Travel Resources:
Imho . . . the very best resource imho is the Foder’s Travel Talk – Europe. Mainly real travelers as opposed to the tour group crowd. I have been reading & posting there for over ten years. The posted Trip Reports, a searchable forum, it is an amazing database of travel info from real travelers of all types. Like Pelican Tech, you can search on the most remote place or obscure restaurant & somebody has been there & done that.
See
Fodor’s
Frommers also has an active Europe Forum. Not as old or established as Fodor’s.
Travelers To Go is an offshoot of Fodor’s regulars.
Lonely Planet’s Forum pales in comparison to Fodor’s & historically tends to appeal to the backpack ground.
Trip Advisor is another – of course – but it is best viewed with a grain of salt. There is no consistency & you always get wildly divergent opinions of things. Their ranking system is very misleading – at best.
Chowhounds is interesting for pure eats.
I have always found that the planning is an integral part of my fun in traveling for pleasure.
Pickpockets: No place is immune. In any major city anywhere, you have to be vigilant with wallets, purses, cameras etc. Especially on subways & trains & anywhere in a crowd.
The Spanish Steps & Trevi Fountain are both invented tourist sites & serious tourist traps with lots of hustlers. Do not accept a rose from one of the dudes at the Trevi unless you intend to pay for it . . .
Ian