Hotelrome.net Blog : A guide to news and events in Rome

The pick pocketing is rife again. I have heard lots of stories about incidents happening at the train station, on the bus and the metro. A lot of the situations could have been avoided but I keep hearing the same phrase ” I didn’t know about it”.

 

 

 

Like any tourist you will be spotted a mile away by any local. They are usually the people with loads of cameras, moon bags and are often seen looking very confused with a large map held out infront of them. They are easy targets but they don’t have to be. Please leave all your valuables in the safes that we provide for you at the hotel. Do not take any of the following with you unless you really need them: passports, drivers licenses, credit cards, keys and cellphones. Also don’t wear any excessive jewellery as this will draw attention. Only take the necessary things like the money for entrance fees to museums or for lunch etc. If you have to take a large amount with you for splurging on shopping then please use a money belt. If you dont have one please please please buy one. I have seen them for sale at most of the stores that also sell suitcases and luggage bags.

 

 

 

If you take a bag with you wear it with the zips and all the pockets facing the front. That way no one can open the bag without you knowing it. Do not keep anything valuable in the back pockets of your trousers. Now when you do get the metro here are a could of tips to help you get to your destination unscathed. Try to avoid the rush hour times if you can. This is usually around seven till ten in the morning and then again from around four till six in the evening. Always get into the last carriage as it is usually the least crowded. When you are inside the carriage go stand at the opposite door to the one that opens. This way you can get a good look at who is coming in and where they are going. When you are in a carriage and there is plenty of space but you are suddenly surrounded by a group of people move away from them immediately. When you get out of the carriage wait on the platform until the crowd has dispersed a bit. Most of the incidents happen in crowded areas where people are really close together. There is nothing wrong with being at the back of the queue, especially when you still have all your belongings with you.

Try to do the same thing on the bus and and take the same precautions. Do not stop when asked to give directions, do not make eye contact and do not let anything divert your attention.

As far as the police go my personal opinion is that they don’t really care anyway. I have seen long queues of people outside the police offices in Termini all having had something stolen from them. This is the plain honest truth. The Italian station and railway police are useless. So it is up to you to be savvy and street smart. The only information I have heard is a garbled message in very heavily accented Italian over the intercom system and really small signs that are very easily over looked. They do however have tv’s on the platforms and the trains telling you about potential pick pockets. Its a good and a bad thing because you can watch tv telling you about something which is probably happening to you at that very moment.

 

 

 

This problem is not going to go away over night. As long as there are tourists in Rome that are ignorant of the situation it will continue. Lets make things difficult for these thieves by using the advice I have just given you. After nine months in this city and using the public transport I know a bit about the situation. We want you to come to Rome prepared and ready for a fantastic experience. We want you to leave with happy memeories and not the unpleasant experience and inconvenience of having your stuff stolen. Just take these precautions and you will be fine.

Hot spot areas for pick pocketing are: Termini station, the metro (particularly the popular tourist stops like Colosseo and Spagna) and bus numbers 64 and 40.

 

The history of cats in Italy goes back about 900 BC. An obvious reason for keeping cats would be to keep the rodent population down. It isn’t that different in Rome today. Another reason that the cats flourish in Italy and in Rome is that in 1991 Italy passed a law that no healthy homeless cats could be killed.

 

 

There are a few places where the cats can be seen but Largo di Torre Argentina, the place where Julius Ceaser was assasinated, has the largest colony numbering about 300 cats. They are taken care of by some locals and an orginsation tat looks after them too. Another place the cats can be found and where there is also quite a large colony is the Protestant Cememtary. The cats here have been given the title ” Guardians of the Dead”

 

 

Romes association with cats has also been an ancient one. Cats in ancient Rome were cosidered to be the likeness of the God of Liberty and were also allowed to go wherever they pleased and were the only animal allowed into the temples. They were also used as mascots in the army.

 

When you are in the city centre it is really easy to spot them especially if the weather is sunny and hot. I have also seen a few very near the hotel on my way home at night but they are usually very wary of strangers and will more than likely run if you approach them.

The other places where you can see the cats are: Colosseo and Foro Romano and the other places in the historical centre. Have fun!!! 

Lets be realistic just for a bit. Your holiday is not just about money but it is a big part of it. So here are a couple of tips to save money and make it go just a little further.

 

 Lets start with what you can see for nothing. Foro Romano, Pantheon and the Museo di Risorgimento have free entrance. Another great place is Villa Borghese park. The Vatican Museums and Sisitine Chapel are also free the last Sunday of every month. It is advisable to get there at least an hour before the museums open. The queues are very long. The other churches always seem to get over looked by many holiday makers. There are fantastic works of art, entrance is free and there are never any queues.

 

 You also don’t have to buy water. This is absolutely great. The water is safe to drink from the tap and from all the fountains outside. So all you have to do is find an empty bottle and fill it from the fountains. The location of the hotel is located really near Termini station so you dont have to take a taxi to reach the train station. The metro staion Castro Pretorio is located very near the hotel too. However if you are here for a short time only then an 11 euro travel card would be sufficient to get you around the city. It is valid for 3 days and it can be used for the metro, bus and the tram.

 

 Now we get to one of the most important parts of the whole trip. The food! In Italy food is taken very seriously. There is no point in spending money on something that is overvalued and overpriced. The locals eat well for a fair price and so should you. Here are a couple of tips: Don’t eat at restaurants right in the centre, look for restaurants in the streets near the famous piazzas, don’t eat at restaurants with a menu turistico and go where you only hear Italian being spoken this tells you that it is a big hit with the locals. Which means its been around for a while and is worth eating at and you wont be served ready made reheated food.

When you go to a bar to have a coffee always stand at the bar. Its cheaper to have your coffee there than to take it to a table outside. All of these things may seem trivial but if you manage to remember a few of these things you could save yourself quite a few euros.

Enjoy your holiday spend your cash wisely and buy something worthwhile instead of wasting it. Looking forward to seeing you in Rome and having you as a guest in our hotel.