PSA: Paid $40 for a 'local guide' in Rome and got a map from 2017

I went to Rome last month and paid $40 to one of those guys with a stand near the Colosseum, figured I'd support local and get real tips. The map he gave me had restaurants that were closed for years and a bus route that didn't exist anymore. Has anyone else gotten ripped off by these sidewalk tour sellers?

2 comments

2 Comments

cameron77012d ago

Man that really stinks, I feel for you. Forty bucks is a lot to drop on something that's totally useless, especially when you're just trying to get the real scoop on a place. I've had similar stuff happen to me in other cities where you think you're getting a deal from a local and it's just some outdated junk they printed out. It's super frustrating because you want to support the little guys, but stuff like this makes you just want to stick to Google Maps and skip the hassle. Hope the rest of your Rome trip was better than that ripoff.

lily57412d ago

Right, the whole wanting to support the little guy thing gets you every time. In Paris I bought a little hand-drawn map from a street artist and it was gorgeous, but the restaurant recommendations on the back were all places that had closed two years ago. Ended up wandering around looking for a bistro that was just a dry cleaners at that point. Makes you wonder if these people just print these things out once and never update them, hoping tourists won't notice until they're already gone. What do you do when a local sells you something that looks authentic but it's actually just a scam in a nicer package?