I was just reading some comments posted on the Scalareage website about taxi drivers/shop keepers/restaurants owners, etc. who overcharge or give the wrong change. Such as switching a L 50,000 bill for a L 5,000 bill behind their back and acting like that is what you gave them. Someone mentioned being charged for bread and that there a law against charging for bread there. I would love to hear some of your comments about how common this is. <BR> <BR>Thanks

It has been a good many years since I have been in Rome. However, it is the only place where people tried to cheat us repeatedly. (Charges on the restaurant bill for things not eaten, etc. etc.) However, we just smiled and reminded them we had not ordered the item and they suddenly remembered. Also, don't let them uncork the wine on the table unless you ask ahead of time. It could be quite expensive -- albeit good! <BR>I can't remember about the bread charge but in Germany it is quite common to charge a small amount per slice of bread.

watch the taxi drivers!

Hey, there are thieves in every country! Just like watching out for pickpockets, watch out for this brand of criminal as well. Remember, you'd only hear about the dishonest ones on these forums, so don't overreact! Just be careful!

This is a different type of "cheating", but one worth watching out for: A friend just discovered some unknown Visa charges in Florence, just about a year after her vacation there. Apparently it's not unheard of to run multiple copies of a Visa charge slip, wait until enough time passes so that the tourist's guard may be down, and then send them through. Her troubles occurred in Italy, but I'm sure this scam operates everywhere. Don't panic-- just be aware of your credit cards.

Sally, There is a charge "coperto" that includes the cost of the bread, it's sort of a cover charge, very minimal. The scam most tried on us was the "slow count", at ticket booths and the metro. i.e. the charge is 10,000L, you give a 50,000L bill, and the clerk slowly counts out the change, stopping at maybe 32,000L. If you wait, they make like they didn't have all the correct change on hand, and suddenly the balance will appear. Know the price and the denomination of the bill you're handing over and do the math.

It's been my personal experience that the rumors are almost always worse than the real thing. We went to Prague a few years ago and heard horror story after horror story about overcharging, pickpockets, etc. etc. We were careful and saw NONE of it. The same was true for Rome. We just got back and we loved the city. Anytime you're in a tourist area be careful with your bags, watch for pick pockets and the like - just like you would in any big city. My wife watches like a HAWK when it comes to being overcharged by a single penny (even while at home) and not once did anyone try to overcharge us. Yes, there can be a bread charge but it's listed on the menu and a few slices along with some wonderful olive oil are well worth the small charge. <BR> <BR>Go to Rome. Have a great time. If you come back with $5 or $10 bucks less than you "should have" chalk it up to experience and figure it's a small price to pay for being guests in such a wonderful country.

No, but three times in Pairs on one weekend!

My own experiance goes back 30 years, but my experiances all over Italy were fantistic. In Rome I was negotiating prices at the flea market for some fruit. I speak no Italian so communication was somewhat lacking but I kept bargening down until I thought that I was getting a deal. When I paid him and started walking away he called out to me and had MORE change for me. He could have easily kept it but didn't <BR>How that for honisty?? <BR>

We are just back from Rome and did find that once or twice we were charged for bread we did not order...agree that it should be chalked up to experience because other than that our visit was utterly fantastic!! After the first few hours I stopped wearing my under the clothes purse and just used my regular shoulder bag and common sense...in no way shape or form did I feel concerned about pickpockets etc...again common sense should aways be used but the danger seemed WAY exaggerated...also, everywhere we went we noticed a discreet police presence so perhaps Rome is making a special effort this year. We wandered down alleys at midnight and only saw one or two young mothers with babies who may or may not have been gypsies. We felt safer than anywhere else we had every been.

Good morning, Sally <BR>Two things you will find on a ristorante <BR>bill in Rome and most all of Italy is the coperto which is the charge for <BR>bread and butter, the second is the <BR>service charge, the bill included tip. <BR>Servizi. If you use more bread and/or <BR>butter as originally brought, you might <BR>exoect an additional charge. Also with <BR>antipasti, Some ristorantes have a fixed <BR>price for the selections, normally if <BR>selected by the waiter, however in self <BR>service antipasto bars, you will probably get charged on the amount you <BR>will up your plate, so don't expect <BR>to fill up on it, it does not operate <BR>as do American Buffets...All you can eat. <BR>The Antipasto is considered the 1st <BR>course, then the 2nd the Pasta, 3rd <BR>meat or fish and finally dessert. <BR>Most times you can dispense with one or <BR>two coarses without difficulty... <BR>Richard of La Grange Park, Il... <BR> <BR>

It seems by the way you put it that only tourists must be aware of being cheated, and your concerns are only about being cheated in Rome. Why Rome? Do you think dishonest people are only here, or only on one side? <BR>Well, I am a tourist operator, and our company has been cheated many times by tourists, especially Americans. How? They let us down without warning after having booked, they steal objects from their accommodations, they break things hiding them so that we do not find out and they get away with it, and they may also run away without paying the phone bill. <BR>So, before asking "have you been cheated in Rome", why don't you ask "are humans honest, especially those of my society?" And the reply is of course that you have honest and dishonest people in every society, wherever you go. Moreover, nobody mentioned the hospitality that the Romans and the Italians have for visitors, and all the *discounts*, gifts and the like which they make to them. The hospitality and generousity of the Romans and Italians is very hard to find, especially in western societies. Very strange that you do not mention this. So maybe the question is: are you sure you are not afraid of other humans? <BR>Sincerely, <BR>A tourist operator in Rome (with many years experience).

Mr. X, <BR> <BR>I was first made aware of this situation by Tom Rankin, operator of Scala Reale. If in fact your are a tourist operator in Rome I'm sure you have heard of him. He is clearly the most highly regarded tour operator in Rome. And he is not afraid to put his real name on his advice. Thankfully he is also not afraid to share both the very good and sometimes bad parts of traveling to Rome with those of us who are going there with limited time and want to make the most of it. If you would like to read his comments concerning being cheated in Rome I am including the web address where you may do so. <BR> <BR>www.scalareale.org/practica.htm <BR> <BR>The purpose of this public forum is to discuss information and then decide for yourself what is the truth. Obviously you have never learned that the way to win people over to your opinion is NOT to attack them.

Tourist Operator. I loved Rome, and especially southern Italy. I found the people we met to be great, warm, and kind (almost too trusting of us-but thank god they are). After Italy, we went to France. What a difference. I think Italy should have won that Euro2000 game, too.

I wasn't cheated in Rome, but I think I was in Venice. We were staying at a convent that was run by old style nuns. Most of them spoke very little English. Some habits die hard, and the nuns were all clothed in the full get-out. Most of them were pretty old, and I couldn't tell one from the other, for lack of accessories. <BR> <BR>I forget what the bill was, but it exceeded the large lira notes that I had by a small amount. The sister took two bills, saying that she would get change. She then disappeared, or at least I think she did, since I couldn't tell her from her sister. No one could understand why I was still hanging around, asking for one of the nuns, that I couldn't describe, except to say she was in black. <BR> <BR>I am not sure if I was cheated, or just made a nice donation. <BR> <BR>Dave

We got charged for bread that we thought was free....didn't do anything about it though because it wasn't a large amount <BR> <BR>

Please reread Richard's earlier posting. You are not being cheated by being charged for bread, even if you didn't order it. Bread is almost always, except perhaps in a pizzeria, listed separately (coperto) but is included in the bill. Probably some law way back when decreed it so. You are also charged for bread in U.S. restaurants (surprise, surpise). It's just not listed separately. And guess what, folks, you are also charged for those wonderful airline meals. You will not, however, find a separate listing on your ticket: $35 for indigestible crude oil byproduct.