Faq: Frequently Asked Question about our tour and excursions service and Limousine service in Rome
WHERE , WHAT IF , WHEN , WHO'S WHO ,WHY IS THIS
AMERICAN EMBASSY
There are two official U.S. embassies in Rome: one to the Italian government and the other which represent the U.S. to the Holy Seats. Americans in need of services must go to the U.S. Consulate, 121 Via Veneto. The Consulate can provide the following services: Register your address and presence here, issue new passports, register your child's birth and give advice about dual citizenship, witness and notarize documents, provide Veteran's and Social Security benefits, process income tax, assist with voting needs and selective service registration, help with legal formalities in case of death inform your family if you are in difficulty, and provide a list of doctors and lawyers. The Consulate cannot give you money, settle your disputes or get you out of jail. They can only ensure that you are being treated according to the laws of the host country. Tel. 06.46741
AMERICAN EXPRESS:
The offices of American Express are at Piazza di Spagna 38 (tel. 06/67641). The travel service and tour desk are open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5:30pm and on Saturday from 9am to 12:30pm (May to October the tour desk is also open on Saturday afternoon from 2 to 2:30pm). The financial and mail services are open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.
ANTIQUES:
Some antiques, regardless of private ownership or foreign origin, are considered part of the patrimony of Italy and may not be exported. So before you buy that Etruscan vase find out whether you can take it with you or whether you will have to return to Rome yearly to visit it!
BARS:
Most bars charge different prices at the counter then at the table. You may want to check posted prices before sitting down and decide if you feel it is worth spending $5 for a cappuccino and the pleasure of sitting at a sunny sidewalk café. Once seated you may sit there for as long as you please. If you choose to sit at table the waiter will bring the check.
BUSES AND METROS:
Tickets may be bought from ATAC/CO.TRA.L. windows at start or end of a line, tobacco shops, newsstands and vending machines. The METROBUS ticket cost € 1.00 and is valid for 75 minutes from the beginning of the trip. Bus tickets can also be used on the subway (metro) but are only valid for one ride instead of the allotted seventy-five minutes on the buses, which is printed on the tickets. It is wise to buy a number of bus tickets at one time to offset the non-functioning ticket machines, or unavailable tobacco shops or kiosks where they are sold. It's also available to have extra bus tickets for night use for the same reasons mentioned above; only more so in the very late night hours. Monthly passes are available. However, passes cannot be used to travel the airports. Pass holders board at the front of the bus, Italians do not usually show their 'tessera', but you should be ready to do so if asked. Ticket holders board from the rear of the bus and must validate their ticket on a little orange machine. NEVER board without a ticket or a pass, if inspectors come on the bus the fine being without a ticket is € 51.
The subway or METROPOLITANA runs from 5:30am until 11:30pm. The last train leaves the capolinea at 11:30
BUSINESS HOURS:
In general, banks are open Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 1:30pm and again from 3 to 4pm. A U.S. bank in Rome is Citibank, Via Abruzzi 2 (tel. 06/478171). Shopping hours are governed by the 'riposo' (siesta).
Most stores are open year-round Monday to Saturday from 9am to 1pm and then from 3:30 or 4pm to 7:30 or 8pm. Most shops are closed Sunday.
CAR TOWING:
If your automobile was towed away, you probably parked in an illegal zone. The way to fin your car (unless you are planning a bit of insurance fraud) is to call the Vigili Urbani, (tel. 67691), and give them the registration number, make of car, and place from which it was removed. They will tell you where to collect your car, but only after you pay the fine or 'multa'. Pay the designate amount at the Cassa of the Vigili Urbani, Via della Consolazione, 4 (Consolation Street), or at the Post office by Conto Corrente No. 54785001 in the name of the Comune di Roma - Comando Vigili Urbani, Servizio di Rimozione Veicoli. Take your receipt with you when you retrieve your car!
Advice: Nothing is open Sunday, so don't park illegally on that day.
CHURCHES: (SPECIALLY TO ENTER THE VATICAN)
Dress accordingly (which means no shorts, sleeveless tops, etc. ) and conduct yourself as if at a church service .Please remember that churches are primarily places of worship regardless of their frame as a tourist attraction.
CIGARETTES: Though Italy is trying to match the States with its antismoking campaigns, tobacco stores or 'tabaccai' exist by the thousands. Tobacco products are sold only in officials shops since they are a state monopoly and price-controlled. These shops sell a host of others goodies including postage stamps, household matches, greeting card, playing cards, and bus and Metro tickets.
CRIME:
CALL FOR EMERGENCY POLICE 112 FIRE BRIGADE 115
Like all big cities, Rome has its share, some of it avoidable (do not tempt with flashy, expensive jewellery, dangling and/or open purses, easily accessible wallets, unlocked cars, etc.), some of it not (a home broken into even though furnished with six locks, an alarm system and a pit bull dog!). Hold on tightly to purses and briefcase and keep them away from the traffic side of the street. Keep your eyes open on buses for suspicious characters - especially on the heavily traveled bus 62, 64, 46, 218 and 23. Warn someone you think is a potential victim; you would want such a warning.
CURRENCY EXCHANGE:
This is possible at all major rail and airline terminal in Rome, including the Stazione Termini, where the 'cambio' (exchange booth) besides the rail information booth is open daily from 8am to8pm. At some 'cambio' you'll have to pay commissions, often 1.5%. Banks, likewise, often charge commissions. To be on the safe side, we recommend that money be exchanged only at banks, hotels, or currency exchange booths.
CUSTOMS:
We are not speaking of quaint habits of the natives, but of the uniformed men at U.S. airport who will take away all the homemade sausage and cheeses that Aunt Luisa gave you. Check either before you leave the States or with U.S. Customs (06/46741) here for items which you will not be allowed to bring into the U.S. This will avoid great disappointment.
DENTIST:
To find a dentist who speaks English, call the U.S. Embassy in Rome (tel. 06/6741). You may have to call around in order to get an appointment. There's also the 24-hour G. Eastman Dental Hospital, Viale Regina Elena 287 (tel. 06/44831).
DOCTOR:
Call the U.S. Embassy (see 'dentist' above), which will provide a list of doctors who speaks English. All big hospitals in Rome have a 24-hour first-aid service (go to the emergency room). You will find English-speaking doctors at the privately ru Salvator Mundi International Hospital, Viale delle mura Gianicolensi 67 (tel. 06/88961). For medical assistance, the International Medical Center is on 24-hour duty at Via Giovanni Amendola 7 (tel. 06/4882371). You could also contact the Rome American Hospital, Via Emilio Longoni 69 (tel. 06/22551), with English-Speaking doctors on duty 24 hours a day. A more personalized medical service is provided by Medi-call, studio medico, Via Salaria 300, Palazzina C, interno 5 (tel. 06/8840113).
Staffed by a small core of administration who are available 24 hours a day, it can arrange for qualified doctors to make house calls to your hotel (or wherever) anywhere in Rome. In most cases, the doctor will be a general practitioner who's well versed in either prescribing an appropriate medication or, if the problem is most serious, referring a patient to a qualified specialist.
Fees begin at around $100 per visit, but can go higher if a specialist or specialized treatments are necessary. Frankly, paying this organization's fee and waiting for a doctor to arrive at your hotel room is usually a lot more convenient than waiting in the emergency room of any hospital.
DRUGSTORES:
A reliable pharmacy is the Farmacia Internazionale, Piazza Barberini 49 (tel.06/6794680), open day and night. Most pharmacies are open from 8:30am to 1pm and then from 4 to 7:30pm. In general, pharmacies follow a rotation system so that several are always open on Sunday (the rotation schedule is posted outside each).
ELETRICITY:
It's generally 220 volts, 50 Hz AC, but you might find 125 volt outlets, with different plugs and sockets for each. Pick up a transformer either before leaving home or in any appliance shop in Rome if you plan to use electrical appliances. Check the exact local current at your hotel. You'll also need ad adapter plug.
EMBASSIES/CONSULATES:
Canada: it's at Via Zara 30 tel. 06/445981, fax 06/44598754 open Monday to Friday from 10am to 12:30pm
United Kingdom: consular offices are at Via XX Settembre 80A tel. 06/4825441, fax 06/4873324 open Monday to Friday from 9:15am to 1:30pm.
Australia: the embassy is at Via Alessandria 215 tel. 06/852721 fax 06/85272300, open Monday to Thursday from 8:30am to noon and 2 to 4pm, and on Friday from 8:30am to 1:15pm. The Australian Consulate is around the corner in the same building at Corso Trieste 25 tel 06/852721.
New Zealand: the consular office is at Via Zara 28 tel. 06/4417171, fax 06/4402984, and it's open Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 12:45pm and 1:45 to 5pm.
Ireland: The embassy is at Piazza di Campitelli 3 tel. 06/697912 fax 06/6792354. For consular queries, dial tel. 06/696791211. Open Monday to Friday from 9:30am to 12:30pm and 2 to 4pm.
South Africa the Embassy is at Via Tanaro 14 tel. 06/852541, fax 06 85254300, open Monday to Friday from 9:30 to 4pm.
In case of emergency embassies have a 24-hour referral service.
FOREIGNER'S REGISTRATION:
Everyone is required to have a 'permesso di soggiorno' to stay in Italy. Hotels automatically do this for paying guests. Those wishing to stay longer must register at the Questura, Via Genova 2 or at Via San Vitale 15. Take your passport and photocopy of the first 3 pages, 3 passport photos, and € 10 or a carta bollata of the equivalent amount bought at a 'tabaccaio' and some proof of income (a letter from your employer on office letterhead is usually sufficient). Lines are long and this procedure may take several attempts before actual success. P.S. if you forget photos, they have a machine on the premises.
GETTING IN AND OUT OF TOWN: AIRPORTS
When arriving or leaving Rome, you are likely to do it at the 'Leonardo da Vinci' airport in Fiumicino, a little town by the seaside, 35 kilometres (20 miles) from the centre of Rome. It is more known in Rome with the name of the locality, i.e. as 'Fiumicino airport' ('Aeroporto Fiumicino' in Italian).
The other possibility is that you arrive or leave at the 'Ciampino airport', a little town 13 km (8 miles) from the centre of Rome.
Fiumicino airport Ciampino airport Fiumicino airport
In the airport look for the well-made trolleys where to put your luggage. There are three possibilities: by a) taxi or b) car service, c) train.
a) by taxi: arrival departure
Arrival:
Follow the arrows in the airport to the taxi area, which is outside and at the same floor of the check out area. You have to stand in line sometimes, but it is always a fast procedure.
A taxi ride should cost you around 42 Euro (appr. 53 US$). You also pay a fee of app. 1.5 Euro (app. 1.9 US$) for every suitcase.
Make sure that the taxi is an official one, and beware of non-official taxies or drivers: with various excuses (that they have a nicer car etc.) they could ask you consistently more, up to 100 Euro (app. 130 US$). Make sure that you deal the price without possibility of mistakes before accepting the service if the taxi is not an official one. The only other cars and drivers you can trust are the car service ones, please read below.
Departure:
It is better in Rome to book a taxi by phone, and not to wait in the taxi parking areas. The only areas where it is easy to catch a taxi are the train stations. There is no surcharge for phone booking. If you cannot ask your hotel to do it, call 064994, 066645 or 063570. The operators speak some English, so speak slowly and clear. They will ask you the address and at what time they must arrive. They will ask your telephone number. They will call you a few minutes before the agreed time, double checking your request and also informing you of the taxi number or code, and also within how many minutes the taxi will arrive (usually between 3 and 10 minutes). You can only book a tazi within 24 hours before the pick up (with the car service company there is no restriction to book).
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b) A professional car service, with pick-up at the airport or train station to the apartment or viceversa, is available for Roman Homes customers. The fares vary depending on the number of persons. For ex.:
- up to 4 persons will cost you 60 Euro (app. 75 US$) from the airport to the apartment or viceversa. The car will be a large Standard Mercedes (blu colour).
- if you are more than 4 persons (4-6), or you are loaded with luggage, you will need a van. It will cost you app. 80 Euro (app. 100 US$) from the airport to the apartment, or viceversa. The car will be a comfortable Mercedes Van.
- if you are more than 6 persons you will need a minibus, which will cost you 90 Euro (app. 114 US$). The reservation of the car service, generally done with expensive cellular phone calls to the driver, is reserved only for our customers. The car service is extremely professional, attentive and courteous, and has been selected by us among all the car service companies in Rome. The driver will wait for you just out of the customs area in the airport with a board with your name. To benefit from the reservation, customers MUST also fill in the Car Service Enquiry Form (click on the underscored text to go to its page).
Prices of the car service are fixed, also in the year 2004, (while with taxies they can change for a n. of variables, and you have to pay a fee on top for each suitcase), its cars are climatised, the drivers very professional and with knowledge of English.
c) by train:
arrival
departure
Arrival by train
Follow the arrows in the airport to the train station area, you cannot miss it. Elevators and moving walkways will bring you there. You are not allowed to put trolleys with luggage on the walkways, but you can roll them along the corridors next to them.
There are two trains:
1) one goes to STAZIONE TERMINI.
They call it 'non stop' (because it does not have in-between stops) and it takes 30 min. It costs 9 Euro (Appr. 11 US$). It generally leaves every hour at every 8th minute (8.08 AM, 9.08 AM etc.). In addition you have the following rides: 7.38 AM, 16.38 , 18.38 PM, 20.38 PM. The first ride is at 7.38 AM, the last one at 22.08 PM. It takes app. 30 minutes to arrive in Termini station.
The train starts from and arrives at track 22 of Termini station (the main train station).
The tickets can be purchased:
a) at automatic vending machines at both TERMINI and FIUMICINO Airport
b) at the ticket counter near the platform at FIUMICINO Airport.
c) at the Alitalia bureau near track 22 at TERMINI (6.30 AM - 9.00 PM)
From Termini station you will be able to take the subway lines A (red colour) and B (blue colour), as well as all the buses of the station and a taxi too if you need one. The cost of a subway or of a bus ticket is 1 Euro (appr. 1.26 US$).
2) The second train is called with two names: 'FM1' (Ferrovia Metropolitana 1), or 'Treno metropolitano per Orte or Fara Sabina' (it goes alternatively to both places, both are good for you)'. Sometimes at the little train station of the airport it is simply indicated as going to 'Stazione Tiburtina', from the name of the most important in-between stop.
This train is cheaper (5 Euros, appr. 6 US$) and as comfortable as the other one.
In working days it leaves every 20 minutes or so, and there is always one leaving at every 0.28 and 0.58 of every hour: 7.28 AM, 7.58 AM, 8.28 AM etc. During weekends there is a reduction in frequency, but there is at least one every hour.
Moreover it is the earliest (first ride at 6.28 AM) and the latest train going to town (last ride at 23.38 PM).
In addition this train has in-between stops. They are usually train and subway stations of Rome: Stazione Trastevere (after 23 minutes), Stazione Ostiense (27 minutes), Stazione Tuscolana (36 minutes) and Stazione Tiburtina (41 minutes).
The Stazione Trastevere is the one you have to get off if you need to reach this famous quarter, and also if you have to go to Monteverde Vecchio or to Monteverde Nuovo.
Stazione Ostiense is the first station where you can take the B line subway (and hence continue to the Coliseum at the 'Colosseo' stop, the FAO at the Circo Massimo stop, the Monti quarter at the Cavour stop, San Paolo Basilica and the EUR at their respective stops).
Stazione Tiburtina is served also by the subway B line, by many important buses and you can always take a taxi if you want.
Departure by train
From Stazione Termini to Fiumicino with the non stop train. There follows the timetable:
6.52 AM; 7.22 AM; 8.22 AM; 9.22 AM; 10.22 AM; 11.22 AM
12.22 PM; 1.22 PM; 2.22 PM; 3.22 PM; 3.52 PM; 4.22 PM; 5.22 PM; 5.52 PM; 6.22 PM
7.22 PM; 7.52 PM; 8.22 PM; 9.22 PM.
From Stazione Tiburtina, Ostiense or Trastevere to Fiumicino with the cheaper train, it is very useful because it is the first leaving: the first ride is at 5.04 AM from Tiburtina (it then leaves Stazione Ostiense at 5.16 AM and Stazione Trastevere at 5.20 AM). The trains frequency is the same as the opposite way, i.e. to Rome.
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From Ciampino airport
The cost of a taxi ride to the town or to the airport is about the same as for the Fiumicino airport, although slightly less. The same considerations apply as from Fiumicino airport (please click on the underscored text). The cost and organization of the car service is the same as from Fiumicino airport (please click on the underscored text).
We will now consider only hence the transport from and to the airport by public transport:
Arrival
Departure
Arrival Ciampino:
Regarding public transport, you must buy the tickets from the kiosks or bars in the airport 1 Euro (appr. 1.3 US$). Then you have to walk all the way to the gate/exit of the airport, and there you must take any blue regional bus (the stop is near the gate) that has a plate with written 'Roma'.
You will arrive at the 'Anagnina' bus and subway stop. Once the bus stops in the large widening, follow everybody going downstairs, and you will find yourself in the subway station. After having bought the ticket 1 Euro (appr. 1.3 US$) from the automatic dispenser or from a kiosk nearby, you must take the direction 'San Pietro or Ottaviano'. This gives you simply the direction to downtown, as Ottaviano is the final destination there. The stop 'Termini' is the main train station. 'Spagna' is the stop of the Spanish Steps (and of the Trevi Fountain nearby). 'Ottaviano' is the stop to go to St. Peter's basilica, to the Vatican and to Prati.
Departure Ciampino
You should take the subway line A to the stop called 'Anagnina'. Once you are there, after the check out point of the subway, take the corridor to the left. You will find yourself in a very large corridor. Take it turning left, and walk for about 100 metres. At the end you will find a counter (at the left). Purchase the ticket informing the clerks that you need to go to Ciampino airport. Then take one of the many stairs in front of the counter, and you will find yourself in a large space with the bus platforms. It is not necessary that you take the specific one to Ciampino airport, but any bus that will drop you there (ask the driver or to the people to check if the first bus leaving goes there).
The bus will go along the ring of Rome for a while, then it will take the Appia road and will stop right in front of the little airport. You will have to cross the Appia road (be careful) and past the gate of the airport you will have to walk to the check-in area.
HORSE CARRIAGES:
The carrozzelle are a very pleasant and comfortable way to visit Rome - but can be dreadfully expensive(between €100 and€ 200 ) Establish the price and time involved with the driver BEFORE the trip. Insist he fulfill his part of the bargain - and you'll do likewise. At Piazza di Spagna and Piazza Venezia, there is almost always one waiting.
LEGAL AID:
The consulate of your country is the place to turn to. Although consular officials cannot interfere in the Italian legal process, they can inform you of your rights and provide a list of attorney out of pocket-there's no free legal assistance.
LIQUOR LAWS:
Wine with meals has been a normal part of Italian family life for hundreds of years. There is no legal drinking age for buying or ordering alcohol, and is sold day and night throughout the year.
LOST AND FOUND:
Report lost items to Ufficio Oggetti Smarriti, Via Nicolò Bettoni 1 tel. 06/5816040. Report items lost on a bus or Metro to their office on Via Volturno 65 near the rail station, and items left on trains to the Servizio Movimento delle Ferrovie dello Stato tel. 4669, ext 7682 at the main station.
LUGGAGE STORAGE/LOCKERS:
These are available at the Stazione Termini along Tracks 1 and 22 daily from 5am to 1am. The charge is € 3 per piece of luggage per 12hours period.
MAIL:
Mailboxes in Italy are red and are attached to walls. The left slot is only for letters intended for the city; the right slot for all others destinations.
The main Post Office if Rome is at Piazza San Silvestro 19 tel. 06/6771, between Via del Corso and Piazza di Spagna. It's open Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm and on Saturday from 9am to 2pm. To claim mail addresses to you in care of this central office, with 'fermo posta' written after the name and address of the post office, simply present your passport as identification. Stamps 'francobolli' can be purchased at 'tabacchi' (tobacconist).
Vatican City mailboxes are blue, and you can buy Vatican stamps at the Vatican City Post Office, adjacent to the information office in St. Peter's Square. It's open Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 6pm and on Saturday from 8:30am to 6pm. Letters mailed at Vatican City reach North America far more quickly than does mail sent from within Rome for the same cost. With both the Vatican and the Italian mail, letters and postcards to the U.S. cost about 1,300L (80cent)
NEWSPAPERS:
English language papers are sold at the large newsstands (edicole). The International Herald Tribune and U.S.A. Today are published daily except Sunday. Wanted in Rome comes Out twice monthly is widely available and has mainly classified advertising and some articles.
PETS:
Italian law requires that your animal have a current rabies certificate, a statement from your veterinarian that no rabies have existed in your area in the last 6 months and a certificate from the U.S. Department of Agriculture verifying all the above as true. Even if you are not asked for these documents upon arrival, keep them on hand for future reference. Check with Italian authorities on the tax one must pay as a dog owner.
RADIO/TV:
Major radio and television broadcast are on RAI, the Italian state radio and TV network. Occasionally during the tourist season it will broadcast special programs in English; look in the radio and TV guide sections of local newspapers. Vatican Radio also carries foreign-language religious news programs, often in English. Short wave transistor radios pick up broadcasts from the BBC (Britain), Voice of America (United States), and CBC (Canada). More expensive hotels often have TVs in the bedrooms with CNN.
REST ROOMS:
All airport and railway stations, of course, have rest rooms, often with attendants who expect to be tipped (10cents to 30cents is fine). Bars, nightclubs, restaurants, cafes, and all hotels have facilities as well. Public toilets are also found near many of the major sights, in particular, there are facilities at the Spanish Steps that you may want to know about. Usually they are designated as wc (water closet), 'donne' (women), or 'uomini' (men). The most confusing designation is 'signori' (gentlemen) and 'signore' (ladies), so watch those final i's and e's!
SAFETY:
Pick pocketing is the most common problem. Men should keep their wallets in their front pocket or inside jacket pockets. Purse snatching is also commonplace, with young men on Vespas who will ride past you and grab your purse. To avoid trouble, women should stay away from the curb, and keep their purse on the wall side of their body and the strap over both shoulders across their chest. In general, don't lay anything valuable on tablets or chairs where it can be grabbed easly. Children are a particular menace. You'll often virtually have to fight them off, as they can completely surround you. They'll often approach you with pieces of cardboard hiding their stealing hands.
TAXES:
As a member of the European Union, Italy Imposes a tax on most goods and services. It's a 'value-added tax', called IVA in Italy. The tax affecting most visitors is at hotels, ranging from 9% in first - and second - class hotels and 'pensioni' to 13% in deluxe hotel. The value-added tax is not the same for all items: for example it's 12% on clothing, but 19% on most luxury goods. Tax rebates may be given on large purchases.
TAXIS:
Always use the white (new) or bright yellow (older) taxis. Never use an unmarked cab or you'll wonder whether he is charging you for a ride or you are buying the taxi! Taxis in Rome started a base fare € 3 and the by the meter. Supplements are added when it is a question of travelling at night on Christmas Eve with a suitcase! As for tipping the driver, a modest 10% is more than adequate.
TELEPHONES:
Public phones are located throughout the city and accept change or the 'phone' card (carta telefonica) sold in tobacco stores. It is wise to have a 'phone' card because money taking machines are becoming harder and harder to find and many public machines will accept only the card. These cards are inserted in a special slot on the phone, and allow the users to make calls for the amount shown on the card.
Thanks to ITALCABLE, International calls to the United States and Canada can be dialled directly. Dial 00 (the international access code from Italy) then the country code (1 for the U.S.A. and Canada), the area code, and the number. Calls dialled directly are billed on the basis of the call's duration only. A reduced rate is applied from 11pm to 8am Monday do Saturday and all day Sunday.
If you wish to make a collect call from a pay phone simply deposit 200L (don't worry-you'll get it back when you're done) and dial tel. 170 for an English-speaking Italcable operator. For calling-cards calls, drop in the refundable 200L, then dial the number for your card's company to be connected with an operator in the States: tel. 1721011 for ATT, tel. 1721020 for MCI, and tel 06/1721877 for Sprint. You can also call tel. 06/1721001 for Canada, tel. 06/1721061 for Australia, and tel. 06/1720044 for the United Kingdom.
If you make a long distance call from a public telephone, there is no surcharge. However hotels have been known to double or triple the cost of the call so be duly warned.
THEFT AND LOSSES:
If your passport, driver's license, airline tickets, ore traveler's checks are lost report to the nearest Carabinieri or Polizia station (at the Questura on Via Genova there is also a special foreigner office 'per stranieri') to fill out a report or denuncia. This denuncia may be used as a temporary driver's license and must be presented at the Consulate for a new passport. Report lost Traveler's checks to American Express, Piazza di Spagna 38: toll free - tel. 1678.72000. Report credit card losses to American Express tel. 72282, Master Card and Visa tel. 1678.68086, and Diner's Club tel. 1678.64064. HINT: Whether you are a tourist or a resident of Rome, you might want to photocopy all valuable documents, charge cards, driver's licences, etc, and keep these copies all together in a safe place in your home
TIPPING
In restaurants a service charge of about 15% usually appears as a separate item on your check. A few restaurant state on the menu that cover and service charge are included. Either way, it's customary to leave an additional 5%-10% tip for the waiter, depending on the service. Tip checkroom attendants 500 lire pre person, rest-room attendants 500-1000 lire per person, rest-room attendants 500 lire; un both cases tip more expensive in hotels and restaurants. Tip 100-200 lire for whatever you drink standing up at coffee bar, 500 lire or more for table service in a smart café, and less in neighbourhood cafés. At a hotel bar tip 2.000 lire and up for a round or two cocktails.
Taxi drivers are usually happy with 5%-10% of the meter amount. Railway and airport porters charge are fixed rate per bag. Tip an additional 1000 lire per person, but more for very expensive seat. Give a barber 2.000-3.000 lire and a hairdresser's assistant 3.000-8.000 lire for a shampoo or cut, depending on the type of establishment.
On sightseeing tours, tip guides about 2.000 lire per person for a half-day group tour, more if they are very good. In museums and other places of interest where admission is free, a contribution is expected: give anything from 500 to 1.000 lire for one or two persons, more if the guardian has been especially helpful. Service station attendants are tripped only for special services.
In hotel, give the portiere (concierge) about 15% of his bill for services, or 5.000-10.000 lire if he has been generally helpful. For two people in a double-room, leave the chambermaid about 2.000 lire per day, or about 5.000-10.000 lire a week, in a moderately priced hotel; tip a minimum of 1.000 lire for valet or room service. Increase these amounts by one-half in an expensive hotel, and double them in a very expensive hotel.
In very expensive hotels, tip doormen 1.000 lire for calling a cab and 2.000 lire for carrying bags to the check-in desk, bellhops 3.000-5.000 lire for carrying your bags to the room and 3.000-5.000 lire for room service.
One- third to one-half of these amounts is acceptable in moderately priced.