Travel Tips
to Italy

This is a collection of information I gave my friends that came to visit me in the last years.
This paper doesn't want to be a "bible" for the tourist in Italy and reflects my personal opinions.

First of all, criminality is everywhere (even in your neighborhoud). I can notice it, but sometimes not even myself. In touristic places the criminality is specialised in tourists.

General rules
• Don't let anybody you don't know come closer to you than 1 meter
• If you carry a small backpack/bag hold it in your hands in the underground and buses and crowded places in general
• Don't wear necklaces & C
• Whenever you feel unsafe walk fast and don't look at anybody
• Never never go out alone (for girls not even in group)
• Always put your money and wallet back before leaving the shop (or whatsoever)
• Possibly don't even use a wallet: put the money in your front trousers pocket or the internal jacket pocket, never "on your ass"
• Avoid fetching money from ATMs at night

When moving with your luggage
• Don't let anybody ask you for directions, even if they speak English, unless they are Japanese :-)
• Never look where someone want you to look at: there would be someone that then steals one of your bags
• Always stand over your bags and have them under sight (standing in circle around the bags is the best safety measure, besides not having a bag at all :)))

Buses
• You cannot buy the ticket onboard
• "Crowded" means that doors can't open at all

Trains
• Punctuality is not included in the ticket
• Need a toilet? Keep it!
• You must validate the ticket for the journey before you get on the train in a small yellow machine. Supplements must be validated as well. Return tickets must be validated twice: just before each journey.

Shopping
• Credit cards are accepted in most shops
• Italian people don't like and trust "plastic money" yet enough, so you should do the same
• Don't use a credit card to pay for 10,000 lire (ca. 5 EURO), the shop attendant might complain a lot

Eating out
• The waiter won't speak any language you know
• There's always an additional "tax" called coperto which is not for the service
• Tipping is up to you
• Don't trust those places that don't publish their menu with prices outside

Mobile phones
• Systems working: GSM 900 and 1800 MHz
• There are currently three providers: TIM (customer service: 800011777), Omnitel (c.s.: 800190190) and Wind (only GSM1800)
• As a safety rule set the PIN code on your phone: once the phone is switched off nobody can then use your SIM
• Try not using it in open spaces: it may happen that someone passing by to you takes the phone while you're talking with a rapid movement you don't expect. If you have to, hold the phone strongly and have it between you and a wall, for example

Driving
DISCLAIMER: what follows is intended to make fun of the Italian driving style. Don't try it yourself. I am not liable for any damage to anyone/anything caused by behaving as described below.
• Main rule: other drivers have to take care of you
• New ISO definition of a picosecond: the amount of time that elapses between the moment the traffic light turns to green and the driver behind you hits the horn
• Highway overtaking: if a slower car is in front of you in the higher speed lane start flashing at it as soon as possible
• Speed limit: any speed under current-speed-limit+40 km/h is fine (they won't take your license instantly)
• Drink & drive: just don't drink while you're driving
• Phone & drive: allowed only if you are reading the newspaper and having a cup of coffee
• Safety distance: what is a distance?
• Seatbelt: it's still an optional in new cars!
• Red light: there are 3 levels of red: red red (don't go), milky red (go carefully), red (go)