Staying safe while visiting Rome

Rome is a large and exotic city and very safe however thera are some dangers that every traveler should be aware when traveling in and around this city. Like every large city Rome is susceptible to thieves, murderers and other nefarious types that will surely ruin your time if you are not careful.

Hanging your expensive camera equipment around your neck while traveling is a sure sign of an inexperienced traveler and you will be prey to gangs of thieves that hang around the various tourist traps of the city. It is better to keep a camera that is small enough in your pocket so you do not stand out too much as a tourist. Perhaps even dressing like a local might also be a good idea. This can be done with a help of a local friend if you are fortunate enough to have one.

The most dangerous areas for tourists are the Termini and bus line number 64 as these are areas that are especially prone to gangs of pickpockets. One way to counteract these gangs is by wearing a money belt. Also if you feel that your money or goods has been stolen do not pursue these gangs or you will be sorry as they are often armed. The best way to combat these gangs is to shout for help at the top of your lungs and hopefully there will be a police officer nearby who will be willing to help.

Many con men are around the areas of the coliseum and the circus maximus so be aware of the many tricks that they try on tourists. One of the tricks is to pull up in a car besides yours and ask for directions to some other tourist destination in the city. Once you approach the car these thieves will try to get you to accept a gift of theirs that they have in the car and once you approach they will start shouting and demanding money. Do not even approach people like this as these con men are very good at what they do and are sure to ruin any vacation.

One way to stay safe in Rome is by not driving at all and hiring a private driver but I do realize that is far out of reach for many budget travelers out there. However if you do insist on driving in Rome be sure you know about all the street signs and all of the traffic rules. The traffic in Rome is very dangerous and hectic and one way to get yourself hurt is by getting into a heated argument with a local regarding a traffic violation. Italians are not known for being calm, cool and collected by the way so it is never a good idea to get into an argument with them if you can avoid it.

Staying safe also involves not drinking too much. Drinking too much will most likely make you much more vulnerable to the very seedy people that prey on people who indulge in too much alcohol. So keep sober and this will most definitely keep yourself safe.

Would you go down a deserted alleyway at night at some major city in the United States or where ever you may be from? So then do not do the same for this city as well. You do not know what is down that alleyway or quiet street so do not venture alone anywhere near these areas.

Carrying too much cash around you is just asking for trouble so do not do this as well. Make sure you spread your money in different places on your person such as a wallet, money belt or even a sock would be a good place to keep money. Be creative when hiding money on your person and do not carry too much but carry enough to get back home to your hotel if you should encounter a thief. Also do not carry all your debit and credit cards with you as well. Store these in a secure locations such as a hotel room safe or other secure location.

Speaking of hotel rooms sometimes it is better to get a pricier hotel room that has more of a central location then a quiet out of the way hotel. This is because those quaint out of the way hotels are usually far from anything that many people want to see and therefore can be in dangerous neighborhoods.

I would also recommend that you purchase some really good quality travel health insurance from reputable sources. Make sure you do not buy your insurance from someone you have never heard from as they are most likely a fly by night company that is just out to take your money.

Staying safe while traveling can be done and many people do it on a daily basis. However using some common sense and good judgment you can keep  yourself safe and have a more enjoyable vacation.