{"id":18,"date":"2014-07-26T07:55:36","date_gmt":"2014-07-25T23:55:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gautamkhattak.wordpress.com\/?page_id=18"},"modified":"2015-08-07T12:20:44","modified_gmt":"2015-08-07T04:20:44","slug":"europe-italy-rome","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.gautamkhattak.com\/wordpress\/emea\/europe-italy-rome\/","title":{"rendered":"Italy – Rome"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rome, Italy <\/strong>by Gautam Khattak<\/p>\n

Last updated:<\/strong> June 29, 2014<\/p>\n

Disclaimer:<\/strong> These are notes I\u2019ve written or gathered from various sources. I have not experienced all things in this document nor is it intended to be a definitive guide.<\/p>\n

General Tips<\/strong><\/p>\n

Currency:<\/strong> Euro<\/p>\n

Conversion Tool:<\/strong> http:\/\/www.google.com\/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=100+usd+to+eur<\/a><\/p>\n

(Update for current rates)<\/p>\n

100 USD = 78.09 EUR<\/p>\n

1 USD = .781 EUR<\/p>\n

100 EUR = 128.05 USD<\/p>\n

1 EUR = 1.281 USD<\/p>\n

Tipping:<\/strong><\/p>\n

As strange as this may seem to you, the truth is you don\u2019t need to tip in Italy. Seriously, you don\u2019t need to tip in Italy. If the service is exceptional, be my guest but it\u2019s not expected and it\u2019s not really done by the locals. Rounding up the bill to the nearest Euro is normally how I handle it. If you absolutely must tip or you feel your soul will be damaged, aim for a 5-10%.<\/p>\n

Again it\u2019s not necessary to tip for anything in Italy but it is customary to round up taxi fares to a convenient amount.<\/p>\n

Local Customs:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Scams:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Crime in Rome isn\u2019t too high but you have to be careful of pickpockets in the crowded, touristy areas of Rome. Also especially be weary on crowded buses like Route 40 and 64. Don’t assume the stereo type pick pocket will look like someone hanging on the street. The thieves on bus 64 are distinguished gentlemen, well dressed…with a suit jacket folded over their arm to cover their roving hand. Also be weary of anyone making you hold something, (I\u2019ve even read about a baby being put into someone\u2019s arms while their wallet was stolen and they didn\u2019t have the hands to stop it).<\/p>\n

Also be weary of people coming up to you and tying a string bracelet on your wrists and then asking you to give them money. Just because they gave you the bracelet, don\u2019t give them any money. Have them cut it off if they have to, otherwise treat it as a free souvenir. This can be a major annoyance in places like Piazza Navona and the Spanish Steps.<\/p>\n

Transportation<\/strong><\/p>\n

I thoroughly enjoyed walking around Rome. It\u2019s not too big of a city the way I broke up my Itinerary.<\/p>\n

Airport<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rome has two airports – Fiumicino (Leonardo da Vinci) FCO and Ciampino\u00a0 (CIA). Fiumicino is Rome\u2019s main airport and is well-connected with the center during the day by an express train.<\/p>\n

The express train between Fiumicino Airport and Stazione Termini (Rome’s main train station) costs \u20ac9.50 and the journey takes about 30 minutes. The train departs from and arrives at Termini station at track #27 and runs from 6.30am till 11.30pm. Ciampino (CIA) is Rome’s smaller airport, is mostly used by charter flights and budget airlines.<\/p>\n

Taxi\u2019s from FCO are a set fair at \u20ac48 and from CIA it\u2019s \u20ac30 or \u20ac33. There is also a few bus companies that will take you to Termini station from either airport for around \u20ac4. I used this and it was convenient and cheap. It only took about 30 minutes so similar to the taxi or train. Not a bad option if you\u2019re going solo. However when I got to Termini the line to get on the bus to go to back to the airport was very long so if you plan to use it to catch a flight out of Rome plan for at least an extra hour queue time (you cannot book more than an hour in advance I believe).<\/p>\n

Public transport<\/strong><\/p>\n

Public transportation tickets must be purchased in advance from tabacchis (Tobacco Shops), newsstands, bars, or vending machines (exact change only!) at metro and major bus stops. For the most part you cannot buy a ticket on the bus or tram, so make sure you get one in advance. It\u2019s \u20ac1.5 to ride for 100 minutes and its \u20ac6 for a day pass.<\/p>\n

The Bus system is convenient especially if you have a day pass but they do make a lot of stops and I was never on a bus that wasn\u2019t really crowded (again watch your pockets). The #40 and #60 bus follow most of the tourist destinations so be extra careful on those.<\/p>\n

Rome does have a Metro system which is easy to navigate if you\u2019ve been in other cities. Sorry I\u2019m spoiled living in Hong Kong because to me the Roma Metro system<\/a> seems like it was built in the ancient times. It\u2019s not air-conditioned but it gets you from A to B.<\/p>\n

Getting to cities outside Italy is very easy via train. ItaliaRail<\/a> and \u00a0TrenItalia<\/a> for example are easy to get tickets online and you go to Stazione Termini (Termini Station)<\/a> to board the train and head out. Just watch your pockets and bags when you\u2019re in the trainstation as its crowded. You can book in advance or you can buy tickets day of via the kiosks. The machines come in multiple languages. When you buy-online you have to get your ticket from the kiosk, then you have to go to another machine (typically near the platform) to validate the ticket. I don\u2019t know why, it seems redundant but you have to do it BEFORE you get on the train.<\/p>\n

Taxis<\/strong><\/p>\n

Taxis are just like any major city. They will have a meter and will charge the price shown on the meter plus permitted extra charges of \u20ac1 for each bag after the first in the luggage area and \u20ac1 for each passenger after the fourth. Take care to always use an official taxi, licensed by the city. They are white, with a “TAXI” sign on the roof and the Rome crest (with “SPQR”) on the doors. Taxi\u2019s are generally only available from a Taxi stand and they\u2019re not everywhere so if you\u2019re not staying at a hotel the easiest thing is to have a restaurant or coffee shop call. However, if you phone for a taxi or had your hotel call one, the meter starts running when the taxi left their stand to come to where you were. Therefore there will often already be a few euros on the meter when you get in. Again it\u2019s not necessary to tip for anything in Italy but it is customary to round up taxi fares to a convenient amount.<\/p>\n

There are a large proportion of illegal unmarked taxis that are on the road. Thus make sure you always enter a cab that is registered and has a meter. If the cab does not have a meter make sure you negotiate your price before accepting the ride. Strategically negotiating the price before you enter the vehicle is more viable.<\/p>\n

Tourist Destinations, Museums & Art Galleries<\/strong><\/p>\n

Colosseo<\/a> (The Colosseum)<\/p>\n