Funny story: My husband and I used to go to the Camisano market on Sunday mornings. One time a man walked up to us and said his brother was in the hospital. He showed a picture of a man in a hospital bed, lying in traction and would we help him? We politely refused. Later we went into a local coffee bar where another man walked up to me and showed me a picture of a man in a hospital bed also lying in traction and could we help him? Doesn't Italy have socialized medicine? You could have heard a pin drop in there as everybody watched this Americana to see what she would do. I said to him "Vedevo votre fratello fuori con una photografia di voi nel'hospitale." ("I just saw your brother with a picture of you in the hospital!"). Everybody laughed while the guy stormed out cursing (or so it sounded). I'll remember that until my dying day.
They had something in Paris when I was there 2 years ago. showing pictures of kids in orphanages or something of that nature. I've traveled a lot so I knew to say no (And I wasn't exactly polite.) Later on I saw them approach 2 young American men and I went up to the men and told them to put their wallets away.
I just returned from Italy and absolutely love the country, and can't wait to go back. It reminded me a little of California, only better. Never had a incident with anybody trying to scam or swindle my money away from me. On the train, there were two occasions of ladies holding a child asking for money, but no problem. And yes, driving in Italy is completely different than driving in Germany or Austria. It appeared as if there's only one rule: don't hit anybody. The one thing that was heartbreaking, was the trash and garbage all over the place. For some reason, the trash cans only had a little bag with no lid to stop trash from flying all over the place. If the Italians can build great structures, certainly they should be able to build trash cans that have lids.
This video takes me back to my first night in Rome on my first visit there back in November 2006. I remember getting of the train from Fiumicino to Termini and promptly going into shock upon seeing just how insane Roman traffic really was. Of course, there were plenty of friendly cab drivers who swarmed all over me as soon as I got off the train, so I allowed one of them to drive me to my hotel (even though it was only about a ten-minute walk from Termini). Naturally, the driver took the scenic route -- I ended up paying 40 euros for a one-way trip! And then I checked in at the hotel, and as I was getting ready to go to my room and get settled, the concierge very sweetly warned me to beware of pickpockets while I was in Rome. I went to bed that night wondering what I had gotten myself into and hoping I'd make it through my five days and four nights there in one piece! Needless to say, I kept one hand on my wallet and my passport at all times as I explored the city. I did get lost more times than I care to admit, however -- I think I must have driven the poor carabinieri crazy by constantly asking them for directions! But you know what? It was the best week of my life, and I loved it so much, in fact, that I went back to Rome in January 2007 (by the way, the worst thing that happened to me on my first visit to Rome was catching a monster cold that made the flight home sheer torture!).
I have some of my own tips from personal experience: - When going to a restaurant, don't wear shorts and try to get a table. - Be patient when trying to get a table at a restaurant. - Go to where the Italians eat. Don't go to the place where there is a guy waiting for you on the sidewalk asking if you want a table in English as you walk by, this is a tourist restaurant. It's more expensive and the food is not as good. - Don't go up to people and just start speaking English. - When driving, be prepared for lots of tolls and parking fees.
Your 3rd tip regarding buying train ticket at the vending machine..... You're so right!!! A young girl offered me her help with purchasing at the machine and I thought she's part of the service provided by the train station. She asked for a tip after and I didn't have much cash for her, and she wasn't impressed. Wish I had watched this video before my Italian trip. Haha. Thank you so much for this video.
I am about to go live in Italy for a year, so this information has helped me a lot! My Mum was worried about me going to Italy because people she knew went there and got scammed. I think based on your video and some others I've watch Italy is pretty safe as long as you are aware of the potential scams and be smart, so thanks for that!
Raxio ra Yeah I agree, after living in Italy I think it was quite safe. There was one place I was staying in Turin where I got hasseled on the street a few times, nothing serious though. I think it was just a bad part of town, but even in Australia there are places like that. I also went out late at night in some big cities and it was fine, in the whole six months I was there I never had any real trouble. It's definitely a safe place as long as you are smart, but the same can be said for anywhere you go really.
I am going to Italy soon and watched so many videos about marvelous Italy. However it is first time I am listen to this insider advises. Thank you very much
Again, you are spot on! My personal experience in Italy was exactly as you describe. Our hotel manager in Rome warned me about fake designer items (I had asked about handbags) so I had a blast bargaining with a street vendor for a fake Prada bag because I knew ahead of time what it was and what it should cost. In Venice my little boy was afraid to go down the dark narrow streets at first, but he quickly saw that it was not only safe, but cool!
Seems that You are embarrassed that in Italy there are scammers. "Tutto il mondo e' paese" .... If you travel to Italy or any corner of this world bring your passport, your clothes , your money and whatever you think you'll need. Before leaving double, triple, check that you don't forget your BRAIN. Traveling to another country or culture is not a fairy tale. Always check, that all time you have your BRAIN. Thank You for pointing out specific risks... Grazie. Bravo.
Thank you so much for these tips. I hope to visit Italy some day in the near future, and the advice you share is very unique, not typically mentioned by others that I have heard. I will try and find the video you mentioned you may do regarding how to speak to the more 'aggressive/ pushy' scammers, and look forward to checking out your "Learn Italian" series.
This is so helpful! My lady and I are going to Italy in a week, and we'll be in places ranging from big cities to the countryside. So we're looking foward to experiencing all of it, but we want to look like we know what we're doing so we can avoid a lot of the things you talk about here. Thank you very much for sharing this!
It was absolutely incredible. We spent a week in Genova, and then a week in Tuscany near San Gimignano. We thoroughly enjoyed Tuscany, but Genova captured our hearts. Beautiful city, beautiful people. We felt very at home there. And the best pesto focaccia! But we did see several instances of the automated train ticket scam that you warned about, and thanks to you we knew what to watch for! But that was it. We never felt unsafe, and we walked everywhere. We will definitely go back, many times!
Manu!! Thanks for all your videos very much(Grazie Mille) You are a real polite and honest gentleman and I am not afraid to say very of a similar of a person to myself .I am going to Rome Sept 2018 by bus from the UK and will be going to Pisa and Florence for a day, so I am learning all the basics of Italian as much as possible and your videos are absolutely excellent, they are a joy to watch and learn, and on top of that I would advise any one who needs Italian lessons to watch your videos. I have never been to Italy for touring and I know 100% with the help of your videos I will adore your beautiful and interesting country from I love football, the food, the arts etc, and all those cars, fragrances and so on. If I mess up on my words a bit I will just smile and say scusi, smile, and start again, full of confidence.Only one silly question I have is it okay now and again for me to read my phrase notes if I get stuck talking to some one or would they class that as being a bit dumb? Thanks again Manu , you are the man!
Thank you for posting this information, it is very good and useful planning information. We, family/friends, (14-55 age range) are tossing around the idea of visiting Italy for a week or two in the next couple of years and this will help us on our visit.
I think the locked gas caps are to prevent gas ciphering (ie., someone stealing gas from your car by sucking it from your tank into a container). Some American models have that too. My motorbike has a locked gas cap.
HenryvKeiper Just to clarify for those who might not understand due to translation (be trying to read in a different language). It's siphoning when someone sucks gas/petrol from someone else's tank. Ciphering is when you try to scramble/code your words to make it difficult for others to understand except by those that can decipher your words. (Ex. Pig latin)
Grazie mille Marly! I'm actually re-launching the channel in April. Will finally start putting out videos every week! I can't wait! Make sure you get in touch with me if there are specific topics you'll like me to cover! A presto!
Ciao Christiaan Haesen, and thanks for subscribing to my channel, Italy Made Easy! My name is Emanuele (Manu) Venditti and I'm passionate about languages in general, and of course I love teaching my beautiful native language, Italian! I hope you find material that both helps you and inspires you to learn and speak more and more Italian! Please also consider visiting my website at www.italymadeeasy.com, where you can ask me questions directly or www.speakitalianfromday1com where you can take a full course with me! Ciao e a presto, Manu
I adore all of your videos, they're all so, so incredibly helpful and informative! Though I've got to say there's a special place in my heart for the previous video to this one - the food one, of course :P Anyway, I really hope you keep uploading because you're a great teacher and Italian is a great language to learn. Baci da Irlanda x
Yep... an old italian lady stole my phone on my first day in Rome... then in milano a waitress made fun of us for not speaking italian... then in Napoli people barely cared if you where crossing the road. Funny thing is, I still love italian culture. Io sto studiando un po adesso per parlare l'italiano per tornare questo anno. Allora, mi sono piacuti molto Firenze e Perugia. Sono città molte belle davvero. Long story short... I still love Italy. And I'm going back. Grazie per tutto Manu (:
Ciao, I'm traveling to Italy next month, and I'm going to travel in train, so I would like to know how the yellow machine you show in your video work.. hope you can answer me ☺
I will be in Florence in July. I want to ask why are there seemingly more hostels, guest houses and B & Bs than budget hotels? I don"t like shared bathrooms too. I also noticed that many hotels just offer really simple breakfast - croissants, coffee, jogurt and jams? I miss having a really nice full breakfast in Rome. What is your breakfast culture like?
I am traveling to Italy soon and hope i can apply this knowledge for my trip I have a vocabulary of 300 words so building on that and applying the mento, meant, stone and zone which will help me out even more. what do you feel about the italki site?
Ciao Stephanie Strickland! That sounds awesome! iTalki can be good, but I think it's really hard for someone to know whether the person who is teaching you has any clue as to how to teach a language. Being a native of a language does not mean being good at teaching it. Of course you can make it work, but perhaps try and be picky with who you choose. It's a bit of a false economy to go with someone who's really cheap, as you will probably need 5 times more hours to get the right concepts explained in the right order! Hope this is helpful!
Ciao Stephanie Strickland! I do! I have a website called www.speakitalianfromday1.com where I teach Italian for beginners and travelers. There's a package that also includes 6 weekly face to face group video chats with me so you can put what you learn into practice! (just a note, I won't be possible to enrol in the package with the video chats after May 1st). Un saluto! Ciao, Manu
Is it okay to use a credit card and avoid the cash issues or do a lot of stores not take credit cards, especially the small/out-of-the-way villages/towns? Thanks.
You mention that you have (or will have) another video with expressions you can use when dealing with dodgy vendors, people offering services etc. - Did you make that? Grazie, Manu
What you said about lack of violent crime like shootings and stabbings in Italy. Would that be also relevant to Naples from perspective of a regular citizen not involved in organised crime ? Or is this city different from other Italian major cities in terms of every day crime? I'm considering moving there and getting mixed information about the actual safety.
Hi There! I am from Naples and I'm living in the UK at the moment and I can surely tell you that Naples is as safe as other big cities are. Of course some areas of the city are safer than other but, again, this is true for most of the big cities I've lived in in my life. Moving in Naples can be a very exciting experience and I met lots of foreigners coming to Naples and literally falling in love with it. Just choose the right place to stay and everything's gonna be ok! If you want any other information, just let me know!
Danilo Russo thank you very much. That's good news! When visiting Napoli I stayed in Vomero which I realise is one of the nicest neighbourhoods but overall I felt fairly comfortable everywhere else. I also have been living in London UK for 12 years now and I don't enjoy living here at all.. Napoli is by far the most beautiful and atmospheric city I've been to. Also people are great. My only concern are reality of violence in poor areas like Secondigliano. How far is it from what is shown in the famous tv series. And if petty crime like car theft and small robberies is really you have to cope with on a daily basis. I'm a construction engineer and I realise other parts of Italy would be better in terms of job prospects but I still prioritise Napoli and generally the south. I'd appreciate any advice. Thanks
I have personally never lived in Napoli, but know many people who do and they say it's a pretty normal city to live in. There are area that should be off limits if you want to stay safe and common sense applies as to where and when you go to certain areas. You will find more troublemakers in the streets, perhaps. But they are mostly scammers and tricksters, not killers!
Some great new information for me. I would add two things: Beggars--- I find this hard to deal with, especially children who are trained to rush the tourist and hug and overwhelm while locating valuables. I have found no other way, than to as gently as possible, push them away. Invariably they are with an adult supervisor who will want a cash hand-out or to steal, whom I berate as loudly as I can. The other issue I have had is with taxi drivers on the hunt in the streets, who have overcharged me or taken me on wild goose chases. I only use cabs that have been called for by a restaurant or hotel. This may have changed, it's been awhile since I was in Itally. Happy (and safe) travel!
I once had someone come up to me in Firenze asking if I wanted sunglasses. I already had a pair which I was wearing so I said "no Grazie ". He was so pushy and then said the pair I was wearing were horrible 😅. I'm easy going so I just thought this was funny , but I was definitely not going to buy from him after that. This was outside restaurants in the city. Could this have been a scam like the phone scam you mentioned? Or genuine and just a bit desperate? I did also notice a lot of pick pockets operating around there. They were quite obvious. What about the men who are always constantly shouting "bella" at girls? Are they harmless?
If a punk did that to me, I would continue to ignore and walk or he would be beaten into pure submission MMA style. Thats the difference between you and me! I then would have said, "Managgia chi ti morte" Capisce?
Hahahahahaha, as an Italian, I would LOVE to see you do that tough guy... By the way, If you're trying to look tough, don't use the literal form of darn it (managgia) and use a real curse word lmfaoooo
I'm italian and I never realized how many weird situations could happen to a tourist who doesn't know our country. In my opinion another problem is caused by the people who just stand in car parks and offer to help you find a free parking lot. I always avoid them because if you don't give them a tip, they possibly will damage your car when you leave the car park.
My brother in law was robbed, beaten severly, and taken outside of the city where he was staying, and left for dead. He had gone out at nightime by himself to go to a store just 2 blocks away to get something. Should you never go out at night by yourself?
Another scam is at motorway tolls.............the toll comes up on a screen and you give the correct money, the guy then says you have given him 2 or 3 euros short. Because there are impatient car drivers behind you you cough up. But if like me you are a bolshy old lady you argue with them till they let you through. This most likely happens when it's holiday time and the staff are temporary and trying to earn some extra money. Don't let the sods get away with it!
+Sue Harvey hmm... you can still go to the booths with the automated payment machine. Easy to recognize, the sign over them pictures some banknotes *without* a hand holding them. They work really well, never had a problem with them. Even better, you can use your credit card there, even prepaid ones if you really want to be cautious.
The guys who offer to take your supermarket trolley back to the stand for the Euro are better dressed and with all singing all dancing mobiles.......much better off than I am. they get dropped of by the boss in a very smart car and collected later. I've lived here for 9 years now and get very cheesed off with this sort of stuff. I drive a 16 year old car and am in my 70's and disabled and the sods still target me....
Ciao, Manu! I have viewed many of your videos and have found each one extremely helpful, as well as enjoyable. Thank you for including videos like this one featuring practical tips concerning living in Italy. I'll be visiting Italy for three months, living with an Italian family while tutoring their young child in English. I've been advised by an American friend to wait until I relocate to Italy to buy a cell phone since Italian networks are different from American cell networks. Is this correct? Also, my friend warned me about computer networks. He advised me to open entirely new email and social media accounts AFTER I arrive in Italy and not use my present accounts due to hacking. Is this a valid concern? I have no idea how Italy's privacy laws compare to American laws. I would really appreciate your perspective. Grazie mille, amico!
Grazie mille Donna! Happy to be of assistance! Thanks for following my channel! So, yes, I agree about the cell phone. Wait till you are in Italy to get an Italian SIM card along with the cheap cell phone. I have never heard of the concern regarding email and social media being hacked etc. I mean, it surely happens, but it's not an Italian phenomenon. I wouldn't worry about that! Buon viaggio!
Italy really do need to embrace chip & pin and Apple & Android pay, but they won't because the shops get charged for the use of those methods of payment. If they have card readers they would normally tell you they prefer cash.
Thank you for all this information! Because I am living so far away, in Finland, I will never drive in Italy! And about the shops and currency: we also have Euro, but we use mostly Cards, Visa or some else. Nearly ever we use money! I understand you have in Italy many poor people, immigrants and other. We also have poor people, but the state pays them, not much but enough for living! Forgive me, my English is not very good!
I really like the compassion shown towards illegal immigrants and your acknowledgement that while what they are doing may not be strictly legal, they are doing it to survive. Very helpful videos.
lol, "they drive like crazy but overall ur safe". the one thing u should do in crowded places and on public transport is switch ur wallet to the front pocket
![Don't do this in Italy - 10 mistake to avoid when traveling to Italy [June 2021]](/img/n.gif)
Funny story: My husband and I used to go to the Camisano market on Sunday mornings. One time a man walked up to us and said his brother was in the hospital. He showed a picture of a man in a hospital bed, lying in traction and would we help him? We politely refused.
Later we went into a local coffee bar where another man walked up to me and showed me a picture of a man in a hospital bed also lying in traction and could we help him? Doesn't Italy have socialized medicine?
You could have heard a pin drop in there as everybody watched this Americana to see what she would do. I said to him "Vedevo votre fratello fuori con una photografia di voi nel'hospitale." ("I just saw your brother with a picture of you in the hospital!"). Everybody laughed while the guy stormed out cursing (or so it sounded). I'll remember that until my dying day.
Lol 😂😂😂
They had something in Paris when I was there 2 years ago. showing pictures of kids in orphanages or something of that nature. I've traveled a lot so I knew to say no (And I wasn't exactly polite.) Later on I saw them approach 2 young American men and I went up to the men and told them to put their wallets away.
I just returned from Italy and absolutely love the country, and can't wait to go back. It reminded me a little of California, only better.
Never had a incident with anybody trying to scam or swindle my money away from me. On the train, there were two occasions of ladies holding a child asking for money, but no problem.
And yes, driving in Italy is completely different than driving in Germany or Austria. It appeared as if there's only one rule: don't hit anybody.
The one thing that was heartbreaking, was the trash and garbage all over the place. For some reason, the trash cans only had a little bag with no lid to stop trash from flying all over the place. If the Italians can build great structures, certainly they should be able to build trash cans that have lids.
South and north Italy are different countries.
Soooo much information. You are the best! Thank you so much super informative and you give real real advise. Great job!
Happy to help! Grazie mille!!
This video takes me back to my first night in Rome on my first visit there back in November 2006. I remember getting of the train from Fiumicino to Termini and promptly going into shock upon seeing just how insane Roman traffic really was. Of course, there were plenty of friendly cab drivers who swarmed all over me as soon as I got off the train, so I allowed one of them to drive me to my hotel (even though it was only about a ten-minute walk from Termini). Naturally, the driver took the scenic route -- I ended up paying 40 euros for a one-way trip!
And then I checked in at the hotel, and as I was getting ready to go to my room and get settled, the concierge very sweetly warned me to beware of pickpockets while I was in Rome. I went to bed that night wondering what I had gotten myself into and hoping I'd make it through my five days and four nights there in one piece!
Needless to say, I kept one hand on my wallet and my passport at all times as I explored the city. I did get lost more times than I care to admit, however -- I think I must have driven the poor carabinieri crazy by constantly asking them for directions!
But you know what? It was the best week of my life, and I loved it so much, in fact, that I went back to Rome in January 2007 (by the way, the worst thing that happened to me on my first visit to Rome was catching a monster cold that made the flight home sheer torture!).
I have some of my own tips from personal experience:
- When going to a restaurant, don't wear shorts and try to get a table.
- Be patient when trying to get a table at a restaurant.
- Go to where the Italians eat. Don't go to the place where there is a guy waiting for you on the sidewalk asking if you want a table in English as you walk by, this is a tourist restaurant. It's more expensive and the food is not as good.
- Don't go up to people and just start speaking English.
- When driving, be prepared for lots of tolls and parking fees.
+Alan Fox Oh and I forgot one - Don't tip like you do in the USA. A couple of Euros at the restaurants, not 20% like here.
Your 3rd tip regarding buying train ticket at the vending machine..... You're so right!!! A young girl offered me her help with purchasing at the machine and I thought she's part of the service provided by the train station. She asked for a tip after and I didn't have much cash for her, and she wasn't impressed. Wish I had watched this video before my Italian trip. Haha. Thank you so much for this video.
Thanks to you, Kartini Hanitio!
I fell for this one as well in Rome Central Station. Thought it was a service provided by Tren Italia and did not give her a tip :P
I am about to go live in Italy for a year, so this information has helped me a lot! My Mum was worried about me going to Italy because people she knew went there and got scammed. I think based on your video and some others I've watch Italy is pretty safe as long as you are aware of the potential scams and be smart, so thanks for that!
Grazie mille, Cheldoskop! Happy to be helping! Hope you enjoyed Italy!
Raxio ra Yeah I agree, after living in Italy I think it was quite safe. There was one place I was staying in Turin where I got hasseled on the street a few times, nothing serious though. I think it was just a bad part of town, but even in Australia there are places like that. I also went out late at night in some big cities and it was fine, in the whole six months I was there I never had any real trouble. It's definitely a safe place as long as you are smart, but the same can be said for anywhere you go really.
Great video. Thanks for all the honest tips :)
Grazie mille, CampingCarJoa! Happy to be helping!
Thanks for your honesty!
We are going to Rome this summer, this is very helpful! Grazie!
Grazie mille, Manu! Every country has its own issues. Nothing may ever come of it, but the warnings are good to have.
thank you so much, I will be in rome next weekend.....
Buon viaggio, Anny!
I am going to Italy soon and watched so many videos about marvelous Italy. However it is first time I am listen to this insider advises. Thank you very much
Thanks to you, Alisa Prieto!
Again, you are spot on! My personal experience in Italy was exactly as you describe. Our hotel manager in Rome warned me about fake designer items (I had asked about handbags) so I had a blast bargaining with a street vendor for a fake Prada bag because I knew ahead of time what it was and what it should cost. In Venice my little boy was afraid to go down the dark narrow streets at first, but he quickly saw that it was not only safe, but cool!
thank you so much for making this! I feel so much better prepared for my trip to Italy now, to know how to stay safe. Grazie! :)
Grazie mille, Nimbleful! Happy to be helping! Hope you had a great trip to Italy!
I love this vlog! Best ever for travel advice! So honest and helpful! You should have your own travel show! Love it! Thanks!!!
Thanks for the great tips - heading to Rome and Naples in the summer!!!
Thank you so much for your informative tutorial. I have made lots of notes. I just hope I remember all your tips when I am actually there 😀
Seems that You are embarrassed that in Italy there are scammers. "Tutto il mondo e' paese" .... If you travel to Italy or any corner of this world bring your passport, your clothes , your money and whatever you think you'll need. Before leaving double, triple, check that you don't forget your BRAIN. Traveling to another country or culture is not a fairy tale.
Always check, that all time you have your BRAIN.
Thank You for pointing out specific risks... Grazie.
Bravo.
Thank you so much for these tips. I hope to visit Italy some day in the near future, and the advice you share is very unique, not typically mentioned by others that I have heard. I will try and find the video you mentioned you may do regarding how to speak to the more 'aggressive/ pushy' scammers, and look forward to checking out your "Learn Italian" series.
Grazie mille, KnowledgeInTruth! Happy to be helping!
Great info, thank you. I’m traveling to the tourist areas of Italy soon and this is great inside knowledge.
Fantastico!
Love your tips!!!!
Great video, I have a trip to Italy coming up and this information comes in handy
It is very useful info! After one week I'm going to Bergamo, Verona and Italy 😌 Thank you!!
Thanks to you, Bridgit!
This is so helpful! My lady and I are going to Italy in a week, and we'll be in places ranging from big cities to the countryside. So we're looking foward to experiencing all of it, but we want to look like we know what we're doing so we can avoid a lot of the things you talk about here. Thank you very much for sharing this!
Grazie mille, NorthWriter! Happy to be helping! How was your trip to Italy?
It was absolutely incredible. We spent a week in Genova, and then a week in Tuscany near San Gimignano. We thoroughly enjoyed Tuscany, but Genova captured our hearts. Beautiful city, beautiful people. We felt very at home there. And the best pesto focaccia!
But we did see several instances of the automated train ticket scam that you warned about, and thanks to you we knew what to watch for! But that was it. We never felt unsafe, and we walked everywhere.
We will definitely go back, many times!
Manu!! Thanks for all your videos very much(Grazie Mille) You are a real polite and honest gentleman and I am not afraid to say very of a similar of a person to myself .I am going to Rome Sept 2018 by bus from the UK and will be going to Pisa and Florence for a day, so I am learning all the basics of Italian as much as possible and your videos are absolutely excellent, they are a joy to watch and learn, and on top of that I would advise any one who needs Italian lessons to watch your videos. I have never been to Italy for touring and I know 100% with the help of your videos I will adore your beautiful and interesting country from I love football, the food, the arts etc, and all those cars, fragrances and so on. If I mess up on my words a bit I will just smile and say scusi, smile, and start again, full of confidence.Only one silly question I have is it okay now and again for me to read my phrase notes if I get stuck talking to some one or would they class that as being a bit dumb? Thanks again Manu , you are the man!
thankyou for making this video, I like how truthfull and helpful you are! x
Grazie mille, kanzah 123! Happy to be helping!
Thank you for posting this information, it is very good and useful planning information. We, family/friends, (14-55 age range) are tossing around the idea of visiting Italy for a week or two in the next couple of years and this will help us on our visit.
Grazie a te, Paul Ayala!
I think the locked gas caps are to prevent gas ciphering (ie., someone stealing gas from your car by sucking it from your tank into a container). Some American models have that too. My motorbike has a locked gas cap.
HenryvKeiper Just to clarify for those who might not understand due to translation (be trying to read in a different language). It's siphoning when someone sucks gas/petrol from someone else's tank. Ciphering is when you try to scramble/code your words to make it difficult for others to understand except by those that can decipher your words. (Ex. Pig latin)
I love your channel, you are very helpful. Grazie!
Grazie mille Marly! I'm actually re-launching the channel in April. Will finally start putting out videos every week! I can't wait! Make sure you get in touch with me if there are specific topics you'll like me to cover! A presto!
excellent information. your a natural guide. Thank you Brother
Thanks to you, Chris Robinson!
Thank you so much! I am visiting for the first time, solo. I appreciate your tips
Grazie ! Andiamo con i bambini quest'estate. Quest'informazione è molto interessante ! Thanks a lot :)
Grazie mille, Marie-Claire M! Happy to be helping!
thank you so much for this video! very helpful.
Grazie mille, kimberlie hef! Happy to be helping!
thank you for such informative tips. I am planning a trip to Itlay in coming months and your tips will really help me deal with such situations ☺
Thanks to you, shahroze khan! Enjoy your trip to Italy! It's a beautiful country!
Good video! Very very good info.
Grazie mille, Zhiivago! Happy to be helping!
Love your channel.
Grazie mille da Brasile!
Grazie a te, Bizcourse Curitiba!
I'm subscribe immediately, I love Italy. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you!! 😘
"I'll tell you what to do but it's illegal" 😅 ❤ from Canada!
Going to Rome next week! Super info! Grazie Mille mio amico!
we are coming to Rome tomorrow ! nice video , it will be help full ,Grazie so
much
Great informational vids ! I'm subscribing..
Ciao Christiaan Haesen, and thanks for subscribing to my channel, Italy Made Easy!
My name is Emanuele (Manu) Venditti and I'm passionate about languages in general, and of course I love teaching my beautiful native language, Italian!
I hope you find material that both helps you and inspires you to learn and speak more and more Italian!
Please also consider visiting my website at www.italymadeeasy.com, where you can ask me questions directly or www.speakitalianfromday1com where you can take a full course with me!
Ciao e a presto,
Manu
I adore all of your videos, they're all so, so incredibly helpful and informative! Though I've got to say there's a special place in my heart for the previous video to this one - the food one, of course :P
Anyway, I really hope you keep uploading because you're a great teacher and Italian is a great language to learn. Baci da Irlanda x
Thanks to you, Georgia M!
Thank you for the video :)
Thanks to you, Jamie Smith!
Grazie!
i been driving in Padova and next week going to Rome. Thanks for the info!
What's up bro !
I live in Cali, and I always wanted to learn Italian, I speak Spanish and English. A 3rd lenguage is not bad at all !
Love ur channel
Grazie hugome2010!! You'll pick it up in no time!! Let me know if you need help with anything! Ciao!
Thanks! Happy to help you! Follow us and you'll really learn a 3rd language!!! 😄
Thanks for useful information
Thanks!
Really cool! I recently finished a roadtrip through Europe which was amazing! I put videos on my youtube but a camera just can't capture the moment!
Yep... an old italian lady stole my phone on my first day in Rome... then in milano a waitress made fun of us for not speaking italian... then in Napoli people barely cared if you where crossing the road.
Funny thing is, I still love italian culture.
Io sto studiando un po adesso per parlare l'italiano per tornare questo anno. Allora, mi sono piacuti molto Firenze e Perugia. Sono città molte belle davvero.
Long story short... I still love Italy. And I'm going back. Grazie per tutto Manu (:
Ciao, I'm traveling to Italy next month, and I'm going to travel in train, so I would like to know how the yellow machine you show in your video work.. hope you can answer me ☺
I will be in Florence in July. I want to ask why are there seemingly more hostels, guest houses and B & Bs than budget hotels? I don"t like shared bathrooms too. I also noticed that many hotels just offer really simple breakfast - croissants, coffee, jogurt and jams? I miss having a really nice full breakfast in Rome. What is your breakfast culture like?
Thank you mate :)
Grazie mille Manu 🌞
😘
I am traveling to Italy soon and hope i can apply this knowledge for my trip I have a vocabulary of 300 words so building on that and applying the mento, meant, stone and zone which will help me out even more. what do you feel about the italki site?
Ciao Stephanie Strickland! That sounds awesome! iTalki can be good, but I think it's really hard for someone to know whether the person who is teaching you has any clue as to how to teach a language. Being a native of a language does not mean being good at teaching it. Of course you can make it work, but perhaps try and be picky with who you choose. It's a bit of a false economy to go with someone who's really cheap, as you will probably need 5 times more hours to get the right concepts explained in the right order!
Hope this is helpful!
Thanks for the advice. Do you teach through online methods?
Ciao Stephanie Strickland! I do! I have a website called www.speakitalianfromday1.com where I teach Italian for beginners and travelers. There's a package that also includes 6 weekly face to face group video chats with me so you can put what you learn into practice!
(just a note, I won't be possible to enrol in the package with the video chats after May 1st). Un saluto! Ciao, Manu
I like how you guys use your hands while talking :D Grazie per tutti i vostri video!
Excellent...
❤️
Mi piace molto i tuoi video Manu, non vedo l'ora di visitare il tuo paese bellissimo il prossimo mese
Grazie a te, 57JackCaptain! Hope you enjoy Italy when you visit!
I used to live in a small town outside of Palermo and the crime rate was zero this was back in the 80's but I'm sure the crime rate is still zero
sort of neighborly and compassionate understanding at the stazione...plus the open business hours filling my gas tank cool
Is it okay to use a credit card and avoid the cash issues or do a lot of stores not take credit cards, especially the small/out-of-the-way villages/towns? Thanks.
I've only been to Barcelona, which I found to have a big theft issue. How do you think Barcelona compares to parts of Italy.
You mention that you have (or will have) another video with expressions you can use when dealing with dodgy vendors, people offering services etc. - Did you make that? Grazie, Manu
thank you so much, I will be in napoli next week
What you said about lack of violent crime like shootings and stabbings in Italy.
Would that be also relevant to Naples from perspective of a regular citizen not involved in organised crime ?
Or is this city different from other Italian major cities in terms of every day crime?
I'm considering moving there and getting mixed information about the actual safety.
Hi There! I am from Naples and I'm living in the UK at the moment and I can surely tell you that Naples is as safe as other big cities are. Of course some areas of the city are safer than other but, again, this is true for most of the big cities I've lived in in my life. Moving in Naples can be a very exciting experience and I met lots of foreigners coming to Naples and literally falling in love with it. Just choose the right place to stay and everything's gonna be ok! If you want any other information, just let me know!
Danilo Russo thank you very much.
That's good news!
When visiting Napoli I stayed in Vomero which I realise is one of the nicest neighbourhoods but overall I felt fairly comfortable everywhere else.
I also have been living in London UK for 12 years now and I don't enjoy living here at all.. Napoli is by far the most beautiful and atmospheric city I've been to. Also people are great. My only concern are reality of violence in poor areas like Secondigliano.
How far is it from what is shown in the famous tv series. And if petty crime like car theft and small robberies is really you have to cope with on a daily basis.
I'm a construction engineer and I realise other parts of Italy would be better in terms of job prospects but I still prioritise Napoli and generally the south.
I'd appreciate any advice. Thanks
Luke K listen luke, the best thing is to write to me privately, and I will give you any information you need. danilorusso90@hotmail.it
I have personally never lived in Napoli, but know many people who do and they say it's a pretty normal city to live in. There are area that should be off limits if you want to stay safe and common sense applies as to where and when you go to certain areas. You will find more troublemakers in the streets, perhaps. But they are mostly scammers and tricksters, not killers!
Thank you for your advice. Jean Newport South Wales U.K.
Caio ... I traveled as I told you. But it was hard cuz a lot of ppl they don't speak english .. i spoke a little of i italy lol
Some great new information for me. I would add two things: Beggars--- I find this hard to deal with, especially children who are trained to rush the tourist and hug and overwhelm while locating valuables. I have found no other way, than to as gently as possible, push them away. Invariably they are with an adult supervisor who will want a cash hand-out or to steal, whom I berate as loudly as I can. The other issue I have had is with taxi drivers on the hunt in the streets, who have overcharged me or taken me on wild goose chases. I only use cabs that have been called for by a restaurant or hotel. This may have changed, it's been awhile since I was in Itally. Happy (and safe) travel!
The majority of begging children are Roma or Sinti
very good
grazie
Thank you!
Hi, i am travelling in italy in november. any tips please.
helpful and useful
Apart from street vendors I have never experienced any of these things. Guess I was lucky!
I once had someone come up to me in Firenze asking if I wanted sunglasses. I already had a pair which I was wearing so I said "no Grazie ". He was so pushy and then said the pair I was wearing were horrible 😅. I'm easy going so I just thought this was funny , but I was definitely not going to buy from him after that. This was outside restaurants in the city. Could this have been a scam like the phone scam you mentioned? Or genuine and just a bit desperate? I did also notice a lot of pick pockets operating around there. They were quite obvious. What about the men who are always constantly shouting "bella" at girls? Are they harmless?
If a punk did that to me, I would continue to ignore and walk or he would be beaten into pure submission MMA style. Thats the difference between you and me! I then would have said, "Managgia chi ti morte" Capisce?
Hahahahahaha, as an Italian, I would LOVE to see you do that tough guy...
By the way, If you're trying to look tough, don't use the literal form of darn it (managgia) and use a real curse word lmfaoooo
go morning from montreal canada
As a vegeterian could you please advice what we can look out for in food items ...especially Indian food please 😊
Nice video... Ciao from a friend in Brasile....
grazie per la vostra informazioni oneste
Grazie a te, ilymtli jog!
I'm italian and I never realized how many weird situations could happen to a tourist who doesn't know our country.
In my opinion another problem is caused by the people who just stand in car parks and offer to help you find a free parking lot.
I always avoid them because if you don't give them a tip, they possibly will damage your car when you leave the car park.
Grazie Manu. You are so sweet!
My brother in law was robbed, beaten severly, and taken outside of the city where he was staying, and left for dead. He had gone out at nightime by himself to go to a store just 2 blocks away to get something. Should you never go out at night by yourself?
What about putting your passport in a bank deposit box and keeping a copy till your trip home?
Yes, it could be possible!
Another scam is at motorway tolls.............the toll comes up on a screen and you give the correct money, the guy then says you have given him 2 or 3 euros short. Because there are impatient car drivers behind you you cough up. But if like me you are a bolshy old lady you argue with them till they let you through. This most likely happens when it's holiday time and the staff are temporary and trying to earn some extra money. Don't let the sods get away with it!
+Sue Harvey hmm... you can still go to the booths with the automated payment machine. Easy to recognize, the sign over them pictures some banknotes *without* a hand holding them. They work really well, never had a problem with them. Even better, you can use your credit card there, even prepaid ones if you really want to be cautious.
I survived Napoli! :-D
The guys who offer to take your supermarket trolley back to the stand for the Euro are better dressed and with all singing all dancing mobiles.......much better off than I am. they get dropped of by the boss in a very smart car and collected later. I've lived here for 9 years now and get very cheesed off with this sort of stuff. I drive a 16 year old car and am in my 70's and disabled and the sods still target me....
Can u fill your own tank after hours?
Ciao, Manu! I have viewed many of your videos and have found each one extremely helpful, as well as enjoyable. Thank you for including videos like this one featuring practical tips concerning living in Italy. I'll be visiting Italy for three months, living with an Italian family while tutoring their young child in English. I've been advised by an American friend to wait until I relocate to Italy to buy a cell phone since Italian networks are different from American cell networks. Is this correct? Also, my friend warned me about computer networks. He advised me to open entirely new email and social media accounts AFTER I arrive in Italy and not use my present accounts due to hacking. Is this a valid concern? I have no idea how Italy's privacy laws compare to American laws. I would really appreciate your perspective. Grazie mille, amico!
Grazie mille Donna! Happy to be of assistance! Thanks for following my channel!
So, yes, I agree about the cell phone. Wait till you are in Italy to get an Italian SIM card along with the cheap cell phone.
I have never heard of the concern regarding email and social media being hacked etc. I mean, it surely happens, but it's not an Italian phenomenon. I wouldn't worry about that! Buon viaggio!
Thank you, Manu! :) I am here, now, and loving it!
welldone
Thank you, Josh Bell!
people also come up to you and ask for the time:...you look at your watch, they see what kind of watch you have....maybe snatch it later.....
Italy really do need to embrace chip & pin and Apple & Android pay, but they won't because the shops get charged for the use of those methods of payment. If they have card readers they would normally tell you they prefer cash.
Thank you for all this information! Because I am living so far away, in Finland, I will never drive in Italy! And about the shops and currency: we also have Euro, but we use mostly Cards, Visa or some else. Nearly ever we use money! I understand you have in Italy many poor people, immigrants and other. We also have poor people, but the state pays them, not much but enough for living! Forgive me, my English is not very good!
Hi , I will come to Italia next week can I see u ? ☺️😒
Be my travel guide! ^_^
I really like the compassion shown towards illegal immigrants and your acknowledgement that while what they are doing may not be strictly legal, they are doing it to survive. Very helpful videos.
Grazie mille, Guyomar Pillai! Happy to be helping!
Helping others earn honest living is better than increase in crime, thank you for compassion and humanity👏👼
Illegal immigrants should all be deported, they are 'illegal', therefore have no legitimate place in Europe.
lol, "they drive like crazy but overall ur safe". the one thing u should do in crowded places and on public transport is switch ur wallet to the front pocket
well seems italy has more similarities to greece than I imagined
Yes, it's true!
- Italy Made Easy Staff-
Great video. You are OVERLOADED with sugar!
I was about to close the video and he started speaking English lol
So isn't the law enforcement trying to put an end to these scams?
I never find fake money!