Save Your Euros for Gelato, not Pickpockets and Scammers-Travel Tips From Pimsleur Approach

Italy attracts millions of tourists seeking a glimpse of beautiful cities, rolling vineyards, remote ski resorts and profound landmarks. The romanticized Italian way of life has a way of seducing tourists with an endless selection of indulgences-food, wine, art, music and many others. As you’re losing yourself in this fun-loving country, make sure you don’t lose your common sense, or your wallet. Knowing how to be safe makes it easy to avoid having your wallet stolen or falling for a scam; Pimsleur Approach has come up with some helpful tips to protect your wallet while you’re in Italy.

Show No One The Money
Keep your wallet close to you at all times when wandering through a city.

Try not to carry a purse. You want to make sure your money isn’t easy for a passing thief to grab. Roving pickpockets on Vespas (known as the motorini) and bicycles will often peer into an open car window at a stoplight to see about a quick snatch-and-grab. If you’re driving and stopped at a light, beware the vendors that may come up to your window to sell you trinkets or even everyday items like toilet paper. You’re vulnerable to reaching hands as soon as you open the car window.

Pimsleur Approach Protip: Use small monetary denominations stashed together in different pockets to avoid being targeted for a scam or theft. Don’t display any valuables on your person.

Like Taking Candy From a Baby
Many street scammers choose trickery over agility when it comes to taking advantage of tourists. Even in Italy, infants children are often used to garner sympathy and distract tourists while the thieving parents (or any adult—some will use kids as bait, even if they’re not theirs) snatch any valuables they can find. Groups of children will often swarm tourists who look like they might be sympathetic.

The Price of Being a Tourist
While you may not be able to negotiate the price of a museum ticket or a supermarket item, with outdoor street vendors, you either play the game or you lose. If a vendor senses you’re not local, he may quote you double the price for his wares. Always negotiate. The same goes for taxi drivers—know where you’re going and how long it takes to get there before stepping into the cab. Watch the meter.

Most of these tips will serve you in any city around the world. Tourists are easily identified and are often the easiest prey for scammers. But when you’re traveling Italy, a country that drinks deeply of all that life has to offer, it can be easy to let your guard down. Just use common sense, and viva Italia! Safe travels from all of us at Pimsleur Approach.

Frank writes for Pimsleur Approach, the leading provider of audio-based language learning courses. PimsleurApproach.com has helped over 25 million people learn a new language and has been used by business leaders and security agents across the globe.