I'm traveling to Rome, I was wondering what preventive and personal safety measures should I take asa tourist?

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giacomogiusto

Well I live in Rome, and I can say that problems are mostly given by gipsies: they're really "invading" our city, roman people and italian people in general are becoming xenophobic because of the frequent thefts and rapes they do. So the first suggest I can give you is: pay attention to your bags and pockets while travelling and being at the station, and while visiting Rome's center and most visited places. Pay also attention to the prices when you enter a restaurant, specially in visited places: there are a lot of restaurants wich have very expensive prices due to the fact that chiefly tourists eat there; so before entering a restaurant look at the menÃ¹ (generally exposed outdoor). As it's been said already, pay attention to the taxi, specially from airport to your hotel. It's true, policeman here are racist, so you won't have big problems with documents and stuffs like that. But be careful if you want enjoy a joint on the streets, policeman will not close their eyes...
Pay attention while on underground, most part of people is robbed there. But don't think that Rome is a particularly dangerous city, the situation is the same all over Europe. Here you'll also find very welcoming people, good food and wine, and all kind of comfort and pleasure that a city can offer, in addition to the wonderful location you can be in; and finally don't think that Rome is a boring city: it can offers a lot of nocturne enterteinments, specially in Testaccio and Trastevere districs.Don't forget to visit them by night.
I hope to have been of help, and that you'll spend fantastic time here in Rome. Good holiday.
Giacomo

Al M

Rome is not a particularly dangerous place but, like all big cities, you can encounter problems if you don't pay attention to what's going on around you and don't think about what you're doing.

I believe that the biggest danger in Rome is so-called petty crime: pickpocketing, purse snatching and minor scams. I speak from personal experience when I say that even such relatively trivial things can really put a damper on one's enjoyment of a holiday.

The two pieces of advice I give everyone I know who tells me that they're visiting Rome are:

1) Never get in a taxi unless it's a white car with the crest of Rome prominently displayed on the front door and a meter on the dashboard. Any other sort of cab will be illegal and you will â€“ at the very least â€“ get charged a rip-off fare.

2) Always be very alert to the danger of pickpockets. If ANYONE touches you â€“ EVER â€“ no matter what the excuse, assume that the toucher or an associate will be going for your wallet or other valuables. If your hotel room has a safe, use it to store credit cards and cash you will not need on your day out. Take a photocopy of your passport with you and some other sort of photo ID since the police have the right to demand that you identify yourself, but leave your passport in the safe as well. If you have to carry a credit card, make sure you also have the number you phone to report a stolen card so that you can deal with that immediately. Think carefully about displaying expensive cameras, mobile phones and other small, consumer electronics. If you're travelling with another person or persons, think about how you can arrange yourselves when you're walking so that the pockets or bags with money and other valuables are between the two of you, rather than on the outside.

It might all sound a bit paranoid, but it's really just a matter of thinking about the fact that there are predators out there who are very good at doing their nefarious job and you need to take that into account if you want to have a positive visit.

sweetheartmarina22

leave your passport at the hotel safebox,if somebody steel that from your bag is hard to replace in short time.dont carry with you lot of money just the necessary for that day.be carrefour when take public transportation,your wallet all the time close to u(under the shirt or front pocket)there are lot of gipsy(come from foreign country such rumenia that may try to steel,happend to my mum on the bus to the vatican bus number 40 the most popular for them and metro)

godmotherinitaly

Don't convert loads of money before your trip and carry it all with you. Take just what you need for a day or two, and draw from an atm as needed. Aside from that, don't stress, Rome is pretty safe! More tourist tips here: http://www.wheninrometours.com/Articles/Rome-News/5-Silly-Mistakes-NOT-To-Make-When-In-Italy.html

HeatherT

Rome is a fairly safe city. Just use common sense as every major city has some sort of pick pocket issues.

Stay away from the guys with the roses though...haha! such pests! One told me my rose was "free for such a pretty lady" and then cornered my boyfriend and demanded he pay for the rose.....

Joie de Vivre

Well. I went there this summer, and I'll tell you what I did.

I didn't carry a purse or any bag (but seeing as you're male, idk if that should be a problem lol) Instead I put all my train tickets or whatever ect ect money, passport, in a thing called a necksafe, and i tucked it down my shirt....it makes you look funny but no one will try to steal it then...and if they do...well...it will be more difficult.

Also just keep aware of your surroundings. There are alot of gypsies that will try to distract you with there products and then steal something off of you.

Never get distracted.

But it's really not that bad. I hope you enjoy your time in Rome!!!

kimber9ly

http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/

smurf21697

its not very dangerous. pick pockets is realy the most you gave to worry about,mainly in touristy places. Just make you keep your wallet and valueables in a fastened pocket. and watch carry backpacks too

livelovemusic09

get a travelers belt that you can hide under your clothes to put your money and passport in as you travel. Rome is known for it's pickpocketing. Have Fun!

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