TOP 10 MISTAKES TOURISTS MAKE IN ITALY

<div class="expert-content-text" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> taly is a great country to visit and your vacation may be even better if you follow these tips. Here are the top 10 mistakes tourists make when they visit Italy.</div> <section class="list-unit group" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><figure class="content-img content-img-small right-gutter" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="content-img-wrapper" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0.3em 1.571em 0.5em 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 8px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 310px;"> <img alt="Lucca-cafes.jpg - Martha Bakerjian" data-description="Don't Make These Mistakes: 10 Things Not to Do in Italy: Over Planning and Over Scheduling" data-pinit-img-url="http://f.tqn.com/y/goitaly/1/S/m/_/-/-/Lucca-cafes.jpg" height="224" src="http://f.tqn.com/y/goitaly/1/L/m/_/-/-/Lucca-cafes.jpg" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="300" /><div class="wp-caption-text" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"> Martha Bakerjian</div> </div> </div> </figure><div class="expert-content-text" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <h3 class="item-heading" style="border: 0px; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: inherit; font-size: 22px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 12px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;"> 1.  OVER PLANNING AND OVER SCHEDULING</h3> <div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Italy does not run like clockwork so don’t expect everything to go smoothly, especially if you’ve made yourself a tight schedule. Leave some time for hanging out in a piazza or bar or going to a festival or special event you may run across. People often tell me that the most memorable part of their trip was something they didn’t plan and the biggest mistake I hear about is trying to jam in too many places into a short vacation. Moving to a new city and new hotel every day is exhausting and eats up a lot of time that could be spent enjoying a place for several days and really getting to know it.</div> <section class="list-unit group" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><figure class="content-img content-img-small right-gutter" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="content-img-wrapper" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0.3em 1.571em 0.5em 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 8px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 310px;"> <img alt=" - © by James Martin, Europe Travel" data-description="Don't Make These Mistakes: 10 Things Not to Do in Italy: Standing in Ticket Lines" data-pinit-img-url="http://f.tqn.com/y/goitaly/1/S/p/3/-/-/st-peters-line.jpg" height="199" src="http://f.tqn.com/y/goitaly/1/L/p/3/-/-/st-peters-line.jpg" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="300" /><div class="wp-caption-text" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"> Vatican Museums Line. © by James Martin, Europe Travel</div> </div> </div> </figure><div class="expert-content-text" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <h3 class="item-heading" style="border: 0px; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: inherit; font-size: 22px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 12px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;"> 2.  STANDING IN TICKET LINES</h3> <div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> During high season, I’ve heard of people standing in line for an hour or two just to buy tickets to get into one of Italy’s top sights or museums. These days it’s pretty easy to buy tickets for most places online, although it will require planning your itinerary in advance. While I don’t recommend being tied down to a schedule there are some tickets you really should buy ahead of time. These are the Top Tickets to Buy in Advance.</div> <div class="insert-post-ads" style="border: 0px; clear: both; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 622.266px;"> <ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-5695744736991497" data-ad-format="auto" data-ad-slot="9994307167" data-adsbygoogle-status="done" style="border: 0px; display: block; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 60px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><ins id="aswift_1_expand" style="background-color: transparent; border: none; display: inline-table; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 60px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; visibility: visible; width: 622px;"><ins id="aswift_1_anchor" style="background-color: transparent; border: none; display: block; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 60px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; visibility: visible; width: 622px;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="60" hspace="0" id="aswift_1" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" name="aswift_1" scrolling="no" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; left: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" vspace="0" width="622"></iframe></ins></ins></ins></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <br /></div> </div> </section><section class="list-unit group" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="expert-content-text" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <h3 class="item-heading" style="border: 0px; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: inherit; font-size: 22px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 12px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">  <span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.4;">3.</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.4;">OVERPACKING OR TRAVELING WITH A HEAVY SUITCASE</span></h3> <div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> While your big wheeled suitcase may be great in places with smooth walkways and hotels with elevators, in Italy you won’t always find these things. Historic buildings may be remodeled to make beautiful accommodations but they often are not allowed to install an elevator. Unless you’re staying at 5-star hotels, it’s unlikely there will be someone to carry your bags either. Uneven cobblestone streets make dragging a suitcase difficult and if you’re going to Venice, chances are you’ll be crossing bridges. If you’re traveling by train, you’ll need to lift your bag on and off the train yourself.</div> <div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> Consider a lightweight bag (or two) that’s easy to carry. Here’s the bag I usually use and if I want a wheeled bag, I use this 20 inch Superlight (which is larger than European budget airlines allow for carry-on but fits the same amount of clothing as the other bag). Thesepacking tips from Europe Travel may be helpful too.</div> <div class="adsense-slot adsense" id="adsense2" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="adsense-group" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="adsense-desc" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline;"> Hotel Masseria Puglia, Beauty Farm Seaside, Sun, History, Wedding</div> </div> </div> <section class="list-unit group" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><figure class="content-img content-img-small right-gutter" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="content-img-wrapper" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0.3em 1.571em 0.5em 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 8px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 310px;"> <img alt=" - " data-description="Don't Make These Mistakes: 10 Things Not to Do in Italy: Driving in the ZTL" data-pinit-img-url="http://f.tqn.com/y/goitaly/1/S/p/T/-/-/ZTL.jpg" height="225" src="http://f.tqn.com/y/goitaly/1/L/p/T/-/-/ZTL.jpg" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="300" /><div class="wp-caption-text" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"> Don’t Drive Here.</div> </div> </div> <figcaption class="content-img-subtitle" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></figcaption></figure><div class="expert-content-text" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <h3 class="item-heading" style="border: 0px; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: inherit; font-size: 22px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 12px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;"> 4.  DRIVING IN THE ZTL</h3> <div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> The ZTL, <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">zona traffico limitato</em> or limited traffic zone, is off limits to drivers who don’t have a permit. Most cities and towns have a ZTL, which may also be called a Pedestrian Zone. The centro storico is usually a limited traffic area. Often a camera is posted at the entrance to a ZTL, taking photos of license plates as cars enter. It’s unlikely that you’ll be pulled over immediately but people have reported getting a ticket in the mail six months or a year later (often through your rental car company). Be on the lookout for speed cameras as you drive, too.</div> <div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Read more in Tips for Driving in Italy</div> </div> </section><section class="list-unit group" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><figure class="content-img content-img-small right-gutter" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="content-img-wrapper" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <img alt="photo italian train ticket validator - Mike Mazzaschi, a Path to Lunch" class="alignleft" data-description="Don't Make These Mistakes: 10 Things Not to Do in Italy: Boarding a Regional Train without Validating the Ticket" data-pinit-img-url="http://f.tqn.com/y/goitaly/1/S/Z/T/-/-/IMG_0511.JPG" height="400" src="http://f.tqn.com/y/goitaly/1/L/Z/T/-/-/IMG_0511.JPG" style="border: 0px; display: block; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0.3em 1.571em 0.5em 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="300" /><div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <h3 class="item-heading" style="border: 0px; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: inherit; font-size: 22px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 12px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;"> 5.  BOARDING A REGIONAL TRAIN WITHOUT VALIDATING THE TICKET</h3> <div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Tickets for regional trains, or any ticket that doesn’t have a specific time and assigned seat, needs to be validated. Regional train tickets can generally be used on any train in a two month period, so validate your ticket before boarding. We have seen a number of tourists get fined for not validating their tickets before boarding so make sure you do it.</div> </div> <figcaption class="content-img-subtitle" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Machine for Validating Train Tickets. <span class="credit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mike Mazzaschi,a Path to Lunch</span></figcaption></figure></section></div> </section><div class="adsense-slot adsense" id="adsense3" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="adsense-group" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="adsense-desc" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div class="adsense-desc" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div class="adsense-desc" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div class="adsense-desc" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> </div> </div> <section class="list-unit group" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><figure class="content-img content-img-small right-gutter" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="content-img-wrapper" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0.3em 1.571em 0.5em 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 8px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 310px;"> <img alt="Woman having wallet stolen from purse - Peter Dazeley/Photographer's Choice/Getty Images" data-description="Don't Make These Mistakes: 10 Things Not to Do in Italy: Being the Victim of a Theft" data-pinit-img-url="http://f.tqn.com/y/goitaly/1/S/t/b/-/-/GettyImages-542736887.jpg" height="248" src="http://f.tqn.com/y/goitaly/1/L/t/b/-/-/GettyImages-542736887.jpg" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="300" /><div class="wp-caption-text" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"> Peter Dazeley/Photographer’s Choice/Getty Images</div> </div> </div> </figure><div class="expert-content-text" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <h3 class="item-heading" style="border: 0px; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: inherit; font-size: 22px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 12px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;"> 6.  BEING THE VICTIM OF A THEFT</h3> <div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> As in any big city, you should take precautions against having your money or passport stolen. Rome and Florence are the places that tourists most often report having their purse, camera, or passports and money stolen. Keep a close eye on your belongings, don’t carry valuables in a pack on your back, and avoid wearing expensive jewelry. Carry your passport in a place that’s difficult for a pick-pocket to access and don’t carry more cash in your purse or main wallet than you’ll need for the day. See these tips for How to Safeguard Your Money.</div> </div> </section><section class="list-unit group" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="expert-content-text" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <h3 class="item-heading" style="border: 0px; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: inherit; font-size: 22px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 12px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;"> 7.  RELYING ONLY ON CREDIT CARDS OR BRINGING TRAVELER’S CHECKS</h3> <div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> In Italy there are many places that still do not take credit cards and if you’re traveling with American Express you’ll find even fewer places to use it. Many small family-run restaurants and shops, bed and breakfast inns, and outdoor markets require cash payments. If you’re traveling outside the main tourist areas this will be even more likely. Your credit card may not work in machines such as the autostrada toll booth. It’s a good idea to have two credit cards so you can use one as back up and be sure to call your bank before you leave to tell them the dates you’ll be in Italy (also for your ATM card).</div> <div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Traveler’s checks are rarely used for getting cash in Italy and if you do find a place to change them, you are likely to pay a big fee. The best way to get cash is with your ATM card. See Tips for Getting Cash in Italy.</div> </div> </section><section class="list-unit group" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="expert-content-text" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <h3 class="item-heading" style="border: 0px; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: inherit; font-size: 22px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 12px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;"> 8.  ORDERING A LATTE</h3> <div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Latte is the Italian word for milk and if you order a latte, especially outside tourist areas, you may end up with a glass of milk. If you want a coffee, head to a bar, but keep in mind that in many places you will pay extra for table service so if you just want a quick coffee, do as the Italians do and stand at the bar. In restaurants coffee (usually espresso) is normally served only after the meal (including dessert) is finished. Italians don’t drink coffee with their meal and they generally don’t drink cappuccino after noon, although you can still ask for one. Find out how to order Italian Coffee Drinks.</div> <div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Speaking of drinks, you won’t get free refills on your soda or ice tea and usually your cold drinks won’t be served over ice.</div> </div> </section><section class="list-unit group" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="expert-content-text" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <h3 class="item-heading" style="border: 0px; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: inherit; font-size: 22px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 12px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;"> 9.  WEARING SHORTS WHEN VISITING A CHURCH</h3> <div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Italian cathedrals and churches are often interesting to visit and many hold important art works. Many also have signs posted asking visitors not to enter wearing shorts or with bare shoulders. Women can carry around a scarf that can be used to cover bare shoulders when wearing sleeveless tops. Some places, like the Vatican, will not admit people wearing shorts so plan your dress to go with your sight-seeing.</div> </div> </section><section class="list-unit group" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="expert-content-text" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <h3 class="item-heading" style="border: 0px; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: inherit; font-size: 22px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 12px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;"> 10.  TRUSTING THE GPS</h3> <div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> While having a GPS for driving can be very helpful, it’s not a good idea to rely only on the GPS. We’ve had experiences where it’s told us to go the wrong way on a one-way street, to enter a pedestrian only zone (or ZTL), or even to go on an alley that ends in stairs. Also we’ve found that speed limits given by the GPS are often not accurate so be sure you look for</div> </div> </section></div> </section>

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