Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Insurance
A travel-insurance policy to cover theft, loss and medical problems is a good idea. It may also cover you for cancellation
or delays to your travel arrangements. Paying for your ticket with a credit card can often provide limited travel accident
insurance and you may be able to reclaim the payment if the operator doesn't deliver. Ask your credit-card company
what it will cover.
Worldwide travel insurance is available at
www.lonelyplanet.com/travel-insurance
.
You can buy, extend and claim
online anytime - even if you're already on the road.
Internet Access
»
Internet access in the south has improved in the past couple of years, with an increasing number of hotels, B&Bs, hos-
tels and even some
agriturismi
now offering free wi-fi. On the downside, public wi-fi hotspots and internet cafes remain
thin on the ground and signal strength is variable. You'll still have to pay for access at many top-end hotels (upwards of
€10 per day) and at internet cafes (€2 to €6 per hour).
»
Some internet cafes will request identification before allowing you to use their facilities.
Legal Matters
Despite Mafia notoriety, southern Italy is relatively safe and the average tourist will only have a brush with the law if
robbed by a bag-snatcher or pickpocket.
Police
If you run into trouble in Italy, you're likely to end up dealing with the
polizia statale
(state police) or the
carabinieri
(military police). The former wear powder blue trousers with a fuchsia stripe and a navy blue jacket, the latter wear
black uniforms with a red stripe and drive dark blue cars with a red stripe. The following table outlines Italian police or-
ganisations and their jurisdictions.
Polizia statale
(state police)
thefts, visa extensions and permits
general crime, public order and drug enforcement (often overlapping with the
polizia statale
)
Carabinieri
(military police)
Vigili urbani
(local traffic police) parking tickets, towed cars
Guardia di finanza
tax evasion, drug smuggling
Guardia forestale
(aka
corpo
forestale
)
environmental protection
