Shopping in Rome
When in Rome, be prepared to spend!
If you are an American heading to Rome on vacation and planning to go shopping, be prepared to spend. You won’t find many bargains in this ancient city. Major fashion houses are not based here (as they are in Milan and Paris), and Rome is more of a draw for tourists, so you can expect prices to match those found in high-end stores. in the U.S. And with the dollar weak, you will end up spending almost double that amount. When I visited Rome in March, the exchange rate was 1.58 dollars per almighty euro. Oh.
While it may make you feel like a pauper, it’s still fun to walk past designer stores like Prada, Gucci, and Ferragamo along Via dei Condotti near the Spanish Steps, or Via Bocca di Leone, where you’ll find Fendi. , Versace, Valentino and Moschino. If you keep passing the expensive shops, you will come across Via del Corso … and consequently more affordable and trendy shops like Zara.
Other highlights include Via Nazionale, where you can explore a variety of shops, such as Max Mara, that sell goods at reasonable prices.
I also found some nice, reasonably priced shops near the Pantheon and near the Hotel Eden (which has an amazing view of Rome) in the upper Via Veneto district. You really just have to wander the streets in those areas (it’s a small enough area to do so).
If all the haute couture look makes you sad, sign up for a tour of one of the local designer malls. Many hotels offer these tours. McArthurGlen Designer Outlet at Castel Romano is a popular store, although I did not make it personally. There are 95 stores, including Etro, D&G, F.lli Rossetti, Moreschi, Mariella Burani, Calvin Klein, and La Perla, all with discounted rates.
Leather goods in Italy
Italy is known for its leather and you can find it in abundance practically everywhere. Glove emporiums line the busy streets and side streets. I didn’t find anything incredibly cheap, between 50 and 80 euros, which is a lot more once the conversion rate is taken into account, but if you are used to spending between $ 300 and $ 400 on leather gloves in the United States, go for it. . . However, you may want to put off buying leather goods in Rome.
Now if you’re looking for good deals on high-quality leather, head straight to Florence. Hop on a high-speed train and an hour and a half later you’ll be in leather heaven. I bought a beautiful lambskin motorcycle jacket (which is very fashionable at the moment) for 80 euros and a calfskin doctor’s bag (aka wallet) for 50 euros. A note of caution, book your train ticket in advance and don’t, and I repeat, don’t miss your train! If you do, you could end up sitting on the floor between the cars next to the bathroom (I speak from experience).
Taking the metro is an inexpensive way to get around the city. Before entering the station make sure you have change for the ticket machines because there is no change or ATMs. And, of course, keep a close eye on your purses or purses. I had no problem, but you never know. At bigger stations like Termini, don’t worry about gypsies doing a good job distracting you with enthusiastic pleas for change. Say “no” to them firmly and hold on to their belongings. They are professionals at this and you can easily take advantage of them while digging for money in your purse.
Shopping in Italy
The stores don’t always have constant hours, especially the smaller boutiques on the side streets. So if you stop by a store and tell yourself you’ll see it on the way back from lunch or a sightseeing tour, my advice is don’t wait! You can go back to find a Closed sign on the door. Many stores close for lunch, from 1: 30-3: 30 or 2-4pm (wouldn’t you like we could have two hours of lunch?). If you see the sign, “Chiuso per Ferie”, it means that the store is closed for the holidays. August is a popular time for Romans to leave the city to escape the oppressive heat.
When entering a store in Italy, try to follow some traditional customs. Say “Buon giorno” (good morning) or “Buona sera” (Good night). “How much coast?” means “How much does it cost?”
Taxes devolution
In Italy, and in all EU counties that I know of, Americans are entitled to a refund of “VAT” (value added tax), but they must spend at least 155 euros in a shop. Many stores will draw up the documentation that you must present to Customs before leaving Italy. You must show your passport for the store clerk to fill out the form. At the airport, go to the Global Refund Office. Look for stores with signs that say “Europe Tax Free” or “Global Refund”, but many stores will know what to do even if it is not posted in the window.
Happy shopping!