Rome has a reputation for being a city with dishonest people ripping off tourists. Though really I think the rumors are worse than reality these days.  Consider that it’s fairly normal practice, for example, to charge more for souvenirs or water near tourist hot-spots.  In any case, it’s best to have an idea of when and where someone might try to get some extra Euros out of you.  So here’s some more common scenarios, and whether or not you were just ripped off..you may be surprised!

Scenario #1:  You take a taxi from Fiumicino airport to your hotel, which is in the city center near the Pantheon and a 35 minute ride.  When you arrive the fare is about 75 euros.  Were you ripped off?
YES!  Newer regulations with cabs strictly say that from either the Ciampino or Fiumicino airports to any location in the city center (within the city walls) is a flat rate of 40 euros (or 30 from Ciampino).  Conversely any location outside the city walls is metered, but really unless you’re going very far the fare will probably be 50-65 euros.  The exception here is:  if you didn’t take an official white Taxi from the Taxi Stand.  The guys that hang out around the arrivals area asking you if you need a taxi are in reality private drivers….and as such they can charge you any rate they want.

Scenario #2: You order a cappuccino at the bar and sit down at a table outside.  After some minutes the waiter/waitress brings it to you, and it’s that ideal warm-yet-not-boiling temperature, with some cocoa sprinkled on the foam…absolutely perfetto!  When you get the bill, it says you owe 5 euros…but didn’t it say on the sign inside that a cappuccino is 2.50 euros?  Were you ripped off?
Well technically no.  A bar/café’ can charge you about double the price to take your drink to a table and sit down rather than stand up at the bar.  And usually if you look closer at their wall menus, you’ll see two prices for everything: one for drinking it at the bar (=cheaper), and the other for taking it to a table (=more expensive).  In this specific scenario above, the menu probably said “Cappuccino: 2,50/5,00″.

Scenario #3:  Suddenly you’re stricken with thirst near the Colosseum, and buy a bottle of water from one of those portable food trucks.  It cost you 3 euro!  Were you ripped off?

Legally speaking- NO.  The cost of souvenirs and food in general tends to be pretty expensive around very touristy areas, hence around the Colosseum 3 euros for a bottle of water is pretty standard.  When it comes to keeping hydrated, my advice is always have an empty bottle with you.  You’ll see loads of “fontanelle”, or drinking fountains, all over the city.  This is the cleanest water you can get (it’s maybe even cleaner than what comes out of your hotel room tap!)….and it’ FREE!

Scenario #4:  You are eating at a restaurant, enjoying warm bread and appetizers of fried zucchini, a whopping plate of ‘cacio and pepe’ pasta, and then after some tiramisu and after dinner drinks.  When the bill arrives it’s for more than you had expected.  Maybe it’s not an absurd amount extra…maybe 10 Euros more, but still…Were you ripped off?

NOPE! You just didn’t read the small print probably.  Restaurants can have small hidden charges.  For one, that basket of bread they put on the table in front of you is NOT free!  Each basket they bring out might cost 2 euros each…and often also per person in your party.  Some places charge a type of service fee (which works out to be sort of the tip included without having to leave a tip).  Remember too that if they bring you out something you didn’t recall ordering, it’s not likely to be free.  Restaurant staff can be good at suggesting things which we might not realize are not “on the house”, like the above-mentioned bread or some appetizer.

Scenario #5:  You want to make a quick phone call back home to check-in, tell them how amazing the gelato is that you’re currently eating, etc.  At the payphone you see a sign/sticker about making a collect call from the payphone, or using your credit card to make a call.  Is it a rip-off?

YES…LORD YES!  Firstly, that collect call can and will cost the person billed something upwards of $60 per minute!  The credit card ad is about the same, where a 3 minute phone call might cost you $60 or $70.  As for the credit card “company” there’s one well known in the credit card customer service world called “CALL LD”, usually with an 800 number such as 800-607-9470.  The topic of phones and phone use is a whole other blog discussion for sure, but the short of it is that there are plenty of affordable ways to keep in touch with people, and using collect call ads you see pasted around are NOT one of these ideal options.

In the event you feel like somebody made a dishonest Euro off of you, there are some people you can and should report it to.  Even if they can’t necessarily help you get what you lost, it’s a way of consumer-protection agencies to keep track! You may have heard the story of the Japanese couple being ripped off to the extreme at a Piazza Navona restaurant, and in their case you can see how it can go long way to report something to the right person.

This all being said, you probably won’t have to worry.  You’re very unlikely to end up in a situation like the Japanese travelers in Piazza Navona.  Just remember to pay attention to what suggestions you accept from restaurants, whose services you agree too (think Taxis), where you choose to buy your bottles of water or souvenirs, and that much like at home- things are rarely for free!