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kenjacksontoday at 5:52 PM3 repliesview on HN

Italy was it for me. The train station in Rome was crazy. And just Venice in general. I was probably just in the touristy areas, but it was definitely the most hardcore non-stop street scamming I'd been around.


Replies

al_borlandtoday at 6:10 PM

I was just in Rome last year. The only place I really ran into issues was outside the Coliseum. I just said “huh” and mumbled “I don’t know” to every question until they went away. “Where are you from?” “I don’t know.” I think they just thought I was an idiot, or had very limited English, which is fine by me.

I was told later by a guide that if you say “no, grazie” in a semi-convincing Italian, they’d assume you’re local and leave you alone.

tyjentoday at 9:01 PM

Rented a car out of Munich and they forbade me from driving it to Italy. Said thieves are too common to risk driving, even in northern Italy. Train was simple enough though.

seszetttoday at 7:39 PM

> Venice in general

That's weird because in Venice I never had a single problem, didn't feel scammed or anything, ate in very nice restaurants (I do avoid the tourist shops and restaurants though) and the people in general were nice. I almost felt at home, and many shopkeepers even spoke French, maybe better than English (I am French). I don't think anybody in the street accosted me at all, anyway. I'd go back without any hesitation.