Oppo advice?

"pjhusa" (pjhuskinja)
12/12/2015 at 17:54 • Filed to: None

So, in two weeks, I’m going to some place that’s been christened “Italy”.

It will be a short trip (only seven days due to time constraints), and we are visiting Milan, Venice, and Florence. In Milan, we will visit the Alfa Romeo Museum. That’s basically all I know regarding “car things” in these cities. Does Oppo know any more?

Also, we are probably going to go around and about by train, so no, we are not renting a car or stuff of the sort. Also, we are saving Ferarri, Maserati, and Lamborghini for a different trip.

DISCUSSION (40)

PushToStart > pjhusa
12/12/2015 at 17:59

Make sure you keep your valuables in your front pockets or in a very secure spot. Keep an eye on all of your things, as they tend to disappear quite easily in those tourist heavy spots.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > pjhusa
12/12/2015 at 18:01

What PushToStart said is very important. Also, you might want to get a passport carrier and just wear it under your shirt. That’s what I did when I went to Spain last summer. And try to avoid crowds if at all possible. Also, you’ll have a lot of fun if you ignore some of the more popular areas and just sort of wander the streets and just look around.

TheHondaBro > PushToStart
12/12/2015 at 18:12

Yeah, Italy is terrible with theft.

pjhusa > PushToStart
12/12/2015 at 18:18

Okay, thanks. Do you think an Apple Watch would be safe to wear?

pjhusa > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
12/12/2015 at 18:21

What would the significance of the passport carrier be?

I see, we will be visiting some pretty touristy spots, but we have a lot of time to wander around. Gotta be careful anyway!

Thanks!

davedave1111 > pjhusa
12/12/2015 at 18:22

You’re unlikely to be robbed - it’s pickpockets you have to watch out for.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > pjhusa
12/12/2015 at 18:26

It’s a easy way to carry money and ID around with you that’s not easily seen or stolen. I picked up one on Amazon for dirt cheap and with Prime I got great shipping.

davedave1111 > pjhusa
12/12/2015 at 18:27

Make sure you stay as far away from tourist hotspots when eating as you can. And get yourself signed-up to Uber, if you aren’t already, because if you want to take a cab, it’s much, much easier not to have to deal with foreign-language-speaking taxi drivers, many of whom will be only too happy to rip off a tourist.

Also, don’t completely rule out hiring a car for a day, if there’s something you want to see a short distance away from wherever you are. It can be cheaper than public transport, for a few people in a small car, and it’s much more flexible. And fun.

pjhusa > davedave1111
12/12/2015 at 18:31

Okay. Do you think I will be targeted with it on?

pjhusa > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
12/12/2015 at 18:33

Okay, interesting. Thanks again!

davedave1111 > pjhusa
12/12/2015 at 18:33

I doubt it. Most pickpockets just pick every pocket in sight, more or less. And it’s not like they can’t spot an American tourist even if the tourist isn’t wearing an Apple watch.

Still, if you’re worried, leave it at home.

pjhusa > davedave1111
12/12/2015 at 18:38

Okay, I was just a bit concerned.

After a bit of thought, though, seeing an Apple Watch would probably be similar to that of seeing a nice, “regular” watch. So it should not be that bad.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > pjhusa
12/12/2015 at 18:39

Very important if you’re actually carrying your passport around with you.

pjhusa > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
12/12/2015 at 18:41

I usually don’t carry my passport around when I travel. Do you think it’d be necessary for this trip?

davedave1111 > pjhusa
12/12/2015 at 18:45

Well, it might indicate to the conmen that you’re a sucker, but that’s a different problem ;)

pjhusa > davedave1111
12/12/2015 at 19:12

Thanks for your very detailed response!

Why should I stay from touristy eateries? Just curious.

PushToStart > TheHondaBro
12/12/2015 at 19:14

I wouldn’t say Italy as a whole is, but those crowded tourist areas are terrible about it. I mean, it isn’t much worse than a place like NYC or any other big tourist hotspots, regardless of what country it is.

PushToStart > pjhusa
12/12/2015 at 19:15

Yeah, that should be fine so long as it’s secured to your wrist the whole time and not in a pocket.

PushToStart > pjhusa
12/12/2015 at 19:19

Well, here’s my train of thought when it comes to passports: if you lose it or it’s stolen, you’re kind of fucked. The best way to ensure it isn’t getting stolen is by knowing its location at all times. Leaving it in the hotel is a risk, because room service might not be as friendly as you think, and US passports are probably worth a fair bit of cash in the illegal document market, and keeping it anywhere else (backpack) risks being stolen along with all the rest of your stuff. Having it hanging around your neck and under your shirt means you can feel it being there and it’s not easily accessible to anyone besides you.

PushToStart > pjhusa
12/12/2015 at 19:20

They mark up prices for food like you wouldn’t believe. A restaurant with a nice view will charge you an entire meal’s worth of money for a glass of tap water, simply because they can.

pjhusa > PushToStart
12/12/2015 at 19:21

Would my phone be safe?

I always keep it in my front pocket.

pjhusa > PushToStart
12/12/2015 at 19:23

I see. We usually try to avoid more touristy places to start with.

PushToStart > pjhusa
12/12/2015 at 19:24

If it’s in your front pocket, it should probably be ok. Obviously you still need to be aware of your surroundings, but it’s harder for them to grab it from there. If you’re wearing a jacket with zip pockets though, put it in there. Way harder for a pickpocketter to get in a zipped pocket.

davedave1111 > pjhusa
12/12/2015 at 19:26

Price and quality. That’s generally good advice wherever you are, really, but especially in tourist trap places like Milan or London. The costs of serving food in a touristy location are mostly rent, so the prices tend to be high even for bad food. You generally don’t need to go too far at all to find somewhere much nicer and reasonably priced, sometimes only a couple of streets.

Some of this is specific to Italy, some of it’s generic advice:

https://www.walksofitaly.com/blog/travel-ti…