Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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There aren't any no-go areas, but keep your wits about you around Stazione Termini.
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August is Italy's main holiday period. Romans desert the city in droves and many
shops and eateries close for a week or two around 15 August. Many museums close on
Mondays.
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Expect queues at major sights such as the Colosseum, St Peter's Basilica and Vatican
Museums. Booking tickets in advance costs extra but saves waiting time.
Money
Credit and debit cards are widely accepted but check before purchasing at smaller shops,
trattorias, bars and
pensioni
(small hotels). Visa and MasterCard are the most widely re-
cognised but Cirrus and Maestro are also well covered. American Express is only accep-
ted by some major chains and big hotels, and few places take Diners Club.
ATMs (
bancomat
) are common, but be aware of transaction fees. If an ATM rejects
your card, try another before assuming the problem is with your card.
For more information,
Click here
.
Taxes & Refunds
A 20% value-added tax known as IVA (
Imposta sul Valore Aggiunta
) is included in the
price of most goods and services. Tax-free shopping is available at some shops -
Click
here
for more details.
All stays in the city are subject to an accommodation tax - the exact sum depends on
the length of your sojourn and type of accommodation.
Tipping
Romans are not big tippers, but as a rough guide:
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Taxis
Optional, but most people round up to the nearest euro.
»
Restaurants
Service (
servizio
) is generally included; if it's not, a euro or two is fine
in pizzerias, 10% in restaurants.
