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| The Italians don't believe in rushing through a meal. The waiter will not bring a bill until you request it. If you are in a hurry ask for the bill when your food is brought to your table. It may be another 10-15 minutes before you are presented with the check. |
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| The water in Rome is safe to drink. There are water fountains throughout the city. The fountains are about the height of a fire hydrant and have water pouring out all day/night.
Cover the spiquet with your finger and a stream of water will spray out like a drinking fountain. Buy one bottle of water and then refill it for free throughout the day. |
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| Italian menus are divided by courses: appetizer, first dish of pasta and a second dish of meat or fish. Order whatever you want. Only the tourists traps are going to pressure you into eating every course. |
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| If you are happy with the service at a restaurant leave a few euros for the waiter. Tipping of 15-20% is not the norm in Italy. Tips must be left in cash and cannot be added to credit card purchases. |
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| The price you pay for eating or drinking at a bar/cafe will depend on where you consume it. Sitting at a table will cost more than standing at the bar. Be sure to check the difference in price so you can avoid a surprise when the bill comes. |
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| General |
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| The bathrooms at sights and in restaurants are frequently out of toliet paper. Keep some tissue in your day bag or purse. Better to be safe than sorry! |
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| Graffiti has been in Rome since the days of Caesar. Don't worry, it's not a reflection of the safety of the area you are in. |
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| Staying connected with friends and family is easy in Rome. There are internet cafes and phone centers throughout the city. |
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| Purchase postage stamps at tobacco stores to avoid the long queues at the post offices. Mailboxes are located throughout the city but your accommodation may offer outgoing mail service.
NOTE: Items with Vatican postage stamps must be mailed from Vatican, not within Rome. |
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| If you want to be served at a counter you need to be aggressive. Don't expect to find an orderly line. Do as the locals do and elbow your way to the front, regardless of who was there before you. |
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| Hotels |
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| Travelers are required to present their passport or European Union identification cards upon check-in at all accommodations. There is not reason to make a fuss over this, the hotels are just following the law. |
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| Many buildings in Italy do not have elevators. Those that do usually feature very small elevators. This is due to the fact that the elevators were put in years after the buildings were constructed. You may land up riding the lift with your bag while your partner waits for his turn. |
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| Most hotels Italy do not provide washclothes. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Your hands will work just fine. |
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| Ever notice that breakfast is never mentioned when people rave about Italian food? The Italian breakfast is small and typically eaten on the go. Grab an espresso and a cornetto (croissant) to tide you over until lunch. |
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| Money |
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| ATMs are automatically set to retreive money from checking accounts. If your ATM card is linked to a checking account and a savings account, you will only be able to access the checking account. There is no option to transfer money between accounts. |
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| Millions of tourists visit Rome each year without incident but pickpockets make a living by stealing other people's possessions. Keep an eye on your belongings at all times – especially when taking public transportation. Minimize the loss if you are a victim: keep a copy of your passport separate from the original, do not carry all your credit cards with you, carry only the amount of cash you will need with you for the day and empty out cards that will of no use to you while in on vacation (library card, frequent shopper cards).
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| Travelers Checks are no longer widely accepted. The best way to obtain local currency is from the an ATM. Bring travelers checks for emergency use only. |
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| You may want to hit the ATM before Sunday, because many of the machines run out of cash and won't refill until Monday! |
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| Sights |
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| Many of the sights have mobile food carts near the entrances. You should avoid purchasing items here for 2 reasons:
1. Overpriced! You will pay 3-4 times more for the same item found at a bar/cafe
2. The pickpockets are watching to see where people are taking their money from. Yup, they just watched you pull money from your pocket or take it from your sock. And you thought you were so smart to not keep it in your purse! |
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| The Colosseum shares an entry ticket with Palatine Hill. Since the sights are located right next to each other purchase your tickets at the Palatine Hill ticket window. Once you have your ticket you can bypass the long line at the Colosseum. |
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| Bring a compact mirror to the Sistine Chapel. Instead of straining your neck looking up at the ceiling look at the reflection in the mirror. |
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| Churches are places of worship, not just tourist attractions. Proper dress in required. Shoulders and knees should be covered. No shorts or tank tops.
And yes, the rules apply even if you'll only be inside the church for a few minutes. |
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| The Vatican Museum will be closed on the following days in 2007:
January 1 - World Day of Peace;
January 6 - Ephipany;
February 11 - Vatican National Day;
March 19 - Feast of St Joseph;
April 9 - Easter Monday;
May 1 - Feast of St. Joseph the Worker;
May 17 - Feast of the Ascension of the Lord; June 7 - Feast of Corpus Christi;
June 29 - Feast of St Peter & St Paul;
August 15-16 - Feast of the Assumption;
November 1 - Feast of All Saints;
December 8 - Feast of the Immaculate Conception;
December 25 - Christmas Day;
December 26 - The Feast of St Stephen
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| All those men wandering around the Colosseum and the Roman Forum dressed as gladiators aren't out there for fun. If you take their picture they expect to be paid. Negoiate a price BEFORE you starting snapping photos. A fair price is €5. |
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| Transportation |
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| If you will driving in the historic center of Rome be sure to ask your hotel if a permit is required. Only vehicles with proper authorization are allowed to drive in restricted areas of the city center. Avoid getting a ticket - it will follow you home! |
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| Renting a car? If the rental agency offers you a free upgrad to a larger vehicle politely decline. Finding parking is hard enough, the last thing you want to look for is a big parking space. |
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| Round the fare up when tipping taxi drivers. For example, if the fare is €7.40 give the driver €8.00. |
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