Just got back from Italy and there are some things you need to know before visiting

I just returned from 10 days in Italy. Italy is an amazing country. I loved Florence and Tuscany. I know that many of you have been there but I think it is important for those who have not been there to be aware of the following:<br><br>1. There are a lot of stairs. If you have mobility issues, this could be a problem. I stayed in 5 different hotels and none of them had elevators.<br><br>2. There are a lot of pickpockets. I was warned about this before I went but had no idea how big of a problem it is. Pickpockets target men and women. Many of the pickpockets are gypsies from Eastern Europe and many others appear to be from North Africa or the Middle East. I rode trains between cities and at almost every stop gypsies would come on the train and try to rob passengers. They usually had young kids with them. They would leave at the next stop. I saw gypsies go through suitcases when the owners weren't paying attention. I had one gypsy come up behind me and try to take my camera. I saw another gypsy open a suitcase and steal a computer. If you have a suitcase with you, never take your eyes off of it and always keep it close to you. I rode a bus to the airport and a gypsy boarded the bus at a stop right before the airport. She went through two bags that were in the overhead rack. I think she was looking for suitcases. I have no doubt that this woman was at almost every stop doing this. I talked to a lot of people and hotel employees about the problem of gypsies and most said that the gypsies were the worst of the worst. They are not just picking pockets. They are stealing everything.<br><br>3. If you go to a restaurant, you may be charged for bread or snacks that they give you. Even if you don't eat the bread, you will be charged for it. It is called coperto. It is usually 2-5 euros.<br><br>4. There is a VAT tax of 22%. This can be refunded when you leave the country. This tax is usually added to the purchase price of an item and you usually won't know that you are paying it. To get a refund, you need to get a special receipt from the merchant. The VAT tax doesn't apply to all purchases so you need to ask about it. The merchant may also charge a fee for providing the special receipt. To get a VAT refund, you will usually need to go to a special kiosk or office at the airport. They will give you a stamp on your receipt to verify that you left the country with the item. You then need to go to a nearby office to get your refund. Refunds are usually made by credit card, cash or cashier's check. <br><br>5. If you purchase an item from a street vendor, you will usually pay a much lower price if you pay in cash.<br><br>6. Many merchants and street vendors don't speak English. It may be difficult to communicate if you don't speak Italian.<br><br>7. They drive very aggressively in Italy. Be careful crossing streets and watch out for cars and motorbikes when walking. They usually don't obey stop signs and many don't obey red lights.<br><br>&#x200B;