone, mail and e-mail.Do _not_ pay a cash deposit!!!
Want a fantastic present from Rome. Want a story to tell all your friends when you get home? Well a big fat FINE for breaking Italian Law and buying fake designer bags and the like is not my idea of a good time. The guys you see selling them are usually exploited African men who get very little out of it. The Police target the BUYERS as you can pay the fine, they can’t. And then there is the rain. A lot of these ‘Gucci’ leather items are of poor quality and bizarre stitching. Get it wet and it may just fall apart. I do not like the prices the top name designers charge, but you are not doing yourself or anyone else any favours if you buy it. It’s a crime. Don’t ruin your holiday by giving the Police your hard earned spending money!
Albergo Del Senato Rome
5 Reviews and 1085 Opinions The Pantheon is my favorite building in Rome and might be my favorite building in the world. The...
Al Ponte Antico Hotel Venice Venice
6 Reviews and 474 Opinions My sisters and I stayed 2 nights at this hotel and our time there was priceless. Matteo and his...
Hotel David Florence
6 Reviews and 920 Opinions My husband and I stayed at the hotel 4 years ago and loved it, so when I planned our family trip...
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Q: For my 3rd trip to Italy, my mother and I are on a tight budget (food-wise). On previous visits, I'd simply select a recommended...
A: Sandi, I'm no expert on Italian eating but eating from each menu section would be an incredible feat. We always order a starter OR a dessert and then we order either a...
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